Most of us at some point in our lives have a dream to change our life in someway or take on a new challenge, but with life's commitments and the everyday expense of just living it is not always possible to change direction and live a dream. But for me, life is too short and there is a risk with everything we do, but with determination and courage you can achieve anything.
Fate and a spur of the moment decision along with, most likely a mid-life crisis, my husband Neil, age 55 and myself age 47 have decided to give up our jobs, sell a few things and travel around Europe in a Motorhome.
With our kids all grown up and living their own lives, it is time to live our lives whilst we are both fortunate enough to be fit and healthy and maybe along the way i can inspire someone else to start an adventure of their own or just give a few tips to others along the way who are thinking of doing something similar.
With our kids all grown up and living their own lives, it is time to live our lives whilst we are both fortunate enough to be fit and healthy and maybe along the way i can inspire someone else to start an adventure of their own or just give a few tips to others along the way who are thinking of doing something similar.
I have had some trauma in my life. I lost my only sister to Cancer at the age of 38yrs then shortly to follow one of my closest friends, Tina and then my Grandad to Cancer all in the space of 3 years.
I then started to look at my life very differently. The simple things in life are more important and my outlook on life in general had changed. What was i doing with my life? What was i working for? Who was important to me? |
| My Sister Sara |
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| My dearest friend Tina |
Time ticks away and we all get stuck in the daily routine of life with its stresses and strains and we sometimes lose sight of what we really want out of life. For many, this way of life is enough for them but for me something was missing.
I met my husband and soul mate shortly before my sister Sara passed away with Bowel Cancer. I had
not long moved into a new home with my only son George after a relationship breakup and was approaching my 40th birthday. I was so thankful that Neil met my sister whilst she was the bright, bubbly girl we all loved. Neil and I married in August 2010 second time around for me and third time lucky for Neil.
What started our Dream?
I have always loved camping and the outdoor life right from being a Queens Guide and receiving my Campers Permit at 15yrs old. Since then i have had many years of camping mainly on the Norfolk coast with my dearest friend Sue and then other friends joined us along the way. I also had my Hen weekend camping but that is another story!
not long moved into a new home with my only son George after a relationship breakup and was approaching my 40th birthday. I was so thankful that Neil met my sister whilst she was the bright, bubbly girl we all loved. Neil and I married in August 2010 second time around for me and third time lucky for Neil.
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| My son George and girlfriend Liv |
What started our Dream?
I have always loved camping and the outdoor life right from being a Queens Guide and receiving my Campers Permit at 15yrs old. Since then i have had many years of camping mainly on the Norfolk coast with my dearest friend Sue and then other friends joined us along the way. I also had my Hen weekend camping but that is another story!
We have camped in all weathers but when the sun shines you can't beat a bbq with the drinks flowing and just chilling around our camp chatting with friends until its dark with little lanterns glowing. This for me is the best part of camping and i have many happy memories that will stay with me.
We have also camped in gale force winds, hail, and lots and lots of rain but it was all good fun and the sound of a sizzling fry up in the mornings on a mass scale always drew us back the next year.
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| Glamping! Unfortunately after over 20 years of camping, the great British weather got the better of us and we decided to trade in the tent for a caravan. No more getting soaked through, packing away a boot full of damp things and no more punctures in the airbed that left you sleeping on a lumpy floor. All that said i would never discourage a go at camping these are some of my best memories and it can be great fun. |
In August 2013 we collected our shiny new white box on wheels from Grantham Caravans in Northampton.
Of course there were all the bits and pieces that you just have to buy to go in it including an inflatable awning! Wish they had invented an inflatable tent when i was camping!
Our first night was at Woodland Waters Touring Park Nr Grantham, this was to prove to be one of our favourite sites. As newbies to caravanning we did remember to put the legs down and the handbrake on before we stepped inside!
Next-door to us was a couple that had arrived with their caravan for their daughters wedding which was being held at the clubhouse the next day. I have never seen anyone step out of a touring caravan wearing top hat and tails! It was so funny. We also met an elderly couple that were obviously very experienced caravanners and they had every gadget under the sun. I asked her if there was an essential piece of equipment she would recommend for the caravan and this was her answer-
My Dear she said "you must always drink out of a wine glass never plastic it just doesn't taste the same!"
We soon settled into the touring life along with my wine glass carefully stored in the makeshift drinks cabinet.
Our second trip was to Neil's home on the Isle of Wight. This was to be an eventful encounter with the islands roads!
We stayed at Southlands Caravan Club site which is an immaculate site with very proud owners and we really enjoyed our stay there. Unfortunately upon our return home the Island's roads took their toll on the caravan. We were sitting in a queue of traffic when a dumper truck came hurtling down the narrow road and hit what we thought was the wing mirror on the car. But it wasn't until we boarded the ferry we saw the damage! The truck had hit the corner of the caravan and ripped off the awning rail. Where that landed i don't know, the cars behind didn't flash us or make us aware there was a five metre strip of metal flying through the air!
Poor Neil was so upset, he had done so well towing all that way, but thats life, it was fixable and we were unhurt.
The caravan was then due for its first annual service which was again eventful! Whilst the engineer was servicing it, his damp meter detected 90% damp on one side of the caravan, but how could that be in a new caravan? We then found out that the engineer was not an approved dealership and thus making our warranty void unless we found another engineer within 48hours.
After numerous phone calls to dealers, none of them could fit us in at such short notice. Until we found the number of a company called missionsimpossibleLtd.co.uk This man literally was our very own James Bond and he serviced the caravan with just 12 hours left on our warranty.
Our 9 year warranty was intact and the caravan now worth its value, so we decided to sell.
Southlands CC site Isle of Wight
Of course there were all the bits and pieces that you just have to buy to go in it including an inflatable awning! Wish they had invented an inflatable tent when i was camping!
Our first night was at Woodland Waters Touring Park Nr Grantham, this was to prove to be one of our favourite sites. As newbies to caravanning we did remember to put the legs down and the handbrake on before we stepped inside!
Next-door to us was a couple that had arrived with their caravan for their daughters wedding which was being held at the clubhouse the next day. I have never seen anyone step out of a touring caravan wearing top hat and tails! It was so funny. We also met an elderly couple that were obviously very experienced caravanners and they had every gadget under the sun. I asked her if there was an essential piece of equipment she would recommend for the caravan and this was her answer-
My Dear she said "you must always drink out of a wine glass never plastic it just doesn't taste the same!"
We soon settled into the touring life along with my wine glass carefully stored in the makeshift drinks cabinet.
Our second trip was to Neil's home on the Isle of Wight. This was to be an eventful encounter with the islands roads!
We stayed at Southlands Caravan Club site which is an immaculate site with very proud owners and we really enjoyed our stay there. Unfortunately upon our return home the Island's roads took their toll on the caravan. We were sitting in a queue of traffic when a dumper truck came hurtling down the narrow road and hit what we thought was the wing mirror on the car. But it wasn't until we boarded the ferry we saw the damage! The truck had hit the corner of the caravan and ripped off the awning rail. Where that landed i don't know, the cars behind didn't flash us or make us aware there was a five metre strip of metal flying through the air!
Poor Neil was so upset, he had done so well towing all that way, but thats life, it was fixable and we were unhurt.
The caravan was then due for its first annual service which was again eventful! Whilst the engineer was servicing it, his damp meter detected 90% damp on one side of the caravan, but how could that be in a new caravan? We then found out that the engineer was not an approved dealership and thus making our warranty void unless we found another engineer within 48hours.
After numerous phone calls to dealers, none of them could fit us in at such short notice. Until we found the number of a company called missionsimpossibleLtd.co.uk This man literally was our very own James Bond and he serviced the caravan with just 12 hours left on our warranty.
Our 9 year warranty was intact and the caravan now worth its value, so we decided to sell.
The Big Plan!
One morning last October in 2014, we woke up to yet another grey drizzly day and another week of work and the same routine, Neil said "Why don't we just pack in our jobs, buy a Motorhome and go travelling around Europe?"
Where on earth did that come from? "Blimey that's different!" i said. But i was liking the idea and surprisingly when we worked out our finances it did seem doable. Neil would retire after 37 years with UK Power Networks and i would give up my job of 13 years as a Nanny to Laura and Anna. After helping raise the girls from babies they too were growing into independent young ladies so it was time for me to move on anyway.
Well, we wasted no time and drove to our nearest Motohome dealer that weekend. They do say fate will take its course in life and that is exactly what happened from that point on.
We arrived at the Dealer not knowing a thing about Motorhomes, we had never been in one, let alone drive one and we really didn't have a clue what we were looking for, until Mike the very smart and confident salesman spotted us wandering aimlessly around his site. He swiftly took us under his wing and told us we were in luck because there was a big Motorhome event the next weekend at the NEC in Birmingham where we could see all the makes and models of Motorhomes under one roof and we could get a better idea of what we really wanted.
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| Laura and Anna |
We arrived at the Dealer not knowing a thing about Motorhomes, we had never been in one, let alone drive one and we really didn't have a clue what we were looking for, until Mike the very smart and confident salesman spotted us wandering aimlessly around his site. He swiftly took us under his wing and told us we were in luck because there was a big Motorhome event the next weekend at the NEC in Birmingham where we could see all the makes and models of Motorhomes under one roof and we could get a better idea of what we really wanted.
So we booked our tickets and a hotel for the night and off we went like two excited kids!
We spent nearly 2 days at this vast show with a mind boggling array of every type of Motorhome available not to mention every accessory under the sun of course to go with it. I was looking at the ones with stylish decor and matching cushions and Neil was being practical and looking at cost and where he could store his tools and water carriers.
After trailing the floors for nearly 6 hours my feet needed a rest and my mind needed a Gin and Tonic.
We decided to retire to the hotel to reflect on the day feet up, bottle of wine, food, bed and make a decision in the morning.
A new day and fresh faced, we wasted no time in finding Mike at the Swift stand to order our new Motorhome. We decided on a 7.8metre shiny new Swift Bolero with a fixed bed, a rear washroom and of course matching cushions! Now we had the long wait of delivery for end of May 2015 but at least we could start planning!
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| Our Gin Palace! |
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| Route maps on my kitchen wall. |
