How did this all come about.... well that is easy to answer - it was all Em's idea, after returning from an amazing holiday in Canada over Christmas and having the holiday blues, we were sat on the couch in the lounge. Em suddenly said "shall we just say fuck it, give up everything, get a camper van and go travelling" and after a moments hesitation Fred replied "Yeah, why not!" We then spent the rest of that evening discussing what we would do, where we would travel to, where we would start, Scotland would be our first point of call, then across to Ireland, then meander our way back south, across to Europe and down to Italy - these were the main places we agreed upon as a must do... one day.... but not really thinking it would go any further than that, just whistful thinking, a dream.
Then about a week later Fred and his good friend Jon met up, Jon was going through a tough time with his partner so a meal out and some "man time" was much needed. He arrived early, so popped into the house to say Hello. Whilst they were stood in the kitchen having a quick cuppa - Em was busy building a flat pack bathroom cabinet in the other room - yet somehow overheard the moment when Jon said he would be having to get rid of his camper van - her ears pricked up, like a radar! and it was like OMG what are the chances of that.
Later that evening she quizzed Fred on how much Jon was asking for it and whether it would be suitable for what we had talked about the other week and was he serious about doing this momentous, almost stupid and certainly incredibly scary plan of hers. Several messages followed between Fred & Jon over the coming days, and then we went to take a look, test drive and do the deal!!
Campervan bought, the sudden realisation of "OMG we are really doing this!!" set in. The range of emotions that then followed ranged from super excitement, scary trepadation, fear and bubbling insanity. The time had come... we had to seriously make a decision.... when to quit our very well paying jobs, to give up our tenancy on the house we were living in and tell our kids we were leaving and going travelling! But there was no point delaying matters, so we set a date, told the kids and handed our notices in. Both of our employers were sad to see us leaving but jealous of our proposed adventures.
So a date was set - we had given ourselves 6 weeks to pack up everything and leave!! To have a date to work to helps immensly, but we were like, 6 weeks, that's loads of time.... then suddenly the weeks whiz by and suddenly there is no time!!
Then during all this, Em found a job that sounded interesting in Scotland! What were the odds, it was a joint job, with accomodation - this should take off the pressure of van living straight away and give us a few quid to live on.... so again we decided, why not, what harm can it do to apply. We received an email a few days later invited to interview, that went well and 3 hours later we were offered the job!! Fastest job we've ever received - fate was clearly smiling down on us, and everything is aligning for us and our future.
Our biggest problem was where to store 2 shipping containers worth of storage and a house full of belongings, luckily this is where Em's mum came in, situated some 180 miles away from where we were currently living in the South and where most of Em's possession had already been put during her divorce the last couple years - but now she had even more stuff plus Fred added his fair share as well!! Em's Mum didn't have enough room to put everything so another storage unit was invested in, as we just didn't have the time to sell/reduce it in the 6 weeks time schedule. But after 8 trips later, several sleepless nights and a bit of stressing, everything was moved, packed and ready to go.
We said our goodbyes to everyone and left the South of England on Friday 8th March 2024, to start our new life. Our first trip was to stay a night at Em's mum, not only as a last chance to see her for awhile but also to break up the long journey. We got back on the road on Saturday morning and after some 5+ hours we finally reached our "new job and home" and WOW what a place to live and work!!
Not everyone can boast having a 16th Century castle remains in their back garden!!
So begins our new life journey....
Fred & Em
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