A journal to record travels, observations, and musings which started for my year off from April 2019 replacing fixed abode, work and normal life, with a more simple life, and extended european campervan-based travel – my version of a ‘Grand Tour’.
The 2019-20 career break was long-planned, but in the end framed and driven by unforseen, un-sought, and significant twists and turns. These continue to unfold in the second half of this life’s journey passing through globally and personally-momentous 2020 and now into 2022.
I discovered campervan travel in 2010, and my joy in exploring from a miniature home from home is still there more than 10 years later. I follow in the footsteps of fellow campervan voyagers – using their fantastic travel info, from the contributors to MM Magazine, and the bloggers, of which special mention must go to ourtour.co.uk and before that ‘doyourdream’ and ‘europebycamper’. I am still wanting to seek out the many and varied landscapes, flora and fauna, as well as the cultural heritage in the villages, towns and cities, of primarily Western Europe.
Whilst having tried and failed several times in my life to establish a habit of journaling, this blog seems to have done it, so will continue with it in this next decade.
About Me
In a nutshell …
I’m Jackie, middle-aged, reasonably conventional, grateful to be born into the 2nd half of the 20th century and Western Europe, feminist, mother of three fantastic adults, but not yet grandmother (still true as at Sep 2022), ex-wife of, through the years when all said and done, a great husband and Dad to our children, the story of which while contributing to the journey, is not for here…, follower of Jesus Christ, IT worker (latterly business analyst, but as of Apr 21 not working), avid R4 listener, and scandi-noir watcher, Stevie Wonder and Federer fan, Remainer, hobbyist cyclist, walker, guitar player, every now and then still badminton, squash and now occasional padel player, and last but certainly not least member of a wonderful extended family and great community of friends.
I want to live a ‘good life’, ‘to the full’ – but this is in constant tension with awareness of my material and health advantages, in comparison with the fact that from a global perspective I am one of the fortunate few. I am in awe of the wonder of our planet, and all its life and history; I love to experience its beauty and yet am saddened by the damage we humans, including myself of course, are doing to it.
All things considered, seizing the day has become one of my (many) mantras! 🙂