shuvonshuvoff motorhome adventures

Every morning I loved getting up and heading out to Loch Morlich to go for a walk to clear my head. And every day the weather was so different so I didn't tire of the views across the loch because they were never the same. Thankfully at this time of year there are not many tourists around. Not everyone is as crazy as me heading to Scotland when the winter weather hits. So I would often not see anyone. I decided that it was time for me to wrestle my bicycle off the bike rack at the back of the motorhome once more and go for a bike ride into Aviemore along the "Old Logging Way. It was around five miles from the Glenmore campsite into the town centre.  It was so beautiful and I was blown away by the views of the snow capped mountains in the distance through the trees, as I rode along. I felt a total sense of freedom and at times I played at being a far more competent rider than I actually am, thinking I was cutting edge because I stood up in my seat on a steep ...

I have just had to pick up my car from my ex boyfriends, where I had been storing it during my travels, and taken it to my daughter in London so that she can use it when I am not needing it. This all reignited all my emotions surrounding my breakup. I stayed with some of my ex's friends who I had become friends with and they fed and watered me and kindly listened as I cried about how sad this all was. I also said my goodbyes to his parents which was very upsetting as they have been so lovely to me.  I came away feeling so churned up but realising that I have to get on with things and not wallow in self pity. Life goes on and I am on the most amazing journey and I will not let this ruin things for me. Time is a good healer. I got the train back up to Lancaster and parked up for the night in the certified location near my sisters.  The next day I did a long two hour walk into the city, where I met up with my sister and she took me for a few drinks and to see some liv...

One of the things I am loving about my travels is that I am reconnecting with old friends and I am having time to think about many of the good times in my life. Forty years ago I was a nurse at Pinderfields hospital in Wakefield. I shared a flat with another nurse called Jayne. We had such a lovely time and became great friends. I went to her wedding with Scott and became godmother to her daughter Laura. ( but I have to say I was not the best of godmothers) When my relationship with my daughter's father broke up when she was four, Jayne was there to support me over the years. Always helping with Sammy's birthday parties etc. We had not seen each other for twenty five years. Even though we did send Christmas cards regularly and message on Facebook. Life always got in the way.  So I was thrilled when she messaged that they were in the Lake District for the weekend and could we meet up. I was topping the water up in the motorhome with a watering can, back and forth from the w...

Since my last blog I have been blown away by the supportive and positive response from friends and family, as well as people who have just started to follow my blog. One friend called me up and when I answered the phone I heard her saying "he was F...ing punching above his weight love!! it makes me sad this has happened to you, you are such a lovely person" and that just made me laugh soooo much. It really has given me so much strength to pull myself together. After visiting my sister in Lancaster I drove up to Coniston in the in Lake District and set up camp. My mother and father had their honeymoon in the Lake District. I have no idea where and it is just another question I would have loved to call my mother and ask her, but sadly she died last March, and I miss her so much. When you arrive at a motorhome site to check in they show you a map of the site and you have to drive around and find a suitable pitch, then return to the office to tell them where you have decide...

Sometimes life has a way of giving you a reality check. Six months ago I retired and bought my motorhome and just over three months ago I set off travelling around Great Britain with such confidence. I wanted to challenge the stereotypes of retired pensioners and seek out places I had never known about.  I wanted to inspire and motivate older women to live their lives to the fullest. All the time in the background I had a wonderful man supporting my adventures. He has a few more years before he retires so he met up with me every couple of weeks on my journey. I felt so happy and complete. I really believed I had met someone who would be my soul mate and we would grow old together. I had been on my own for nearly eighteen years, bringing my daughter up as a single mother as I worked at the BBC. Then out of the blue twenty months ago I met a fella at a friends 30th wedding anniversary party and we just seemed to hit it off. The moment I met him I told him about my plans for Shu...