What the hell am I doing?

Start a blog they said, it will be great they said !
mmmmm how about it’s not easy and like everything in my life I appear to be totally clueless and totally unprepared.

Is this the theme of my life? Am I the middle aged woman who has as much self control as a toddler?!

Let’s face it, how many people just sell everything they own, render themselves homeless ( I don’t even own a spoon) and then decide at 57 to travel through Europe, apparently it’s more than we think, but, this is my story and it’s a warts and all adventure that started over a year ago, it’s been fabulous, fucking hilarious, frightening and at times heartbreaking but I’ve discovered so much about myself it’s been a bit too much to take at times to be honest.

How about I start at the beginning, because don’t all good stories start at the beginning?

Just under a year ago I found myself feeling like I was in prison, it was a lovely 3 bedroom prison in a lovely country town in NSW Australia and I got day release whenever I wanted but it was still prison! So I made a snap decision (I’m well known for them) to sell and buy a one way ticket to the UK, I’ve always had a deep connection to the Uk having been born there and lived there in my 20’s plus family , so it was a no brainer and of course it was a hop, skip and a jump to Europe.

Ive always felt different, never quite like my friends, I’m that person who wants to be asked places but probably won’t come. Independent and outspoken but can be a terrible people pleaser and now at almost 59 I’m still a work in progress, I think we all are to some degree. I found myself at a time in my life where I had no dependents, no grandchildren, fitter than I’d ever been and free as a bird and a question kept running through my head “what will you do with this one wild and precious life” the answer was simple.

It didn’t take long to sell my house ( proof I priced it too low) but the deed was done and my business class ticket purchased (have to do it once) and my goodbyes said! My hardest goodbyes to my best friend , my dog , my ride n die friends and my parents , yeah I know who leaves the dog, it wasn’t easy and I still cry to this day so keep the judging to a minimum please.

I boarded my business class flight trying desperately to look like I owned the frickin plane, I failed, apparently I have a very expressive face, I was overly grateful to the stewards and that was a dead giveaway but the champagne flowed and I unapologetically captured the moments with my iPhone and tried to keep my gasps of awe to a minimum and slept like a baby to Malaysia and then again to Heathrow, like I said gotta do it at least once.

I had already prearranged some travel from Oz, I had wanted to fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting the Amalfi Coast and found a fabulous tour group who hiked through Amalfi @walkaboutitaly , they matched me with another solo lady from Canada who I’m still in contact with and I ended up saving some money so immediately booked myself on a trip to Spain and Portugal.

I loved being back in the UK and seeing my son and other family, I spoke to my family in Oz and my friends regularly and then it came time to jump on a flight to Madrid and I was so nervous, I hadn’t travelled solo since I was in my 20’s, I was a total fraud, I’m not brave, I’m old and I’m alone and like the song “at first I was alone , I was petrified” FYI I had booked with a tour group, I was about to be with about 50 other people ! Shut up Gloria , it’s amazing the bullshit we tell ourselves !

Now at this stage I should mention I often do things and worry about the details later, this was one of those times!

If you’ve stuck with me so far and enjoyed my musings then please stay tuned and tell your friends, the story doesn’t end like this what kind of blog would it be ! Part 2 is coming soon.

Happy travels

Sal x