"Pack yourself a toothbrush dear, pack yourself a favourite blouse. Take a withdrawal slip, tak

Thank you for getting as far as potentially reading my first ever Blog! ;-)

I don't know about you but I feel the world today seems to be full of sales pitches, Do you love your job posts?... Hey! You're terrible with money...fancy a credit card!? All things aimed at people living to work to pay for a lifestyle most of us cannot afford! What happened to working to live?!

I hope to share adventures with you all! If nothing else just simple days exploring this beautiful world we live in. Enjoying time outside of work, away from the madness.

Some things cost us nothing at all like friendships, a smile, hugs and the only thing it will actually cost you is your time! That also won't last long but I can tell you now it will last that little bit longer than some fancy shoes and expensive hair doo's.

So that being said I would like to introduce you to my game changer. Earl the Volkswagen T25 Westfalia Joker.

I spent most of my childhood dreaming of owning a campervan, in fact I'm sure if you asked my parents they will still have my god awful 'dream boards' that I created. A dream board was something I would make growing up to display what I would LOVE and if I dreamt of it enough... one day I might just be lucky enough to have and achieve it. In this case my dream board did me proud (not as pink and as fluffy, with flowers and polkadots I should add) But none the less everything i'd ever wanted right there.

I had been searching for a long time but everything was either too far to travel to, or in most cases SO MUCH MONEY! On this occasion my parents had their camper van beautifully restored locally by WABOO (http://www.wabooautomotive.co.uk) Who happened to mention of a future sale of a T25 Westy. Music to my ears! Although very impatient I had to wait, it wasn't available until the end of July. It felt like an eternity, this was the only moment in my life I wished for time to pass quickly!

I went along to see the camper van already knowing I wanted it, but trying so very hard to tell myself to be sensible. The rest is history. Payment made, the Joker was mine! I'm not sure about other campervan owners but that moment you shake a mans hand as an exchange of a sale for something you have longed for your entire life, it is the most exciting moment. The family I purchased Earl from were the most wonderful people. I am still in contact today and hopefully for many years to come. I have no idea how it must of felt to sell something you have worked so hard for, traveled many miles together in, their beautiful on the road home. However Earl is in good company and his legacy is set to continue.

I didn't wait around 12 hours later Earl had a full tank and a road trip ready playlist! I set off in convoy with my family to the Coast. No time like the present hey?! Incredibly apprehensive, nervous, excited, overwhelmed (THE VAN IS ACTUALLY MINE??!!!)

I sat at 54 in the slow lane with sweaty palms and a heart that was about to explode!

We made it! Beer in hand Earl did me proud, the 4 hour drive gave me enough time to settle in to a left hand drive 34 year old vehicle. But also enough time to continuously pinch myself...and yes I was living this dream.

That weekend was full of BBQ's, Bubble blowing, wine drinking and being that person who looks back about 6 times whilst walking away from the car park, smiling like a child on Christmas day.

So this is where our adventure begins...I hope to document my travels in Earl to keep a record but also to share some travel tips, camping gizmos and gadgets, must do's and must see's, the people I meet, my photography and the lessons i've learnt along the way. See you on the road.

Happy camping.

Big love.

Jess x