The highs, lows and boring parts.
When we tried to write a blog in 2023 to summarise the year and what the future held we didnt know what to share, as we still had doubts as to whether we would actually get to the next stage of living our dream. As 2024 comes to a close we've done more travelling this year than any previous year, and although at times it does not feel like we have done the jaw dropping crazy adventures we love, we have all made many great memories as we move forward into 2025.
Thankyou to everyone of our followers, family and friends who spur us on, stay connected and enjoy us sharing a story of what we get upto, and as we get used to being infront of the camera more we hope to show you more fun and interesting parts of our lives. At the start of this year we were still living in the house we had spent 13 years building, wishing each week away as we waited for completion and tried to find a place that we would purchase as cutting all ties and coming off the housing market here in the UK is not an option for us at the moment. The first few months were spent researching as we had decided before jumping into a boat and sailing the world we would stick to what we knew - motorhoming just on a larger scale - queue extreme bingeing on Youtube and Google searches to find something we could use to explore far flung places and live in as a family. Before the house had sold we met with the team over at https://www.motorcraftadventuredevelopments.com/ and decided they would be our goto for the build, the truck hunt went on. A few days before the house sale was due to complete we decided we needed a few weeks break and escaped to Cyprus, having moved everything out the back door as the new owners moved their belongings in the front. A common theme in 2024 was going on trips and the focus being taken away as we had other dramas and activities so although we visited 6 countries this year we will definitely be revisiting them but as we move into 2025 look out for the hints and tips on how we find the best deals we can when booking last minute and what pitfalls not to make in the countries we visited.
In Cyprus we bought a truck not just any truck a French 2004 MAN Fire Engine and arranged for it to be brought back to the UK, modified and converted into our home as much as we would love to be sharing pictures until its back in our hands early next year you will have to imagine what its transformation will look like. We hope the fact it is from 2004 is a good omen as thats the year Ben and I met.
From Cyprus to Doncaster, back to Cornwall then upto bonny Scotland - again not so much exploring as we fitted Lea's mum and dad's new kitchen and uncovered some more work that needed doing so after 6 weeks with a bit of exploring Arrochar and the Highlands for a few days we got it 90% complete and had to head back to Cornwall again via Doncaster. Weve been very much in constant communication about the truck asking questions and putting forward our ideas as it is a dream of ours and something we only get one shot at - it would take many years of work to be able to replace this if it went wrong. After spending the summer in Cornwall and Hereford moving between pet sits and holiday accomodation we decided we couldn't sit still so as the kids friends went back to school, we headed off to attempt to cycle from Cornwall, via France to Santander - note attempt as weather, bugs and food poisioning meant three weeks in we came home - now thats a video we cannot wait to see as there were some emotional moments and some great ones like the children learning the Haribo song in french with a group of cyclists we followed for a few days on our trips.
We came back and threw ourselves into work and tried to give the kids a bit of routine for a few months whilst we waited for the truck to be done in November and the property we were buying to complete. Itchy feet and a conversation about visiting Iceland - winter is the best time for The Northern Lights - queue a last minute trip and a bucket list trip ticked for Ben's dad - with icebergs, volcanos, black beaches and The Northern Lights it really was an amazing trip just tainted with Ben receiving some health news that his heavy lifting and physical jobs had taken its toll on his knees. Memories were created that will last a lifetime - its not easy to describe the surreeal feeling of being in a natural warm bath watching a volcano whilst the sky erupts in Green. Back home and keeping everything crossed for delivery before Christmas as we edged closer we decided that as our first Christmas as a 4 and we didn't have the home we had been planning yet it was time to disappear again and for us Christmas will be spent in Malaga and the start of 2025 will be brought in surrounded by the mountains and snow of Sierra Nevada.
As we enter 2025 we are looking forward to sharing the truck, its internal fit out and sharing how we juggle work, home schooling and building our home before embarking on some more travels but most important of all making memories that last a lifetime.
We wish you all a Merry Christmas and look forward to sharing more memory making trips in 2025,
Ben, Leanda, Liam & Sophia
We would love to hear what your memories from 2024 are so please share them?
We will end the year by writing a list of things we are grateful for in 2024 ending the year appreciating what we have done before moving forward to our 2025 plans
Happy Christmas
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