So, what can I say, nothing I suppose, except that it has been an extrodinarly long amount of time since my fingers last touched computers keys. It feels somewhat odd coming back to blogging, I am embarressed by my absence, the longer the gap the more awkward it became to come back.

Since the last posting, accounting for days 3 and 4 of my European motorcycle trip, things have obviously moved on. I returned to England, Britstol as it so happened, on September 24th 2019 (how weird that sounds, 2019) having covered 4,712 of the most wonderous miles. It was everything I hoped it would be, simple, eye opening and in parts breathtakingly beautiful.

I had the best intentions to commit to writing everyday about my travels but the journey overtook me and I got lost in it. It was simply all encompassing, too much living it to break out and write about it. I hope, that over a period of time, I may still recount tales of some of the places, faces and experiences I encountered.

I set about last year looking to change my life, break clear off and away from everything that did not add postivley; shred the stress, find my happy and live it and love it. There were many false starts but, even though at times I did doubt the santiy of what I was doing, change it did. As the trip progressed, life reduced to its simplest form and I began to find out not only who I am but, more importantly I think, what I am also about.

One of the things I did learn on my journey is that I am not ready to return to a 9-5 exsistance, I am done with those days, purely for my own sanity I need to find another way to earn my keep in the world. The other thing I discovered is my love of History. There is something fascinating to me as to what has gone before us and how that has shaped what we experience now. So, as I travelled around I made the decision that as I have made the break from working for a living I would take a History degree. It is something I have always talked about and the time was right to give it a go.

After a couple of frantic phone calls, endless days completing endless forms, arguments with Student Finance as to why I don’t exist on Government records and could therefore not receive a loan (more about that another time) , I was offered and accepted a place at the University of West England, Bristol, on a BA Hons History degree.

And that kind of brings us up to date, I will fill in all the gaps in blogs to come, but suffice to say that the life of a student is much more difficult than I thought it was going to be. I am, I have discovered, not very discplined in my approach to study. Oh well!

Now the apology. One other thing I have discovered is how very bad I am at continuing friendships. It is something I have struggled with all my life. Why, I am not sure, it may have something to do with always being on the move.? My father was in the R.A.F and I myself was in the Royal Navy for a while and as a consequence have moved around a lot. There is something about moving on that triggers a shut down on past freindships, it’s nothing personal it’s just the way I am wired I guess.

I have one amazing friend who has always been so important to me and I am embarrassed that I have let that freindship lapse. I have had little contact with her since leaving on my trip and even though I have returned to Bristol have failed to get in contact with her.

I hope she reads this, I hope that we can get back to where we were, for friends and family are probably two of the most important things a person needs in this world. As the gaps increased in communciating with my friend, I just began to feel embarassed and awkward about getting back in contact with her. And before you know it there’s no communicating at all and time slips away. I will do my best to reverse all that’s been done.

Until the next time….

Love and hugs

Els xx