GingeFringe

Thursday, 4 July 2013

Glass Half Full

Planning a trip like ours is challenging. For the years I've spent loosely and grandly imagining it in my mind, I've had no budget, journey length or destination. Its always been everything, everywhere, for ages. You may question if that is planning at all.

My ideas about this trip of a lifetime were similar to my ideas about life, aged 14. I didn't know how or when it would happen, but I knew everything would come together magically. But, as you gut wrenchingly come to understand, life isn't like that. It seems my Dad does know what he's talking about after all.

Well, I've made several realisations.... I don't have all the money in the world to travel for as long as I want, to every corner of the globe. And, more importantly, I have to take somebody else's thoughts and feelings into consideration. This is a first.

After coming down to reality, planning has come on a treat. I'm already so impressed that we've gone from having a continent in mind, South America, to pinpointing countries, cities, destinations and things! We know the Brazilian coastline and the peaks of Bolivia better than the streets of Chorlton at this point.

We have a (loose) budget in mind, (rough) dates for each country and a plan to work for an extended period (kind of)!

I've been following the adventures of Tom and Sarah at Never Ending Voyage, a site Oliver stumbled upon whilst looking for budgeting tips. This couple met and lived in Manchester too, but they've decided to sell everything they own and leave to travel forever. They have the advantage of a house they rent out while away, and a web design business they can work at on the go. They saved money and set off, and they have an income whilst away. It's my absolute dream.

I know I don't have the same luxuries, so it's sometimes been a challenge to focus on the trip I am doing, instead of the places I'm not going to see. I'm guilty of being a bit glass half empty at times.

Perspective is one of the biggest lessons I've learned recently. It can make such a difference to your happiness. I'm learning to let go of what's not happening and allow myself to be smug and enjoy exactly what is happening.

I was such a painful show off as a child and teenager. I still am, at heart. But I've been caught out on so many occasions that I am now very aware of sharing news. I shy away from status updates. I prefer a face to face confessional. This blog is really my own constructed show off. So I'm happy to gush about this trip. I really am so excited.

I'm excited to be joyfully unemployed in the sunshine. I'm excited to eat and drink and sleep and walk in a new town every week. I'm excited to have no Sky TV, no house and no bills! These are the positives, these are the things I AM DOING. It's worth remembering I'll be too busy to consider the things I'm not doing.

I just really like this picture...

Posted with Blogsy

Saturday, 22 June 2013

The Week In Pictures.

Thursday, 20 June 2013

Pop!

I realise I missed the 'Still Into You' bandwagon. I'm pleased. It feels better to hum my current favourite piece of pop, at my desk, with nobody recognising it from Radio 1. Katie Ferg told me I'd love it, f I took the time to listen, and she was dead right.

Paramore - "Still Into You"

Posted with Blogsy

Sunday, 16 June 2013

Happy Father's Day

Today is Father’s Day. My Dad is the best. You may have heard that a few times today, but I’m certain. My Dad is the best because he’s somebody I would choose to be friends with if he wasn’t my Dad, and I value my own opinion especially highly. We talk about government and travel and TV shows and scandal. I call him to discuss famous deaths and inappropriate comments made by MPs.

I know I get my love for news and knowledge and adventure from him. When I was a kid I didn’t understand why the news was the default TV channel, the same stories on repeat. But as an adult I start most days with a news channel, with a browse of BBC News or the Guardian on my iPad. I put Sky News on in the background when I’m pottering about my house at the weekend.. To my Dad, it’s just comfortable and I get that now.

I’m certain my upbringing is to thank for my love of maps, trains, airports, and adventure. I’m a nerd for journeys I’ve never undertaken before. I love to walk alone so I can find my way with or without a map. Discovering a Manchester street, previously unknown, is a joy to me. My Dad is an explorer and adventurer at heart. He spends his coveted 2 or so weeks abroad each year finding new beaches and native foods, learning foreign words and phrases and trying his luck with waiters, reading road maps and exploring undiscovered routes. Then he returns and reviews his destination online, forever cementing the experiences he’s had, reliving and recounting the details for future anecdotes.

I suffer from the same ailments as my parents. I turned 25 last summer and everything turned to shit. My knees starting hurting, my neck aches in the morning, my ears can’t stand the cold, I eat copious amounts of Dairy Milk. You see, I’m my Father’s daughter. Even these negatives link me to my Dad and it’s reassuring to know I’m similar to him. My Mother always scorns ‘you’re just like your Dad’ when I’ve said something especially unhelpful or sarcastic.

I’ll tell anyone who’ll listen that he’s hilarious, dry, witty and clever. I recount tales of my parents arguing, swearing and insults and all, because it’s always done with love and hilarity. Their arguments usually end with laughter, from spectators too. I want anyone that meets them to think they’re as hilarious as I do. It’s lovely to have such a high standard of family life to live up to. I feel lucky to know what family should be; loving and accepting.

My Dad is opinionated and sharp. He’s experienced life and draws from what he knows to be right in order to judge a situation. He needs a course in ‘political correctness 101’ but he’s liberal and fair and holds no grudge for those who differ from him in their lifestyle choices. I’m glad he’s my Dad.

Happy Father’s Day Dad.

My Dad posing for an imaginary European smoking campaign.

Mum and Dad at Manchester's Museum of Science & Industry.

Saturday, 15 June 2013

Mother's Birthday

I've been a while posting some pictures of my Mum's birthday because I got all pissed off with the last post I did. My 48 blogging apps and blogspot through a web browser via an iPad couldn't make sense of the size of my pictures. I ended up with page breaks and unwanted captions all over the place and I rather childishly thought 'oh fuck it' and tossed my iPad aside. Today I collected myself and fixed it with a good old laptop.

So here are some of the pictures I took over my Mum's birthday weekend. The first one is so special. I think it'll be a picture I come back to again and again. Yes, my Dad's back is turned, but Joseph and my Mum are grinning at each other, clearly excited about that strawberry tart (birthday candle included). This picture says a lot about my Mum. She adores Joe. And she's the happiest woman I know.

See, who wouldn't be excited about that tart?

These were the only clouds I saw all weekend.

Oliver made pulled pork, which went down a treat.

This just about sums up my Dad's free time when I come home to visit.

My Mother and I have found a shared love of Prosecco.

Birthday Beautiful!

Monday, 10 June 2013

A Trip Home

Last weekend Oliver and I went to Corby for the weekend, for Christenings and Birthdays. I stayed a little longer to hang out with my Ma and Pa. The weather was beautiful, I ate and drank lots and managed to see a big chunk of my family, which is always lovely for me since I live a while away.

Here are a few highlights from Georgia's Christening...