6 months in.....

It's hard to believe that we've been going 6 months already. It's been an amazing 6 months but also challenging, overwhelming and pretty darn tricky at times!

'What?' I hear you cry. 'Tricky? Pah! Try working for a living!'

We could never have imagined when we started planning this year what it would actually be like. Mark and I were focused on practical matters, flights, visas, insurance etc and the boys were thinking about which toys to car boot and if our first BnB had a swimming pool.

The challenges of our trip change month to month. First of all it's adjusting, realising that 'hyper holiday mode' cannot be sustained for 2 months, let alone a year! This is not a year long holiday, it's a choice of living differently for a year. So we need to do everyday stuff too and not feel guilty that we are not spending every waking hour sightseeing.

Then it's planning on the move. A large chunk of time each day is spent working out what next? Where do we go? Where do we stay? How do we get there? Is it in budget?And a huge pressure to do the thing justice. We have this magical year, we need to cram in as much as possible right?  But  we cannot do the Trip Adviser Top Ten everywhere cos frankly we'd be skint and back in Banham be now.

Next is the constant moving on. At first it's exciting, no, actually, always it's exciting. But it also gets wearing. Unpacking, sorting, washing, cramming then a day later packing my it up and going again. You do get used to living from a suitcase and fashion decisions are easier with so little choice! We've always found things a little easier when we've stayed put in a place for a week.

Now we come to the food shops. We are in a supermarket just about everyday as we have to keep costs down and don't always have facilities to store stuff. I hate shopping at the best of times but doing it with three hot and hungry boys is no fun. Mark wants scones ( he's becoming obsessed!) the boys want the toy eisle and  want someone else to put £20 worth of food in a bag and make it more exciting than i can!

Finally, I think, the biggest challenge of all. Waking, eating, washing, driving, eating, seeing, doing sleeping with the same three people for 190 days (so far) is pretty testing! It helps when they are your favourite three people in the world but man does it drive you crazy sometimes. Hearing every bodily noise, every whinge, moan, grump, every protest and argument. Of course you get to hear all the amazement, laughter, excitement, warmth , kindness and sharing of memories too.

So, after 6 months we are experts on each other, we can cram more into a flight bag than you would think possible, we can dress in a flash, we can find free and fab things to do almost anywhere. We are all better swimmers, eaters, and drink more water than ever before. We all still hate suncream, shopping and decisions. We are more open, empathetic, tolerant, curious and up for it!

We would not change a thing about the last six months but have learnt so much that will help us through the next six.  We are very fortunate to be on this adventure and to be sharing it with you guys.

Thanks for following the blog, even when I'm sure some days it just 'The Stevenson's on another blooming beach!'  We are grateful for every view and comment.  
Jo, Mark, Elliot and Freddy xxxx