2019 a year of reflection.

As my babe has his early morning nap and I drink my morning coffee it feels a perfect time to jot some words down and reflect on 2019 and what's to come in 2020.

It's been a wonderful year in many ways, the stream of texts I have received sharing nothing will beat this year as Albie was born, it's a strange one as although it was a year of greatness due to the birth of my long awaited boy there's a deep part of me that is definitely ready to say goodbye to 2019 and welcome 2020 with open arms.

2019 did bring us Albie but it also brought us 7 months of worry before he was born, questions of would we be lucky enough to get to 9 months, was this really happening for us, learning to understanding a new world of pregnancy and saying goodbye to an old world of fertility treatment (which yes is great but it's also all we have known for 6yrs and had defined part of me in a lot of ways). I also held and still do guilt that we got our rainbow baby and all my friends still in the struggle of fertility hadn't. I also wasn't ready to forget the journey to get Albie as much as others had, it is and was part of our journey and it isn't easy to just forget it.

Albie came with a huge bang and although my honesty is hard for others it wasn't the enjoyable few months I had imagined, he was our world but our world also felt like it had crashed down and shattered around us and my mental health plummeted. I never thought that would be the case for me as I firmly believed years of trying would only bring pure happiness. I didn't cry when he was born, I felt relief we had survived. I loved him but didn't know him and felt very confused by what I could provide and what others expected from me. I am still traumatised from the birth, something I so hoped wouldn't be the case.

Albie came along which was wonderful but the impact it had on me emotionally and physically and on our relationship hasn't been great. I move into 2020 with plans of how to take care of myself, I have started in the last few months writing more, swimming, making plans for adventures and even setting some exciting new projects up in my work ready for when I go back in April.

As Albie has become more 'human' and not a squirmy ball of squish I understand him, enjoy him and love him harder every day. I feel my fierce lioness protecting him but its took time and I am not ashamed to admit that.

I chose to write openly and honestly as I hate the lies that parents are forced or choose to give about parenting being this 'easy ride' this glow of perfect paternal beauty, maybe it is for some but from what I find, when your open and honest, you allow someone else to be too and that in itself is so empowering for Mum's but also women supporting women.

So 2020 brings me going back to work, a change in my hours meaning more time with Albie but also a good balance for me to find me, I have worked hard to specialise in what I do and I am not ready to lose that, I am more than Albie's Mum.

It brings a holiday to Malham, Portugal, Isle of Arran, Italy and Shambala festival and many more adhoc van adventures.

It brings Sam sharing maternity/paternity leave and having 3 months of with our wee boy.

Mostly it brings a year of focusing on us, the five of us, our little family, we are complete now, and I am ready to embrace us as a whole and start this year focusing on the beauty we have between us, putting 2019 to bed and moving forward with a year full of fun and adventure.

Hill Fort Camping - a trip into Stumble Head

We took our usual Summer trip to Wales this year, it was as always wonderful and the weather was great, we went to two new campsites this year and I was blown away by one that I have decided to blog solely about this site.

A few years ago, 6 in fact we took a trip to a wild and wonderful campsite in Dorset, we had found out about it on a blog and I remember feeling such joy at the sharing of it, I chose to then to blog myself about it Jim's Camping and even now it's my most popular blog written, finding these hidden treasures is so important and the sharing of them is even greater (Sam feels otherwise, he likes to keep them to just us, ha).

Each year we attempt to take on another part of the Pembrokeshire Coast Trail, we knew we were going back to our usual haunt of Caerfai Bay, so decided to split the journey by staying at Strumble Head as our 2nd stop. Strumble Head is another wonderful part of the coastal path situated in North Pembrokeshire and is known for its rocky landscape and famous lighthouse. Both friends and family had trekked this part of the trail last year and shared it's beauty so it was an obvious stop for us.
Sadly in serious of actual twists and turns I managed to dislocate my ankle so didn't manage to walk any of the coastal path, so my time in Stumble Head was spent mostly at the campsite which wasn't so bad with the sun shining and our aces camp spot. I managed a smile climb and got a couple of shots of the views.

Hill Fort Tipi's is a greener camping club member, which means a number of the facilities must meet certain standards.   Hill Fort is a national trust land (I believe) and only allows a certain number of campers to stay, each spot is secluded and feels your wild camping. There is the option to stay in the larger field where kids usually stay so they can play together. As you can imagine we took a spot far away from everyone and spent 3 days only seeing Katie and Johnny (the owners of the Campsite).  

We had our new awning to play with also,  we were so pleased with it and it worked great for allowing us to have shade and sun, Socks took the opportunity to laze the day away under it also. We had decided we wanted a different awning to normal campervan one's and knew we wanted a festival style, tent like awning. Cloudhouses were great at delivering just that and it has a hint of purple, everything needs purple.

Johnny and Katie the owners of the campsite were awesome, individual and very sociable, but great hosts, looking after my swollen ankle, bringing wood when needed and being on hand to help with food, walking, local information.

Before my ankle went we did manage to climb one of the hill's and watched sunset up the top, it was spectacular seeing the landscape in front of us and enjoying the views. On the evening we enjoyed fires in the fire pit provided and ate al fresco  at the home made tables. It was just a perfect few days and have already planned to go back next year, this time with a bit more walking. 

3yrs on... still trying, lets plan a holiday!

Ooof where to start today, my holiday maybe, we decided to go away for some sunshine, we couldn't go to India for certain reason's, so chose the next hot place we could afford, La Palma, Canary Islands, 'as it always is sunny in the Canaries they say', hmm, seems not. This isn't  a blog about my holiday but a blog about what keeps me going through the torrent of trying to conceive. One of those things being planning and organising delicious things to keep me sane and have things to look forward too. So the Canaries was not hot, my holiday wasn't super relaxed and i missed Socks (not literal Socks, my doggy).

I realised a few things on this holiday, it was a time for reflection and a time to recognise how we move into our 3rd year, still childless, still hoping and not letting this journey break us. I don't want to mumble through a sad, poor me blog, as i dont feel poor me, i dont feel 'why us' were happy, healthy and have a great life but there's challenge that comes that no one can feel unless they have experienced or realised what it's like having years, not months, years of trying, waiting, hoping then disappointment each month for years and still at the end still not knowing if i will ever grow a baby.
What i realised on my holiday was i have changed, this journey has changed me, i see the world differently to how i used to 3yrs ago, i see fertility differently, i see my body differently and how it functions and responds. I see others differently and how they react and respond. I know who my towers of strengths are, friends who have supported me in ways that have given me what i needed just when i needed it, that self care package that turns up through the post or little quote that makes me smile. I have seen positive and negative changes in me, i have learnt i am strong and have a really positive view on this world and people. I have learnt it's okay to not want to hang out with that friend who has just had a baby, it's okay to say 'actually i just need a bit of space'. Saying no isn't being selfish, it's self care.  I have realised my dog, Socks gives me more than any human, she makes me smile when no one else can, she lets me cry and clearly doesn't say it's going to be okay and she makes me get out and walk when sometimes i want to hide. I now realise anxiety is part of my life, i do struggle at times and being in my nest makes me feel safe and secure. Yoga gives me strength and when i take time to commit to 20mins a day it gives me the power to go through the day. I have learnt blogging and writing lets me express and share and its cathartic and therapeutic.

I have also learnt so many people experience or have experienced fertility related problems and when you talk about it, people share who have never shared before. I do enjoy hearing stories of other people's journeys but from their mouths not others, as everyone has a friend who....

I want fertility issues to be something more talked about, i am open and honest about our journey, some things i chose not to share, as i have to remember there is 2 of us in all of this, but i want is it to be okay to say 'you know what it isn't happening for us' that doesn't mean i am going to break down crying, i don't need your sympathy or sad face just talk to me like this is okay and just another of life's challenges.

So what happens next who knows, what i have learnt is that knowing something delicious is on the cards, then that keeps me focused, keeps me strong and lets me know what i have is already enough.

Wonderful Malham

I first visited the Yorkshire Dales just over a year ago with the famalam and since then I have ventured back there 3 times. It’s such a magic place and holds a special part in my heart. Over the year I have learnt more about the magic it holds and the life within it. A good friend lives in a village close by and being able to become part of Dale’s life has opened another world in this wonderful land.

Our first trip was a family holiday, with my brother being down South we decided to head to the country for the weekend, and the Yorkshire Dales was the chosen spot. My Mum and Ron had visited many times and knew Malham Cove. We stayed in a cottage in the village of Hebden which is a short drive to Malham. Malham Cove is an incredible limestone formation (the same stone as Ha Long Bay, Vietnam), the cove reminds me of the Giants Causeway with its large rock pavement at the top. The limestone cove was formed by a waterfall carrying meltwater from glaciers, as you walk out over the pavement you can see down onto the picturesque village of Malham and can spend a long time in awe of the surrounding views.

The walk to the cove takes you past Janets Foss, a waterfall where fairies supposedly live, up to Gordale Scar another limestone ravine featuring two waterfalls. You then head up over the Dales and along to climb up onto the cove then down to The Lister Arms, a tasty country pub in the heart of Malham Village.

I feel I have been lucky enough to see Malham in many ways, by visiting and staying not just as a tourist. I have been lucky enough to get to know some of the locals and make sense of the life it means to live in a tourist packed part of the UK, I have learnt the frustrations this brings but have shared the joy I find being a tourist, the warmth Malham brings and the goodness it spreads from its idyllic sights.

Each time I find a newness to enjoy and have climbed new hills, taking on Pikedaw, venturing high above Gordale Scar, looking down from a new angle. I have visited secret wishing wells, and learnt about Belted Galloway Cows, I have learnt the different ways of farming and held teeny lambs with no Mum’s. I have eaten wild garlic that grows in abundance and seen deer running wild along the dales nr Janets Foss. I have talked engagements, walking clubs and adopted dogs. I have been with our socks and without and managed a new walk each time or an added addition to a previous walk.

The last time we visited was my birthday and sadly the van was being repaired so we headed back to stay in canvas. We chose to stay at the same campsite we had planned in the van and booked a spot at  Gordale Scar Campsite  it’s a wonderful site, deep in the depths of the dales and a stone’s throw from Gordale Scar, and a short walk from the Lister Arms. The campsite has its pure positives but one thing I love after a hearty walk is a deep soak in a shower and sadly with no facilities it was baby wipes all the way, not as appealing, hey?

We took a big walk on the Saturday, heading to Malham Tarn and around, along Dry Valley then onto the Cove. We spied peregrine Falcons nesting in the cove and spent both evenings enjoying the fine tastes at The Listers. We walked back around 8pm, the sky was wonderful and the paths were so quiet we found it was just us three all the way to Janet’s Foss, we walked through the meadows of wild garlic and took in the deep delicious smells that surrounded us.

I know Malham is filled by tourists but for me it’s a special place that steals my heart each time. I know every time I leave I am already planning the next time we will be back, it holds such joy and I know will be a place that forever lives in the depths of my soul.

Eden Festival - Mud and Glitter

We found ourselves venturing to the garden of Eden last week for our first festival of 2017, and our first festival for some time. Eden is set in the Raehills Meadows, nr Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway (Scotland). Eden had been a festival on our radar for sometime as a good friend works one of the dub tents there, so we had heard about the delights a lot from him.

With not getting Glastonbury tickets, and the mixed feelings this brings we decided to descend on some smaller more local festivals and enjoy some new delights.

Eden's line up was a mash up of garage, disco, folk, soul, gypsy punk, dub and dance. It basically had it all and we enjoyed an array of new and old music tastes. The highlights being Gogol Bordello, So Solid Crew, Boney M and a band called Sketch who mixed traditional folk with dance.
I was so excited to see So Solid Crew, for the hillarity more then anything but wow they pulled a great set and the tent was electric with energy and everyone going wild for the garage beats. We even got to hang out with them afterwards which was so funny, a game of swingball, a little photo op and hearing whats ahead for the South London crew.

Sketch totally blew us away, we were ready for bed and decided to bumble down to the main stage, describing themselves as Celidh techno they really got the crowd going and before we knew it we were bobbing around ciders in hand.

I love a good workshop at a festival, Shambala festival is great for this however the workshops always fill quickly. At Eden they run a number of workshops each day, however there on every day so it's great as if you miss it one day you can catch it another. I managed to convince Sam to attend an intro to Indian head massage which was so fun, Sam gained a lot of the benefits, falling asleep as i messaged him. It was great to do something a bit different and the power from the energy boosted us ready for Saturday frolics.

I wished i had spent more time in The Lost Disco area, however we always seemed to be pottering elsewhere, they have a huge flashing dance floor and glitter balls and sparkles all over.
Being in the van was a total delight, we weren't camped with friends sadly as we arrived later, however the festival is only 5000 capacity so it was always easy to find folk. It was a dream having nice sleeps, being warm, coffee and sandwiches in the morning and just the greatness vanlife brings. We made the decision we wouldn't being going back to canvas, were tent lovers all the way now!
The rain poured and the mud came strong but it was so fun and no one seemed too bothered about splodging around ankle deep in mud. We will definitely be back next year for another adventure in the fields of Eden.

First Adventure in the Van - North York Moors

We did it, we got our first trip away in the van, okaies so it wasn't fully finished but that was kind of our plan, encase we needed to make adjustments etc. We had really blasted through working the Easter weekend and were so happy with how far we had come with the help of my Step-pa. 

We chose the North York Moors as our first adventure, we have only ventured here once and felt it was near enough home if anything went wrong but far enough away to be in the wilds of the moors. We had decided we wanted to stay on a farm esk campsite and found out about Low Bell End Farm online, it's a lovely space with incredible views across the Rosedale Moors. 

There was hardly anyone in the field, and the we were so happy with our chosen spot. We positioned the van so we could see out of our window in the morning, the weather was meek at times so we didn't spend too much time lazing around outside, however if we were we would set up a picnic spot to the front/back of the van so we could enjoy the views when not in bed. 

We did get a bit of rain but it was so nice being in bed, snug under the warmth of blankets, hot tea and a good book, we watched the rain pass then headed out for a lengthy hike/ramble

We had picked the Rosedale Railway walk, however didn't have an OS map, Sam takes on map reading and gets frustrated with walking books as descriptions are easily lost. We walked 3 mile extra, after becoming slightly lost and ended up hiking up the moors (after our picnic, massive fail) to reach the top of the Railway walk. However it was beautiful and rugged and the colours were outstanding, the gorse was in abundance and Spring life was flourishing.

This was just after we made it to the top, the walk was a circular and in total we managed 12.5 miles, i think a record for both of us walking and definitely for Socks, she was exhausted after.

There wasn't much we wanted to change on the van either, a few minor things to stop the baskets and fridge moving about but that would easily be done. We also needed to finish the tiling and sink area but apart from that we were really pleased with our first outing and just both felt the calm evoke us as our travelling toes took us outside into nature again. 

I do love a project but there's nothing like enjoying the completed product. 

Sri Lanka searching

So with our unexpected year not turning into the year we wished for we decided we would take the positive and head of on another adventure to a new land, or maybe old. A colleague had just been walking in the Himalayas and my need to drink chai and get back to India was bubbling inside, I broached the subject with Sam, however was quickly told no and reminded we had just bought a house, I left it and pondered and obviously pestered and managed to find flights from Edinburgh for a decent price, with a few quieter words Sammy was convinced, the flights were booked and Sri Lanka was the destination. 

We had wanted to go to Sri Lanka when travelling in 2014, however our time and money just wouldn’t allow it so we decided to give it a miss knowing it was somewhere we could enjoy on a 3wk holiday. We sat down with our guidebook and map and discussed what our wishes were from the holiday, as always I wanted beach, a good hike with a touch of history, I am so lucky having Sam as my travel buddy we pretty much always want the same, he is a great beach bum, loves indulging in a good book and battling the waves. We had some advice from others and decided that with 3wks we had enough time to venture South then make our way North, we also had friends we wished to meet in Ella so made sure we had a good couple of days with them also. 

We flew into Colombo and decided to stay in the capital for one night, we had a long flight so knew we would want to rest when we arrived and snooze the afternoon away, Sam had found the Silvikris Villas, which was nestled away, the ease of the taxi from the airport slowly turned into unease as we drove around looking for our accommodation, however with lots of asks we found our stay and checked ourselves in.

Sam and I love venturing and seeing the capital, it’s always so busy and mental and it’s great to dive in and experience it for a few hours. We found a place to eat before crashing out for the afternoon, as always with our limited language we bumbled our way through ordering and managed to get a few rotis and some dips. That evening we took a stroll out to the cricket, Sam has always talked of wanting to watch cricket in another country so we paid our 25p and took our seats amongst the locals, I must admit I snoozed the afternoon away on the hill, with the joy of cheering and laughter in the background. Sam had a great time and I could see from the smile on his face and the temptation to come back the next day for more showed his pure enthusiasm for the sport and enjoyment of watching it in another country. 

After the cricket we headed to Galle face Green for sunset, it was rammed with locals and food vendors and we tried our hand at some street food, deep fried, spicy and interesting, we strolled back and forth, people watching and taking photos. As we left we were followed by a myriad of flea ridden dogs, to which I partially freaked out and ran into a posh hotel to get rid of them, they wouldn’t stop following our scent which was hilarious or maybe they just knew we were different and may have food. 

We took the train to Mirissa the following morning, our first journey on Sri Lankan trains, it was rammed on the train, there was no room to sit and sadly the beautiful view out the window was only enjoyed at intermittent points, however when it was seen it was a total joy, coastline, blues, tropical greens and rustic browns, families enjoying life and getting on with everyday chores, the snapshots seen were wonderful and a much difference to some of the sights I have seen on other train journeys. 

We arrived in Mirissa and had decided to stay at Amarasinghe Guesthouse, some friends had stayed here a few years before and really rated it, Sam and I love a good recommendation so we decided to go for it. We were lucky as the guest house was empty so we had a whole area to ourselves which was gorgeous and looked out onto a garden with spices and sweet delicious smells. We enjoyed tasty curry and rice there that evening and spent the days lolling about on the beach and attempting not to be sucked under by the waves. We also had booked our whale watching tour in Mirissa, with a company called Raja and the Whales, again they had been recommended, however Sam had chosen to do some reading and was really pleased with the values they held http://www.rajaandthewhales.com/ they carry out work with Edinburgh university and were one of the first companies operating whale tours. We took our trip the next morning and rose early, I swallowed my seasickness tablet willing not to be affected, however with my track record it was obvious I would be, the sickness came as we headed out and although I managed the tour there was defiantly a few icky moments. The guys shared a lot about the whales (I wish I had been able to concentrate on it all), they shared how they would track the whales and what they would do once they spotted a whale. The trip paid off and we managed to see 3-4 blue whales, we mainly saw the backs of the whales as they dived down and sadly no tail flicks, however the joy of seeing them was mind blowing and was worth the sickness. We came back in that afternoon and snoozed on the sands then eat out that night, enjoying more rice and curry, sadly no lion beer as the brewery had been flooded so I ordered a cheeky cocktail and took in the evening sunset with my love. 

We woke the next morning and headed to Tangalle, another beach spot and our plan was 3 days of doing nothing but reading and sunbathing, we bought our yummy egg samosas and took the bus to Tangalle from Mirissa, the hustle and bustle that surrounded us was wonderful to watch, people staring as they saw us on the bus, talking and asking us where we were from and why we were travelling there Sri Lanka. 

We arrived in Tangalle and fell upon a wonderful accommodation, sadly it didn’t have a name as was still being rebuilt from the tsunami, the owner had two rooms but was in the midst of building another four further back, due to this he gave us a great price, our room looked right out onto the ocean, the room was nestled in between the palm trees and was an adorable spot for the next three nights. My favourite part of Tangalle was that there was what we called ‘the lazy river’ it was a pool where the water became trapped between the rocks and it was so funny going from one end to the other, sadly the rest of the sea was too crashing to lull about in so the lazy river was our main hang out when the tropical sun took over. Tangalle was super quiet and still, with nothing going on but a couple of restaurants, it was ideal to just switch of, read and really shake the worries away. 

From Tangalle we headed into Ella, we were meeting friends in the hills for a few days, we had two days booked and Sam had organised a wonderful homestay that looked out over Ella Rock, Nimsara Homestay, it was a wonderful two room stay above the home of the hosts, the food was absolutely delicious, some of the best we have tasted in Sri Lanka, we ate at Nimsara both nights and couldn’t have asked for more from our stay. We had decided we would spend one full day out and about, a morning walk and late afternoon due to the midday sun being too much. We climbed Little Adams Peak in the morning, up to the tea factory, across the railway line (for miles) then back to Ella for some lunch. That evening we headed back out along the railway tracks to mini ravana falls, it was crazy watching and talking to people as they ambled along the train tracks, living just off the tracks with small homes and showers outdoors for the world to see. A train came past as were walking and we were quick to jump on the side as it zoomed its way along. Sam decided to be the daredevil he is and climb out on the top of the waterfall (there was no water so it was empty) with a local guy, the fear struck us all and we quickly urged him back as we could only see his head. The waterfall is part of the walk to Ella Rock, which we had decided not to take on, however a few late travellers passed us by as we turned ourselves around and headed back into Ella for drinks. 

We woke the next morning with blurry heads, we had a couple of buses to take before we got to our next destination which was Arugam Bay, on route to the bus stop a tuktuk drive accosted us and asked if we would like a cheap tuktuk all the way to ‘A Bay’, obviously dubious we started to walk away, however then realised this guy was being serious and when we worked out the effort and cost of the bus to the tuktuk it was a difference of £3, so in we hopped and off we went. It was so much fun, yep I was hungover but what a dream a tuktuk straight there, it took around 3.5hrs and we drove through so many interesting spots, towns, national parks, elephant stoppings, it was great, I snoozed and took in the journey, Sam chatted away to our driver who lived in A Bay and wanted to get home to his family after dropping a couple of in Ella. It was a perfect way to travel and such a great experience to add to the adventure we were on. 

We arrived in A Bay and planned to stay at a certain beachfront accommodation, however it was full and brimming with your classic backpackers so we headed in and came across The Folly, which was literally a dream stop and exactly what we were looking for, a hut on the beach which was clean and had frangipani trees situated in the beach filled garden. We could see and hear the sea and there were deckchairs out front for lounging when not on the beach, yep the next 4 days were definitely sorted. 

Arugam Bay was totally beautiful and such a delight, situated on the Indian Ocean, the sea was wild and there was so many great surf spots, Sam decided it was all a bit too cool and advanced so we gave the surf a miss but enjoyed scooting out to see some of the surf hang outs and play about in the ocean waves without a board. My most favourite part of Arugam was the elephants, so many wild ones, we took a bike out one day and managed to spot two elephants playing in water and then another family on the way home at dusk, there wild large frame just idling through the sandy terrain, we sat for some time just watching and willing for a closer look however we respect there wild and wondrous ways and enjoyed this scene of nature from afar.

We also encountered a crazy rainstorm whilst in A Bay and an afternoon on the beach soon turned into sodden clothes and hibernating away. The storm came as we were out wandering the top end of the beach, the locals went crazy for it, jumping and lapping about in the waves, some took cover but a huge amount soaked in this storm, thankful for the break in the heat. I enjoyed getting my camera out and taking some shots of the smiles on folks faces, the men and children in the water and the women on the side lines, hiking their saris and dresses up and paddling into the edge of the ocean. 

We were ready to move on from A Bay when the time came, feeling we had taken what we wanted and lapped in its delights, I was ready to move inland, away from the sea and enjoy a good few days exploring the Ancient Cities, we had decided to base ourselves in Polonnaruwa at Devis Tourist Homestay, the homestay was nice, friendly, an abundance of cats (not so great), but a really helpful place and they sorted everything out for us which made it very easy. We had 4 days, the first our arrival day, we chose to relax, read and have a mini explore, there isn’t much to do in Polonnaruwa, its very local with little but one street of shops and about one restaurant, plus its gets super dark and Devi’s is a little walk from town, so we ate at the home stay every night. 

The second day we headed into Polonnaruwa, the tickets for the ‘main attractions’ were more expensive than the sites in India and we were looking at £25pp for each ticket, Polonnaruwa is defiantly a good day ticket and we hired bikes and cycled around the ancient sites, enjoying the history of the ruins and the statue of the Buddha’s potted around the grounds. We went early to avoid the heat, however sadly it does get busy and we found ourselves attempting to stay ahead of the crowds, the site itself is so grand and there is so much to see, we decided which sites we felt we could manage before the midday heat took over, and we got a good amount in, feeling we had the opportunity to embrace it all and get our money’s worth of our ticket. My favourite was the Polonnaruwa Vatadage, this is an old house relic with four staircases and at the top of each is a Buddha, the Buddha is just sat there, present and strong, I found myself standing for some time in awe of its structure and shape. Gal Vihara is the other incredible spot in Polonnaruwa, its where 3 Buddha’s are placed, they were found around different parts of the ancient site however have been brought together to preserve, this area was so busy but there was something quite special about being in the hustle and bustle and everyone putting their lotus flowers down and praying to their god. We headed back after seeing the Gal Vihara and hid away from the baking sun, we went back out that evening to see the other site that was unearthed, it was a joy cycling out here, you went along a lake and there was people carrying out there every day activities, couples dating, people coming home from work, it didn’t take long to see the evening site,, similarities to other parts of the morning site however just being further out and seeing what else had been found was such an experience and a pleasure to have taken the time to see. 

The next day we took an afternoon trip to a national park, we had been informed to go to Minneryia but were advised by the owner of the homestay to go to Kadulla as there were more elephants there. We decided to treat ourselves and got a jeep for us two, costing us around £60, we were picked up around 2pm and went out in the jeep to the park, it didn’t take too long to get there and our driver pointed a number of birds and other animal life out to us on route. As we entered the park it didn’t take too long before we saw our first elephants, our driver was great, he was really respectful and didn’t drive too close, force us to get photos took or do the whole touristy thing, even when more jeeps drove up, he drove off not allowing too many jeeps to be on top of the elephant parade. In total we must have saw nearly 100 elephants, down by waterholes, lonesome or just a small family heading across the grass lands to find shelter for the evening. It was more than I could ask for and the exact reason I love seeing what a national park can bring, animals in their natural habitat, just beautiful. 

The next day we headed out to Sigirya in a tuktuk, from Sigirya we were heading straight to Trincomalee, so our lovely driver stated he would stay with us and keep our bags whilst we took the climb up Sigirya. This was definitely my most favourite day, I never thought the elephants could be beaten but climbing up Sigirya and reaching the top was just mind blowing and the sights just took my breath away. The story of it being a monastery or palace, or both was great to explore and to see what was up there and how it was all laid out. My belief is it was a monastery but then was made into a palace by the king who took over the lands of Sigirya, to imagine home being so high up. Before you make the big climb there is a point where you head up the stairs through these grand lion paws, you can see the elements of regency and grandness through pockets of the rock and it was just an incredible morning of hiking and sightseeing. The museum was also great at Sigirya, it had information about the finding of this great rock palace and the story of the first archaeologist that dug out so many parts of this ancient ground. 

We caught a bus straight to Trincomalee from Sigirya which was great, the journey went quick and we landed at our stay. Trincomalee was a great spot to end, we stayed in Uppuveli at The Little White House, it was a quaint stay, however there was an air of sadness floating as we found out one of the owners had been diagnosed with cancer a few weeks before, meaning you were basically left to work it all out yourself, however one guy was still there and after our first days of doubts he calmed our nerves and shared some hidden spots that we should unearth. Our next few days here were spent eating rice and curry and kotthu, reading, snorkeling and hiring scooters to go to an old army beach that had no one on but the fishermen. It was a paradise bliss and I was thankful we had headed north to end our trip in such a quiet part of the country. I could feel the sense of some newness creeping in and I felt that in a few years this part of the coast may look very different to what we were seeing, as we sat on our last day sipping cocktails by the sea, I was marveled at the beauty Sri Lanka had given, ready to head home but my heart was full and my travel toes happy. 

Project Van Life pt2

We have been back out on the van again, Sam has taken on more of the role with me, due to a lot of work being a one man job and i feel i am just getting in the way, however as Sam stated i am crafting for the interior of the van so i am still working, this made me feel more comfortable about sitting watching grey's anatomy whilst crocheting. 

We are still insulating, it's a long and boring job and has many many layers, in my last blog post here http://claire-yvonne.blogspot.com/2016/10/project-van-life.html we started cleaning and prepping the van, if that was not boring then insulating has definitely taken over, we had to first add the outer insulation, we used thermal wrap (Wickes) which was placed on the inside of all the van, celing, walls, floor, we also placed some in the front cab and placed an old yoga mat on tap for a bit extra comfort (before we place the carpet down), we stuck it all down with high temperature adhesive (amazon), which stank and was super strong, we had to cut set lengths to fit around the wheel base (inside the van) and inside certain compartments along the edges. 

Sam then added the framing using timber, the framing will hold the ply, we then started placing space loft roll (Wickes) on top of the thermal roll to pad it out and ensure the heat is kept in good and proper for when the ply goes on top. We used a spray adhesive to start sticking the space loft roll on, however some will just be placed behind the ply walls, this weekend will be more insulating and hopefully the walls will start being placed. 

As for whats happening inside the house, i started crocheting squares a few years back, i decided when travelling in 2014 it would be a good thing to learn and allow my hands to keep crafting, the blanket has been a slow process, however i decided it would be a great van blanket so i have now started focusing more on it rather then it being a 'work in progress' ~ so here it is just a few snaps as a taster. My idea is the crochet squares with the brown outside will be the outer layer then a mad mixture of colours in the middle, there is no order to this blanket, it's been made by so many different wool's in so many different countries that it literally will be a mixture of madness, however it will be treasured as it will be my first crochet masterpiece.