Reflections of 2014.

So were back in the wilds of the beautiful North East, its been a long 6 months  waiting for Sammy to join me but eventually were reunited and the discussions of where we were this time last year have began, reflecting over the incredible adventure and opportunity life brought us to spend 9 months exploring part of this incredible world.

The highs, lows and learning's of 2014.

Many lessons were learnt last year, I fell in and out of love with every country we travelled, I learnt lessons about love not just from my relationship but others, I pushed myself to limits I didn't think I could and I let myself be freer then I ever have, letting my toes travel where the adventure chose.

Travelling.

Day trains, night trains, night buses, day buses, ferries, speed boats, rowing boats, taxis, hiking, flights, walking, up hills, down hills, across country, through continents we did it all and I smiled and cried through so many as I thought my poorly sick mind could take no more, but it always did and there was always another journey around the corner. We took a 32hr train through India, a night insect ridden train through Burma, we waited hours to get picked up in Borneo, we jumped out of a taxi with a drunken Thai driver, lost on the motorway in Chiang Mai, went back in time when heading to Mexico and lost our minds and our way on the way to Bali, however I wouldn't change any of it, as like people say 'its all part of the experience'.

Sleeping.

So part of my agreement was that we wouldn't stay in basic stays and would at least hit the mid way mark, however the excitement of travelling I realised was not always laying your head on a bed and sometimes finding sleep whenever and wherever it came, from bartering cheap prices to sleep in basic but beautiful seafront huts, sleeping on night trains, spooning up in locked bays on night buses, catching a few hours on the seats in a Japanese airport, sleeping in a brothel in Mexico, the middle of a desert in India, a tent in the forest of a Malaysian island, we got everywhere, some places I slept in a perfect dream, one night I woke up with a cockroach on my face, it tested me to my limits but the memories will always make me smile.

Eating.

Samosas from every bus stand in India, Thai curry on the streets of Bangkok, Fish upon fish in Malaysia, Khmer Curry in Cambodia, Kuching Laksa in Borneo, we ate every type of food going, my vegetarianism lacked and although I never chose to eat meat there were at times a definite hint of meat flavour, I suffered but enjoyed and my culinary tastes developed and my hatred of fish bones dissolved.

Friendships.

We met and adventured with so many great people on our trip, friends we feel we have made for life, friends who were just the right people to be there at that time, I learnt and developed from some of these people and changed my views on some of life's important lessons from understanding and searching deeper in my heart for a stronger meaning. Exploring the world you realise how many people are on similar journeys, sometimes even having a parallel life in some aspect, the many nights we spent talking and sharing times and adventures, it was great to have the chance in life to go out there be vulnerable but be open to learn from people I met as strangers but soon become friends.

Love.

Sam and I decided we wanted to spend this year together, we wanted to be away from the stresses and strains life brings and connect to each other somewhere different then England, my job can be very demanding and with training to be a Counsellor the last few years I have gone through a number of changes and unfolding in my own personal world, which Sam has held me through and supported me in every stage. This trip therefore was to move on from that and have a year where the world was just about us. Wow what a privilege, hey, we spent many days and nights talking about our relationship, other relationships, family relationships, how they work, how they don't, who inspires us, who doesn't. We talked with friends we met about the meaning of love and importance of past, the strength it gives us to be who we are in our relationship now and the changes we have made due to that. We argued, cried, smiled, loved, jumped, dived, walked, ran, hiked, made decisions, debated decisions, reassured, got lost, got totally lost, but mostly we found each other, we saw each others vulnerabilities and wants and found that deep love that connects us and inspires us.

Lessons.

I never have to do anything, I get to do it.. My yoga teacher Denise Payne taught me this when one day in teacher I asked 'do I have to do this' she reminded me that I never have to do anything, I get to do it and what a privilege that is.

I have a precious human life and I am not going to waste it.. Bex Tyrer read this poem out one day when in a yoga class, it stuck with me and made me think of the adventure we were on, it confirmed the right choices about going away, about quitting my work and doing something for us, life is precious and I certainly wasn't going to waste it.

Everything doesn't happen for a reason, we live in a cruel world.

What's meant for me wont pass me, a friend text me this one day when I was worrying about something, its a mantra that lives with me always.

The Lonely planet does the tell the truth.

When Sam told me we would have the chance to meet the Dalai Lama, I obviously laughed at him, of course the LP states that in its highlighted blue box, why wouldn't it.... well it only turned out to be true and we did get to meet him, miracles do happen.

Changes.

Babies were born, friends were married, people moved away, people moved home, life carried on whilst we travelled and although people always say everything is the same when you come home for us it wasn't, we were different and we were changed, we came home 6wks early as the bank of Sam and Claire ran out, however it felt the right time and we were ready for the next adventure.

 

 



 



 

Jim’s Camping

When planning our first years anniversary we both knew we wanted to go camping, it was important for us to bring the element of our wedding into our anniversary and wanted to spend time on a farm, away from the world and camp, when Sam showed me Jim’s camping it couldn't have been more perfect. 

We arrived on the road to Jim’s Camping and Sam informed me there was no signs and was a little side entrance, the road had a number of caravan club sites along it and I was certain there would be some form of signage – how wrong I was. Sam suddenly recognised the side path (from pictures) and took a quick right into a beautiful serene open field with two other campers. We found our spot and unloaded our car, making our home for the weekend, my first thoughts were just blissful and happy, I loved the openness of the campsite but the peacefulness also and the wonderful surrounding nature hugging the campsite. 

We spent the evening wandering around the farm and even had the pleasure of meeting Jim, he informed us the peacock had passed away the week before after 25yrs of living on the farm, Jim talked of the birds that were left and the flowers he was growing for the flower farm on Sunday. I loved Jim’s idle way of living and basic need to get by, he explained he had owned the farm for 65yrs and made enough to just get by, he explained his days are spent tending to the growing vegetables and flowers and making bouquets up for the local markets, he explained most of the money comes from the flowers. I envy people who live so basic, I feel over the years I have taught myself better more ethical ways to live where tv is not the focal point of my life and spending more time looking after me with more holistic ways is better than partying and working long hours. I never understand people who commit so much to work when we were put on this world to live not to work – it’s so important to have that balance as when I grow old I want to look back and feel I got the most out of my life and not that I worked it away committing more time to things that don’t have any meaning or won’t have any meaning when I am older. Jim’s camping really made me go back to the basic routes of living and feel relaxed and happy in the environment I was in and not needing outside stimulus to enjoy a beautiful evening ahead. 

After cooking a delightful BBQ and making a toasty fire, with our tummies full and hearts warm the scrabble board made its first appearance for the weekend and we set in for a relaxing evening of 4 letter word making. 

We awoke the next morning, enjoyed a breakfast of eggs and went off for a day at the beach (and to collect some tasty fish for that evening BBQ). We decided to head to a National Trust owned beach called Studland Bay, it was beautiful the sun shone and the day was spent reading and relaxing. At around 4pm we decided to walk to Durdle Door, as a child we used to holiday to the south coast all the time I couldn't recall the Durdle Door so was excited to take the walk up a zillion stairs to see what was hidden at the end of it all. What an amazing site and beautiful walk, it was nice to take the walk as the evening was cooling and soak in all the wonders around it, you could see Lulworth Cove from the top of the stairs, the south coast is so beautiful and I can imagine myself coming back here time and time again. We walked along the trail and eventually came to the Durdle Door, I was so overwhelmed with the beauty of the limestone arch that we sat for some time taking pictures and just looking at the amazement of the naturally formed structure. 

We spent the evening similar as we had the previous one, relaxing with the fire and cooking some amazing fish with delicious salad. 

I did spend some time walking around the campsite with my camera; there were so many amazing flowers and oddments of old worn down pots where beautiful herbs were growing. The flower farm was so beautiful on the evening with the sun setting and I really did feel blessed with the experience we were having and the beauty of Jim’s camping. 
The next morning came and a year to the date was the day we got married, it was a surreal feeling that a year had passed, I can’t believe how quick time has gone and that a year ago I was preparing for such a special unforgettable day.  To celebrate we brought our letters from our wedding day, we had a typewriter on our wedding day which we asked everyone to type a letter for us to open on our 1st wedding anniversary also known as the paper anniversary. It was brilliant opening the letters with messages of all kinds being given to us, it made us both smile, shed a tear and laugh (a lot) at the drunk funny words written down – a number of them starting off with how difficult it is to use a typewriter. We then enjoyed a anniversary breakfast and prepared for another fun day at the beach. 

We decided to visit Ringstead Bay another beautiful beach on the South coast, it was another sunshine day and we spent the early afternoon again reading, relaxing and dipping in the freezing cold water. It was just such a perfect way to celebrate one year away from the hustle and bustle and just me and curly together, we decided to set off from the beach around 3ish to find a tasty public house to have a Sunday anniversary lunch – we found a relaxed pub with tasty eats and a big beer garden, no better way to complete perfect weekend. 

Our drive back home we reminisced our wedding day and our future to come, we smiled at how lucky we are and how our 2nd anniversary will be spent on a beach again somewhere in South East Asia, bring on another brilliant year with a world of adventures ahead. 

Wedded Bliss. How it came together.

English festivals are a huge part of our lives and both believe there is nothing better than the feeling of being outdoors with people you love. We both feel a strong sense to the freedom you feel outdoors and love nothing more than being in a field dancing the night away (normally in the rain).
Sam and I first met at Glastonbury festival and at that time we were both in very different times in our lives so nothing more than a smile occurred. A few years later that all changed when I had moved to London and chose to go out for some drinks with my brother and his friends, when I arrived Sam was there, fate pulled us back together and we have never looked back since. Glastonbury holds such great importance to us both (Sam informed me after he proposed he was going to propose at Glastonbury but was scared of losing the ring) therefore we knew it had to be part of the theme we chose when planning and organizing our wedding, traditional went out the window and Sam and Claire entered it.

Ruffled blog became an addiction for me (I even caught Sam taking sneaky looks) and got so much inspiration from the weddings featured on the site. We decided getting married outdoors was what we wanted, sadly we soon found out that you need to be married in a licensed venue in England, therefore that idea was out. It was important for us to get married in England and somewhere which means something to us. Newcastle upon Tyne is my home and we have both enjoyed visiting and heading to Northumberland on country walks and farmhouse cafes. We came across High House Farm Brewery on a whim and instantly decided we had to have part of our day here, after much consideration we chose the ‘after’ part would be held at this venue and the ceremony would beheld elsewhere.

My Mum works at Newcastle Civic Centre and took us there to look at the staircase, although it wasn’t outside we both fell in love with the grandness of it and both felt a feeling that it was the right place to say I do. With both venues chosen it was time to get designing.

Bunting had to be part of the decoration; I adore bunting and wanted a real vintage feel to the day. My Mum and Gran handmade 546 pennants for the bunting, they stitched and ironed each one to make sure it was perfect and would flow in the wind. When they were put up in the barn I felt a glow in my heart and could see how right it was to have the bunting, the barn looked amazing and so unbelievably pretty. Sam’s Mum found the hearts in a little garden centre shop, we felt they added an extra touch and loved the way they hung down giving the barn an extra decorative touch.

Our table names were again cut and stitched by my Mum and Gran (my stepdad cutting the luggage tags out). Our favours were acorns, when thinking of our favours we knew that they are meant to resemble growth and strength, we felt the acorn showed this and again was something involved in the outdoor world. We wrote a special verse attached to the acorn, so people could understand the meaning of why we felt the acorn should be our favour.

 ‘A little acorn has the ability to grow into a big oak tree, we hope you keep it safe and remember each year the strength the acorn has, just like the love we hold for each other’

My advice for all brides would be to plan early; I did not feel stressed leading up to the wedding more excited and enjoying planning such a fun day. I could see nearer the date if my planning had not been carried out early then the stress levels would have been high. Sam was actively involved in all the planning, he was a perfect help and made the whole thing easier by having an opinion and supporting me with ideas. It was our day and therefore I feel the most important thing is you plan it together, it has to be what you both want and a day you will both remember.

We wanted the whole day to be personal and related to us, with that I felt It was important not only Sam to do a speech that I did one too. I wanted to tell him how much I loved him and give thanks to people who had supported me in my life.

My best women also did a speech which meant so much, there two women I hold so close to me and hearing there kind words moved me and made me smile greatly.
My Mum gave me away, she is my life and my rock and there was no one else I would have rather had by my side.

Our save the date cards were taken in a photo booth in Budapest, we loved the idea of sending everyone a small reminder with some photos we loved. We also hired a photo booth for the evening, it went down a treat and everyone was in line waiting for their chance to take home another memory of the day.
Both our outfits were from high street shops, we decided that we didn’t feel the need to spend a lot of money when you can find such beautiful clothes without the expensive price tag. I knew I wanted something floaty and fitting but a dress that felt like me and not something I would feel uncomfortable in. A good friend, who designs wedding jewellery made my hair band; again I wanted it to be personal and everyone to be involved in the making of the day.

Our photographer Jack is a good friend who works in the photo industry, other weddings I have been too I have felt the camera to be intrusive and didn’t like the fact a stranger was taking such intimate photo’s. With some gentle persuasion Jack agreed and it was the best idea ever as he did a wonderful job and captured the day perfectly.

True Romance is my most favourite film and I believe the most romantic love story, Sam always says the main theme music from it makes him think of us, straight away I knew that was to be the music played as I walked into the civic centre.

We played Blur Tender for our signing the register song, we are both huge blur fans and love the words to the song, and we felt it apt for this part of day.

When Sam and I got together he informed me he had never watched Juno, it being one of my favourite films I made him watch it straight away, from there he fell in love with the soundtrack. We always talk of the main song from it being so beautiful and describing love in a very beautiful way, therefore with this we knew when we became man and wife we would leave to ‘All I want is you’. As we left and the song started playing all our guests started clapping, it was a really special moment.

First Dance: Albion - Babyshambles

We wrote our own vows and felt again it was so important for them to be personal to us:
Finally I have found a place into which I fit perfectly safely and securely with no doubts. No fears, no sadness, no tears, this place is filled with happiness and laughter, yet it is peaceful enough to allow me the freedom to live my life and be myself. This wonderful place which I never believed really existed I have found finally, inside your arms, inside your heart, inside your love.

And when we gave our rings to each other we added something important to us that we do for each other:
Samuel I give you this ring as a sign of my everlasting promise, I vow to cherish you, respect you, tame your curly hair, leave love letters in your lunch box and love you deeply till my body can love no more. May this ring remind us of this amazing day, this special moment and our forever together

Claire I give you this ring as a sign of my everlasting promise, I vow to cherish you, respect you, make you warm toasty fires on cold nights, always use the teapot when I make you a cup of and love you deeply till my body can love no more. May this ring remind us of this amazing day, this special moment and our forever together

Our rings were our both our grandma’s and my great grans wedding bands, we had them melted down and made into two new rings. We felt this meant so much as they are still with us and there rings being used to bound a new marriage.

The craspedia (billy ball) flower was one of the first things I decided on, found on ruffled I fell in love with this flower and needed it in my wedding day, with Sam agreeing he liked the flower I contacted my local florist and she made it her mission to track the yellow headed flower down. The poise’s and button holes were all made with the craspedia and Penny from Katherine’s did the most amazing job, when they arrived I was so happy with how they looked and were exactly how I wanted them to be.

I wanted my bridesmaids in a 50’s feel but also something they were comfortable and happy in, because both girls have different features I decided to put them in different colours. I think they both looked adorable and the petticoat finished the dress off.

Sam’s Mum made our muddy chocolate cake and surprised us with the top being us two in our tent.

Like every festival the night ended with camping in a muddy field, this way we could all be together and wake up with sore heads and big smiles together.

When Sam and I were married I became Mrs Claire Austin, as a gift Sam bought me a rose called Claire Austin, a perfect gift from my perfect husband.