WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Since he was about 10 or 11, Kev has always camped.
Be it in leaky, draughty scout tents, on the floor of his parents 1968 VW campervan (or caravanette as they were called before campervans were cool), later, in his own bed in one of four family owned touring caravans and finally a static caravan. When he married in 1989, the camping stopped – his ex was not a fan!!
I on the other hand, coming from a much larger family than Kev, spent my childhood and teen holidays firmly under canvas, and always in the UK. When I married, the camping stopped – my ex was not a fan!!
I see a pattern emerging!
GETTING IT TOGETHER
Kev and I met about 21 years ago in Welsh language night classes, married a year later, in June 2000 and, 3 days after the wedding, took over the tenancy of of a local pub where we remained for three years.
When we left the pub in 2003, our kids were 12, 10 and twins of 8 years old and to keep holiday costs down, we invested in a people carrier, a roof box and a (not big enough) tent, holidaying in Wales and the Isle of Wight (hated that holiday!).
A couple of years later in 2005, after a fit of madness, we left our jobs again, packed the girls up, sold our house and took over as full time managers of a touring / holiday park near Aberporth , Cardiganshire, We stayed here for another three years, running the park, bar and restaurants. If anyone says that managing a campsite is easy – they’ve never done it! To put it mildly, customers could be quite demanding at times.
While we were on the park, as company and security for the girls while we were working, we adopted a rescue puppy. A 9 week old black and white border collie / lurcher cross. We named him Marley (long before the film of the same name and after Bob).
In 2008, we made the decision to return to ‘normal jobs and lives’ and moved house yet again! We promised the girls that this would be the last time that we would move house until they left school – and it was.
I found employment as a travel agent and Kev as a builders merchant (where he had previously worked when we left the pub).
Fast forward 12 years to 2020………………..
NOW AND THE FUTURE
I am now a Kitchen and Bathroom designer.
Kev is still a builders merchant.
Our kids have all grown up, flown the nest and are developing their own careers as diverse as a bricklayer and a police officer.
Last August, we became grandparents to a beautiful baby girl and we are looking forward to our son’s wedding next year.
Marley is still with us at the ripe old age of 14. He is short-sighted, has arthritic hips, and is a wheezy, snoring mess – but he’s still with us, and we love him dearly.
We live on a lovely little farm just outside the market town of Llandeilo and have done now for 6 years – the longest Kev has ever stayed in one place in his entire life.
Totally unexpectedly, in 2014, Kev suffered a heart attack, since when we have spent many hours talking and re-evaluating our lives. We have taken up running, undertaken some long distance walks, joined a gym, and we swim (although lockdown has put paid to some activities for now). Our diet is now healthier, aiming for two or three vegan days per week. Quality time together is now a huge priority and we try to holiday a couple of times a year.
Having had full working and family lives for close to forty years we are trying to work out how to increase the amount of time we have for us, and decrease the amount of time that we work for someone else, our ultimate aim being full-time vanlife.
Here’s hoping!