I can’t remember a time when travel wasn’t one of my biggest passions. My parents were adventurous souls {my mum still is} and they filled our childhood with incredible holidays, both here in the UK and across the globe. It’s not something I’ve ever taken for granted and I’m sure it had a huge influence on who I am today.
When I unexpectedly fell pregnant with Izzy at the age of 21, my grand travel plans shifted and changed. Somewhere in a parallel universe reminiscent of Sliding Doors, I probably packed a bag and jetted off to see South East Asia and Australia. Maybe I took a couple of years out, got myself a working Visa and lived like a local for a while. I watched my sister take a similar trip a few years ago, following in the footsteps of countless 20-something backpackers. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t just a little bit jealous. I know I’ll never see the world through that particular lens.
However, we’ve worked hard to ensure travel has remained a part of our lives. After my dad passed away in 2005, we used some of my inheritance to take a big trip to China, Hong Kong and Thailand. Izzy was 16 months old at the time and it was an experience I’ll never forget. Travelling with small children can be challenging, but when you start to see the world through your child’s eyes it’s immediately bigger, brighter and more exciting.
For a while, we were able to continue having big adventures as a family. If you’re wary of travelling with a baby or toddler, don’t be! It all becomes much more complicated {not to mention expensive} once they’re at school and you’re restricted by term dates.
While Izzy was still quite little, we made it back to Thailand, took a trip to Denmark, explored Turkey and visited Spain. When Jesse came along, we planned a big trip to Bali. It was there that Mr L.A. proposed, so our next holiday a few years later was actually our honeymoon!
Since then, and excluding the weekend we spent in Paris for our anniversary a few years ago, overseas travel hasn’t featured as heavily in our lives. Instead, we’ve spent the last few years making the most of the UK. I have nothing but good things to say about the holidays we’ve had here and there’s still so much of the country I want to see, but I’m ready to head a little further afield again.
Tomorrow, we’re off to Amsterdam for a week. I bought the flights on a whim months ago. I wasn’t sure we’d have enough money for everything else, but I decided to just buy the tickets anyway. After a little scrimping and saving and a lot of hard work, we’re good to go. We’ve booked an Airbnb in the Jordaan area and our I Amsterdam City Cards will be ready to collect when we arrive. Jesse has no recollection of ever setting foot on a plane, so it feels like he’s about to take his first flight.
I’m still dreaming of big adventures. If freelance work continues apace, we’d like to visit Japan next Easter. I’d love to take an extended trip with the kids one day. Maybe rent our house out and live like digital nomads for a while. Mr L.A. needs a little more persuasion though and I guess we have to consider things like GCSEs and A Levels now that Izzy’s at secondary school.
I’ve always jokingly told people we plan to live out our twenties when we’re in our forties, hopefully much to the horror of our adult children! With a bit of luck, I’ve still got my backpacking years to look forward to.
Do you love to travel? Have you taken your family on any big adventures?
Love Audrey xxx
Sunglasses: Oliver Bonas {past season} | Embroidered Top: River Island | Supertime Amsterdam Map: Herb Lester Associates
P.S. Love Audrey is 8 years old today! Thank you so much for reading and commenting on my posts here and elsewhere on the internet. I adore this space and the amazing people who frequent it.
