Get out of the road!

It’s a funny little place here. You can easily drive for an hour and only see one or two cars and when you do see them, everyone waves at eachother! I went to the biggest town on the island today which is called Kingscote. For people where I’m from it was smaller than the street down Lowesmoor but the good thing? They serve lush coffee. So I pulled up a seat and just observed the locals who had come in for breakfast. I actually sat and has three coffees as I didn’t get any sleep last night, being on the cliff edge has its pros and cons as you can imagine but when I thought the whole hut was going to take off and I’d be greeted by a tin man and the wizard of Oz as you can imagine I didn’t get much sleep!

I’ve seen lots of wildlife today, some that nearly became roadkill and others that I happily observed from the road. I’ve seen wild koalas, oversized hedgehog thing – I can’t remember what it’s called! Kangaroos & joeys and a big ass lizard.

There’s a lot of driving around here and eventually finding places that haven’t got a lot in them so I opted to head back to my shack and do some more painting and reading. Very chilled 🙂

H x

Kangaroo Island

It’s such a rarity these days to find somewhere that has no phone signal and no wifi anywhere but in a weird way it was quite refreshing. Once I’d finished doing the YMCA on a chair in the corner of my living room I’d managed to get one bar of signal to let my parents know I’m here, I’m safe and I’m going to be out of touch for a few days.

I’d arrived to my accommodation late on Monday evening, the sun was just starting to set and kangaroos could be seen everywhere. There was no one around and I was very conscious that it was getting late and my place might of been given away. So making my way through easily 40 kangaroos all huddled together I found the office where a young guy was sunbathing with his headphones on. Dancing around to get his attention he then showed me to my beautiful cottage and kindly made me a sandwich as we are in the middle of no where and I have no food.

I settle in to the most beautiful, homely cottage I’ve stayed at and sit with a cup of tea, a blanket wrapped around me and watch the kangaroos whilst the sun sets over the bay. It was stunning, it left me that breathless that I could do anything but watch.

After such a good night sleep I planned my day and heading out to find some breakfast. I drove… And drove… And drove. This wasn’t nice smooth road surface though, it was 60km of unsealed road! Bouncing around in my little Nissan Micra I soon realised I should of opted for a 4WD. The road was scattered with the remains of the wildlife that had unfortunately been hit, it was like the road of death!!

I eventually come along a lighthouse with a café, brilliant I thought! I can grab a coffee and some breakfast… Boy was I wrong. All there was was an out of date crunchy and a shitty cup of coffee, even though I was desperate for food and a drink it actually made me feel ill. Before heading back to the car I thought I’d nip to the toilet… It wasn’t so much of a toilet as it was a hole… A deep one! That concerned that a snake was going to come up and bite my ass I decided against it thinking there’s bound to be another one somewhere.

Another 60km down unsealed road I find civilisation and by civilisation mean another light house with shit coffee. There’s a seal colony lounging around of the rocks and a few people from a coach trip.

Heading back in the car I was thankful that a took a wrong turn because it put me at a café that had actually food! And it was in date! The last two days I’d eaten a wrap, a sandwich and a packet of crisps so I naturally went for the big ass hotdog and bowl of chips – large. Hey I needed it! I had found civilisation and I was sure as hell going to make the most out of it. Oh yeah and to top it off I found this little guy sleeping in a tree, definitely not a tree knot!

I’ve been writing this throughout the last few days and have just managed to grab a bit of wifi so thought I’d upload 🙂

H x

As slow as a sloth

Melbourne is awesome, so many places the eat, drink, shop, chill out, whatever you want to do! Last night I slept like I was in my own bed. It usually takes me a few nights to adjust but my god as soon as my head hit the pillow I was out of it and got up at 10am, it was brilliant! Such a lush feeling not having to set an alarm or anything. Rolled out of bed, walked down the street and had a big ass breakfast as I didn’t really eat anything yesterday… Basically I wound up in hospital for 5 hours after my I lifted my suitcase and felt a snap, so turns out that I have torn my tendon in my bicep… Brilliant! But that’s ok because they gave great drugs ha! I’m in a sling but feeling a lot better today, I’m just about to catch a movie – The Wedding Ringer with Kevin Hart, God I love that bloke! I’m feeling like a sloth today but that’s ok, some days it’s ok to just have a wander and chill out 🙂

Wishing you an equally chilled out Saturday x

Reflection

Just reflecting on my first month of 2015, I’d say it’s been pretty good 🙂

Do it with your eyes closed

Arriving at Sydney airport once more I am ready to begin my next leg of the trip to Melbourne.

As I check in, drop my bag off and go through security I realise I’m not mm doing this without even thinking about it. No liquids, sharps, bombs. Belt off, shoes off. Boarding card ready, bags on conveyer belt. It just feels normal now, I’ve learnt how to pack my bag so that my iPad is easy to get to to remove, have my passport to hand.

Nearly a month ago I had just started my journey and I was so stressed at Heathrow, feeling panicked and like everyone was moving around at a million miles an hour. Now I am calm, people are asking me how to work the check in system, how to get to security. I think this is the most chilled out I’ve been travelling, I’ve driven 1000s of miles in the last week without a satnav. Driven over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, dropped off Hulk Junior and now awaiting my flight. Feel absolutely chilled out 🙂

Happy Hellen 🙂 x

Does it really matter?

Before I came out here I was already stressing about what I was going to do when I got home. I’d given up my apartment, my job, my gym, everything. I was panicking thinking oh shit what the hell am I doing?! But now as I sit with my legs dangling over a wall, the sea breeze tickling my toes I am confident that I made the right decision.

The journey so far has opened my eyes and helped me in a lot of ways. Now, when I look back and think about the stresses that seemed so huge at the time I realise they weren’t that big at all, in fact now I wouldn’t even call them stresses.

They say that travelling on your own is one of the best gifts to give to yourself and I agree. With no boyfriend, no kids, no worries back home, I believe it can enhance you as a person. When you’re on your own you have to just get shit done, yes you can have a flap and a cry on the phone to your parents but all it is is you and the problem. Facing it head on is the only way to deal with it. You are in charge of you, your money, your safety, your health, everything. It’s a vital step that I needed to take at this time in my life.

One month ago almost to this day I was crying on my friend’s shoulder on New Years Eve because I didn’t have anyone to kiss at midnight, I was so distraught that I didn’t have a partner to spend Christmas with – again, I was on the verge on checking into a nunnery. But now I realise, does it really matter? I’m 23 years old, do I need to be married right now? Do I need to start a family right now? It had completely consumed me so much that I couldn’t enjoy walking down the street without cursing a happy couple.

I believe that you need to spend time on your own to discover who you are and what you want. God knows that sounds like a cliché but I understand that now. I’m single and I’m ok about that. In fact, right now I’m thankful of that. Thankful that I haven’t got to sit and think what my boyfriend is doing or who that girl is who wrote on his Facebook wall. I’m over that shit! It’ll happen when it happens. I might meet someone walking back to the car, I might meeting someone in 5 years time, who knows but all I know is that I feel ok. I feel good right now and I encourage anyone who feels like they are stuck in a rut, afraid to take the leap of faith to do it because I can promise you with 100% that you will not regret it.

Sending you love, courage and happiness from the ocean.

H x

The Pacific Highway

I ditched Forster as it was hammering it down this morning and started my journey down the Pacific Highway to Newcastle. Pissing it down once more I turned up the tunes and sang my way to my destination. I did have one funny moment near arrival. I stopped at some traffic lights wailing out Angels – Robbie Williams and looked over and saw a hard core rocker pulled up next to me, he proceeded to join in with my wailing – what a dude! Don’t judge a book by its cover 🙂

So I’ve had a pot of tea, a wonder around and now I’m just chilling out in my little room watching Serena Williams, my god that woman has a cracking body! I’m quite chuffed because I’ve lost about a stone since I’ve been out here, watching all these sports women is giving me inspiration to get myself back to when I was ultra fit, just need to sort my shoulder out now which is losing strength and mobility by the day!

Anyway hope you’re having a lovely day wherever you are in the world 🙂

H x

If you’re going to fall… Do it with style!

How confident would you feel about the place you’re staying in if a pest patrol van pulled up? Hmm. I’m sat in my little room with a cup of tea and some shows from the 70’s. It’s raining, again but of corse it is, it always rains when I drive 🙂

I headed out for a little trip to a place called Seals Rock today where it stopped raining for a grand total of an hour! Woop de doo! I found a lovely little light house which stunning views, I also found some amusing signs.

There are some beautiful beaches here but there’s no cafes or anything so apart from park up and sit in your car you can’t really go out. There isn’t any shops about or people for that matter, it’s a ghost town in Forster! Very pretty but sort of eerie.

H x

Keep Your Head Up…

I wrote out a whole blog complaining about my day but I’ve decided not to. I’m trying to change the way I think, I am very pessimistic but I am trying to look for the positives in each problem.

10 minutes ago I wrote that I had no money, I drove for 6 hours on my own in typhoon weather, I’m staying in a shit hole and I miss my family and friends but now as I sit on a jetty watching the rain drops bounce of the water service I have changed my mind.

I didn’t have money but now I do, yes I drove in vile conditions but I got here safely and yes I am staying in a shit hole but at least I no longer have to sleep in the back of my car.

As I sit here I let the rain wash away my stress of the day. Each problem I encounter is helping me become a stronger person because it means I’ve survived the obstacle which has been put before me.

There’s a storm brewing and I feel like it was due to clear the air – I’m speaking metaphorically of course.

So I’m safe, I’m fed, I have money and a bed to sleep it and everything is fine. Like someone who means a lot to me says – Keep your head up, keep your heart strong.

H x

Total Peace

This is the most chilled out I’ve felt in a long long time. I’ll show you what I’m looking at as I write this post.

Listening to the waves gently break on the shore, feeling the soft breeze against my face, I close my eyes and feel absolutely content. I’ve always loved the sea and I’ve said that one day I would live by it. Today it’s dawned on me, why does it have to be someday? Why can’t it be today? Ok so not actually today but you get the gist. There is literally nothing stopping me, I can find a job, find a place to stay. Sure I’m not going to just fall into a stunning driftwood beach house but I’m not going to be anywhere closer to it staying in little old Worcester.

I want to be by the sea, I want to be able to wake up every morning wether it’s pissing it down with rain or the sun is shining and walk along the beach. People say well you have to think about it in the winter, that’s true but look at Worcester in the winter, it floods and that’s pretty shit.

I can see a woman and her young child splashing in the water, both looking so happy. I want that when I have children.

The sign when I arrived into Byron said Chill out, slow down and I have, this place heals you and makes you feel like you can do anything…. Ok now I’m starting to sound like all the hippies that are around me! If you surround yourself in an environment you love, with people who are going to enhance you then you’re on the right track to becoming exactly the person you want to be. I’ll be sad to leave here tomorrow but I know I will return and this place will hold a very special place in my heart.

Changing the tune a bit, I went snorkelling this morning with turtles! It was single handedly one of the best things I’ve ever done, apart from when I got stung above my lip by a jelly fish… Oh and when I got so sea sick that I hurled over the boat. But apart from that it was incredible!

Byron Bay, what a special place.

H x