Harlech Castle copyright Susan Morrison Jones
The majority of my decision making was begun when I lived in Harlech. The view from my bedroom window, of Harlech Castle was always an inspiration to me. Its magnificent outline as the sun set behind its stone edifice would cause me to stop for those breath taking moments of beauty and simply look. Feel the history of the place, wonder about the many people whose lives had been affected by its presence in the beautiful Welsh land.
Those thoughts inspired me to continue searching and continue contemplating our history. Britain's influence in the world currently, has waned . As a nation we have shrunk from being the mightiest in the world to becoming a small pocket of peoples whose lives and mixed up, messed up politics have become 'of interest' but no longer anywhere near as influential as it once was.
We are, as a nation, a peoples of diverse backgrounds and many cultures. We have grimly held onto some of our heritage but do not, by any means, support all of it. Many people, when discussing our pasts have shame for the involvements we had, as a nation, in dominating, subjugating, over lording it in other lands. We can see positives and negatives for our spreading our ways throughout the world. Religion is as involved as our quest for new land. Never the less, our rich history is , in part, one of the influences in my own itchy feet and desire to travel, learn and become part of my own historical journey.
I am almost there, almost ready to 'go for it'. I had to return to St Helens to create a base. In part I wished to be closer to my sister Pat and my little Mum. The need to connect and be a more physical part of their world is very powerful. Mum is 88 years old now and a magnificent representation of how strong a woman can become and how influential as the matriarch of my family. Her steady influence and guiding has been a core to my world the whole of my life. The other part of my needs, was simple finances. I needed to earn enough to buy the van, to fit it out with the necessary equipment and to re-train my dogs to be less aggressive (having lived away from other animals they are not social beings) and to behave in different ways with new commands.
I also need a small amount of finances to support my journey beyond simply affording diesel and food. It is necessary to have contingency funds for breakdowns of the van (if they happen) and sudden needs such as having to return back to my stamping grounds for any particular needs.
This is all on track. Alongside the necessities of creating a home for my current use, from scratch, from needing to buy cups and plates and the like, to getting a permanent roof over my head , it has all been a matter of work, earn, spend on necessities, bank what is possible, pay off what is needful and back into the cycle again, week after dreary week.
It has been.........interesting.
Now I am discussing the plans for the fitting out of the van, at last, it is almost within sight. I can see the first steps of the journey as I begin here, in St Helens, to research part one of my journey. I am already visiting Liverpool as and when I am able. Going to the great Picton Library to look into my genealogy, my grandparents came from many different parts of Britain to find work there and it is a huge part of the families history. Its been revolutionary to seek information of their origins, the work they did and their part in forming the family ties I am a product of.
I've begun so many different layers of the foundations and am so pleased with myself. Currently I am creating my wardrobe for the journey. That also has to be special in its construction. and that's a different blog altogether...but the first real steps are under way
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees !.
