I have been secretly passing the days in my head as I remember the weeks that lead up to that day in June when we finally set sail. The memories begin in February, the day we left Goole for Hull. Then to April and the day I gave notice on my job. They build up to the 4th of June, the day I finally said goodbye to my job and the people I had worked with for the best part of seven years. There are a lot of feelings that I still remember so clearly about those days. The mixed emotions, the endless hours sat on the M62. The days passing the Humber on our daily 70 mile round commute, looking at the water and wondering, can we do it? The weekends in the pubs around Hull, notably The Minerva, sat watching boats, ships, barges passing by. Trying to work out just how choppy it was - too choppy for us mostly! It was exciting, terrifying and hugely emotional as we set about making a huge change in our lives. We sold what we could. Sometimes it feels as though we sold parts of our lives. Part of the things that made us who we were. But we are still here and we are still us, maybe a little different, maybe not so much. As the circle of time begins to complete I’m not sure how I feel. Proud, happy, sometimes lonely and sometimes a little homesick. I love what we have achieved but I wonder what is round the corner and what we are missing out on. With friends and family so far away it can be hard sometimes.
Last year in my penultimate week of employment we went to Strummercamp. Strummercamp is a festival that celebrates the life and music of Joe Strummer and The Clash. Joe Strummer is my hero (after Martyn of course!) so when I heard back in 2007 that there was a festival dedicated to him it was clear we would have to go. The only problem was that the festival happened on the last bank holiday weekend in May. The same weekend as our favourite rally - Kelso. We decided that we would skip Kelso for one year and go to Strummercamp, I believe since then we have only attended one rally at Kelso! There is a feeling at Strummercamp that no matter who you are you belong and you are welcome. As long as you love music, have respect for others and leave your prejudices at home you will have a good time. It’s a very special place and probably the only time in my life that I never stop smiling from Friday to Monday. The post Strummercamp blues that follow as you head back to reality can last for days. Leaving Strummercamp 2010 was particularly emotional for us as we didn’t know what the future would hold. We told everyone we would be back to tell tall tales of the sea - parrot on one shoulder a wooden leg and an eye patch - if not please call the coast guard - we may well be lost! This being the case we had to go back this year - there was no question. The bus was loaded up and we headed north once more, this time to Manchester. It was a great weekend. My sister and her boyfriend joined us for the Saturday where Wheelbarrow racing seemed to be the name of the game (best not to ask!). Sunday was a more subdued affair and Monday saw us wake us to rain. If we had stuck by plan A and taken the tent down on Sunday and slept in the bus, Monday might have been a little less soggy! We finally left the Strummercamp site saying goodbye to Simon Spoons the infamous Strummercamp Spoons player and thanked our new friend Brian for repeatedly re-tuning Martyns guitar. Not only did we get a free tune we got entertained with some beautiful Irish melodies. A fine way to wake up on a Sunday morning after a riotous Saturday evening! We headed back to Hebden Bridge and following a scrub down at my Dads house we spent Monday with the relatives before heading back South. All in all it all went a little too quick. Work commitments meant we had to be back fro Wednesday which didn’t leave much time to spent with family and I think we felt a little bit cheated. This was followed by the 4th June and the realisation that it was exactly one year since we both left the world of employment and ventured into the unknown. Strange to think as I sit here watching the sea vent it’s anger on the sea wall and cover my windows in salt that I would be sat here one year later.
Martyn has a great job which he loves and I am very lucky to have finally got my own job. We are looking forward to summer (if it ever arrives!) and have plans for our future down here. I can’t help but to think about last year though and two people preparing for a new adventure. I almost feel envious of the person I was last year and the things we acheived. Yesterday I took a walk up to the sea wall and just stood and stared. The sea was a beautiful green colour with small white caps rising and falling with the waves. It looked so inviting - too choppy for us still - but very tempting. Maybe we just need a couple of calm sunny days so we can at least take Elephant Daze beyond that sea wall again. We have not been able to get out since last year, work and weather don’t play well. Weekends are windy, Mondays are calm. We will get out one day and I will get that picture of me on my boat next to the pier - It’s a promise!
We left Hull on June 22nd 2010 the day after the longest day of the year and probably the only flat calm day we will ever see. This year I’m hoping we will celebrate that day with a barbeque on the beach and maybe a bottle of the fizzy stuff. We will toast our friends, our family, ourselves and most importantly Elephant Daze. At that point I suppose we will finally be able to say the circle of time is complete. Just remember though, a circle is never ending....
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