The road to trepidation...

The day of departure. Rust2Rome http://www.rust2rome.com. Packed, prepared and ready to go. Well, packed a sort of capsule wardrobe into a tiny suitcase to last over two weeks in climates I'm unsure of. Prepared for the absolute Unknown. And ready for goodness knows what. But life's an adventure and opportunities present themselves in mysterious ways. A road trip without Milo is so alien to me, I am going to miss him like crazy. But I also know he will be spoilt rotten by my family whilst I'm away.

Having travelled solo for so long I must admit I'm feeling a slight amount of trepidation for this journey. Sharing a car with three boys I barely know will be different, though I'm sure we'll know each other inside out by the end of it! Plus there is near on one hundred people in over forty cars on the same journey so I'm sure we'll all make some great memories.

The charity https://mydonate.bt.com/events/rust2rome2/402411 for Team Rang Pig has so far exceeded its target, which is fabulous news. Maybe this will rub off on me and I will reach my target - Find Me a Husband...

The journey begins...

Not quite an all inclusive band...

My capsule wardrobe...

Going to miss my partner in crime... 

Released without charge...

I've had a week of birthday celebrations, mainly consisting of beverages. Pip and I found a local pub, the Shippons in Irby, that offer free Baileys with the purchase of coffee. This week alone we've visited it four times! And then on my birthday we sat in the garden all day drinking jugs of Pimms.
I've had a lovely birthday week with family and friends, quite different to last year. I was in Ireland, just Milo and me, in the Beast with lots of chocolate. None the less a good birthday.

I actually now feel like I've gone back in time because I'm trying out contact lenses. It's weird doing everyday activities without having to reach for my glasses, I love it. Just a pity they're so darn expensive. This morning, as a cost saving activity, I've made a big pan of soup. It's made from all the left over vegetable peelings I would normally have binned, but have been storing up in a freezer bag. To be honest it looks disgusting and stinks but I'm convincing myself it is going to be delicious.

Yesterday was interesting. I ended up in the back of a police car! I only stopped to say hello and the police officer decided, after listening to my tale of the past two years, that I was one crazy lady! I was released, pending further investigation, without charges...

Countdown for rust2rome trip is now days, not weeks. I'm swaying between excitement and fear. Excitement of travelling once again and fear of the Unknown. The team car 'Range Pig' now has stickers bearing my name on the door. Hopefully Interpol don't hold my details haha...

Arresting behaviour...

Stinky soup...

I'm a co pilot... 

I need a dating handbook...

I really need to get a grip when it comes to men. I'm so long out of the game I need a handbook.
In the past two weeks I've attended two funerals, a wedding party and a rugby event. At the rugby event I was helping serve a hog roast. My job of the day entailed asking every customer 'would you like stuffing sir?' And I still didn't get a date! I think the only single man at the first funeral was the vicar and the second funeral, for some reason, had me pole dancing in the marque!  I was even less successful at the wedding party.
"Can I get you a drink?" He asked me
"Are you chatting me up?" I enquired
"No, I'm the barman..." He answered

I got to catch up with my bestie Sue in Scotland at the second funeral. Her dear Granny had passed away and the family gave her a lovely send off. My bestie Ali from Portugal flew over too, it was so nice to see all the family together, it's just a shame it's a funeral that brings us together.
I even got to visit Blair Atholl Palace, which I'd never visited before even though it was on my doorstep when I lived up there. Sadly there was no Prince Charming in the palace but the vodka made up for that.

I'm so excited that in less than two weeks I will be on my rust2rome adventure. Two weeks today I will be somewhere but I don't know where. I love that. The car 'team Range Pig' is all stickered up ready for the road and my Shewee sticker is sitting proud on the bonnet! Just hope I don't spot the man of my dreams whilst mid flow in a bush...

Pole dancing at a funeral...

No Prince Charming in the palace...

Team Range Pig... 

I feel like a man...

My Shewee arrived in the post this weekend. It's a lovely bright pink one, not the most discreet colour choice, but when needs must I won't care what colour it is. I've had a little practice and now I know how you men feel! I might even visit my son and piddle all over his toilet seat mwhaha.

This week I also got my annual hair cut. It was that or grow my arms longer, I was having trouble reaching the ends its got so long. I'm now in the process of practice packing for my rust2rome trip, can't believe I leave in less than three weeks. I'm uber excited, I think the departure from Scotland will be awesome with over 40 cars all stickered up and revving at the start line. After that I get the feeling the trip is going to be one long hangover! Our car number is 21, nice matches my age! Seems my co-drivers are nearly as crazy as me so I'm sure we'll all get on famously. I'm also depending on them to act as my wing men and find me a potential Italian/Swiss/French/Scottish/English husband enroute.

Milo is still being a little star of late. He had a little practice run of me being away as I went to London for a couple of days last week (exciting adventure unfortunately I have to keep it secret for now). The rest of my 'exciting' life has involved walking in the woods with Milo, picking flowers and forever keeping one eye open for Prince Charming. Oh and the job of private investigator I looked into appeared to be a bit mundane, mainly reading documents etc. Not quite as I pictured with me skiing down mountains with James Bond...

Necessary equipment...

Struggling to reach...

Rust2Rome number 21...

The flower I picked... 

Me, a Russian Spy...

On a low note my 'wedding' bouquet has become just a bunch of dead, shrivelled, dried up flowers now hanging in the airing cupboard haha. On a high note @SheWee  have contacted me and are sending me supplies for my rust2rome trip. I even get to choose which colour I would prefer. I've gone for pink. Apparently I have to practice using it in the shower. For the record there will be no photos of this activity.

For some reason, for the first time in my life, I've put on weight. All my life I've been one of those people that people hate, as in I can eat anything. Well that good fortune has ended. I was in a shop changing room, with my mum, trying on size eight dresses when she, kindly, suggested I try a size ten. At one point my mum was nipping back out to the shop floor and returning with size twelves. My mum thought this was hilarious given the fact that she has lost over three stone in weight recently. Maybe we can clothes swop. I consoled myself that I had a lovely pair of sucky in knickers at home that would surely help. No. I can't even pull them on! Heyho no more home baking cookies for me for a while.

Today I've decided to apply for a job that appeared in my email box. I've applied to be a Private Investigator. My reckoning is that I will be out there, obviously dressed like a Russian spy,  investigating adulteress marriages and that in turn could provide me with an abundance of available gentlemen. Hmm...

Me in disguise...

The failed wedding bouquet...

Previous culinary delights...

Current culinary delights...

A full bladder versus a shewee...

Is it possible to be attracted to a 'voice'? I met a man in the woods today who had an extremely handsome voice. I couldn't tell you what he looked like, I can't remember. But I can still hear him. I do remember, when online dating was in its infancy, I drove from Liverpool to London to meet a man for coffee because I liked his London accent. I also think one of the things that attracted me to Mr P was his voice. Maybe I need to add this attribute to my list! Or maybe not, my list gets longer everyday.

I got my T-shirt's for my rust2rome trip this week, five in all. I'm in the process of trying to create a capsule wardrobe for my trip. I've seen the experts do it. Five or so outfits from one. Mind you, after asking for advice on the rust2rome website it seems the most important thing to pack is a 'shewee'. Sharing a car with three men I hardly know makes me think I'm going to be travelling with a constant full bladder!

I treated myself to a bunch of flowers this week, they are so pretty I decided they would make the perfect wedding bouquet. I thought I'd google how to dry the flowers but Pip informed me 'I'd' be more dried out than the flowers by the time I find a husband haha. I really shouldn't be spending my money on flowers anyway, need to save my pennies. When I qualified for adverts on my blog I imagined I'd be retiring on the profits! Not made a penny yet, so if you're bored reading my blog please feel free to click on the sidebar adverts ;) ...

The shewee haha...

The T-shirts...

The wedding bouquet haha... 

Living like a normal person...

Milo and me have been enjoying a rather 'normal' life of late. Morning walks every day in the same woods, meeting up with family and friends, cooking and cleaning and even some gardening. I bought a tray of dead pansies for ten pence and planted them in Pip's garden and overnight they came back to life, result. I'm enjoying playing 'house' and even made some curtains to hang in the window of Pip's shed!

But I do wonder how long it will be before I get itchy feet and start plotting a plan? The Beast is parked up and taking a well earned rest and I do miss him. That open road gives you a taste of freedom and a feeling of complete abandonment. I'm sure the Beast hates being parked up too.
I am lucky that I have my Rust2Rome road trip to look forward to, which I'm pretty excited about. I think maybe I shouldn't make any definite plans until after that. I mean who knows I might meet the man of my dreams on route and live happily ever after!

I'm a bit miffed because BBC Radio Scotland sent me a message asking if I'd appear on their radio talk about living in a campervan, but I didn't get the message in time. I'd have loved to chat about my Motorhome. Oh well, maybe Hollywood will get in touch and film me instead...

Enjoying coffee catch ups...

Milo adjusting to the same view every day...

Back to life...

The Beast waiting for me...

Happy and content, for now...

Our journey from France to the UK was problem free. Milo wasn't too happy on the ferry and I wasn't allowed to sit in the Beast with him so he was pretty happy to see me when we docked in Newhaven. It was dark and late when we got off the ferry and I couldn't see anywhere decent to stop so I just kept driving. On occasion on the wrong side of the road! The roads were so quiet I ended up doing most of my journey home. We arrived back at my hometown around 7am so I took Milo straight to his favourite woods at Royden Park. He was so happy and no doubt confused. He has been in his element this week with all his favourite people and favourite walks. I'm just happy to be having conversations in my native tongue.

I'm enjoying wandering round supermarkets recognising what is on the shelves. I'm loving sitting in cafes with Pip watching the world go by. And I'm appreciating my family for putting up with my regular "when I was in Fraaance...."

I'm still unsure what to do next, other than try find some kind of paid employment. But I'm feeling quite content at the moment and want to relish this feeling.
I got to meet two of the gentlemen who I'm travelling with on my Rust2Rome road trip adventure and they are just lovely. Certainly not the murdering type so that's a bonus! They threw a Grand National themed party to raise funds for the charity we are representing on our road trip 'Northern Lights Children's Charity'
https://mydonate.bt.com/events/rust2rome2/402411#.WOGf4DZO1mI.facebook
And I got to see the car we are travelling in, it's  certainly in better shape than the Beast.
So I've now got about seven weeks to prepare for, probably, my craziest adventure to date...

Waiting for the ferry...

Milo happy in the woods...

The next adventure... 

Au revoir France...

Today Milo and me leave France and return to the UK. France was not a mistake but it wasn't for us. I seem to have settled in an extremely rural location, which whilst beautiful, I was feeling very lonely and down. I was staying with a lovely family but seemed to be in a household full of boys, including the dogs. I got to explore lots of local places in the Beast but unfortunately all were very quiet. I don't think I've gone quite so long without girly conversation. On a plus I have managed to do tons of writing for my book, I just hope my family are ready for tons of free editing.

So it's back into the arms of my loving family. No doubt they're exasperated with me by now and my constant returns. I can hear them thinking 'what the heck is she going to do next'.

My beginning plan is to breath out for a moment. Stop clenching my teeth. And relax.  Other than my rust2rome road trip in June, with three men I've yet to meet, I'm not setting anything in stone.

I gave up my life, as I knew it, nearly two years ago. Now I want to figure out who this Nicci Taylor really is and what she really wants. Or needs.

I'm looking forward to my next chapter and will no doubt blog it, even if it isn't what I thought...

I will miss this every morning...

I will miss my neighbours...

I reckon Bear doesn't want Milo to leave...

Milo waiting for  his vet check...

My tiresome midlife crisis...

I found a lovely little spot to camp locally this weekend and it was free. Add to that a mini heatwave and a lake for Milo equals good weekend for us both. The only mishap occurred when some kind of leaf landed on the van roof. It appeared to be one of those helicopter type leaves, sycamore I think. Anyway it sounded like a glass marble on a tin roof that I would have been unable to sleep through. So I climbed onto my folding stool, with a kitchen utensil in hand and poked my head out the kitchen sky light. I spotted the little blighter straight away and as I tried to reach for it with the spatulas an old gentleman wandered past, just at the same time as the stool leg snapped. I yelped out loud and hung onto the sky light with my legs dangling. The old man looked up and I'm sure I looked like some kind of mere cat in a zoo peering out at him. He gestured Bonjour and walked on by. Mean time I'm nursing a few broken finger nails. But I did manage to remove the leaf.

I've now decided to return to the UK. I've come to a decision that I'm having a midlife crisis and it has to end. I've been wandering around for nearly two years now and I'm tired. Tired of living out of suitcases or borrowed drawers. Tired of being a constant visitor everywhere I go. Tired of worrying how to fund myself. Tired of trying to figure out what it is I'm trying to figure out. And I'm tired of feeling tired. I've all but given up on finding the man of my dreams but I have come to realise that it's not as important as I first thought. I've had so much fun looking and if I'd found him on day one I'd have missed out on a whole big adventure. I've absolutely no regrets of what I've done on my adventure and wouldn't change any of it. But I feel it's time to stop for a moment, stand still and reflect. And then start the next chapter of my life...

Me, Angel of the North...

My broken stool...

Happy Milo...

Me as usual sitting alone on a rock...

Enjoying female conversation...

Milo and me went off for a little jaunt in the Beast this week. We found ourselves a little hidden gem in the form of Saint Ceneri Le Gerei. This is the prettiest village we've found so far. There are no shops and only about 140 residents. There are a few bars but only one was open this time of year. Luckily I'd stocked up on supplies from the supermarket before we arrived. It's funny but everyday lots of the supermarkets here close for a two hour lunch, can you imagine Tesco doing that?!

We got to the village and took a tiny narrow lane down to the river and parked up. We were the only Motorhome and there was no charge. We took a walk along the river up towards the church on the hill, stopping off at the little Chapel of Saint Ceneri. The Chapel is in the middle of a field beside the river, it's so quaint. We even got to sign the guest book. We walked back through the village getting a lovely photo looking down on the river. Back at the van a gentleman and his dog stopped to say hello. He was Ceephas and was an English artist living here with his wife Jennifer. He then invited me to visit his gallery and join them for a drink in the local bar. It was lovely to have some female, English conversation with Jennifer and  they have invited me to return. I also got to meet Le Garçons mother this week, who is lovely, and supplied more female conversation.

We had a gorgeous sunny day too and I managed to chill on the doorstep of the Beast and get a fair bit of writing done. Still so much to write though as I keep remembering so many different things as I go along...

Saint Ceneri Le Gerei

Walking by the river...

The Chapel...

The guest book...

The view...

The sunshine...

Yuk! he snogged his sister...

Washed hair, bit of lippy and a pair of high heels. Then off I went to meet Mr Handsome Stranger on our 'date'. And there he was, sitting at the same table in the same cafe, even wearing the same clothes. But, I noticed, as I walked towards him, his hand was gently rocking the pram beside him and he wasn't smiling at me but at his very much alive wife. Not quite the scenario I had in my head. He was supposed to arrive after me, clutching a bouquet of flowers, chosen to match the blue of my eyes, when he would bend down on one knee and declare he had been unable to stop thinking of me all week and would I give him the great pleasure of becoming his (second) wife...
I'd entered too far into the paved cafe area to walk on past and had to take the only available seat, directly in front of him. I then spent the next hour, with my back to him, listening to his happy family chatter. Although, as I couldn't understand a word they said, I  kidded myself he was chatting to his sister whilst cooing over his nephew in the pram!

Ha, back in the real world I left the cafe and took Milo for a walk in the park and was rather happy to find the park cafe open. I treated myself to a long, cold beer, the sun was shining and I felt a little happier. I even picked myself a small bunch of daffodils from the hedges, which I have placed on the windowsill of my 'conservatory'.

On my way home I got some bones for the dogs and managed to get some peace and quiet in the van to crack on with more writing. I've not done much writing this week as there are roadworks in front of the house. It actually feels like they are rebuilding the M1. I'm seeing men through all the windows and not a looker amongst them...

Flowers in the conservatory...

I don't need a man for flowers...

Cheers...

Peeking at the road men... 

Today I fell a little bit in love...

Saturday morning, I took myself off to the market again in Mortagne au Perche. The weather was a bit drizzly but the view from, my friend CLemons, cafe was a beautiful array of market stall flowers. And I must say the view to the left of me wasn't half bad either. A tall, dark, well dressed and extremely handsome gentleman sat at the table beside me. By his feet was an old fashioned straw basket holding his shopping, some flowers and some books. I decided to take my book, from my bag and pretend to read it, I was trying, discreetly, to glance to my left to get a better view of him.  That's when local old bag lady came and sat at my table. Very old, extremely plump lots of bags and very few teeth. She sat herself down and started chattering away to me. At first I was a bit annoyed but then my handsome stranger spoke to me and explained what she was saying. She just wanted to sit and rest her legs.

Then the handsome gentleman engaged in a conversation with me about the book I was reading. He told me he loved books and knew of a local book shop where we can exchange books for free and they also have English books. We chatted for a bit about the weather, the market and the general area. Then he drew me a map on a scrap of paper detailing the location of the book shop. When he stood up I noticed he had the most dreamy eyes, he was of mixed race, I don't know which race but he certainly won it. And I think that's when I started falling a little bit in love. Until Bang! I spotted his wedding ring as he handed me the love letter, I mean map. He said goodbye, it was lovely to meet me and that he was here every Saturday for coffee. Of course, being a little bit in love, I took that as a date. And when he left I started daydreaming about our future. I decided he was a lonely widow, he was taking the flowers to her grave, he wore the ring in her memory, on behalf of his grownup children, who just want him to be happy once again. With me...
Old bag lady agrees with me...

Second best view from cafe...

Streets in Mortagne au Perche...