As we have been fortunate to visit many Christmas Markets in Germany this has been discussed with many of our campers and staff throughout this season.
A few people have said to us that Birmingham put on a good market and people have been coming over for ten years from Germany (Frankfurt) and set it all up in the same way as it would be there.
http://www.christmasmarkets.com/UK/birmingham-christmas-market.html
Our friends Terry & Karen live in Kidderminster which is not too far from Birmingham so we drove over to them, got the train in to Birmingham Moore St station. As we had not eaten we headed for the nearest food stand which turned out to be a half a meter bratwurst in a roll……..needless to say it was well recieved. We then washed it down with a warm drink of Gluhwein, Kirshwein and Apfelwein.
We had a walk around all of the lovely stalls selling their wares and then headed to The Mailbox to meet Terry & Karen’s son for a coffee.
We then got the (delayed and very, very crowded) train back to Kidderminster. Normally a 40 minute journey but took at least an hour……We are glad that we do not use public transport that often.
We stayed the night and then after a hearty breakfast headed on to Oxford for a couple of nights at Dean’s mother’s.
About Dean
Angela and I decided that there was more to life than working hard to keep up the payments on the mortgage, to pay the gas, electric, phone bills etc. etc.
SO............
In 2008 we sold our house, I initially took a year off (Unpaid) and Angela handed in her notice!
We bought a motorhome and set off for a year of travelling!
This was the best thing we had done in our lives (Apart from getting married) and we have no regrets.
During the year I managed to secure a redundancy package which felt very strange. Almost sad as I had worked for the same company for 19 years (BT).
It was always our plan to have a whole year off before thinking about the 'W' word.
We began applying to the Camping and Caravanning Club (CCC) for the position of Holiday site assistants in August 2009. After the interview, work experience and induction we were finally given a contract at the CCC site in Inverewe (Scotland).
Our plan is to work through the summer in the UK then head to Europe to overwinter before coming back to work the following summer season.
Hopefully these few words and our blog will inspire others to get off the hamsters wheel and see that there is more to live than having a house and material things.
A cliche I know but this is not a rehearsal, life is too short!!!
Since our first contract in Scotland we have worked a winter contract in Oxford (never again!) not Oxford but a winter contract. Hereford for two years, living in a yurt for one! And Cornwall. In between our working we have also travelled a bit.
Hopefully this website will give you an insight into our alternative lifestyle.
Get out there and live the dream!