Reflections on our Return to the New Forest for a Final Fond Farewell

 “Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Looking back on the past twelve months, because I am indeed writing these final instalments from back home in Australia, I would say the best decision we made was to chose a base for a long period of time and experience life rather than just playing tourists.

In total we have spent just under six months living in the New Forest on the Hampshire/Dorset border and here we have made life long friends, have had the most wonderful base for weekend and school holiday touring whilst providing the children with the opportunity to learn and grow where the world is surprisingly different to that at home.

In retrospect once we left our happy home in England perhaps we have travelled too far and seen too many places and despite our slow travel plans and philosophy a one week stay in so many places means we have appreciated and really absorbed so little of what we have seen.

If you were to ask me where we should have missed out I couldn't tell you as we loved everywhere that we have been and would be hard pressed to write an alternative itinerary.

We had really planned to use Croatia as a second home base and a place to rest, but once we were there it was impossible to stay at home and we travelled the country from top to bottom.

I love the UK and could return tomorrow and stay forever, but as this is impossible we will have to plan to visit again one day. It is to Croatia that we will return most often in the future. To our cosy little home in the country where we have left a big piece of our hearts and envisage many family holidays there over the years.

So it was with somewhat heavy hearts that we returned to say goodbye and collect our remaining bags before leaving England for the last time. We timed our return to coincide with the kids school Christmas Bazaar which was wonderful. From the moment we arrived Emma was off with her friends while we had the opportunity to catch up with everyone and enjoy the day.

We spent our few days here packing up and posting home boxes of school work and bits and pieces to send back home. We also spent as much time as we could manage in the forest enjoying the beautiful scenery and fresh air.

As I have said many times earlier in the year, the New Forest is a fabulous place, equal in beauty to the much more touristy Cotswolds and without the crowds.

Not only is the area blessed with beautiful countryside and villages but it is also close to fabulous towns such as Salisbury where we spent a day to see a pantomime in the build up to Christmas. We also met with friends to go ice-skating down in Bournemouth on the outdoor rink set up at Christmas time.

I am so glad the kids have experienced Christmas time in the northern hemisphere, as it is so very different from that which we experience at home. We have absolutely achieved our aim of seeing the seasons change on the other side of the world and we are ending with a Christmas in winter.

The last month of our holiday has really been devoted to exploring the way people celebrate Christmas in different parts of the world. I look forward to telling you about Santa Lucia in Verona, Christmas in Austria and New Year and Reyes Magos in Andalucía.

But now I bid a fond farewell to all of our wonderful friends on the UK and promise that though you live on the other side of the world we will take you with us in our hearts.