June Adventures: From France to Local Escapes
After an action-packed May, I was ready to hit the ground running in June. We returned from our holiday in France, but our van had a few issues that were bothering Jon. Thankfully, it passed its MOT (a test to ensure road worthiness in the UK), which made us happy. However, the solar panels, fridge, and electrical head unit still had some glitches. At least it was road-safe!
With France feeling like a distant memory and our school and work routines back in full swing, I started planning new mountain biking adventures for Malorie and me. The van is perfect for a Friday night pub stopover followed by Saturday exploration. I considered Bedgebury Forest, but with its challenging uphills, I felt Malorie wasn’t quite ready for it yet.
The first weekend of June, we celebrated Ganga’s birthday with a meal at the local pub and gifted him and Lynda a year’s membership to English Heritage sites. They love their days out and enjoy taking the kids to local castles and attractions. Check out the English Heritage website to see the amazing places you can visit.
Family Moments and Golfing Adventures: Mid-June Recap
The next few weeks were all about family time, with fewer adventures but plenty of cherished moments. Whether it was enjoying meals with grandparents or snuggling up to watch “Clarkson’s Farm” (a household favorite), we made the most of every moment.
Every week, we have “Red Wine Thursday” at my parents’ house, where Mum prepares a lavish spread of fine foods, desserts, and wine. While Dad and I skip the wine, it’s a treat for Jon, Mum, and occasionally my sister-in-law. This particular Thursday, we hosted at our place to celebrate our newly finished kitchen. Equipped with a new cocktail maker, we mixed up a variety of cocktails as the sun shone and we enjoyed steak and salad. The evening ended with Mum asleep on the couch and Molly, their dog, having a sleepover since they needed to order a taxi!
Mid-June saw me back on the golf course for the fourth time this year. Cycling has taken over as my main hobby, but I still love golf. I traveled south to Princes Golf Club, a UK top 100 course where I spent many weekends growing up. I played golf with my dad (his Father’s Day present), a client who is a country member, and a talented female golfer with a great sense of humor. The conditions were perfect, and it was a great way to prepare for representing the county ladies’ team at County Week next month.
Wrapping Up June: Family Photoshoot and Summer Hopes
As June drew to a close, we had one last treat planned—a family photoshoot for Mum’s 65th birthday, which had been postponed due to bad weather. We gathered in our favourite woods, dressed in coordinating neutral colours, and let the dogs run free. Amanda, our photographer, was fantastic, capturing us as we strolled, laughed, and goofed around with the kids. We had so much fun, and I can’t wait to see the results, even though I’m a bit nervous about how I’ll look in the photos. My husband always jokes that I look better in real life than in pictures—haha, we’ll see!
The sun was shining, the dogs were playing, and it felt idyllic to enjoy nature while watching the kids chat, play, and mess about together. Moments like these make me feel truly blessed to have such a wonderful family and to live near places where we can be together outdoors.
Pedaling Through Swinley Forest: A Family Adventure”🚴♂️
As June drew to a close, our family embarked on an impromptu cycling escapade to Swinley Forest. Picture this: a quick phone call to Mum, and suddenly we found ourselves loading up the campervan with not just our two kids but also my brother’s two. Destination? Swinley, of course—a lush forest waiting to be explored.
The weather? Perfect. The forest? Enchanting. And the kids? Well, they were positively buzzing with excitement. But here’s the best part: No broken bones! Yep, we managed to return all four kiddos with their limbs intact. High-fives all around! 🙌
Our campervan served as our cosy base, parked near a friendly pub. From there, we set off on our bikes, weaving through the sun-dappled trails of Swinley. The scent of pine, the crunch of leaves under our tires—it was pure magic. And as tired as we were by the end of the weekend, a new flame had been lit within us: the desire to explore more bike trails, using our trusty van as our mobile home.
Reflecting on it now, I feel incredibly fortunate that we have this van in our lives. It’s become more than just a vehicle; it’s our ticket to adventure, our shared memory-maker. Truly, it’s the best decision our family ever made.
So here’s to Swinley Forest, to campervans, and to the joy of pedalling through life together! 🌿🚐💕
June ended with more school trips and commitments. Work was busy, and we’re still settling into life with our new kitchen, constantly pinching ourselves that it’s finally done and we love it.
I’m hoping for a sunny summer so we can fully enjoy paddle boarding, cycling, forest exploring, campervanning, and more summer activities. Until next month, have fun, get outside, take a deep breath, and embrace the adventure!
