Since early last year I have had this burning desire to run away. My trip to the Bahrain GP was part of that and the only thing that has stopped me from heading off is that I couldn’t work out what I was running away from and why I even wanted to escape, there was so much about my life that I love that aimlessly running off just seemed pointless. The feeling has lingered into 2023 however and I’ve talked lots about a long road trip in the van with the bike and dogs along for some fun but still couldn’t quite find a convincing reason. In early March I heard from a good friend with an offer to visit their campsite in Hungary from mid April to help them get ready for the start of the holiday season, that was my tipping point, I wasn’t running away anymore, I was running towards something new. When that same friend messaged again a few days later with some lovely words including “So make this year a year of yeses to every opportunity” I kind of popped back into the moment, which is by far the best place to be, and re-committed to making the most of every single day.

That trip to Hungary will be starting on 18th April and I will endeavour to write some travel blog entries as I go, getting back to using this blog to document my little adventures rather than reflecting on the past and my lost loves. Although I promise to finish off the Jackki & Adi story gradually as time allows.

My saying Yes approach had actually been emerging slowly since the lows of a long January, some very dear friends needed a place to stay from mid Feb onwards and I was happy to let them share my largely empty house for as long as they need. Saying Yes to that was easy, especially with my mindset focused on running away in the van for a while which would mean the house would be otherwise left empty. Just after they had moved in a drunken conversation one Friday night included a discussion as to whether I had considered, or was even open to the idea of, finding a new partner, to which I replied yes, but that I found the whole idea of an active search distasteful. I very much love my life in Lanehead and would choose that over pretty much anything, but the idea of living that life on my own for ever was not particularly appealing.

A couple of weeks later and my house staying friends had arranged for their gorgeous friend Caroline and her dogs to come to visit for a Saturday night, innocent enough but with a hint of setup in the air! Caroline and I had met years ago at the Doggy Wedding, if anyone can remember that post, and was already a facebook friend and the proud owner of Stardust’s litter sister, Hattie. We all had a great time and a fair few drinks were consumed but within all that there was a very special little sparkle, Caroline and I talked and laughed and cried late into the night and again as we nursed hangovers on Sunday. We both felt a very instant connection with each other and the 4 weeks since have been simply wonderful and we are fast becoming inseparable, I can’t capture in words what it feels to be so genuinely happy and excited for the future again but many kind words from friends and family suggest that such happiness is evident in my face and my voice. Love changes everything, hang on isn’t that a song X.

So Caroline will be a big part of my trip to Hungary and many more trips in the future. We have some plans to make the most of every day she is able to join me, sign up for update notifications if you want to find out how we get on and how the trip unfolds.

Love for now, Adi

Don’t waste a single day