Les Aventures de Mathilde & Co.

Little South African Girls in France. ShweShwe Dress by Mathilde & Co.

Not that I am not satisfied, generally speaking, but what if I was walking past something? I almost have it all, I have reached my current goals, so … give me another challenge! A few years back when I was out on the road, I was living many people’s dream – no attachments, no debt, just a bag and a new destination every other night for 6 years. I had tried the 9-5 routine with a small city flat and regular salary, comfortable relationship, and decided to try something else. And believe me, it was not easy. I have never admitted this to anyone, but that first night on my own in Cairo, this Joburg bred French girl burst into tears in her hotel room wishing she’d never left her comfort zone. This wasn’t really me… was it? Surely all I wanted was the white picket fence dream? Did I always need to prove to myself and the world that I was this daredevil adventure seeking hardcore chick that didn’t fit in? But a week into my first adventure, I’d done it. I could do it. Traveling alone, braving the world, still with a jittery stomach and shaking knees I knew I had ticked that box. And kept ticking the countries off the map like an addict. Until it dawned on me that this familiar feeling of This Is No Longer Enough had returned and meant business this time around. Well this life was becoming a bit lonely… I longed to just water my plants and cook homemade meals for someone. Around me, most of my friends were settling down, starting families and I secretly envied the comfort and safety of their routine.

Life seems to go through me in phases of about 8 years. I left home at 17 to go and study, and then work in France. In my eighth year in Paris I suddenly panicked on my way to work. Was this to be my life? Like the 60 something man reading his newspaper each day on the train, who only disappeared every now and then for his allowed 3 weeks annual leave - had I joined the rat race and imprisoned myself in a routine that would from now on be my life? That day, I applied for an Adventure travel job, got it within a week and a month later had asked my friends to come to my flat and help themselves to anything they wanted. I swapped the fridge for an MP3 player, packed one bag and set off on my big adventure.
Six years later, after working in an average of 7 countries a year, I started longing for something else. I'd met Neil on one of my Peruvian contracts - a Welsh tour leader who worked for the same company. We'd meet here and there all over the planet - sometimes choosing contracts in adjacent countries, hoping to hop over the border and catch up. Although that didn't work so well between Ethiopia and Eritrea... we managed to stay together for a few years.
We eventually decided on South Africa as a country we both could live in. I'd grown up there and my nationality would help us settle down. Force of habit, we roamed the country and discovered a small town in the Klein Karoo desert, about 3h out of Cape Town. A beautiful old Victorian House with white shutters had our name on it... And so we became a happy DINK couple, with a lock up and go, perfectly balanced life of roughing it on the one hand, and living in the lap of luxury by the pool in our lovely home on the other.
We had it all! Well, almost. Mathilde, our first daughter arrived a year or so later, shortly followed by her sister Apolline. Dad was still on the road, making an appearance here and there, working double shifts while Mum stayed home with the girls and started developing Mathilde & Co... Life was still fabulous, but things had changed... we'd become responsible adults with loans, and future plans, and stress!! All in all we had it easier than most but the next 5 years gave our adventurous spirit a serious beating.
And then at last, the girls,by now 3 and 5, were old enough to share my love of exploring the open roads. I took them on their first real road trip over the summer holidays. Bliss. It was perfect. And it awoke that old wanderlust in me. We'd been battling with this life style for the last few years, with Neil being away now 6 months at a time and missing his girls - me having to take on everything else here and work hard at my successful little business. There had to be more to life than this! Where was the Freedom we used to have? Surely there was a way to combine family life and escape the daily grind with it's financial constraints?
And so another 8 years has come to an end, and with it a new beginning on the cards... We have something planned but it will require some serious consideration, planning and budgeting. Our 2 gorgeous girls are obviously the first priority but we want them to grow up free, adventurous and knowing they can do anything.
I have re-launched this blog in these more positive, exciting times and would like to share with you this new adventure we are about to embark on. Will it happen? Is it even possible? Because, if we can do it with  2 small girls, then so can you.