Hello!
It’s Wednesday again and I’m sharing a great adventure we had 30 years ago, in the (English) summer holidays of July 1992.
The Mathematician asked me today where were we 30 years ago today? And I immediately knew exactly where we were!
Why do I know? Well it’s the day before Bastille Day and we were driving and camping our way around France all squished into our little car with just the very basics of camping equipment borrowed from generous friends. The camping was rough to say the least but oh so much fun too!
We were staying in a fabulous camping ground and visited Sarlat-la-Canéda experiencing the pomp and ceremony of a real Bastille Day.
So today I sat looking at some of the photos from that time and had a lovely reminisce.
This photo (above) was taken the day we caught the ferry from Southhampton to Cherbourg. We met up with some of my mother’s relatives on the way south and they insisted we stayed for lunch. Sylvia (no idea what relation she was) also found this special dress that had been hers as a child and let my daughters take turns wearing it – they felt like princesses!
I adore this happy snap of my family playing a game of petanque on the sandy ground of our camping site at St John de Monts. They all look so happy 🙂
When we were planning our rough route around France and Europe my only wish was to visit Mont St Michel in Normandy. You see, as a school student studying French for six years at my local high school, where a poster of Mont St Michel hung on the wall, I had dreams that one day I would go there and speak fluent French with the locals. It called to me all those years later, I just had to go! So we did and i got my wish, but sadly my French was far from fluent or understandable. The easiest thing to say was Je suis Australien….
A Teacher Exchange Experience Tumbarumba Australia to Cheddar UK
At the start of 1992 we left the sunny shores of Australia as the Mathematician (plus wife and three daughters) was participating in a year-long Teacher Exchange program which effectively meant we swapped houses, jobs, cars and lives with a family from Cheddar, in Somerset in the southwest of UK. The English family travelled to our town of Tumbarumba in New South Wales Australia, and took over the Mathematician’s job at the local high school. It was an education for all concerned!
We moved with our three small daughters, aged 3, 6 & 8, to the other side of the world for what turned out to be the experience of a lifetime – for all of us. The Mathematician drove to Bath each day to work in the adult education sector and we took every opportunity to see as much of England and Europe as we could during the year. It wasn’t always easy but we managed to make it a year full of fun and adventure. In fact at the end of the year the girls didn’t want to return to Australia, they were more than happy to stay in Cheddar!
Our eldest daughter returned to Cheddar for a Gap year after finishing high school and again after finishing her university course. And she has since stayed on and made her life there and added little Dottie to the family. It’s a case of life coming full circle!
In case you didn’t know, Dottie was born VERY early at 25 weeks in 2019. We last saw her in January 2020 before returning home to the Black Summer bushfires in Tumbarumba. Dottie was still on oxygen when we last saw her but has flourished over the past few years and will be turning 3 in August – and we will be there with bells on to help her celebrate this milestone. She couldn’t have a first birthday party due to Covid, she was in hospital with an infection on her 2nd birthday and so this year she will be having a big party!
We are on our way to see them in just two week’s time and I’m very excited and also worried by all the Covid infections going on around us and all over the world. We’ve taken all precautions and once on the plane I will release my held in breath!
Wednesday
Wednesdays are for sharing some amazing moments – and this trip back in time to 1992 was mine for the week. #wakeupandbeamazingwednesday
In two week’s time it will be another Wednesday and we’ll be on our way to England!
Our family motto is To travel is to Live and sadly we’ve not been able to go overseas for a few years but bring it on!!!!
Have an amazing day – and don’t forget, you’re amazing!
Deb 🙂
Coming Up:
- Our monthly linkup What’s on Your Bookshelf (WOYBS) is coming up Friday 22 July. It’s where we share what we’ve been reading, watching or simply enjoying. Hope to see you!
- I’ll update my packing progress next week!
You can also find Deb’s World in lots of other places – stay in touch by clicking any of the buttons below.
Everyone has a story to tell!
Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a men’s correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. You can read more of Deb’s story here
Copyright © 2022 debs-world.com – All rights reserved
Deb's World 
30 years ago I’d just started my first librarian job! I was fresh out of grad school, husband and I had just packed up everything we owned into a 14-foot moving truck and driven across the country to a place neither of had ever lived. It was… wild.
For some reason I thought What’s on Your Bookshelf was this week. Oops. Oh, well–at least I have a post ready to go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow that sounds exciting Janet, what an adventure! WOYBS is this Friday, see you then.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dad and I were living in Palm Beach Queensland and preparing to join you all in UK. Plus attend a very special wedding . Lovely times with very fond memories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great memories mum! We had a great visit with you and dad that year 🙂
LikeLike
Ah, what wonderful photos and memories, Debbie. Thank you so much for sharing them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Donna, it was a great trip and we loved it all!
LikeLike
What wonderful memories. You still have the photos of the actual day. Those were the days my dear, those were the day
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes they certainly were the days! Great memories to have to look back on – I love being able to flip though the pages of a photo album!
LikeLike
Do I remember what I was doing 30 years ago? I’d settle for remembering what I was doing last week. 🤣 Thank goodness for photos to provide evidence of where we were and what we were doing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes photos are invaluable at times like this – and they were real photos too!!
LikeLike
What beautiful family photos, Deb. Your time in England will be so joyful. Toni x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Toni, it was the making of us all in many ways!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh and what a wonderful year long experience that was. Sure that there were times where you question the judgment of it all but all but look at the memories!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d have to get a date book out to be certain but I feel like it was this week as the kids started swim lessons while I was still in the hospital. Here’s my location for 30 years ago –https://equipoiselife.wordpress.com/2017/05/15/cautionary-tale/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Bernie that sure was some tale!! How scary would it have been but glad it had a happy ending.
LikeLike
Hi Deb. 32 years ago, I was living in Pensacola, Florida, with my husband and 2 children. We didn’t begin our travels until our kids we’re grown. Our next trip will be to Strasbourg, France, in December, with a stop in New york, first, to see our son, daughter-in-law, and 3 grandchildren. We are really looking forward to seeing our son and family! It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen them. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to your posts. xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Christina, your travels sound fabulous, I bet you are looking forward to seeing your children and grandchildren after all this time. Great memories of 30 odd years ago too! Thanks for your lovely words about my blog too, it’s much appreciated. xx
LikeLike
Are you still planning only taking carry on? This has gripped my imagination so much I told friends over from California about it. To say they looked astonished would be an understatement. I’m now off to work out what we were doing in 1992
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes and (spoiler alert) it’s come in under budget so far at 6.9kg with the limit of 7kg). So proud of myself!! Glad to know I still have the power of astonishing people 😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Keep going
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Deb – I can feel the excitement as you anticipate this much waited for trip. I’m thrilled for you that you’re finally heading off in 2 weeks and I bet the family is counting the moments. Great memories today – I can’t believe that 1992 was 30 years ago – it feels more like 10 years! I must be getting old!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had to do the maths Leanne it doesn’t feel that long ago! So many great memories from our time in 1992. I’m getting so excited about our upcoming trip and my packing is almost done.
LikeLike
Lovely! I have made a mistake and thought this week was what’s on your bookshelf….
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did too before realising (and talking to the other hosts) that it’s the third Thursday in Canada so we go with that date. No drama just link up next week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That Motto is pretty nice and moved going back to 1992 with you – and could imagine the tight car squeeze!
And I was just breaking up with a boyfriend – nice guy – but not the one – and then in 1995 I met the one – ha!
Have a nice day
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for joining in! Great memories for you I’m sure 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person