Whos given up everything to follow a dream ?
Discussion
slight reversal - my parents retired and went to live in Cyprus for 5 years - lovely house/pool in the hills, then sold it and lived in central France for 5 years lovely house/pool.
My brother and I were all for them going and having fun. So pleased they did this as my Dad recently passed away at 69 thankfully having moved back to the uk duing his last year. But at least they had some fun.
I would also suggest that following your dream can be having a nice home life and looking forward to a fun retirement.
My brother and I were all for them going and having fun. So pleased they did this as my Dad recently passed away at 69 thankfully having moved back to the uk duing his last year. But at least they had some fun.
I would also suggest that following your dream can be having a nice home life and looking forward to a fun retirement.
PAULJ5555 said:
King Herald said:
And the most painful part of all, leaving my parents behind, in their mid seventies. 
They lived not ten minutes walk from us, we'd seen them probably once a week for years, and our daughter got on great with them. I went back to visit last year, but my daughter and wife haven't been back for nearly three years.
Thats whats stopping most people I think.They lived not ten minutes walk from us, we'd seen them probably once a week for years, and our daughter got on great with them. I went back to visit last year, but my daughter and wife haven't been back for nearly three years.
DJRC said:
PAULJ5555 said:
King Herald said:
And the most painful part of all, leaving my parents behind, in their mid seventies.
They lived not ten minutes walk from us, we'd seen them probably once a week for years, and our daughter got on great with them. I went back to visit last year, but my daughter and wife haven't been back for nearly three years.
Thats whats stopping most people I think.They lived not ten minutes walk from us, we'd seen them probably once a week for years, and our daughter got on great with them. I went back to visit last year, but my daughter and wife haven't been back for nearly three years.
Im all for my independance and what have you, but my parents have given me an easy life, where ive always been safe blah blah you know. My dad helps fuel my car dreams and what have you and always rides shotgun to shows/sprints/hillclimbs/track days.
I'd struggle to up and leave because id miss them, but i recon they would give me a nudge if they saw it being something good for me.
I guess I am about to fall in to this category.
When my wife met me, she was just about to move back home to Ireland, I promised her that if the chance for us both to move back came again we would do it. However as time passed it never seemed right and things got in the way (we had to look after her Gran, then my own mother became very ill, plus we had a couple of kids as well). In the last few years several of her English friends have moved over there and keep telling her how wonderful life is for them, and how she would love it over "here" (forgetting that is where she was born and raised). This has been slowly eating away at her, watching others live "her dream"
So last month we looked at how easily we could sell our house in the South East (took 1 weekend to sell, and is due to be completed by Christmas), and how easily I could get work over there (had a few "offers" but nothing concrete) and how well my wife could set up her own business there as well (the same one she runs here pretty well). Turns out the "parent" company she works under, is looking for experienced people to help establish their brand in other countries, including Ireland, where they are struggling to cope with the work load, so much so that I have also decided to work in the same business , meaning we will be running our own business together, and have just passed the needed exams to do so.
So in a little over 3 months I will have quit my job of 16 years, retrained, sold our house in the UK, moved over the Ireland, bought a house twice the size, have no debt and set up a new business and have enough money left over to last up to 5 years before the business needs to provide for us (which by the numbers it looks like doing with in 18 months)....oh and moved our kids as well (7 and 1)......all to make my wife happy (ok and have a better quality of life as well).
What could possibly go wrong
Though looking at it in writing looks more like a nightmare then a dream
When my wife met me, she was just about to move back home to Ireland, I promised her that if the chance for us both to move back came again we would do it. However as time passed it never seemed right and things got in the way (we had to look after her Gran, then my own mother became very ill, plus we had a couple of kids as well). In the last few years several of her English friends have moved over there and keep telling her how wonderful life is for them, and how she would love it over "here" (forgetting that is where she was born and raised). This has been slowly eating away at her, watching others live "her dream"
So last month we looked at how easily we could sell our house in the South East (took 1 weekend to sell, and is due to be completed by Christmas), and how easily I could get work over there (had a few "offers" but nothing concrete) and how well my wife could set up her own business there as well (the same one she runs here pretty well). Turns out the "parent" company she works under, is looking for experienced people to help establish their brand in other countries, including Ireland, where they are struggling to cope with the work load, so much so that I have also decided to work in the same business , meaning we will be running our own business together, and have just passed the needed exams to do so.
So in a little over 3 months I will have quit my job of 16 years, retrained, sold our house in the UK, moved over the Ireland, bought a house twice the size, have no debt and set up a new business and have enough money left over to last up to 5 years before the business needs to provide for us (which by the numbers it looks like doing with in 18 months)....oh and moved our kids as well (7 and 1)......all to make my wife happy (ok and have a better quality of life as well).
What could possibly go wrong
Though looking at it in writing looks more like a nightmare then a dream
I closed my business, put all my stuff I wanted to keep in storage, rented out my flat and eight months ago today headed off on my bike with just a few clothes & a tent to cycle around the world. 12,000km and 21 countries later I've reached Kyrgyzstan and think the whole trip will probably take about 3 years.
Everyone said I was mad to do it but I didn't want to be sitting here in twenty years kicking myself and saying "what if?" if I hadn't. The whole trip has been amazing with the only downside being missing my family & friends (and proper beer!) back home.
Everyone said I was mad to do it but I didn't want to be sitting here in twenty years kicking myself and saying "what if?" if I hadn't. The whole trip has been amazing with the only downside being missing my family & friends (and proper beer!) back home.
Edited by neilski on Thursday 8th November 14:43
DJRC said:
PAULJ5555 said:
King Herald said:
And the most painful part of all, leaving my parents behind, in their mid seventies.
They lived not ten minutes walk from us, we'd seen them probably once a week for years, and our daughter got on great with them. I went back to visit last year, but my daughter and wife haven't been back for nearly three years.
Thats whats stopping most people I think.They lived not ten minutes walk from us, we'd seen them probably once a week for years, and our daughter got on great with them. I went back to visit last year, but my daughter and wife haven't been back for nearly three years.
neilski said:
....and eight months ago today headed off on my bike with just a few clothes & a tent to cycle around the world. 12,000km and 21 countries later I've reached Kyrgyzstan......
Cool! You have some sort of a blog or web page we can track you on? You planning on visiting the Philippines? SimonV8ster said:
Mega story Neil !! Sounds brilliant, hats off to you !!
Have you kept any sort of blog at all ?
There's a thread running in Pedal Powered that I update whenever I get good internet (which isn't very often these days) where you can read all about my trip including getting taken around the Nordschleife by Chris Harris in a Noble M600. My Round The World ride (inc top blagging at Spa & The Ring)Have you kept any sort of blog at all ?
But if you just want my blog address, it's I Were Right About That Saddle Though and occasional tweets are at @neilchurchard
King Herald said:
DJRC said:
PAULJ5555 said:
King Herald said:
And the most painful part of all, leaving my parents behind, in their mid seventies.
They lived not ten minutes walk from us, we'd seen them probably once a week for years, and our daughter got on great with them. I went back to visit last year, but my daughter and wife haven't been back for nearly three years.
Thats whats stopping most people I think.They lived not ten minutes walk from us, we'd seen them probably once a week for years, and our daughter got on great with them. I went back to visit last year, but my daughter and wife haven't been back for nearly three years.
DJRC said:
Not really, I like them just fine. Its the principle that I dont understand.
I'll put it simply: I like my parents, they like me. We get on together and enjoy each others company, for I have known them all my life. They also like my wife and daughter, they too get along and like seeing each other.My parents are also elderly, mid seventies, so there is probably limited time available for us to enjoy each others company.
Parents like to see their children and grandchildren.
Thus, if we move 9000 miles away we won't see very much of each other.
And seeing as a round of tickets for us to visit the UK is £2500 we won't be making the trip very often.
Has this made the 'principle' any clearer?
neilski said:
I closed my business, put all my stuff I wanted to keep in storage, rented out my flat and eight months ago today headed off on my bike with just a few clothes & a tent to cycle around the world. 12,000km and 21 countries later I've reached Kyrgyzstan and think the whole trip will probably take about 3 years.
Everyone said I was mad to do it but I didn't want to be sitting here in twenty years kicking myself and saying "what if?" if I hadn't. The whole trip has been amazing with the only downside being missing my family & friends (and proper beer!) back home.
This dude wins!Everyone said I was mad to do it but I didn't want to be sitting here in twenty years kicking myself and saying "what if?" if I hadn't. The whole trip has been amazing with the only downside being missing my family & friends (and proper beer!) back home.
Edited by neilski on Thursday 8th November 14:43
neilski said:
I closed my business, put all my stuff I wanted to keep in storage, rented out my flat and eight months ago today headed off on my bike with just a few clothes & a tent to cycle around the world. 12,000km and 21 countries later I've reached Kyrgyzstan and think the whole trip will probably take about 3 years.
Everyone said I was mad to do it but I didn't want to be sitting here in twenty years kicking myself and saying "what if?" if I hadn't. The whole trip has been amazing with the only downside being missing my family & friends (and proper beer!) back home.
Epic win! How much money did you go with if you mind me asking?Everyone said I was mad to do it but I didn't want to be sitting here in twenty years kicking myself and saying "what if?" if I hadn't. The whole trip has been amazing with the only downside being missing my family & friends (and proper beer!) back home.
When I left everything I had around £8k if anyone is interested. It lasted me 3 years although I had the odd job and income from website top this up as I went along.
Kinda on the verge of doing so now, though I wouldn't say I'm giving up everything. Sat typing this with the forms for a Canadian worker visa in front of me. Been offered a job in Ottawa which is an amazing opportunity at the beginning of my career (just finishing a phd). Am applying for my partner of the last 4 years to go with me and we are both scared s
tless. Everyone keeps saying "oh how amazing" and "go for it" but we both like the home area. My partner recently observed that she wished "everyone would stop being so positive"!
Previous posters have mentioned about being stuck in a rut, but I am comfortable in my home town, as is my partner who also has a large family to miss. How do we know if it will work? We both seem to agree it would be silly not to try though. Am expecting the first few months to be very hard. At the very least I see out a 2 year contract and come back to the UK aged 28 with a good CV. Who knows, we may like it!
Lots of forms to fill in though.....
p.s. if anyone has experience of Ottawa or of emigrating to Canada please post on this thread!
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...
tless. Everyone keeps saying "oh how amazing" and "go for it" but we both like the home area. My partner recently observed that she wished "everyone would stop being so positive"!Previous posters have mentioned about being stuck in a rut, but I am comfortable in my home town, as is my partner who also has a large family to miss. How do we know if it will work? We both seem to agree it would be silly not to try though. Am expecting the first few months to be very hard. At the very least I see out a 2 year contract and come back to the UK aged 28 with a good CV. Who knows, we may like it!
Lots of forms to fill in though.....
p.s. if anyone has experience of Ottawa or of emigrating to Canada please post on this thread!
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...
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