The light of the moon startled me, waking me up, very early. It illuminates the darkness that follows a summer where the sun barely took its leave in our northern hemisphere. The light nudges me and seems to say, “I am here”.

I’m home and my sweet babes sleep next to me, soundlessly dreaming. I pick up my phone and read a message. A friend in America asking if I will write about this adventure we are going to embark on. Yes.

As I sneak downstairs with my laptop, I notice how unusually tidy our house is. With viewings on the horizon, the little trinkets that reflect our essence have been tucked away. Our home is becoming a house once again. We draw closer to the end of our life in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. We are letting go of things, but time feels tighter. With our decision, our stress has heightened. Undressing from duty, responsibilities, and obligations demands extreme paperwork and extra graft and grit in the interim. I marvel at the irony of having to do more to the house, to be free of its ties.

We are going to make a home in the sweet unknown. Our first destination will be Koh Lanta, Thailand. A sleepy jungle island. We have been pulled here for many reasons. It is world-schooling hub, where 50 families from all over the world will join for the season. Here is our community, perhaps. I am excited but I really don’t know what will happen in this space. My career in education has led me up through a forest path. I’ve been working in the woods, with children for 9 years now.  This is the next stepping stone.

I want the beaches, the sleep-ins, and the yoga. I want to be sun-kissed. I want my children to explore their own interests and play endlessly. I want my girls to cultivate happiness, detached from stuff and things. I want noodles for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

In the light of the moon, cozy under my fluffy tribal blanket, I continue to type. My daughter wakes and she’s now snuggled in close. Uncomfortably close. She keeps talking to me and I worry she’s breaking the flow of this writing. My little slice of time has been interrupted. Bringing her into my little blanket den, I try to make it work for us both now.

With this small and very real moment, I realise something big. I know that this blog isn’t going to be filled with all the sweet things. It’s not going to rub your faces in our sun-drenched adventures in Thailand. I hope this writing captures truths and personal reflections. My fascination with nature will be the drum beat to this blog. I think that’s what this has all been leading up to; a chance to strip back and get all earthy.

Orange has hit the horizon, day is breaking. Our time-constrained morning creeps closer. I fast-forward through the day. It ends with cleaning my kitchen and then going to bed. I want to have more fun.

I imagine a wee adventurer within, with its backpack on. Waiting for its time. The adventurer wants to pee itself with excitement. Then throw up, get on its knees and scream, “WHAT on earth are we doing?!” But;

I’m ready to let go.

Come away with me.