At 60, why am I undertaking this new lifestyle?

I grew up in Mold, a small town in North Wales, with my younger sister Wendy. I’ve always loved animals: Smokey in the picture belonged to my grandparents. Sammy, my lovely white dog on the home page, died in November 2011 so I’ve just got one dog now, Bran.

My dad was a chartered surveyor and we’d take walks together where he’d teach me about history and nature, naming trees and plants as we went, telling me stories of times gone by – Romans, Native Americans, Ancient Egypt.

I’ve always loved the countryside. I’m drawn to my Celtic connections and feel at home when I cross the border into Wales.

As a girl I wanted to be a female Lone Ranger. I loved watching TV programmes featuring the Wild West. So although following a hospital stay I was painfully shy, I’ve always harboured a pioneering spirit and would find myself saying yes to opportunities when part of me was shouting no.

By eight, our family had moved to the city, Preston in Lancashire. At 16 I spent 4 months with a family in Germany. At 18 I moved again to study in Liverpool.

After graduating I did people-related jobs before getting married at 23. Amazingly that was considered relatively late in those days. The average age was 21. I felt mature but we were just kids really. How things have changed!

Within three years I had my first of two daughters. My second child had undiagnosed ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) which she grew out of in her teens. She was constantly on the go, day and night. I was exhausted trying to keep her stimulated. We both needed a break so I started part-time work outside the home and she had a wonderful time with Shirley next door.

Initially I found a job as a teacher, enabling me to juggle the demands of motherhood. Then I made the leap into sales, then training. 
I’ve created and led learning and development teams as well as being head of training for three household name organisations.

Circumstances meant I’d been the main income earner for over 20 years. I had some flexibility with my work but did have to travel and work long hours away from home.

I was getting out of balance and felt increasingly isolated.  

My husband was diagnosed with ME (Chronic Fatique Syndrome), a crippling condition for him physically and the family financially. The money I earned was spiralling into a black hole and so was I. I felt completely lost and at my lowest ebb. Thankfully, my husband returned to health, but meanwhile I was shattered after all the strains of his illness and holding down a responsible job. When my daughters had both left for university, I knew I had to take control of my life.

I was a wife, mother, manager, colleague; but I had absolutely no idea who I was. 

I knew I had to find out.

I’d already begun my inner journey but I now immersed myself fully in studying ancient wisdoms, forgotten teachings and many forms of healing. I became a total sponge.

My outer journey set me looking at my roots to understand who Jane Noble Knight was. I turned detective on my family history and resolved to investigate an old family murder mystery.

My great grandparents, Sarah Stretch and William Bellis, had a son, John, in 1880. They met on the lawn of Plas Teg, a Welsh Jacobean mansion, and all I knew about John was he’d been shot by a jealous lover.  I discovered what I’d been told wasn’t exactly true. And I’ll be following up that story further on my travels.

It’s from these adventures into the past I began to find myself and a desire to uncover hidden stories: to unwrite wrongs and give credit where it’s rightly due. 

I’m still fascinated by people and their stories. I now know this is my pilgrimage – to people, past and present, rather than places.

That’s how I got to where I am now: me, my dog and my motorhome. My husband and I divorced amicably a few years ago and remain friends.  I consider myself to be truly blessed.  I have two gorgeous, hugely talented daughters who I love dearly. I now have a small cottage base near one of them, from which I travel. Below is me in my finery at my daughter’s wedding last year.

Then there’s my sister Wendy, who’s 6 1/2 years younger than me. As a result, we’d been at different life stages growing up so we’d never been at school, university or work together.  Over the harsh winter of 2011 it was too cold to live in my motorhome so I spent a spell living with her and her husband. It was a precious gift to really get to know and appreciate them.

My parents are still going strong, though somewhat slower.  My mother was 91 in October and my father 89.  I hope I too have a long life ahead of me to enjoy all my future adventures.

After all, this is my Golden Age.