TAWK Featured Family -
'Nessa's Gift'

1.  About you

We are a family of four being myself Ness, Katie 8 Lochie 6 and Lucy our Pomeranian 2 years.

We have been travelling 3 years this coming march and this is second lap. I work as I'm travelling as a psychic doing readings to help fund our trip. A real travelling gypsy! I wish I had a gypsy wagon but I don't, we have a caravan and a hilux ute.

My kids are both home schooled through school of air which we all find challenging frustrating but definitely educational.

2.   Why did you make your decision to TAWK?

We started travelling as was a dream of mine for over a decade but I held off thinking I wasn't capable on my own. My grandfather told me when I was in my twenties I couldn't physically do it, not a single mum with my hand the way it is, I haven't got much use of my right hand, he told me old men struggled to hitch and unhitch but here I am a decade later now doing it with two kids.

3.   How did you get organised and how did you prepare?

We left our ten acre Wagga Wagga property where we had 6 cows. 4 horses. 4 border collies. I Renovated the house and rented it out and sadly had to re-home my pets. 

4.  What has been your biggest joy?

My biggest joy has been meeting lovely people along the way and seeing some places in Australia that absolutely amazed me. Have you ever been in a place that was so breathtaking it overwhelmed you to tears? I have a couple of times and I was shocked to have those feelings and moments. Australia is so diverse and beautiful places, like Esperance, I would expect to see in the Mediterranean seas not in our own backyard.

5. What has been your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?

My biggest challenge, wow I have to think about this, I'm not sure if I have had any huge challenges. The only things I can think of:

• Selling and giving away my beloved pets and working dogs; that was hard. 
• Another challenge is not being able to get involved with anyone as I don't want to stop travelling! 
• Also, when something goes wrong health wise and not having any family support on hand except when it was serious health and that's when it was hard on my father as he travelled 4000ks east to west to be there for me..
• I also have an older son Kyle 21 and not being able to be there for him emotionally, we really do miss family.

6.   Where have you enjoyed the most and Where disappointed you the most?

I loved the northern rivers, Broome, Albany; there are too many places to list that we loved but for the kids the Gold Coast for the theme parks. Mainly for me, the places I loved most are where we made friends that are now like family and that is what make the places special. But for the beauty, marine life and wildlife I loved Exmouth and Esperance.  

In Exmouth, we swam with a turtle and having emus at our door will be something we will never forget. 

7.   How did you get organised with schooling, what did/do you do and how did you come to that decision?

I met a travelling family  that told me about School of air by showing me a timetable type thing, I liked what I saw and heard and haven't looked back.

8.   What surprised you most about the trip?

The thing that has most surprised me most is how much I love this travelling and how it's become a lifestyle, I never expected to be travelling this long and can't see an end point!  

When I set off I had a 12 month trip planned but here we are. We have had to upgrade our caravan due to kids growing; when we set off Katie was 5,  Loch 3. Loch slept on couch but he outgrew that and we had to have a bunk built for him.

9.   What would be three pieces of advice to give to future TAWKers?

Advice for future TAWKers would be...

1. Don't make plans to be in a certain place at a certain time as sometimes you find spots that are so amazing you need more time to explore.
2. Have WikiCamps I would be lost without it.
3. Remember before leaving to travel; its only stuff. I struggled to part with belongings but as I got in the motion it got easier. Life is too short to live with dreams, live your dreams! 

10.   How do you think that this adventure has changed your family?

The big drives have been very healing have learnt a lot about not just myself but my two kids as well, the fighting in the car can be challenging! We are now more health conscious and environmentally friendly and becoming more aware of the world around us. My daughter is more confident where as she use to be quite shy. My son has become very friendly and outgoing and I believe in myself a lot more.

I have a Facebook page that I'd love you to follow - see you there and Thanks for reading.

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