 Early morning in Paris This isn’t the best picture that we have ever taken but it is one of the most important. You see I was one of those people that played by the rules I studied hard got a good job, got married, had a family and started working towards building a nest egg for retirement. I was the ultimate “ when I retire I will.......” I had so many plans for when I had enough money to retire. But going back a few years ago I realised that I would never have enough money to do all the things I wanted to do, but more importantly I would be to old and wouldn’t have enough years to do all the things I wanted to do. So the Spunky Rooster and I decided to take a chance and do what we wanted to do NOW. Create a life that made us happy and content. So emerged The Global Hobos. Seeing Paris was always one of the places I always wanted to see. So for me it signifies the change in my life from living, to creating a life .There is a quote by Robin Sharma “ Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life” This hit home for me a few years ago and I knew we had to make changes. The changes we made aren’t just where we live or how we live it’s also about changing how we think. We have become more mindful, taking time to experience the little things. We have become less judgmental,realising people are unique and special. We have become more grateful and accepting, understanding that life can be perfect even when things go wrong. Life should be filled moment by moment with love and joy and connection as well as adventure, excitement, awe and most importantly gratitude. So to quote a Michael Franti song “hey hey no matter how life is today, there just one thing that I have to say.....I won’t let another moment slip away.
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 Playing the fool on the Brighton Pier England We are all wired for happiness .....it’s true our minds and bodies performs better when we are happy. Laughter stimulates production of the happy hormone, serotonin, it creates more endorphins which put us on a natural high, reduce stress and help us take on a more positive perspective. Happiness is a choice, a habit. Unfortunately many of us are in the habit of choosing to be stressed and miserable. You may disagree but I can prove it, when you wake in the morning make a conscious effort to take a moment and check in on your thoughts. Do you wake up excited and eager to start your day or are you first thoughts anxious and a mental “to do” list? I know I used to wake up, groan and wish I could go back to sleep.How do you think that affected how I felt during the day. Now before my feet hit the floor I take a deep breath and think about all the amazing things that are going to fill my day.....learning a new skill, meeting new people, enjoying breakfast with Spunky Rooster all things that make me happy.Only then do I get out of bed and greet the day. Simple, but not necessarily easy to do, it does take a little practice. Like all habits you need to do it regularly for it to become easy. I choose to be happy. I challenge you to choose happiness.  Early morning in Paris. What a day. This isn’t the best picture that we have ever taken but it is one of the most important. You see I was one of those people that played by the rules I studied hard got a good job got married had a family and started working towards building a nest egg for retirement. I was the ultimate “ when I retire I will.......” I had so many plans for when I had enough money to retire. But going back a few years ago I realised that I would never have enough money to do all the things I wanted to do, but more importantly I would be to old and wouldn’t have enough years to do all the things I wanted to do. So the Spunky Rooster and I decided to take a chance and do what we wanted to do NOW. Create a life that made us happy and content. So emerged The Global Hobos. Seeing Paris was always one of the places I always wanted to see. So for me it signifies the change in my life from living, to creating a life .There is a quote by Robin Sharma “ Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life” This hit home for me a few years ago and I knew we had to make changes. The changes we made aren’t just where we live or how we live it’s also about changing how we think. We have become more mindful, taking time to experience the little things. We have become less judgmental,realising people are unique and special. We have become more grateful and accepting, understanding that life can be perfect even when things go wrong. Life should be filled moment by moment with love and joy and connection as well as adventure, excitement, awe and most importantly gratitude. So to quote a Michael Franti song “hey hey no matter how life is today, there just one thing that I have to say.....I won’t let another moment slip away.
 Dining at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower This is the Spunky Rooster and I in Paris at the base of the Eiffel Tower . My mum donated money through our “buy us a burger” button on our website. Thanks mum it topped of a truly magical day. Donation such as this always give us so much joy. We are so grateful to the individuals who donate and always make an effort to acknowledge their gift to us. But more than the money it gives us a chance to give thanks for having the person in our life. We always talk about them and recollect memories and times with them , it is a true celebration filled with love and gratitude. Gratitude is so much part of our everyday life and philosophy and it’s something we both believe is pivotal to our happiness and contentment. It’s something we cultivate daily by ensuring we write down everyday things we are grateful for. Did you know that this simple exercise of writing down 3 things you are grateful for everyday can change your world? It can improve your mood because you focus on things that make you happy. It will definitely make you more popular because you are more positive and more fun to be around. It makes you more resilient because it encourages you to look at things from a different perspective.....and last but not least it makes you live longer because it has been proven that happy people live longer. Try it. Everyday write down three things in your life you are grateful for. Do this for 90 days. Please persevere at the beginning it can be difficult but trust me it gets easier
 I have to be truly honest and say the Via francigena has failed to impress. The track has been mundane and many of the towns we have walked through lack the congeniality of the Spanish Camino. However it hasn’t gone without it rewards ..due to the monotonous nature of the track I have been extremely mindful practicing my circular breathing checking in on my posture engaging my core deliberately and generally taking more notice of what’s happening within my body. Also walking through the Somme Valley is like walking through a part of history this area was the Western front in World War 1 it’s where The allies push backed Germany and was pivotal in Germany’s surrender. So even though the scenery hasn’t been all that special the body lessons and history lessons have definitely been worth the effort.
 Somewhere between St Quentin and Tergniers I have to be truly honest and say the Via francigena has failed to impress. The track has been mundane and many of the towns we have walked through lack the congeniality of the Spanish Camino. However it hasn’t gone without it rewards ..due to the monotonous nature of the track I have been extremely mindful practicing my circular breathing checking in on my posture engaging my core deliberately and generally taking more notice of what’s happening within my body. Also walking through the Somme Valley is like walking through a part of history this area was the Western front in World War 1 it’s where The allies push backed Germany and was pivotal in Germany’s surrender. So even though the scenery hasn’t been all that special the body lessons and history lessons have definitely been worth the effort.
 The gate to the museum in Arras There’s a drop down menu in your mind. Click on it. Look at your option” Colette Werden
I love this analogy, because it is so simple. I believe that we all get into the habit of choosing option 1. Option 1 is the easiest option, the option we are familiar with ...it’s the, “that’s just the way it is” option. What if you stopped and looked at the other options how would your life change? That’s exactly what The Spunky Rooster and I did 4 years ago. We were a couple of normal empty nesters, high income, lots of little holidays, stress to the max, working in jobs that we were no longer passionate about. Our option 1 was to keep going until we were 65 when we could retire with a handsome little nest egg. However we would have been 65 not in great physical shape . So we decided on option 2 consolidates our savings by selling everything we own throw on a backpack and walk the world. So here I am in Arras France on a Wednesday afternoon loving life. Check out your option 2 or 3 or even option 4😁  Brass directional plates in the footpaths of Arras “People always asked her, where she was going. Not fully knowing herself she answered with a smile I am going in the right direction” Unknown.Love love love this quote
People ask us all the time......so what’s the plan? Where are you going next? Although we always have a rough plan for the next 6-12 months it is never set in stone. Both the Spunky Rooster and I believe in the universe showing us what is next and we both have faith enough in the universe to know things change. Each decision has a ripple effect or action, so to plan to far ahead could lead to disappointment. In New Zealand, the weather was a big dictator to our plans and we changed our plans to maximise great weather. In Japan the proximity to easy transport option took us on a unplanned 2 day adventure to Hiroshima. Now in France we have taken a rest day because Arras has so much amazing history we wanted to linger a little while to absorb. Whatever direction or road we take, we make the most of the opportunity and experience and that way it will always be the right direction.  DINING HOBO STYLE. Eating well on the road is a continuous struggle between nutritional value calories and taste. Tonight ticked all three lots of calories with hot baby potatoes with mayo cheese and butter, good protein with poached chicken breast and lots of yumminess with fresh baby lettuce and avocado . All served up on blue plastic bags b cause we have no plates e
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