
Last week was ‘half term’ for me which meant a whole week of no lectures at university, no work and no need to be in London. So I decided to make the most of this time by escaping the city; funds didn’t allow for a cheeky trip abroad so instead I headed back to my home town for a week at my parents’ house. My home town of The New Forest is always a place I love returning to, after all I am far more of a country girl than a city girl. However, I don’t always appreciate it, typically I am too busy rushing around to fit everything in during a weekend trip there. This week long break at home was a little different, I ensured I took time to stop and appreciate everything that is different to my London life.
The Joys of Escaping London for a Week in the New Forest
Before I get into the joys, I should maybe explain that my hometown isn’t even a town. In fact it is a very small village where there is a village shop, pub and not much else. The bus runs twice a week and the whole village knows whats up if an emergency vehicle is there. Needless to say it was somewhere that I became frustrated with as a teenager but now can never wait to get back to.
I get to spend time with the animals (we have cats at home and my mum also has a horse), I grew up surrounded by animals and really miss them in London.
There are so many photo opportunities of sunset/sunrise because I can actually see the horizon – something which is basically impossible in London. Just check out my Instagram feed from last week!
There is less traffic, I cannot hear sirens from my window and there isn’t a plane flying overhead every 4 minutes.
I spend less because there isn’t a high street of shops 5 minutes away, we have a grand total of one shop in the village. (Staying with my parents my also have helped me spend less).
I get to spend time with family and friends who I wouldn’t normally see for weeks or months on end.
I relax more in the evenings because I have people to socialise with – in London the person I live with goes to bed mega early and thus my evenings are super boring unless I go out.
Going in the village shop, being greeted by my first name and then spending 10 minutes chatting before leaving without what I went in for.
I spend more time outdoors because of the animals and this forces me to spend more time offline and enjoying my life.
No matter where I run everywhere is beautiful, some places just have killer hills instead.
The weather is always more extreme, with a frost comes a beautiful sunrise, steam rising off the river and ice on the roads.
I can listen to my football team of the radio.
I don’t have to leave an extra 30 minutes to be anywhere incase I hit traffic.
It is super quiet outside the house and you could go a whole day without bumping into another soul.
It leaves me feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the city again (well for a few weeks at least).
It still feels like home.