6: Hi from the Highlands
Nov 9, 2018
We’ve just woken up and swung the doors open to a mountain top view with a lake at its feet. This will never get old: rising every day somewhere new and magnificent.
We’re currently on the the Isle of Skye in the Scottish Highlands. It’s otherworldly here. The name means ‘cloud island’, and something about it feels as if we’re in the heavens. Mountains after mountains are carpeted with lush green grass, quenched with rivers, waterfalls and lochs everywhere we look, all surrounded by a dreamy Atlantic Ocean.
Since crossing over from Ireland last week, we’ve been immersed in the most incredible creative bubble. After a month of getting used to the lifestyle and being in an almost permanent state of child-like wonder, we’ve now entered a new stage of #vanlife - we’ve found our flow.
You know that sweet creative space - that flow state - where it’s as if something is using you as a creative catalyst and you’re just letting it pass through you and into your work? We’re slipping into that easier than ever in the van.
It probably has something to do with the inspirational surroundings we’re in, but after a few music sessions with the van’s power draining on us, and fears of getting cabin fever / stepping on each other’s toes in a small space, we were worried we’d struggle. But we’ve endured our growing pains and Snail has become our creative haven. A recording studio, art studio and library all in one. She feels like a warm bath we're about to sink into.
We're always eager get back home, and have welcomed the shorter days and rain as reasons to stay in, and creatively indulge. I have a little feeling we’re going to be creating some of our best work in here.
As soon as we got to Scotland we headed to Glasgow, where we hired a rehearsal space for the day. Eight hours of vibing with no worries about the power going off, as well as heating and unlimited running water. Luxuries for us now.
We spent the night in the rehearsal space’s industrial car park, drifting off to the sounds of Scottish chants and harmonicas as bands left their late night rehearsals, trains passing every 5 minutes, and general city noise. Simone asked me mid-sleep - "is that the wind?" - "No honey, it’s the motorway". Returning to city life took some adjusting.
The next day we headed into Glasgow city centre where everyone was dressed weird until we remembered it was Halloween. But things were still strange. This was the first time we’d been in a major city since living in London, and it made us feel a bit uncomfortable. Firstly, because we started to worry that we looked like scruffy van-dwellers and everyone could smell us. But mostly because of the grey background static behind the city chaos. The traffic, the concrete, everyone rushing to work, the fancy shop windows displaying overpriced things.
Simone's make-shift guitar case
After living this lifestyle for a month, I’m starting to see everything through a different lens. My old world is feeling more and more alien. After we’d got what we needed from the city, we were outta there.
Since, we’ve been ambling our way up through the Highlands with our days going something like this: wake up, "wow look where we are", go on a run, breakfast, read, drive, stop somewhere pretty for lunch, find our place for the night, make music until the small hours.
I’ve had some blissful moments here in Scotland, often behind the wheel, where I’ve thought to myself: "this is the best decision I’ve ever made. This is exactly what we wanted. I’ve never been so happy. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be". Already, that’s enough to make this all worth it.
Soon, we're going to launch a new project, showcasing what we're creating on the road. We're going to share some of our 'van jams', to welcome you into the creative cave with us, and next week, after hugging the UK for too long, our time in mainland Europe (and right hand driving, eek) begins.
Love,
Becky and Simone