This is a reflective entry in the Kent Diaries — exploring van life, festival season, creative renewal and the quiet shift that happens when the road opens again. As a part of the Changing Spaces Season
I didn’t realise how much I’d been holding my breath until the van passed its MOT. One minute I was preparing myself for another round of “maybe it’s this part,” and the next I was standing there with the keys in my hand, feeling the quiet thud of relief in my chest. The van is back. The road is open again. And suddenly, a whole new project has space to breathe.
For weeks I’d been juggling a dozen moving pieces — house sits, possible jobs, cancelled plans, new ideas, the Devon trip that vanished as quickly as it appeared. But the moment the van came back to life, everything rearranged itself. The Kent festival wasn’t just a date in the diary anymore. It became the doorway into the next chapter.
I’ve been going to this festival for years, watching it grow from a handful of tents to a whole village of sound healing domes, drumming circles, yoga classes, crystal stalls, handmade clothes, skin balms, and food vans that smell like summer. Two days of wandering, meeting people, sampling food, listening to music, and letting myself be surprised by whatever I stumble into. Each year it expands, and I’m curious to see what they’ve added this time.
And of course, I’ve already made a new playlist for the drive — the soundtrack to the next leg of my soul‑led life.
But the festival is only the beginning.
What excites me most is what comes after — the coastal places I’ve never been, the ones that keep appearing in my mind’s eye when I think about what I want to create next. The unvisited parts of Kent, the industrial edges, the forgotten towns, the stories waiting in the land and in the people I meet. I can feel the pull of it already.
There’s something about preparing the van that feels like preparing myself. Checking the camping gear, making sure the fridge still works, seeing what needs replacing. Halfords surprised me today — I didn’t know they sold so much camping stuff, including the gas canisters I couldn’t find anywhere. I picked up a few things and made a mental note to return for the camping chairs. I want to sit by the beach with a book, letting the day unfold slowly.
I love the mornings most. Waking up, stretching, opening the door to fields or water. Putting the kettle on, scooping ground coffee into the cafetière, boiling milk in the tiny pan I’ve carried with me for years. Sitting with a hot mug, watching the light change, letting my thoughts wander. I usually soak oats overnight with dates and pecans, adding the honey my son brought me from Portugal — also called Mel. These small rituals make me feel anchored, even when everything else is shifting.
And things are shifting. My client work has dropped, my income has reduced, and yet I feel strangely calm. I’m making decisions from a place of trust, not fear. I know ideas will come. I know I’ll create something. I know the next step will reveal itself, just like the van did, just like the festival did, just like the coastlines are doing now.
This is the next leg of the journey — not just the physical travel, but the deeper work of creating a soul‑led life. Of dealing with the twists and turns of the everyday. Of listening to what I want long‑term. Of following the pulse of what feels alive.
The van is ready.
I’m ready.
And the road is calling again.
So sign up to be a part of the journey , i look forward to sharing it with you
I work with people navigating transitions, burnout recovery, nervous system overwhelm, identity shifts and the deeper emotional patterns that shape our lives. If you’re moving through your own season of change — or want grounded, reflective support — you can contact me to begin working together on here or via my email melgbb555@hotmail.com with love to connect in the subject bar
Contact me for more info melgbb55@hotmail.com
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