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Beth Sandland

10 Things You Wanted to Know About Hiring a Campervan in Australia and New Zealand

09/11/2019 · AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, TRAVEL, TRAVEL TIPS, VAN LIFE

Byron Bay Campervan Life Hiring a Campervan in Australia and New Zealand

 

As you all know I am allllll about the #vanlife after my campervan adventures around Australia and New Zealand earlier this year. I’m a total convert to a minimalist existence on four wheels; something I never thought I’d say! Last week I opened up a discussion using the Instagram Q&A function in an attempt to ease, myth bust and encourage all your wildest campervan questions and concerns. There were just too many great topics to cover on my stories, so instead I thought I’d answer them here.

 

I’ve enlisted the help of my pal and campervan guru Sammy RatPack. Okay, that isn’t really his surname but it is the name of his awesome travel company and it sounds pretty bad-ass. RatPack Travel are my absolute go to experts for all things on hiring a campervan in Australia or New Zealand.

In an attempt to break down the impersonal, often extortionate face of the travel and rental industry, Sammy runs things very differently. In a nutshell: give him your dates, let him know who you are, who you’re travelling with and what kind of trip you’re after and he’ll do the rest. He runs a search comparing all the available vans on the market then brings you the best one. THEN (!) he cuts into his own commission and makes it at least 10% cheaper.

Yep, the guy gives away his profit so you have extra beer money for your epic roadie. Now you see why I shout about them so much?

Anyway, he also really knows his shit when it comes to vanlife having adventured off on many roadies of his own. His knowledge proved invaluable to me when I campervanned it around New Zealand and he’s forever answering all my weird and mildly irritating questions via WhatsApp. He’s a good egg.

 

 

10 Things YOU Wanted to Know About Hiring a Campervan in Australia and New Zealand

(ranked in order of popularity!) 

 

  1. How much does hiring a campervan in Australia or New Zealand cost?

Beth – 

This is easily the most frequently asked and the hardest question to answer. I totally know why you want to know exactly what your van is going to cost whilst you’re still in the planning stages of your trip. Here are some of the factors that make it so hard to give a definitive answer:

  • What time of year is it?
  • Where are you picking up from and dropping off to?
  • What style of van do you want?
  • Which company you go with: are you happy with an older model, or do you want something flashier?

To try and give you a really transparent idea, I asked Sammy to run a search for a 21 day road trip from Sydney to Cairns at the beginning of February (the height of Aussie summer). This is the most expensive time of year to do this journey.

I think you’ll be really pleasantly surprised by the price!

 

  • Pickup Location: Sydney, 1st February 2020

  • Return Location: Cairns, 21st February 2020

  • Youngest Driver: 19 years

  • Daily Rate: 21 days x $99 = $2079

  • Administration fee: $70

  • Sub total cost: $2149

  • RatPack Discount: 10% = $89 daily rental

  • Total cost: $1869 (£1,038)

 

So between 3 mates, that’s just £346 each for your TRAVEL AND ACCOMODATION for THREE WEEKS!

 

10 Things You Wanted to Know About Hiring a Campervan in Australia and New Zealand

Product image of actual van in relation to above quote.

 

 

  1. Where do you poo?

Beth – 

YOU GUYS! I poo in….a toilet. Dun, dun, duuuun.

I’ve never driven a self-contained van (one with a loo or shower in it) and simply do my number twos in gas stations, in a McDonald’s, in public loos etc. You’ll probably be surprised by the wealth of facilities on offer, especially in Australia. There are day use areas, rest stops and loos at the beach all over this massive country. People are used to doing long journeys so the facilities are there.

Even in the remotest part of New Zealand, not once did I ever shit in the woods. Sorry guys. 

As for wees, the great outdoors always sufficed. Ladies, the trick is squat super low and aim downhill. Nobody wants pissy Havaianas.

 

 

  1. Should I go for freedom camps or paid campsites?

Beth – 

Vanlife can be ultra cheap. One of the biggest things to decide that will massively dictate your spending is freedom camp or paid for campsite?

For a period I did the latter, then one night we got stuck after closing and ended up wild camping. IT WAS THE BEST. Waking up surrounded by total nature, no having to be in a set spot by a set time, finding some awesome places to spend the night by the beach, in forests and in secluded locations. All for free!

If freedom camping doesn’t float your boat (but do try it at least once or twice) then you’re looking at an average of around $40-50 (£20-25) for a powered pitch in the summer. Ouch.

Obviously if you pay for a campsite you will have facilities like showers, toilets and often communal kitchens, you may have wifi (though I wouldn’t count on it being any good) and you’ll have access to power should you want it.

 

The view from one of my favourite freedom camps, on the shores of Lake Pukaki on New Zealand’s South Island: do you really want to pay for a campsite now?!

 

 

  1. How do you wash if you’re freedom camping?

Beth – 

In Australia I found almost all of the beaches had facilities. Washrooms, outdoor showers and some even had indoor heated showers! We’d go for a morning walk on the beach or a swim, then shower off and get ready for the day. Sometimes just a bucket of water will do!

In New Zealand there are less beaches but more lakes, creeks and rivers! We would always choose freedom camps near some kind of source of freshwater for a morning or evening dip. At times it was freezing, at others literally glacial but it was always good fun and I always ended up clean.

Of course, it’s great to use the most eco-friendly products you can find for hair and body washing. Have a look at Ethique World shampoo, conditioner and body bars; they’re an ultra earth conscious kiwi brand.

 

Evening shower at Noosa National Park, Queensland

 

  1. How much does fuel cost and how far will a tank take me?

Sammy – 

CHEAPER than the UK let me tell you… 

The Facts (prices 11th September 2019)

  • Petrol price in the UK (per litre): £ 151.9 GBP ($2.72 AUD)
  • Petrol price in Oz (per litre): £0.78 GBP ($ 1.40 AUD)

The Estimates of a road trip between Sydney and Cairns:

  • An average Fuel Consumption is Approx 14L Per 100km
  • Price per 100 km’s = £10.92
  • The Km’s between Sydney and Cairns is 3140 km’s
  • Total price over the road trip = £342

 

 

  1. What are some easy campervan meals?

Beth –

I’m going to answer this more in depth in a separate post. Inevitably you’ll eat a lot of pasta. It’s just so easy, cheap and filling. However I started to get a bit more adventurous (and a bit healthier) when I realised I was slowly morphing into penne.

My top tip is to buy seasonings. Salt, pepper, some chilli flakes and maybe some kind of mixed green herb seasoning. 

  • Pasta variations
  • Soup and bread
  • Salad with cold meat
  • Potnoodles (sorry, not sorry)
  • Burgers
  • Fajitas

Basically anything you can make one pan! 

 

Sammy – 

#AUSSIEBBQ: as well as toilets and showers dotted all over, almost every beach has free barbies for you to chuck a few shrimp on. We don’t stereotype at all round here. Basically, Australia is just one huge campout. Get some SNAG on the BBQ (if you know, you know).

 

Things you need to know before hiring a camper van in Australia

Cooking up a storm (okay, reheating a pouch of soup…) on the banks of Lake Taupo, NZ

 


  1. I thought you had to connect to power every few days for the van battery to charge?

Beth –

I’m sure Sammy will correct me if I’m wrong but I reckon this is a bit of a myth. We definitely didn’t do this in New Zealand, even in a proper old banger of a van, and had no issues. The trick is to drive enough; driving charges the battery. If you’re going to stay in the same spot for 3 days then you’re going to need to plug in.

We always had enough power to use the houselights in the evening. We weren’t fussed about the plug sockets or microwave (which do require the van to be connected to a power source) and we would turn the fridge down overnight then back up when we set off again.

As for charging devices, we would do so during the day in cafes etc.

 

Sammy –

Thats correc,t each van has a second deep cycle battery to run the fridge (if you opt for a van with a fridge – which is highly recommended). This means that the battery is charged when the engine is running… Beth you are now a fully certified ROAD TRIPPier knowing this : ) *Beth bows*

 

 

 

  1. Is it realistic to campervan with children?

Beth –

Again, Sammy will be better equipped to answer this one than me as I’m sure he’s helped customers with sprogs. On the road I’ve seen plenty of families in a variety of vans (usually dependent on the number of offspring they have) and if you look on Instagram, there’s a pretty big movement of nomadic #vanlife families on the road. 

 

Sammy –

I’m not sure if I’m better equipped here hahahaha – a mini RatPacker has not appeared yet… 

NOOOOOO joking aside, I have helped a small amount of young parents book vans with little ones! With this, just 100% be sure to tell me when you get in contact as it is VITAL that the seats have the correct anchor point for the baby seat. You DO NOT want to choose a van without the right features; if you rock up in peak season and its not the right model of van, its highly unlikely there will be a spare one knocking around.

 

 

  1. How do I control the temperature at night?

Beth –

I have one distinct memory of being way too hot: camping in the outback during a 45 degree South Australian summer night. One of being too cold: underneath Mount Cook in New Zealand (also in the summer).

The first one was me being a mug. It was the worst night I had in the van (aside from #kevinthespider but I’ll save that story for after you’ve booked -ha!) The second could’ve been solved by being better equipped, but that’s tricky when you’re packing light. On that occasion, sleeping in jogging bottoms, socks, a jumper and in a silk sleeping bag liner under the duvet helped.

It’s tough in a rental. You don’t want to spend extra money on a battery powered fan so yes, it gets hot. One of my non-negotiable van qualities became having one with windows with good bug nets. Sleeping with them open makes all the difference! 

 

 

  1. How old do you have to be to hire a van?

Sammy –

Most direct sites charge extra if you are under 21.

I have contacts with all the companies to ensure that you will not be charged any extra providing you are 19 and over with a full licence.

If you are 18, still get in touch, just ensure you tell me when we are chatting about your trip as again, this is a vital piece of info as there are a few companies that will refuse to insure you : )

 

Extra: Sammy’s Top Tip

I say this year on year to people:

Campers are a little like booking flights; the longer you leave it, the more expensive it will be.

There is NO upside to waiting until the last minute.

AS SOON as you know your travel dates and those flights are booked HIT ME to start comparing rates and camper styles. The BEST thing with campers is that to secure a booking, the companies only require a small deposit, with the remaining balance only payable when you actually pick up the camper. This of course means that you are not out of pocket before the trip and it allows most people the luxury of being able to pre-plan a trip without forking out all the cash up front. 

 

For more information on hiring a campervan in Australia or New Zealand with RatPack Travel click here or WhatsApp Sammy here!

 

If any of your questions about hiring a campervan in Australia or New Zealand are still unanswered, DM me or RatPack on Instagram 

 

These posts may also help:

Things You Need to Know Before Hiring a Campervan in Australia

Things You Need to Know Before Hiring a Campervan in New Zealand

Ultimate East Coast Australia Bucket List

Great Ocean Road Trip Itinerary 

New Zealand North and South Island Itinerary Overview

New Zealand South Island: 3 Week Road Trip 

 

Posted In: AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, TRAVEL, TRAVEL TIPS, VAN LIFE

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I am a multi-award winning blogger, photographer and writer from London. I’ve travelled to over 38 countries, lived out of a backpack for a year and love to scuba dive! This site is a destination for all things travel, lifestyle and my successful online book club.

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Ad: WARMING GINGER, CHILLI & LEMONGRASS CHICKEN NO Ad: WARMING GINGER, CHILLI & LEMONGRASS CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP RECIPE 🍜💓🥰 
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A hug in a bowl from the inside out, this steaming bowl of sweet and sour broth is the perfect warmer for a moody January day. Taking care of yourself - here in a winter lockdown - is more important now than ever. It’s healthy, fresh and ultra comforting and all the ingredients are easily picked up at @waitroseandpartners during your weekly shop.
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Serves: 4
🌶: Medium heat (warm rather than hot) - add more or less chilli oil to taste!
🥬: Vegan version: skip the chicken, make the broth as is then add peeled and chopped veggies of your choosing instead of the shredded poached chicken.
⏰: 10 mins prep, 90 mins cook time
👩🏻‍🍳: Ease level: foolproof!
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Everything tagged! Paint is Farrow & Ball Setting Plaster. Shelves are Funky Chunky Furniture. And that’s my lovely dried wedding bouquet 🥰
Nursery pending 👶🏼🌈🎨 I’ve hated this Nursery pending 👶🏼🌈🎨 I’ve hated this room for the last year. After our first loss it completely taunted me and I couldn’t bring myself to do anything with it other than use it as a giant Monica cupboard. It’s been called so many things - ‘the middle room’, ‘the spare room’, it even stayed as ‘Emily’s room’ for a long time after our lodger moved out - but now we finally call it the baby’s room 🥰🤍 #week28 #thirdtrimester #nurserydecoration #pregnancyafterloss
Week 27: extra hormonal, everything is stretching, Week 27: extra hormonal, everything is stretching, bub is the size of a cauliflower in this bizarre compare babies to fruit & veg game...👶🏼🥦🌈
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😭 Hormonal wreck: I haven’t really had mood swings at all throughout pregnancy but oh my goodness have the hormones got me good this week. There have been tears. And hysterical sobbing. Sorry husband.
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🏀 Basketball belly: the stretch is real! My uterus is now firmly up under my ribs and I swear I can feel them slowly pulling apart. I cried when I sneezed - “it’s like someone STABBED me” (see point 1). Everything feels very round and my old belly piercing scar is not thrilled about life...
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👈🏼 Still an innie: ....just. It’s more like a saucer where it was once a cereal bowl.
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🦒 All the cute things: we’ve decided on a neutral safari themed nursery. Says the person who hates themes.
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💸 “But they’re so small...😭”: I’m officially on a tiny clothes shopping ban. I’ve rinsed eBay and some lovely small brands (and the Zara sale) and I get an eye roll every time I smuggle a new parcel into the nursery.
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🥴 Tasting everything 6 times over: Hi reflux.
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📖 Reading: Your Baby, Your Birth by Hollie de Cruz is next on my bedside table.
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#27weekspregnant #pregnancyafterloss #rainbowbaby #secondtrimester 
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Two things in life that you just can’t have too Two things in life that you just can’t have too much of: books and tea. My survival tools! ☕️📖💫
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Here are 3 titles I’ve read recently (and rated 5/5 - I’m a harsh critic) that are perfect if you need a pick me up or some escapism...
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1. The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley: an old man leaves a notebook in a cafe for a stranger to find telling his ‘truth’ and challenging them to do the same. The catalyst for a web of unusual friendships and genuine, warm characters...
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2. Educated by Tara Westover: a memoir that reads a little like a fiction depicting Tara’s life growing up in a strict Mormon family in Idaho with a survivalist father who is battling undiagnosed mental illness. They don’t believe in formal education or medicine and any form of governance is the work of the Illuminati. Covers some heavy themes (tw: abuse) and is extremely interesting and engaging.
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3. Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams: sometimes laugh out loud funny, sometimes poignantly sad, Queenie is a vivacious twenty-something growing up as a black woman in an ever gentrifying south London. A crap boyfriend, covert racism and a battle with anxiety paint a backdrop whilst she navigates daily life. It’s excellent!
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Hit save for later or tag someone who needs some reading inspo 📚 What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
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Love a good wedding-stalk? In it for the pics? Wha Love a good wedding-stalk? In it for the pics? What to know *exactly* what a teeny tiny BIG day of just 4 guests might actually look like? Link in bio 👰🏻💓
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Plant mom 🌿✌🏼 ⠀ Monty the monstera is go Plant mom 🌿✌🏼
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Monty the monstera is going to start eating dentists soon. My top tips for a super healthy swiss cheese plant -
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🌱 A lovely bright spot away from direct sun (not a problem in winter) and radiators.
🌱 Intuitive watering: stick your finger in and water when the top 2” of the soil are dry, rather than to a set schedule. The amount needed depends on your plant (I use around 700ml approx every 10 days) but make sure you’ve got good drainage!
🌱 Every now and again I like to put it in the garden when it’s raining (in the spring/summer) or under the shower. Rain is best if possible as hard tap water can cause mineral build up on the soil.
🌱 Moss pole! Train it to grow upwards with a strong pole and ties.
🌱 Wipe dust off the leaves (shower also does this) and use a spritz bottle regularly.
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If it’s looking sad it’s probably an issue with water or light! #urbanjungle #monsteramonday
26 weeks: mini diary 🤍 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 26 weeks: mini diary 🤍
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With less than 2 weeks until the final trimester I thought I’d try and document weekly, as much for me to look back on. This photo is already a week old and I seem to be growing by the day!
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What’s the crack this week?...
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😴 Sleepy AF: A new wave of exhaustion has hit. It makes sense - babies generally double their weight between 24-28 wks. I’ve started going to bed earlier/falling asleep at 9pm in front of Bridgerton.
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🤧 Pelvic floor: Sneezing brings ALL the fear!
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🐙 Movement: I saw my belly move from the outside like a scene from Alien for the first time. At bed time it feels like a small octopus is doing the Macarena in my uterus. It’s still the most magical feeling in the world.
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👶🏼 Prep: The pram arrived this week! We ordered it in a brilliant Silver Cross sale. I was feeling a bit flat about the loss of that ‘pram shopping with my bump’ experience due to lockdown but putting it together made me happy - it’s so beautiful! And so surreal - we own a pram!
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📖 Reading: The Positive Birth Book by @milli.hill. It puts across all options in a clear, non-judgey, humorous way and has made me think of things I’d never heard of. It’s also the first time I’ve understood what a birth plan might physically look/read like.
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🧘🏼‍♀️ Hypnobirthing: I’ve started to feel more nervous about the birth (not the actual act or the pain, rather fears I won’t share as don’t want to project) but we’re starting hypnobirthing online next week which I’m looking forward to!
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👯‍♀️ Following: @birth_ed, @takingcarababies, @mixing.up.motherhood are accounts that are bringing joy/invaluable info.
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#26weeks #rainbowbaby🌈 #secondtrimester #pregnancyafterloss
I loved being a pregnant bride. Often a baby is a I loved being a pregnant bride. Often a baby is a reason to delay or speed up a wedding (lots assumed that was the case for us, but it wasn’t!) and is generally seen as perhaps spoiling things a little. It’s totally fine if you do feel that way, but for us it made it extra magical. It felt totally right to have our little bub between us as we exchanged vows and I was happy to embrace the bump in my dress. I still chose exactly the look and fit I wanted and wore the sparkly heels and in a way, I found trying dresses on much lower pressure as I wasn’t worrying about my figure. Perhaps the biggest difference was staying sober and the fact that we had a tiny wedding with a fancy lunch rather than a party probably made this a lot easier. I raised a toast with our four guests but beyond that, I didn’t have any inclination to drink anyway. Bonus - a great nights sleep and no hangover! 🥂👰🏻
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Photographer: @victoriasomersethowphotography
Dress: ASOS
Box fresh kicks ready to explore [from the bedroom Box fresh kicks ready to explore [from the bedroom to the kitchen, to the loo...aaand repeat]...at least they’ll stay clean 🥴☕️
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Type into browser: https://rstyle.me/cz-n/ewjdwzcbq2x (junior size 🤑 if under a UK 5.5)
AD: Pregnancy has given me a lot of time to reflec AD: Pregnancy has given me a lot of time to reflect on my relationship with alcohol over the last year. 🍸 I flitted between giving it up when pregnant or for fertility purposes, then using it as an emotional crutch in loss which made me more anxious and restless. This time - now 6 months pregnant - I haven’t had a drink since August and have been really pleasantly surprised by how little I’ve missed it, even over the festive season. I’m not into vilifying booze; I enjoy a couple of drinks and even the feeling of lowered inhibitions and being tipsy. But I know that even post-pregnancy and the other-side of the hazy newborn/breastfeeding days, I’ll try and maintain a far more positive relationship with alcohol which for me, looks like indulging lightly and occasionally.
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Having access to brilliant alcohol-free alternatives makes this significantly easier. My favourite gin distillers, Salcombe Gin, are behind the @NewLondonLight; a 0% spirit that doesn’t compromise on taste. So whether you’re pregnant, doing Dry January or simply attempting to live lighter, you can still enjoy a Sunday evening tipple. How do you feel about the alcohol free movement?
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Get 20% off with code ‘NLL20Beth’ 🍊 #NewLondonLight #LiveLightNLL #NLL
Top 5 Books I read in 2020 ☕️ ~
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Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens: totally captivating, unusual and enchanting. I literally devoured this one!
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Queenie, Candice Carty-Williams: as well as being laugh out loud funny, Queenie is also an education. A must read on what it’s like to be a young black woman growing up in London. Also tackles mental health really well!
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The Flatshare, Beth O’Leary: I recommend this to anyone who just really needs a hug from a genuinely enjoyable book. It’s warm and lovely but offers depth well beyond your usual chick lit too.
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Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi: this novel is such a triumph! Spanning over 300 years from pre-colonial Ghana to present day USA, each chapter follows a new character in the lineage of two sisters. One sold to slavery, the other married to an English coloniser. It’s sweepingly powerful and incredibly well written. I could’ve read an entire book on each character!
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A Man Called Ove, Fredrik Backman: Ove was the very first book I read in 2020 and it stuck with me throughout the year. At its most basic, it’s the story of a cantankerous old man. Delve a little deeper and it’s funny, heartbreaking and incredibly heartwarming. I just love Ove!
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Hit the ‘save’ button to come back to this list when you’re in need of a good read! What were your books of the year? 📚
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PS. If more reading, less scrolling is one of your 2021 goals too then don’t forget you can come and join us at @bethsbookclub_ 😎
2 0 2 1: the year of you 🕊🤍
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Happy new year saucepots! We had an ultra rock n’ roll night (read our books in bed then watched the midnight fireworks - that was a nice surprise! - on a phone before falling promptly to sleep...) and today is all about a long walk, a longer bath, books and tea. And obviously starting a new diary because isn’t fresh stationary the best thing about a new year?!
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Are you setting New Years’ resolutions? I prefer a bit of reflection and mindset shifting. This year it’s all about setting firm positive boundaries, protecting my energy and saying no to things/people that don’t serve that. I like the new year, not for the ‘new me’ noise but rather as a chance to let go and embrace a fresh beginning again. ⚡️☕️
As far as NYE outfits go, I’m not mad about this As far as NYE outfits go, I’m not mad about this one...🐻🥂 I hope you’re all well and excited to bid farewell to 2020. I know the clock striking midnight doesn’t fundamentally change anything but I’m hopeful that we can look forward with more optimism. I always find the turn of the year really emotionally complex. I’m not even going to attempt to unpack this last one other than to rejoice that even amongst the lowest of lows there have been highs. My beloved Nan won’t see the new year, which is hard to contemplate. I also married my best friend. This time last year I was miserable on the sofa, a day after surgery for our first miscarriage and wishing I could press pause on life. Tonight I’m still on the sofa, but full and at peace rather than empty and grieving, looking forward. For us, 2021 will see the birth of our little cub so it’s one that I’m welcoming with open arms. So much can change in a year and I hope you can seek comfort in that. However you’re feeling tonight, I’ll raise my alco-free bubbles to you because you did it: you made it through one of the toughest years in history. Brighter days are coming ☀️💓
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