Apparently there is more to life than a 6 figure City salary and sitting on the district line for 2 hours a day?! I can confirm there absolutely is and I already know that packing in our corporate jobs, selling our London flat and moving to Bali was the best decision we have made. 

Yes I currently have zero salary, zero corporate benefits (who needs a free flu jab anyway?) and no foot on the property ladder. Will my parents ever recover from me selling my London flat – absolutely not. But – there is no doubt that I was put on this planet to do more than slave away for bossy managers and nameless shareholders for goodbutnotlifechanging money and 25 days holiday – don’t they realise I have places to go and things to do!? Not in a big headed way (I mean you have to back yourself) but more happy delusion that there is a better, alternative way to live that involves less time sitting on calls and more time sitting in the sun? 

Right, so the scene has been set – Harry and I have cut ties with London and are living a tropical life in Bali. I wanted a way to document our adventure – primarily so my mum can read along with what we get up to (hello Kate, yes I have been wearing suncream and eating vegetables) and so I have something to look back on. And seeing as the camera does not love me and I can’t stand the sound of my voice on video, a website it is. 

How do I feel about breaking up with London?

EXCELLENT. In hindsight it was probably long overdue. I’ve always known London was not the place I was going to end up long term and thankfully Harry is in the same boat. For the past couple of years we have spent so much time driving out of London on the weekends to do the things we enjoy. I just don’t get my fun from sitting in a pub garden or trapsing around a museum (sorry Kate I know you LOVE nothing more than admiring bits of old pot). I am an outdoors, being by the sea, doing my hobbies kind of person and London just didn’t cater to that. Leaving London and getting to Bali (via a quick pit stop in Devon) was a super slick process which leads me to believe it is totally the path we should be on. 

What on earth are we doing now? (besides surfing & eating acai bowls)

Leaving corporate life is not to be mislead with not wanting to work / not caring about making money. That is completely false. I have always been financially driven – I like stuff and I hate flying economy (lol) and more significantly I really like the freedom money brings. We are both very ambitious and have a pretty clear idea of the life we want to live and money is a significant part of that plan. I genuinely really like working – I just much prefer working towards something where I get 100% of rewards. 

Basically: wanting to make lots of money + wanting freedom + a disregard for rules and what you’re ‘supposed’ to do = building your own business. 

Long story short we are building our own businesses to live our dream life – how inspiring?!

Why Bali?

Bali is sort of a red herring, I think a lot of people think we are either 

a. taking a year off work to travel 

b. having an extended holiday 

c. completely loosing our minds

But Bali is sort of irrelant. Don’t get me wrong we are absolutely loving it here and I totally get why people visit here and never leave. But Bali for us is somewhere to live in a tropical climate – we are very much sun and sea people – a lower cost of living while building our business and a fun adventure for us. It’s not a bad life to be able to surf before work. Bali is amazing and I could stay for a long time but it is probably not our forever place. 

Honestly, what gives me the right to break away from what you’re supposed to do!?

Thankfully I have never felt the need to conform to what is ‘expected or normal’ and this whole process so far has been pretty easy. You don’t have to live in London (or Rhyl) if you don’t want to.

I consider week 1 in Bali a success!