1.) Tell me a bit about yourself and your family?
I am Emma, closer-to-40-than-30, mum to two mostly adorable but mad and also very irritating young kids (affectionately called the things) aged 5 and 3. My husband is just as travel mad as me and we're currently expats on our current assignment out of the UK. I lived all over as a child - in the UK, US and Australia by the time I was 10, plus South America at 18 and 21. As a 'grown-up' I've lived in the US twice and in the Middle East and we have been on some epic holidays to some incredible places including Mexico, the US, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Bali and Europe. I started a family travel blog about 6 months ago to try and help others to find the balance between holidays that feel authentic to our passion for travel that works well with the kids too.
2.) Where do you live?
We are British but we currently live in Doha, Qatar. Most people don't know where that is (the Middle East) unless they are football supporters (think World Cup 2022), but it has been in the news recently for diplomatic reasons in the religion so it has become more well known. I had no idea what to expect when we came here (I'd never even been to the region) but it has actually been a great experience. Thing's aren't always easy but you get that wherever you live to be honest.
3.) What is your favourite thing to do as a family where you live?
I had to ask the kids about this too! It's hard to find fun things to do for everyone here, especially in the summer when it is too hot to do anything outside. We love swimming so in the summer we go to the pool a lot and in the autumn/ spring when the temperatures are more accommodating we head to the beach. It is certainly a far cry from the beach in Devon when I was a kid.
4.) If you could live anywhere where would you?
Probably in Bali, but it really depends on any given day. If we have just been skiing I might say in the mountains somewhere and if we have been diving then I would say a beach location. I would imagine that when we retire we will move between the mountains and the sun/sea.
5.) Did you grow up close to where you live now and what are your favourite childhood memories of where you grew up?
I grew up in Devon, UK so I am pretty far away from there! I guess I could be further geographically but culturally it's a long, long way. I loved the town where I grew up (a place called Tavistock) and I love going back but I was never going to stay there (sorry mum).
6.) Have you got any exciting family plans for the year ahead?
Most of our exciting plans centre around holidays, to be honest - I can't believe that it took me so long to realise that travel blogging might be my thing! So far we have had 3 weeks in the US and a weekend in Italy. We have 2 weeks in the UK soon too and are trying to plan a holiday over Christmas. Other big things this year is that my daughter is starting pre-school which is basically the same as big school here. For the first time ever I'll have 6 or 7 hours free 5 days a week.
7.) What is your favourite thing about family life?
I would say our foursome is pretty tight - possibly because we are on our own on this adventure, even though we actually have a closer community here than we ever had in London. We do almost everything together so if someone is missing we all feel it and I think that's how it should be. I love watching our kid's relationship with each other and with us develop and I love experiencing new adventures together.
Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions, Emma, I bet it is amazing having lived in so many different countries - very jealous! I bet it is amazing living in Doha, I had actually heard of it as one of my brother's friends works there. I love that as a family you are so close and do everything together, exactly how family life should be.
To find out more about Emma and her family visit her blog www.wanderlustandwetwipes.com
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Don't forget to check out last weeks post featuring IsaBlog if you missed it. If you would like to take part in Other Bloggers Family Lives then please send me an email at newcastlefamilylife@gmail.com
I love posts like this its great finding out a bit more about people. I'm totally with you on the living in Bali thing, would love to visit there one day.
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit Bali one day too x
DeleteI love the blog name - so awesome! So lovely to get to know Emma and discover her blog. Off to connect now.
ReplyDeleteIt really is x
DeleteEmma's is one of my fave blogs and luckily interviewed her recently too. Great series
ReplyDeleteHow lovely x
DeleteAhh I love this post, it's great to discover new blogs through this series!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Laura, your post had so many lovely comments xx
DeleteI enjoy reading these post :) wow you have lived in loads of places ! I'd love to live in australia- our friend has recently moved there x
ReplyDeleteThank you Kira xx
DeleteLove these kind of posts - it's a great way to find more out about the blogger! Would love to visit Devon one day, too x
ReplyDeleteLove their blog name. Expact living sounds fun. Getting to see so many places.
ReplyDeleteI would love to travel and live abroad x
DeleteLovely interview. I like the fact that they are well travelled.
ReplyDeleteIt must be amazing to experience life in so many countries x
DeleteI'm defo with you on the bali/living near a back thing. Love your enthusiasm for travel. x
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit Bali someday, it looks amazing x
DeleteWow it must be so interesting living in a different country - Bali would be incredible :)
ReplyDeleteIt really would, a whole different way of life x
DeleteSo lovely to hear more about the blogger behind the blog
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it Sarah x
DeleteWow, that is some travel lifestyle, what an adventure!! Doha looks and sounds beautiful
ReplyDeleteIt really does sound like such an adventure x
DeleteLovely post. It is great to hear about other bloggers lives :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, glad you enjoyed it Claire x
DeleteI love learning about travel families. We are about to embark on a four month trip with our two young children and people think we're mad, so it's nice to read about other people who travel with their little ones.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your travels x
DeleteDoha looks and sounds like an amazing place to visit. I'm kinda jealous of your lifestyle!!
ReplyDeleteIt really does, the more I read about it the more I want to visit myself x
DeleteWhat an interesting life and place to live. I will look forward to following Emma's blog more closely
ReplyDeleteIt must be a wonderful experience x
DeleteI love Doha and enjoyed my visit but it was crazy hot when I went I wanted to be walking with a bucket of water over my head lol
ReplyDeleteI have never been but it sounds brilliant, I don't think I could cope with the heat though x
DeleteWow it is amazing that they are trying to live in Doha and I can imagine it would be hot! Oh and they are from Devon which is so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt must be wonderful living somewhere like that x
DeleteWow I'm very jealous of their exotic lifestyle, I still live in the village I grew up in, ahah! Fab series!
ReplyDeleteI live not far from where I grew up too x
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