Virtual Workaway Video

The surprise Birthday trip I’d planned for Red’s birthday was cancelled because of the Lock Down, so because we couldn’t travel, I decided to take him on a virtual trip, to relive our 2020 Workaway trip around France.

Our Workaway adventure was meant to last a few more weeks and then we were going to Bordeaux,  Brussels and The Netherlands. But we had to hurry back from France to the UK before any travel bans were implemented. We sequestered away at our respective mum’s houses for the lock down. I’m on the east coast in Norfolk, and Red is over in Manchester.

Van Gogh had to go

I’d planned a surprise trip planned for his birthday, we were having an overnight stay in London and going to the Meet Van Gogh experience .. a 3D virtual immersive event at London’s South Bank.

Van Gogh is my creative muse, he’s why I started sketching, and he got me into pastels, oils and acrylics. I’d always liked art, but I went to a Van Gogh exhibition at LACMA the Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art, and was physically moved (goosebumps and tears) by one of his self-portraits. And that’s when I started to copy his portraits to practice with different mediums.

I was excited to be taking Red to this event for his birthday surprise, but the event and travel reservations were cancelled. So I created the virtual trip for his birthday. We’re on opposite sides of the country, and we’re missing out on his birthday celebrations.

He loved the video, and loved the song choice.

Ne me quitte pas

One of my favourite French songs is Nina Simone singing Ne me quitte pas, but while we were in La Rochelle our host told us that the original version was by a French singer called Jacques Brel. So I used his version in the video. I’ve listened to this song for decades, but never bothered to find out what the words actually meant – turns out it means, do not leave me! Ironic that we’ve left each other!

Making videos is a labor of love, but it’s so nice to have a visual reminder of our trip, and now I want to go back through old trips and make videos. Will I ever get around to it? Who knows…. so much to do, so little time.

Hope you enjoy the video.

Read about our 2020 Workaway and Travel Adventures:

1. French Train Strikes won’t stop us in our tracks
2. Toodling around Toulouse
3. Exploring the Castle at La Couvertoirade
4. Meandering around Montpellier
5. Our Workaway at an 18th Century Flour Mill
6. Chilling in Clermont Ferrand
7. Our Workaway at an 18th Century Chateau
8. Lingering in Lyon’s 1st Arrondissement
9. Our Self-Guided Walking Tour of Lyon
10. Making the most of Montparnasse Paris
11. Our Workaway at a La Rochelle BnB
12. Our Workaway at Ile D’Aix
13. Video: Our Workaway adventure through France
14. Our Memorable Food and Wine Adventures in France
15. …. the rest of our trip TBD because of the virus – but planning Bordeaux, Lille, Bruges, Antwerp, and Amsterdam