The one decision in my life that has lead to everything else since then is joining the Royal Navy.

Growing up in small town Lancashire, I knew from a very young age that small town Lancashire was not the place for me at all. There was a lot of places out there that needed to be seen, things needed to be experienced and small town Lancashire wasn’t the place see and do. After going back in June last year, it still isn’t, 21 years later, no matter how beautiful it was in its green summer glory!

The Royal Navy gave me the rocket up my arse that I needed at the time. It gave me the confidence I needed to be able to go and do the things I wanted and ignore the naysayers.

I always knew I would spend at least some time living overseas at some point, always thinking it would be a cold country like Canada. I ended up in Australia, a country that I love living in, mainly for its natural beauty and delightful oddness. No offence to any Canadians or Canada-I’m sure it’s just as amazing. I ended up in Australia because of the Navy-I wouldn’t have met my husband and, because of that, I wouldn’t have ended up moving here.

So, one decision at the age of twenty has had a huge impact on my life. I’ve learnt, grown, moved half a world away and had a life that has been far better than being stuck in small town Lancashire! That’s only in twenty years, I’ve still got plenty of stuff to do and experience in the next twenty and beyond!