About Us
Our Story
Hi! We’re Shelly and Jamie, two adventurers who traded the rain of Manchester, UK for the sunshine of Western Australia. Our journey together has been a wild ride full of surprises but we’ve always held onto our love of adventure and discovery.
As young teenagers we welcomed two boys into our lives. This was a challenge but also an amazing opportunity to experience life as a young family. From those early days we found joy in the classic “bucket and spade” holidays across Europe, including getting married in Cyprus which sparked our love of travel.
One of my first jobs was as a travel agent where I spent eight years helping others plan their itineraries while secretly planning my own. I loved seeing others go on their trips but let’s be real—I wanted to jump on a plane and join them!
I even tried to set up my own travel agency but let’s just say that dream didn’t exactly take off. After a brief stint in the sunbed shop business (yes, really!) I decided to go back to education and get my degree in Social Work. Because why not add a bit more challenge, right?
In 2016 we made the move and emigrated to Perth, Australia. Goodbye rainy days, hello sunshine!
After a few years of soaking up all that Perth has to offer we felt the travel bug again and moved to Broome for two amazing years. We soaked up the stunning landscapes, beautiful beaches and the kind of sunsets you only see in travel brochures. Living there was the perfect balance of relaxation and adventure.
We returned to Perth and Jamie took up FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) work in remote WA so we could balance careers with travel. But earlier this year I hit a turning point…. The corporate grind was starting to feel like an endless loop of bureaucracy, red tape, meetings and deadlines and I realised I was craving something more exciting—like actually pursuing my love of travel!
I couldn’t stop thinking about that travel high—the feeling of freedom, adventure and discovery.
I truly believe “the world is your oyster” and life is full of opportunities for those who are willing to go for it. It’s not just about work, it’s about experiencing, connecting and living life on our own terms. Life is too short to be on a hamster wheel and we’re all about finding our own way and making memories that last.
So I did it! I quit my corporate city job and hello Ourselves Abroad where I can share our travel stories, tips and adventures and hopefully inspire you to go for yours.
We’ve already clocked up some serious travel miles this year and have been on the road for three months, visiting ten countries, including:
- Hiking to Everest Base Camp
- It was as tough as it sounds—especially when we found ourselves sleeping in a basement café and wondering if the café served food or science experiments! Let’s just say the ambiance was less “cozy mountain escape” and more “dungeon chic!” To add to the adventure Jamie ended up with food poisoning which brought a whole new meaning to “mountain shivers” for him. And if that wasn’t enough we were dropped off on the side of a mountain like something out of an action movie! Just when we thought things couldn’t get more interesting we had to hire a small horse to carry a sick Jamie. Who knew my husband could be outdone by a pony? But hey we survived to tell the tale!
- Strolling through the streets of Kathmandu
- Relaxing on the beaches in Bali and Thailand
- Going on our first cruise
- Explored the jungles of Borneo
- Back to the UK, including a visit to Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm (just for the fridge magnet)
- Singapore, Rome and Venice
Who needs reality TV when you can have your own adventure?
As we continue this journey, we’ll be juggling our time between some contract work and Jamie’s FIFO job, along with our stints on the road.
Through this site we want to share the beauty of travel not only to far flung destinations but also to the amazing landscapes and adventures right here in Western Australia, our home. Whether you’re a seasoned traveller, a newbie looking to dip your toes into travel or just someone who loves to daydream about far off places we’ve got you covered.
And remember: work smarter not harder. Life is too short to be on the hamster wheel when there’s a whole wide world to see.
So join us! Subscribe to our newsletter and follow along as we share travel tips, destination guides and stories from the road. Let’s go!
