About

Hi there. Welcome to my shirleyjustwrites.blog pages. I am a freelance journalist specialising in travel, music, wellbeing and the restorative power of the outdoors. My special focus is 60+ women, particularly those who live their lives solo (but of course having a friend along for the journey is also nice). I am updating my brand based on the many women, and men, I’ve encountered who are curious about my solo lifestyle which of course includes travel, music, wellbeing, and the love of the outdoors. Yes, I’ve been lost in France, sunburnt in Tunisia and danced for three hours at Bruce Springsteen concerts. My last big travel adventure was a trip to New Jersey with a visit to Manhattan to meet up with grandson number 1., who was teaching at summer school in New York. My next big adventure will be a visit to Atlanta, Georgia in September. Can I squeeze in a trip to Nashville? I hope so. Watch this space.

For me travel means anything from a wander round my local area, a trip to far off climes, or a walk in the woods. Wellbeing is a top priority for me. This includes mindfulness, which I practice every day. If I can combine all this with the music I love and the restorative powers of the outdoors I consider myself blessed. Nurturing a curious youthful thirst for life can take you anywhere, and the older I get the more curious I become. So, I’m game for anything, a camel ride, mindfulness session in the heart of a forest, and even dancing in the dark on the embankment of the Seine.

My first experience of solo travelling was to Paris. I am a regular visitor now and love being independent and able to follow wherever my curiosity takes me. The Promenade Plantee, an elevated garden in the 12th arrondissement is one of my favourite haunts and is often overlooked by tourists to the city. I have a second home about 120 kilometres south of Paris. I am an avid walker and eco traveller, so I am quite the expert in how to get around by bus, train, boat and plane. If you are interested in budget travel then you and I can be best friends.

I cannot leave this page without mentioning my first solo concert. On June 16th 2023, Bruce Springsteen rocked Aston Villa Stadium for three solid hours. Music is my constant companion and I could not have missed the Boss’s visit to my home town. Also I could never be alone surrounded by 40,000 adoring fans just like me:

A useful tip to end with. If you are senior traveller make sure you have all your travel discounts (not forgetting the best of all discount – your bus pass if you are eligible). Follow me too, on Facebook and Twitter.

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