My grown-up GAP YEAR

Christine Simmons, 74, decided to give up her home to go travelling around the world

- KARA O'NEILL

Loving Queensland!

Towards the end of 2017, Christine Simmons, then 72, came up with a drastic plan. She decided to say goodbye to life as she knew it and go travelling around the world.

‘I suppose the idea for a “grown-up gap year” had been brewing for a long time,’ Christine says.

‘My husband Tony passed away in 1995. He was only 62, and it was quite a shock.’

Down Under with Duke

Christine set about building a new life for herself, relocating to the Isle of Wight.

Exploring Shropshire’s winter wonders

‘I’ve always loved the great outdoors. Being just a few steps from the beach was just so perfect.’

It was a long way from her family – her three children, Karen, Alice and Peter, who lived in Shropshire, Australia and Taiwan respectively – yet, slowly but surely, Christine settled into her new life.

‘It was the best decision I could have ever made’

‘I joined the local church and a ladies’ choir – and before I knew it, I’d made lots of friends,’ she says.

Getting back in the saddle again

But then, in 2007, Christine was struck down with a perforated bowel. Complications followed, meaning it took Christine a long time to get back on her feet.

‘Over several years, I came to the realisation that I’d been gifted with extra time, and I still had a lot of living left to do.’

That’s when Christine’s ‘gap year’ idea really started to take shape.