I had an idea: sleep out at all the places where my seventh-generation ancestors were born and take note of my dreams. I bought a little red van so I could stealth-camp and began the project almost three years ago. I'm nearing completion now, and I created these two films during my most recent visit to Northumberland.
In this second film, which is more documentary-style, I take you through what an ancestor sleepout looks like for me in my little red van. I share insights I've gained during this project and include footage I've taken during many of my ancestral lands visits over the last three years.
The Ancestor Sleepover
Oh Nicola I so enjoyed these two films. Beamish is wonderful, isn’t it. Sooo much information, and examples; I find myself quite immersed in the various areas, and how special for you to get close to what your ancestor endured , working with the coal. Such hard times, but the community amongst the workers and families must have been very strong and in its own way, not in the ways we have today, supportive as there was little choice of any other way of life.
The Little Red Van has long intrigued me, I remember when you had it kitted out, what a smashing job. Who would know you were in there!? It’s not a flashy motorhome attracting attention. Thank You so much for letting us in :o)
So interesting Nicola. I envy your freedom. Your little red van is something else home and shelter transport freedom. Your journey is not for the faint hearted as nasty details can emerge that may be traumatising for some people aka me! Soo well done
Yes, my Little Red Van gives me such a sense of freedom. I guess I’m lucky that I have never been worried about looking into my family history and what it might bring up – I find it all so fascinating.
This was brilliant 💚
Thanks Dawn!
Thank you Nicola 😊🙏
Ah, thanks Andy 🙂
What a lovely peek inside little red van and your process of ancestral discovery Nicola! I’m always inspired by your intuitive approach, just following the next step and seeing where it leads. I’m at the start of my ancestral journey and haven’t even begun the ‘desk research’. But I was curious to go and find the home of my great-great-grandparents yesterday. It was a surprisingly emotional wander around a village. Now I have so many questions and stories to explore. All thanks to you!
So, you’ve begun! I am so pleased you’ve been inspired 🙂
And winter is a great time I find to disappear into the research side of things. I am excited for you following the line of enquiry your ancestral village visit has sparked 🙂
Your little red van has done a sterling job taking you all over, thank you for sharing your journey with us. x
Thanks Dragonborne 🙂 Yes, he has been brilliant!
Thank you for sharing. I have mining ancestors too. My great grandfather died in a mining accident. I’d been long fascinated by the history of coal mining here in Lancashire and across the country beforehand.
Congrats on approaching the end of your sleep outs 🙂
I meant before I found out not beforehand.
Thanks Lorna. It’s been a long project!
I was reading about the mining accidents when I was at Beamish. How sad your great grandfather died in one. It must have been so hard for his family.
Thank you for sharing Nicola, I’m at the beginning of a new chapter of my life and you’ve really inspired me to take the time to listen to my guidance and dreams. I think you’re really brave too.
Ah, that is again really interesting to hear your views on me being brave. Thank you for sharing. I love you are inspired to follow your dreams and intuition and excited for you in this new chapter in your life
I agree with Julia’s comment here that it’s a brave thing to do sleeping in your van in unknown streets but I’m also a little envious of your journey following your ancestors as family history fascinates me and finding out more about their individual lives is something I try to do. I’m looking forward to your next book Nicola, so enjoyed your last one. Xx
I love you have an interest in researching your family tree, Maureen. And thank you so much for letting me know you enjoyed my first book and are looking forward to my second 🙂
You might already know this, but I teach about discovering ancestors in my online course Amcestral Echoes, which is in the Mystery School.
If you decide to pick this up, and would like details about the course let me know. I have a webpage about it.
I’m hoping to get my book out next year. 🙂
This strikes me as a very brave project – not least the sleeping in a camper van in the streets! The idea of following a thread back in time without knowing what you might find would be very challenging for a control freak like me.
That’s so interesting, thank you so much for sharing Julia. That you this as brave. It had never occurred to me it might be seen like that and it makes sense. I think it helps that I have people I can take what I uncover and be supported.
What a great project you have undertaken, well almost completed ~ Thank You for sharing your little red van journyings treading in the footsteps of your ancestors. Yes, what a way to appreciate on a much deeper level not only your own heritage but also that of our shared community/societal culture over the years ~ It truly does help us to appreciate and feel gratitude for all the sacrifices and hard work that our past ancestors put into life so that we could be here now~ Sending you Blessings on this very Windy Day at my little WoodLand Sanctuary ~
Thank you for your note Pam and yes, it absolutely does, does it. It creates such a deep, body sense of gratitude within me.
I love you have a woodland sanctuary 🙂