Midhurst writer pens inspiring book on solo travelling

Travels with George is the tale of Vivien Fallows’s solo travel mission, which she undertook in 2000 after her children set off for new lives on the other side of the globe.

Accompanied by her trusty suitcase, which is called George, Vivien visited her backpacking son in Australia, snorkelled in the Cook Islands, spent 24 hours in Los Angeles, and took part in adrenaline-pumping activities in New Zealand. At the request of her husband, Vivien wrote these stories in a diary, which later became a book - Travels with George.

Vivien said: “Judging by the pop-eyed reaction from similarly aged friends, it was a little out of the ‘soon to be pensioner’ ordinary.

“The ‘not on your own voices’ got louder.

“My husband’s was not amongst them. He simply said ‘keep a journal’.”

Vivien wrote Travels with George to inspire others to push themselves out of their comfort zones.

She said: “I really want to let people know that there are adventures to be had, even in these uncertain times. At whatever age, boundaries can be pushed.”

The book, which is now available, can be purchased from The Book Guild website, Amazon, Waterstones, WHSmith, and Foyle, among other stores.