And Away...

Back in Knoxville… with Big News!

September 3, 2025

We’re back in Knoxville, TN after a whirlwind four weeks back in blighty, and what a trip it was! The time absolutely flew by, and the last 12 days were made extra special when Jack, Nicole, and baby Lilah joined us. It was such a joy to show them around and make some new family memories together.

Of course, no trip would be complete without plenty of 15th-century pubs — and yes, we visited more than a few (purely for cultural research, of course 😉). We also had some amazing days out, including exploring the Seven Sisters National Park with its breathtaking chalk cliffs, plus soaking up the sun and sea air along the beach and seafront in St Leonards-on-Sea.

One real highlight for me personally was getting to meet one of my YouTube heroes — Ula from the channel Ula Blocksage (@ulablocksage, previously known as Ula and Josh). Ula and Josh were a huge source of inspiration for us to pursue this adventure, so meeting her in person was a bit of a dream come true. Ula is now heading off on her own new adventure after narrowboat life — well worth following her channel if you’re curious.

And now for the big reveal…
Drumroll, please… we bought a boat! ⚓🎉

She’s currently known as The Henry Reid (named after the owner), but after a smooth survey and a lot of paperwork, today we officially hand over the money and make her ours. It feels surreal — a dream that’s been years in the making is suddenly very real.

Back in Knoxville, life is busy too. Our home on Shadyland Drive goes on the market this Friday — fingers crossed for a quick, smooth sale. In the meantime, we’ve settled into our rental in South Knoxville, which has been a great temporary home base. One of the unexpected joys has been making the most of the Urban Wilderness trails right on our doorstep — miles of walking paths, woods, and nature to explore. It’s been the perfect balance of calm in the middle of this big transition.

There’s still so much ahead — renaming the boat to And Away !, making her feel like home, and beginning the next phase of our adventure — but for now, we’re just grinning ear to ear knowing she’s ours.

More updates soon, but for now it’s back to reality in Knoxville for the final countdown before the big move.

— Sam & Chris
Boat Hunting and Seaside Living

August 20, 2025

Since we landed back in the UK, things haven’t slowed down one bit. This past week took us all the way up to Manchester, where we added more miles — and more boats — to our search list. We’ve now looked at five boats in total.

The big question… have we found our boat? Well, we might just have. No spoilers yet — we’ll keep you hanging until the paperwork’s in sight! But let’s just say, one of them ticked quite a few boxes and left us both picturing life on the water.

All that travelling and boat-hopping has left us exhausted, so we’re taking it easy for a few days to recharge. That said, the trip up north did have its perks — we stayed in some lovely little places near Manchester and treated ourselves to some fab pub food along the way. Good comfort food always makes the miles feel shorter!

Back in St Leonards-on-Sea, we’re starting to feel settled into our base. It’s such a lovely seaside spot — relaxed, friendly, and just the right mix of bustle and calm. We had a fantastic dinner with our good friends Jane and Helen the other night. Helen’s the amazing person who looks after our Airbnb here in St Leonards and she does incredible job keeping it guest-ready year-round.

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/45326837?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=01c15605-d886-4feb-a654-9b8ca043b81a

The weather has been absolutely spoiling us lately — blue skies, plenty of sunshine, and perfect 80°F (about 27°C) days. After so many weeks of moving, packing, and travelling, it’s been a treat to just sit outside with a cup of tea (or wine!) and soak it all in.

This next week we’ll be welcoming our friends Jack, Nicole and Lilah over from the USA, enjoying more of the coast and showing them the sights of England and maybe — just maybe — making a big announcement.

In the mean time follow our vlog on You Tube- Like and Subscribe and make sure to hit the bell icon to get updates.

And Away… – YouTube

Until next time,
— Sam & Chris ⚓☀️🍷
From Estate Sale to English Adventures: The Journey Continues

August 6, 2025

Well, the Estate Sale has come and gone — and it went really well! Huge thanks to Tina McMillan at Declutter and Clear Estate Solutions for keeping everything organized and running smoothly. The house in Knoxville is now feeling very empty — echoes, dust bunnies, and all.

A special shout-out to our wonderful friends Arnold and Janet, who generously let us crash at their place during the sale chaos. You’re both legends — thank you for giving us a soft place to land during a whirlwind week.

Then came travel day: five very full suitcases, and off we went for our first trip back… A storm at Atlanta gave us a bit of an unexpected 3 hour delay, but eventually, we made it across the pond — tired but excited.

We hit the ground running and didn’t waste any time — we went straight to see our first narrowboat not long after we landed. It was a great starting point and made the dream feel real. It’s early days, but definitely heading in the right direction!

We then took a trip down to Devon to see my mum and had the most brilliant weekend at the Sidmouth Folk Festival. The town was alive with music — musicians jamming in every pub, every corner filled with rhythm and energy. Such a joy to be part of.

Now we’re in St Leonards on Sea, at our 2nd home, but made a little detour through Brighton for Pride — and what a day! We saw Fat Boy Slim live (bucket list: ✅) and soaked up all the color, music, and joy Brighton always brings.

We’re settled into our flat for now, and we’ve got more narrowboat viewings lined up this week — fingers crossed that one of them feels like “the one.”

So much has happened in such a short time, and there’s still more ahead. The adventure is very much underway. new vlog will be up on Aug 13th .

Like and subscribe !

And Away… – YouTube

Stay tuned,
— Sam & Chris 🛫🎶🏳️‍🌈
Packing Up a Life in Knoxville: The Final Chapter Begins

July 16, 2025
After many months of planning and dreaming, it’s finally happening — Chris and I are packing up our life here in Knoxville, TN, and preparing for our next big adventure. It’s a bittersweet process, filled with memories, elbow grease, and yes… more bubble wrap than we ever thought possible.

We’ve carefully packed up two trunks with our most treasured possessions — the kind of things you can’t replace. These trunks are already on their way to our final destination (and no, this isn’t the start of a suspense movie — we hope!). Saying goodbye to some of our “stuff” has been easier than expected, but sending off the special things we’ve collected over the years gave us a moment to reflect on just how much we have packed into this chapter.

Now, we’re turning our attention to preparing for an Estate Sale happening July 25th, 26th, and 27th. Luckily, we’re not doing this alone. We’ve brought in the amazing Tina McMillan of Declutter and Clear Estate Solutions, and let me just say — if you’re ever facing a similar transition, get yourself a Tina. She has made the process so much easier and more manageable.

We’ve passed on many family treasures to the next generation — heirlooms, photos, and mementos that will now begin new chapters in someone else’s hands. It’s been emotional at times, but also deeply rewarding to see them go to loved ones who will appreciate them.

Alongside all of this, we’ve been hard at work prepping the house to go on the market. That meant:
- Fresh paint throughout every room
- Picture holes patched and painted
- Decks stained and refreshed
- Brand new flooring in the porch
- And countless little jobs that never seemed to end…
It’s been a long, exhausting, yet ultimately fulfilling process. With each step, it feels more real — the next chapter is almost here.

Stay tuned for more updates as we get ready to list the house, hold the estate sale, and take off for a whole new adventure. And don’t forget to follow along on our You Tube channel And Away… – YouTube to see where we’re headed next. (Spoiler alert: it’s not an RV and it’s not in the USA!)

Next weeks Vlog is the start of the Big Reveal!

Here’s to fresh starts and full hearts.
— Sam & Chris
And Away… We go?

July 6, 2025

Welcome to And Away… This blog continues our adventures from our previous blog 48beforeitstoolate where we travelled by RV through the lower 48 states.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since I first arrived in Knoxville, Tennessee — and even harder to believe how quickly those years have flown by! Chris joined me here six years ago, and together we’ve built a life full of love, laughter, and just the right amount of chaos.

In that time, Chris grew The Brit Fix into a trusted and successful handyman business, and I found my passion helping people through real estate. We’ve truly enjoyed making Knoxville our home — the friendships, the work, the sense of community — it’s been a beautiful chapter.

But the time has come for a new adventure. No, we’re not buying an RV and hitting the American highways. We’re doing retirement our way — and this time, we’re taking it overseas.

Where to? You’ll have to follow along to find out! 🌍

While we’re leaving the States, we’re not saying goodbye completely. We’ll be back every six months or so to visit Bex and Stephen, who are both married now and firmly rooted in their own beautiful Tennessee lives. It means the world to us that we’ll always have a reason (and a home base!) to return.

This blog will soon get a fresh name to match our new lifestyle, and you can also catch our journey in real time over on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@NB-AND-AWAY — be sure to subscribe and follow along.

Big changes are coming, and we can’t wait to share every step with you.

Here’s to new beginnings,
Sam & Chris