Lets explore dating in 2025 with the huge increase in dating apps, the desire for human connection and the rise of AI what does this mean. here i share some of what i found recently that flags up a warning to anyone considering going online
In this deeply honest and grounded solo episode, Mel invites you into a conversation about midlife as it really is — not the version we were sold. She reflects on what she didn't know, what she’s learned, and the surprising layers that have unfolded in the past few years of her life.We’ll explore:The awakening of “who am I now?” when familiar roles shiftHow our bodies and nervous systems speak long before our minds pay attentionThe changing nature of friendships, identity, creativity, and rhythmWhy midlife isn’t a crisis — it’s a convergence of what you’ve lived and what’s now possible
Mel pulls from her 25+ years in mental health, wellness, yoga and coaching: the burnout, the car accident, the slowing down, the camper‑van explorations — and writes a new map for navigating this stage of life.This is for the woman in her 40s or 50s (or approaching) who senses something stirring, who’s not sure what’s next — and is ready to give herself permission to feel, reflect, and begin again.(Includes an invitation to subscribe, connect, join the “Change, Grow & Transform” program, and book a session.)🕒 Timestamps & Key Topics00:06 – Intro: Why this series now01:00 – My background in mental health & wellbeing (25+ years)02:20 – What I used to focus on: prevention, well‑being, work, career03:14 – The tipping point: noticing more talk about midlife around 202104:30 – The narrative we were sold: “10 years of hell,” “change your habits,” menopause panic05:40 – My story: car accident at 50, memory loss, nervous system shock07:15 – Realising I’d had to reassess multiple times: career, body, roles08:45 – What “midlife” actually looks & feels like — empty nest, space, identity shift10:10 – The deeper themes: motherhood, work, culture, conditioning11:30 – 12 key discoveries I’ve made about midlife (starting now…)12:00 – #1: Your children leaving ≠ emptiness (reframe)13:50 – #2: You might feel invisible — and oddly relieved15:30 – #3: Creativity doesn’t require perfection17:00 – #4: Resentment is a signal, not a failure18:30 – #5: Time feels strange — faster & slower20:00 – #6: You may feel done, but you’re not broken21:30 – #7: Joy becomes quieter — but deeper23:00 – #8: Your body starts speaking — listen24:30 – #9: Friendships change — grief and gratitude can coexist26:00 – #10: Your “stuff” doesn’t vanish — it shape‑shifts27:30 – #11: Authority/roles drop away — who you are under the roles29:00 – #12: Midlife isn’t a death sentence — it’s a doorway30:20 – Practical check‑ins & reflections you can start today31:45 – Invitation to join my 30‑day “Change, Grow & Transform” journey33:00 – How to connect & book a session with me33:40 – Closing thoughts & thank you🏷 Hashtags (for social media)#MidlifeTransformation #WomenOver40 #MidlifeJourney #SoulLedLife #EgoVsSoul #CreativityInMidlife #NervousSystemRecovery #BurnoutToBreakthrough #ChangeGrowTransform #MidlifeIdentity✅ Call to ActionIf this episode resonated, please like and subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes in the Midlife series.Ready for deeper support? Visit [your website/link] to explore my Bronze, Silver and Gold tier offers and book a free consultation.Bring your curiosity. Bring your tired body. This is the space to begin again.If you like, I can also prepare social media caption suggestions, thumbnail title ideas, and Instagram Story prompts tied to this episode. Would you like that?
In this episode I dive into what I’m calling “The Great Cosmic Twist” — because the midlife we were sold? It doesn’t look like what many of us are actually living. No sudden red sports car. No dramatic sky‑diving moment. Instead, a nervous system in recovery. A soul asking: Is this all there is?If you’re in your 40s or 50s, maybe you’ve ticked the boxes: career, family, roles. Yet something's stirring. Maybe you’re looking at your life and wondering: Who am I really? What do I want next?I share deeply from my own life — the car accident that shook me, the burnout, the shift from full throttle to slower rhythm. I talk about the conditioning that shaped our early lives (culture, family, expectations) and the emergence of a deeper, soul‑led impulse that wants more than survival.You’ll hear about:The narrative around midlife we absorb (and often reject)How the inner “nudge” starts, even when everything looks “fine”
The interplay of roles, identity, bodies, hormones, and timeWhy rest, slowing down, curiosity, and presence are not luxury — they’re essentialAnd how midlife isn’t the end of the story — it’s the opening of a new oneIf you’re ready to question the “should”, honour what’s real for you, and begin living more aligned with your truth — you’re in the right place. Grab a cuppa. Let’s get real.(Includes invitation to subscribe, set up a session with me, and join my “Change, Grow & Transform” programmes.)🕒 Timestamps & Key Topics00:10 – Intro: “Midlife or The Great Cosmic Twist”01:00 – The myth of the midlife “red sports car”02:20 – Exhaustion, roles, expectations: what many women carry03:35 – My story: car accident at 50, nervous system shock05:02 – 40s‑50s shifts: reviewing career, identity, life stage07:15 – My path: retraining, coaching, yoga, holistic well‑being09:52 – The “nudge” phase: when you sense something needs to change11:24 – Conditioning: culture, family beliefs, your early self‑image13:47 – Midlife myths vs. midlife reality15:38 – Slowing down: rest, presence, noticing your body17:10 – Creative impulses, curiosity, stepping out of comfort zone19:12 – The blocks: trauma patterns, people‑pleasing, over‑functioning21:30 – What does a soul‑led life feel like?23:50 – Navigating hormones, health, body changes25:30 – The day‑to‑day: ordinary and sacred both matter27:08 – Invitation: join the “Change, Grow & Transform” 30‑day programme28:31 – How to connect: counselling, sessions, further work29:40 – Closing: Tune in, bring your body, your story, your rest30:20 – Outro✅ Call to ActionIf this episode spoke to you, please like and subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes in this series.Ready for deeper support? Visit https://melaniegabbienterprises.com/b...to explore my Bronze, Silver and Gold tier coaching offers or book a free consultation.Bring your curiosity. Bring your weariness. This is the space to begin again.A soulful space for men and women navigating change, transition ,healing, and self-discovery. Through raw reflections, deep conversations, and spiritual insights. I share stories from the road, emotional awakenings, and tools to help you reconnect with your truth, power, and joy. My podcast section is designed to go deeper with ordinary individuals and professionals in both the clinical and holistic wellbeing fields .#MidlifeTransformation #WomenOver40 #SoulLedLife #EgoVsSoul #SlowDownMidlife #InnerNudge #MidlifeIdentity #NervousSystemRecovery #TraumaToTransformation #CreativeMidlife #HolisticWellbeing #ChangeGrowTransform
Hi a short intro to my experience of going to Scotland and arriving at Bute. Stay tuned for more
My ancestry is Scottish, i took a trip back home to explore Scotland and visit where my nan and mum lived ,until my mum moved down to Manchester ,where I was born. This has been an incredible trip in many ways . here i share where i got to on my trip to Scotland as a solo female campervan explorer, stay tuned for more .
I cover traveling to Bute , van breakdown, storms, torrential weather , lovely hotels, great scenery , lakes, sea, ferrys' and more
On this leg of Changing Spaces (Through the Lens) I drive from Cambridge to Norfolk after a Windsor/London/Greenwich loop—and discover the hardest part of travel isn’t always routes or weather. It’s friendship dynamics: energy, boundaries, assumptions, and how quickly deeper patterns surface when you share tight spaces and shifting plans.
This isn’t just a travel vlog. It’s a journey through landscapes, history, psychology, spirit, and identity—from castles and river buses to caravan nights and flooded roads. We’ll unpack themes like psychic load (invisible labour), assumptions vs generosity, avoidance vs clarity, energy economy, masking vs authenticity, value clashes, boundaries in action, and discernment for who to travel with (and how).
Who this helps: solo travellers, vanlifers, mid-life changers, anyone renegotiating friendship/relationship dynamics or recovering from burnout.
Journal prompts
Where do I carry the invisible load (planning, booking, cooking, mediating)?
What drains me vs. restores me on trips? How can I protect my energy economy?
Which values are clashing (e.g., freedom/flow vs. control/avoidance)?
One boundary I’ll communicate before the next trip is…
If this resonates, like & subscribe for more episodes on heritage, identity, psychology and slow travel.
00:00 Intro & why this isn’t “just” travel
01:20 Series route recap: Windsor → London → Greenwich → Cambridge
01:59 New leg: Cambridge → Norfolk (weather, van issues, flooded routes)
03:55 The lens: TV’s “Race Across the World” & what it reveals
06:54 Theme 1: Psychic load in friendships (default organiser)
08:55 Theme 2: Assumptions vs generosity (transactions vs open giving)
10:58 Theme 3: Avoidance & hints vs directness (drama triangle)
13:15 Theme 4: Energy economy (what it costs to tolerate drains)
16:10 Theme 5: Masking → authenticity (speaking needs early)
17:40 Theme 6: Value clashes (freedom/flow/shared responsibility)
19:55 Theme 7: Boundaries in action (small acts of self-respect)
22:30 Theme 8: Discernment—who’s a good match to travel with?
24:30 Takeaways, journal prompts & invitation to reflect
Timestamps / Chapters#ChangingSpaces #VanlifeUK #SoloFemaleTravel #FriendshipDynamics #Boundaries #EmotionalLabor #Psychology #UKRoadTrip #Cambridge #Norfolk #EnergyEconomy #SlowTravel
Welcome to my new series on Midlife . I will be exploring my experiences , the woman that I meet and inviting guests to explore their experience of entering the so called second half of life, although many more people are asking themselves questions that didn't usually surface until we entered our 50s. so this series is aimed at the over 30s and beyond . look out for the intro
As i continue to explore heritage Identity and how our past and present influence us , dreams turn into reality ...This trip has been filled with delight challenges and a growing resilience to the uncertainty of what going on the road can bring . This episode explores my arrival in The Isle if Bute Scotland , as part of my latest campervan adventures and what unfolded in a way I could never have anticipated and how our identity past and present is shaped .#bute #isleofbute vanlife #scotland #travelvlog #islands #familiy #culture #heritage #sycronicity #ancestry #womanslives #mentalhealth #spirituality #wellbeing #love #relashionships #UK #campervan #solofemail #lovetotravel #tourism #photograpthy #digitalart
Welcome to Changing Spaces, where I share insights on psychology, spirituality, and wellbeing for navigating life’s shifts.
In this episode, I explore the transition from summer to autumn — a season many find difficult due to shorter days, colder nights, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
If you’ve ever noticed your mood dip at this time of year, you’re not alone. I’ll guide you through 10 powerful tips and rituals to reframe autumn as a season of renewal, including:
✨ Morning rituals to boost energy and mood
✨ Breathwork, mindfulness, and quantum breathing
✨ Maximising daylight and movement
✨ Creating cozy evening rituals
✨ Practicing gratitude and connecting with others
This is about building your personal toolkit so you can find light in new places, restore balance, and thrive through autumn and winter.
💡 What helps you during this seasonal shift? Share in the comments — I’d love to hear from you.
👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and check out my Change, Grow, and Transform series for more tools and inspiration.
#AutumnWellbeing #ChangingSpaces #BeatTheBlues #SeasonalAffectiveDisorder #MindfulLiving #SpiritualJourney #AnxietySupport #DepressionHelp #AutumnSelfCare #ChangingSeasons
In this episode of Changing Spaces, I return to the Isle of Bute—my mother’s birthplace—for the first time since childhood. What began as a simple campervan journey quickly turned into an emotional homecoming filled with synchronicity, unexpected meetings, and stories long hidden within my family’s past.
From driving onto the ferry with a racing heart to finding myself welcomed by islanders who remembered my nan, my uncle, and even family secrets once kept quiet, this was more than travel—it was reconciliation. I discovered what it means to be a Brandane, connected with extraordinary people like Billy and Bobby, and began weaving together the threads of ancestry, identity, and belonging.
This is not just a story about Scotland, but about how place, memory, and people awaken something within us. If you’ve ever revisited your roots or wondered what it means to belong, this episode will speak to you.
#ChangingSpaces #IsleOfBute #HeritageJourney #FamilyStories #ScottishRoots #CampervanLife #Ancestry #Belonging #HiddenStories #EmotionalJourney
Isle of Bute podcast, Scotland ancestry stories, campervan journey UK, reconnecting with heritage, Brandane meaning, Scottish roots identity, family history podcast, Changing Spaces podcast, emotional travel stories, belonging and ancestry Scotland
Hi, this is Mel Gabbi, and welcome back to Changing Spaces. Today I want to talk about something we all experience at some point: friendships, boundaries, and what happens when our peace gets disrupted.
The Story
I’ve just started my journey up to Scotland, but it began with a few days in London with a friend visiting from America. We did some great things together — Windsor Castle, the Tower of London, a river bus to Greenwich, and wandering through markets. On the surface, it was fun and exciting.
But underneath, I found myself exhausted. Carrying bags across London, late nights, noise when I needed quiet, I realised how different our rhythms are.
The Reflection
What I noticed is this: friendships that work well for a few hours over lunch don’t always work when you’re together 24/7. And that’s not because the friendship is broken — it’s because our values clash when tested under pressure.
And this is where I see echoes of something bigger. History has always been about power and negotiation — from feudal lords and peasants, to workers and wages, to citizens and politics. In friendships, it’s about who sets the tone, who adapts, and who holds the space for freedom.
The Lesson
I realised I don’t want to carry other people’s avoidance, sulking, or passive anger.
And maybe you’ve felt that too. Maybe you’ve had a friendship where you suddenly feel like the parent, or the organiser, or the one giving more than you receive. Maybe you’ve noticed that when your peace is disrupted, your energy, creativity, and joy start to disappear.
The Takeaway
So here’s the heart of it: true friendship honours values, boundaries, and freedom.
And sometimes, the most powerful choice is to create space — not because we don’t care, but because we care about staying true to ourselves.
So if you’ve ever travelled with a friend, or even just had them stay with you, and felt your peace disrupted — know that you’re not alone.
Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode of Changing Spaces.
Changing Spaces – Through The Lens, is where I explore campervan travel, heritage journeys, psychology, spirituality, and the freedom to create new stories at midlife. From 30-day transformation programs to travel reflections, this channel is about how changing spaces changes lives. A new series my on-the-road exploration of how places hold memory.
I travel by campervan, sometimes staying in nice cottages, hotels and caravans , and film what I see, and reflect on the conversations I have and explore the layers beneath the landscape—such as the local industry, migration, uprisings, class, and the quieter stories written into stone, coastlines, and communities
St Hild was deeply connected to York and Canterbury through the Synod of Whitby (664). Here’s how it fits:
At that time, the Celtic Church (rooted in Irish/Scottish traditions, especially from Iona and Lindisfarne) celebrated Easter on one date, following their own calendar.
The Roman Church, centred in Canterbury (linked to Rome itself), celebrated Easter on a different date.
This wasn’t just about the calendar — it symbolised two different traditions of Christianity in Britain.
Hild gathered church leaders and scholars together at Whitby Abbey, which she led, to settle the issue. This was remarkable because:
She presided over the council as host and abbess, creating the conditions for dialogue.
She held space for men of huge authority — bishops, kings, and scholars — to debate in her abbey.
Ultimately, the decision went with the Roman calculation of Easter, bringing unity with Canterbury and Rome, which gave the English church consistency and authority.
So yes — Whitby Abbey became the place where the church aligned, and Hild was at the centre of it.
✨ From a Changing Spaces perspective, this is:
A woman leading not just a monastery but a moment of transition for an entire nation’s faith.
The tension between local tradition (Celtic) and wider conformity (Roman).
Her abbey as a meeting ground — a container for reconciliation and decision-making.
listen in for my experience of this unfurling information
Welcome to Changing Spaces —.This isn’t just travel—it’s a reconciliation with identity, faith and family inheritance. Cathedrals, coastlines, and the stories we carry.In this episode I go deeper into identity, religion, and inheritance. I share my story of growing up between worlds (Scottish roots, Dutch/Irish/Italian threads), school assemblies shaped by Christianity, a mother who left organized religion but kept a deep spirituality, and how that shaped my search for belonging.Along the road—through abbeys, museums, coastlines—I’m exploring how history shapes who we are today: St Hild and Whitby Abbey, York Minster, synods, Catholic vs Protestant echoes, class and working-class life, and the hidden family stories we carry. This is pilgrimage and reconciliation as much as travel.🔔 If this resonates, please like & subscribe on my you tube page , to also see videos of the lovely spaces I visit . Please also share your own story of identity and belonging in the comments.In this video:What “Changing Spaces” really is (beyond travel)Mixed heritage & growing up between culturesReligion, spirituality & family silenceCathedrals/abbeys as mirrors for inner lifeHow personal + political histories intertwine#ChangingSpaces #Identity #Belonging #MixedHeritage #SpiritualJourney #ReligionAndCulture #WhitbyAbbey #YorkMinster #UKHistory #TravelWithMeaning #Psychology #FamilyStories
This is a sample episode from my 30-Day Spiritual Awakening & Personal Power (Level 2 – September) series. The full program is on YouTube as a playlist and will be available in full on Patreon soon.
I blend evidence based science , oracle cards , a key topic and tips for your mental health and wellbeing as well as journal prompts that you can do every day for the 30 days
Today’s theme: The Hierophant — tradition, wisdom, and learning — and where ancient practices meet modern research. We explore the evidence (and debates) around meditation & mindfulness, nutrition for mental health, Reiki/energy work, yoga (including trauma-informed), and sound healing. Plus a short 5-minute mindfulness exercise, an affirmation, and a practical journal prompt.
Affirmation: I trust in the power of holistic healing and honor both science and spirit in my journey.
In this sample you’ll learn:
The Hierophant’s message: being open yet discerning
What research suggests about meditation/mindfulness (stress, attention, neuroplasticity)
Nutrition & mood basics (why diet can influence anxiety/energy)
Reiki/quantum healing — why some people report benefits (relaxation, pain modulation) and why it’s debated
Yoga for regulation, flexibility and trauma-sensitive approaches
Sound healing & nervous system soothing
5-minute mindfulness you can try today (+ Child’s Pose)
Tools & recs: The Body Keeps the Score, Insight Timer, Marconi Union – “Weightless”, amethyst focus
Watch the full 30-Day Level 2 playlist: (7) INTRO TO THE NEW 30 DAY SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT AND PERSONAL POWER PROGRAMME -LEVEL 2 - YouTube
Join the Patreon full series (when live) / waitlist:
Level 1 (free) starter series: (8) LEVEL 1 -CHANGE GROW AND TRANSFORM SERIES -ALIGN WITH YOUR PURPOSE AND PASSION - YouTube
Nothing here is medical advice; use what resonates and consult a clinician for health concerns.
“Science & Spirit”
“The Hierophant”
“Level 2 Sample”
Hi — Mel GabbI here and welcome back to Changing Spaces. Inthe last episode I talked about how travelling with friends can expose value clashes and old patterns. Today I want to share the next layer: what it feels like to move from masking your needs to naming them — and why that matters forfreedom, friendships and our nervous systems.
Set-up — the London flashback (brief)
After a busy London stretch with a visiting friend, I feltdepleted. Late nights, lots of walking, noise when I needed quiet. I realised that when I’m exhausted I used to hide it — especially with certain people ,because any sign of tiredness became an invitation for drama, control or blame. So for years I held back. I muted myself to avoid being used against me.
But on this trip something shifted. I started to say thingsout loud. I told my friend I needed quieter nights. I noticed what happened when I didn’t — resentment, small explosions, or snapping. And I noticed whathappened when I did — a sense of calm arriving, even in the middle of tension.
the power of creating a container that matches your needs.
What this reveals about friendships
Here’s the lesson: friendships that work for short meetupsdon’t always survive the strain of extended time
One person’s quiet is another’s boredom.One person’s generosity is another’s accounting. Neither stance is “bad” —they’re different values. The skill is to notice that and choose how torespond.
I now practise a different stance: calm authority. I name my needs, protect my rest, and refuse to be the person who smooths over everything at my own expense. That’s not punishment — it’s preservation of creativity, peace,and wellbeing.
Closing reflection & invitation
Travelling together offers a mirror. It shows us where we’restill responding from survival, and where we can act from choice. For me, that’s the heart of Changing Spaces — shifting contexts, shifting patterns.
Check my YouTube page if you would like to see more videos
Awaken Personal Power: Dopamine, Flow & a 30-Day Reset
Feel stuck in a Groundhog Day loop—even after therapy or self-help?
This deep-dive blends brain chemistry (dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin), trauma-aware tools, and spiritual practice into a 30-day plan that actually sticks.
Feeling stuck, low, or looping old patterns—even after “doing the work”? In this episode I map the science of change (dopamine, oxytocin, endorphins, serotonin), nervous-system regulation, and spiritual practice into a simple, sustainable 30-day reset you can build on to 60/90 days.
f you’re looping old patterns, start here👇
Pick one gentle daily habit (breath, 10-min walk, 1 page journal).
Mute phone till after your first task (save your dopamine for you!).
Tell me your one 30-day goal + which chapter helped most. I’ll reply with a nudge + a micro-plan you can steal.
what I cover
Why calming the nervous system comes before willpower
Using dopamine for focus (and avoiding the phone-scroll trap)
Oxytocin, endorphins & serotonin: how relationships, movement and joy fuel momentum
The stretch zone (not panic), flow states, and novelty for healing
Trauma-aware change: move from survival → learning → thriving
Practical planning: a light daily system you’ll actually keep
If you’re rebuilding after burnout, low mood, toxic dynamics, or you just feel flat and want your spark back—this is for you.
30-Day Kickstart (free video series & journaling prompts) (12) SEPTEMBER -SPIRITUAL AWAKENING AND PERSONAL POWER SERIES PART OF THE 30 DAYS TO GROW CHNAGE AND TRANSFORM - YouTube
1:1 Kickstarter Sessions or small-group coaching (book via the link on my channel banner/about) Calendly - M G
💌 Contact: Melgbb555 @hotmail.com
🙏 Like, subscribe & hit the bell if this helped—your support lets me keep creating.
timepoints
00:00 Intro: stuck in Groundhog Day?02:00 Why 30/60/90 days work05:10 My story: hotels → Samaritans → therapy training09:10 School & learning style (kinesthetic, not tests)12:10 Volunteering that changed everything14:40 Still looping anxiety/depression—what was missing17:00 What I studied: trauma, psychobiology, spirituality20:00 Behavior-change lessons from public health23:00 First things first: regulate the nervous system26:00 Trauma at school: why kids look “rude” when they’re dysregulated29:00 Start here: self-awareness & a simple life audit32:00 Brain chemistry 101 (the messengers that move us)33:30 Dopamine: focus, phones & flow36:00 Oxytocin: bonding, dating & why “too fast” gets sticky38:00 Endorphins & anandamide: exercise + bliss states39:30 Serotonin: mood, safety & confidence41:00 Comfort zone vs stretch zone (learning without panic)44:00 Resistance, relapse & building momentum47:00 Gym example: stacking small wins49:30 Extrinsic → intrinsic → purpose54:00 Find your why & serve something bigger57:00 Practical tools: your daily system (mindfulness, journaling, novelty)1:00:00 Prep your brain/body for focus (energy timing, schedules)1:03:00 Flow states explained (and why they heal)1:06:00 Surf-therapy idea; my kayak & paddle-board lessons1:10:00 Track what helps & what hinders (pattern spotting)1:13:00 Agency & control: key in depression recovery1:16:00 The formula: awareness → intention → focus → consistency1:19:00 What’s next (30/60/90 options, coaching, templates)1:22:00 Journal prompts: awareness & regulation1:24:00 Prompts: motivation, dopamine & boundaries1:27:00 Prompts: freedom & one next action1:29:00 Closing & gentle CTA
#SpiritualAwakening #Dopamine #FlowState #TraumaInformed #30DayChallenge
I
Spiritual awakening, personal empowerment, brain chemistry of change, trauma-aware healing, behavior science, flow, novelty, nervous system, mindfulness, journaling prompts, purpose, midlife reset.
Changing Spaces – Through The Lens, is where I explore campervan travel, heritage journeys, psychology, spirituality, and the freedom to create new stories at midlife. From 30-day transformation programs to travel reflections, this channel is about how changing spaces changes lives. A new series my on-the-road exploration of how places hold memory.
I travel by campervan, sometimes staying in nice cottages, hotels and caravans , and film what I see, and reflect on the conversations I have and explore the layers beneath the landscape—such as the local industry, migration, uprisings, class, and the quieter stories written into stone, coastlines, and communitie. sIn this Epic Wales episode, I explore the “geometry of control”—how power has shaped land, people, and the energy of place. From Carmarthen Castle (built under Henry I in 1105) to the Chartist story in Newport, I trace lines from feudal serfdom to industrial protest, and follow the thread across oceans to Australia—from convict transportation (1788–1868) to settlement and the Stolen Generations.We touch on:Serfs & manors: bound to land through service and dues (not enslaved—but not free).Carmarthen Castle: a Norman fortress of symbolic and physical control.Newport Rising (1839): Chartists demanding political rights—soldiers fired on protestors at the Westgate Hotel.Transportation to Australia: c. 160,000 people sent to NSW, Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), Western Australia, Norfolk Island; later waves of free settlers under terra nullius.Stolen Generations: children removed by state/church authorities; language and identity suppressed.Language & hierarchy: how words have been used to categorise, control, and erase—especially around mixed identities.If you love thoughtful travel, social history, and noticing how certain towns feel “light” or “heavy,” this is for you.Writers/researchers referenced or relevant:
E.P. Thompson; Dorothy Thompson & Malcolm Chase (Chartists);
Rees Davies/John Davies (Wales); Catherine Hall & the Legacies of British Slave-Ownership project;
David Olusoga (Black and British); Clare Anderson (convict transportation);
Margaret Humphreys (Empty Cradles);
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (The Colour of Love, Mixed Feelings).
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I’m Melanie Gabbi. I’ve spent over fourdecades exploring the landscape of spirituality, mental health, personaldevelopment, and transformation. I’m a therapist, mental health consultant,yogi, NLP practitioner, and Reiki master. I’ve studied Western psychology,Eastern philosophy, esoteric wisdom, and everything in between. And mostimportantly—I’ve lived through this journey myself. Like many of you, I’venavigated burnout, trauma, doubt, deep healing, and moments of profoundclarity. I know what it means to question everything and still want to believein something more.
Changing Spaces – Through The Lens is where I explore campervan travel, heritage journeys, psychology, spirituality, and the freedom to create new stories at midlife. From 30-day transformation programs to travel reflections, this channel is about how changing spaces changes lives.
A new series my on-the-road exploration of how places hold memory. I travel by campervan, film what I see, and reflect on the layers beneath the landscape—industry, migration, uprisings, class, and the quieter stories written into stone, coastlines, and communitiesLeg 1: Wales (August in parts) . Leg 2: Scotland (September in parts). Come along for scenes, stories, and the subtle shifts you can feel when you slow down and pay attention.Join me for Part 1 of my Epic Wales road trip—from Portishead and Clevedon to Newport—as I film coastal beauty and dig into the hidden histories shaping what we feel in a place: industry, migration, class, the Chartist uprising in Newport (1839), and the way landscapes seem to hold memory.I swim the Portishead Open Air Pool, cross the Prince of Wales Bridge, wander Clevedon and Clifton, and reflect on how architecture, street names, and coastlines whisper older stories—of work and wealth, protest and resilience.This episode weaves travel with reflection: why some towns feel light and others heavy, how industrial ports shaped communities, and how Newport’s Chartists left a mark on civic memory. If you love thoughtful travel, social history, and coast-hopping in a campervan—this is for you.Changing Spaces – Through The Lens is my ongoing series exploring how places hold memory. Leg 1: Wales. Leg 2: Scotland (coming soon).#
👇 Chapters, tags, and links below.
👍 Like & Subscribe for the next leg (Cardiff, Barry, Llantwit Major, Ogmore-by-Sea, Bridgend… then Swansea).
Books/thinkers briefly referenced: E.P. Thompson, Malcolm Chase (Chartists), Catherine Hall (empire & ownership), David Olusoga (Black and British), Margaret Humphreys (Empty Cradles), Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (The Colour of Love).
Timestamps
#Wales #WalesRoadTrip #CampervanLife #ChangingSpaces #ThroughTheLens #Portishead #Clevedon #Newport #Chartists #CoastalWalks #UKTravel #VanLifeUK #PlaceMemory #SocialHistorywant to work with me? melgbb555@hotmail.com ✨ Patreon community (coming soon): behind-the-scenes, deeper reflections, live Q&A.#ChangingSpaces #CampervanTravel #MidlifeTransformation #ScotlandTravel #PsychologyAndSpirituality#mentalhealth #spirituality #wellbeing #love #relashionships #UK #campervan #solofemail #lovetotravel #tourism #photograpthy #digitalart
Welcome ,This is an intro for Mel’s Camper Van Adventures: my Wales tour, what I’ll cover (cities, coast, conversations), why novelty helps mental health, and simple, low-cost ways to start—especially for midlife solo travellers who feel anxious but curious.
Key themes covered
Starting before you’re “ready”; tiny steps
Anxiety → courage reframes; novelty & dopamine
Midlife solo female safety & confidence
Low-cost, practical travel habits
Cities + coastline + conversations format
Coaching/psychotherapy lens on wellbeing
Chapters (add timestamps after upload)
What this series is about
Wales tour plan & Day 0–3
Midlife solo female vanlife (real talk)
Novelty, dopamine & mood
Micro-adventures on any budget
A client’s micro-shifts → macro change
How to follow & what’s nextWhat’s ONE tiny adventure you’ll take this week (new park, new café, new beach)? Tell me below and I’ll cheer you on.
“Start Now”
“Wales Vanlife Intro”
“Small Steps → Big Joy”