An Edinburgh comedian has left her hometown of nearly 30 years to live in a motorhome.
Packing her entire life into just six bags, Jojo Sutherland, 56, has made the decision to opt for a life on the road, after first arriving in South Queensferry in 1995.
After spending the last three decades raising her children and spending time with her parents before they passed away, the comedian has made a huge stamp on the community, but told Edinburgh Live the time is now right for a change.
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With her four children now living away from home, Jojo explained that her career often takes her all over the country, so following a few months travelling, she will be changing her four walls for four wheels, and living permanently in a motorhome.
Speaking about the huge change, she said: "My parents lived here (South Queensferry) and then in 1995 my dad died and we moved into his little flat, I think since I've lived in just about every house in South Queensferry, but now that's it, it does feel weird. I move a lot but always in the same place really, so it will be strange.
"I'm absolutely doing the right thing, but it's the end of an era. It was a combination of things, one the world's going to hell in a hand cart but also I separated during lockdown, the last of my four kids has left home and none of them are planing to come home.
"Because I had thrown myself into work and been really busy I found I was living out of a suitcase for about half a year and I thought this is great, I loved it. I'm hardly ever home now, I'll be back a couple of days and then I'm off again so the idea of it was great. I'm never home and I'm paying for a house I don't live in, so I'm basically going to be doing what I'm doing now and I'll probably get more of a chance to see places and visit friends. Life is uncertain so I thought I'll just take control of my life, pack everything into a van and wait until it all calms down."
First planning to visit friends around the UK before heading to Australia for a three month tour in January, Jojo is hoping to purchase the motorhome when she comes back next summer.
Although hoping to drive around the UK and complete a solo tour based from the road, the mum-of-four explained that the spontaneity of it all is what excites her most.
She added: "There's a real sense of freedom about not planning things, I know where I am for the next few weeks, but it's a case of living day by day and I'm happier than I've been in a long time.
"I wouldn't have been able to downsize immediately but the last few months I've been living out of a case and i haven't missed all of my stuff. I mean I've chucked stuff out now that was in boxes and has made the move with me half a dozen times but have never even opened. I now have six bags, a pair of wellies and a wash bag.
"My kids all have their own lives and they'll probably be seeing more of me because I'll be turning up wanting a bed for the night. They're all really excited for me as well because although I've loved it, but I've spent the last 30 years bringing up my kids and looking after everyone else, so now instead of slowing down I want to speed up and it's time for me.
"I'm a woman in comedy and of a certain age, and I want to buck the stereotypical image that people think that because you're in your 50s and have kids that you'll settle down and look after the grandkids, but there's a lot more in me.
"Society expects us to live a certain way and I think more and more women should do it, we've done our time and our kids are amazing but sometimes you lose your identity and forget that you have a life to, so I'm off to go and enjoy mine."
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