My name is Ben Ade and I'm thirty three years old. Born in the Netherlands and brought up in this fine land we call bonnie Scotland. I've been in the motor engineering trade for the past 15 years, the last 7 being my own business. In spare time, if i'm not designing new features for Kaerus or working on other various projects, you will likely find me immersed in a good book or planning more adventures!
Hi there all! My name is Melissa and I'm 25 years young. I'm a vivacious, bubbly character with a thirst for adventure. I enjoy the thrill of exploring and when we are not I'm usually busying myself with my love of cooking, and other handicrafts. Having worked with children for the last seven years, working full time and studying, I have found that each day can present it's own adventures. Thriving on this, I aim to revisit my childhood instinct, exploring environments near and far with all their hidden treasures .
Thoughts on a house; the glorified shelters we call our "home". Whether it be in the form of cottage, apartment or cabin, its basically a box of brick or wood to protect us from the elements. In fact, for most it serves as an anchor to ensure the entirety of their worlds rarely extend far outside a small radius of that manufactured bubble. When we do find ourselves able to step out of that bubble temporarily, we cherish the opportunity and call it a vacation. These ever so short vacations usually comprise of a passenger airline flight, speeding through the sky at 500mph whilst watching films on a courtesy screen, followed by a stay in a tourist hotel or villa within a resort aimed at westerners. This may suit others but it just isn't our cup of tea, we love to travel, experiencing and really getting the feel of places without following in the identical footsteps of a million tourists before us. We are breaking the mould on conventional ideas of 'houses' and 'vacations'.
We don't want the anchor, we want the ship.
This brings us to the idea of 'overlanding'. The original form of travelling, by land wherever possible, obviously using ferries or ships to move cross oceans. The overland ethos conjures images of exciting new experiences, real travel and true freedom to explore!
We don't want the anchor, we want the ship.
This brings us to the idea of 'overlanding'. The original form of travelling, by land wherever possible, obviously using ferries or ships to move cross oceans. The overland ethos conjures images of exciting new experiences, real travel and true freedom to explore!
Having the advantage (or disadvantage!) of many years inside knowledge on vehicles, there was only ever one long term choice for this job, the Land Rover Defender of course. A heavy duty utility model of specific age requirements (Between 2002 and 2006) was the one required. We saved our pennies and the perfect candidate eventually presented itself up for sale. 3 years of preparation followed, with the Land Rover completed in 2017. During this time I gave up my full time garage business, Melissa left her long term job as a senior childcare practitioner and we also gave up the rented house in favour of accommodation with wheels!
We have now reached the point we aimed for, free to explore this world with the now fully prepared overlanding vehicle! Check the blog for updates...
We have now reached the point we aimed for, free to explore this world with the now fully prepared overlanding vehicle! Check the blog for updates...
The preparation and build process of Kaerus...
So, what's with the name "Kaerus"?
In the Greek myths, Kaerus or Kairos/Caerus (Greek: Καιρός, Kairos) was the personification of opportunity, luck and favorable moments. Kaerus was the youngest child of Zeus.
He is the due measure that achieves the aim. This god brings about what is convenient, fit, and comes in the right moment. Sometimes it could be the critical or dangerous moment, but more often Kaerus represents the advantageous, or favorable occasion.
Kaerus is represented as a young and beautiful god. Opportunity obviously never gets old, and beauty is always opportune, flourishing in its own season. Kaerus stands on tiptoe because he is always running, and like Hermes, he has wings in his feet to fly with the wind. He holds scales balanced on a sharp edge, illustrating the fleeting instant in which occasions appear and disappear. Kaerus can easily be seized by the hair hanging over his face when he is arriving. But once he has passed by, no one can grasp him, the back of his head being bald. The moment of action is gone with his hair: a neglected occasion cannot be recovered.
Although originally the name of Zeus's son, the Land Rover is more of a feminine entity, so 'Kaerus' shall be brought up to the modern times of equality and used in a feminine tense. Of course it has always been bad luck to name a ship as a male, Kaerus the Defender may only be a land based ship, but the tradition shall continue!
We feel the name suits her rather well, coincidentally the vehicle registration plate also reads 'KAE' for Kaerus!
He is the due measure that achieves the aim. This god brings about what is convenient, fit, and comes in the right moment. Sometimes it could be the critical or dangerous moment, but more often Kaerus represents the advantageous, or favorable occasion.
Kaerus is represented as a young and beautiful god. Opportunity obviously never gets old, and beauty is always opportune, flourishing in its own season. Kaerus stands on tiptoe because he is always running, and like Hermes, he has wings in his feet to fly with the wind. He holds scales balanced on a sharp edge, illustrating the fleeting instant in which occasions appear and disappear. Kaerus can easily be seized by the hair hanging over his face when he is arriving. But once he has passed by, no one can grasp him, the back of his head being bald. The moment of action is gone with his hair: a neglected occasion cannot be recovered.
Although originally the name of Zeus's son, the Land Rover is more of a feminine entity, so 'Kaerus' shall be brought up to the modern times of equality and used in a feminine tense. Of course it has always been bad luck to name a ship as a male, Kaerus the Defender may only be a land based ship, but the tradition shall continue!
We feel the name suits her rather well, coincidentally the vehicle registration plate also reads 'KAE' for Kaerus!