As some of you already know, I'm about to go on a big trip that will take me away from the UK for around 6 months.
2015 was a tough year in many ways, and after a lot of thought, now things have settled down, I've decided it's time to experience a different perspective on things before deciding what my next step will be. My much loved, much-missed Mum has given me the opportunity to go and visit some new places, and I hope to follow a theme as I travel. I'll seek out chances to learn more about things I've felt strongly about for a long time: sustainability, permaculture, combating waste and generally caring a whole lot more about the planet we're all walking, living and breathing on. Boring to many, maybe, but not to me!
So here's where I'll be going :)
Step 1: "break myself in gently" by going somewhere I know, where I can talk to the locals: France! Pretty much the centre of the country. While staying with friends there I'll be helping to look after two Shetland ponies, a dog and 8 cats (actually 8 out of 10 cats, ha ha! But nine and ten will be elsewhere after all). And ok, two of the eight are mine!
Step 2: Japan, moving westward from Tokyo to Osaka over three weeks, and – I hope – volunteering at two eco-friendly businesses along the way (even at this late stage, I'm awaiting confirmation... eek!).
Step 3: New Zealand (towards the end of Feb), via Malaysia for a long-overdue weekend catching up with an old friend! I'll stay in NZ for about six weeks, moving around a fair bit but again, it's all a big haze at the moment. The aim is to volunteer at three places if I can, but only if that leaves plenty of time to explore!
I'll be moving onward to Scandinavia as of April, but haven't booked any of those movements yet as I'd like to see how things progress over the next couple of months away. By the time March draws to a close I might find myself craving a week or two of chillout time in Dawlish (Devon), with the lovely Simon Dusty Duringer :)
So welcome along, and feel free to comment, make suggestions or keep me company in any other way!