Well, today I took a deep breath and bought my tickets! (having taken out travel insurance yesterday - more of that in a minute)
It seems like an unconsionable amount of money to be spending just to fly round the world, but actually it's less than some so-called luxury holidays...

Trying to get travel insurance was interesting: most companies don't offer more than 45 days... a few do 90... even fewer offer 120. AND, to cap it all, they classify camel trekking and black-water rafting as high risk activites, so of course the price goes up...Grrr... Still, it's worth it if one Does have the misfortune to have an accident...

First thoughts...

This holiday came about through the happy (?) conjunction of two events: the decision to close my bookbinding studio and the final winding-up of my late mother's estate. The former allowing the time, the latter the money. Thank you Ma...

After six years of trying to run my own hand bookbinding business, I really have no idea what I'm going to do next work-wise . A long spot away travelling seems a good start so, New Zealand and Australia, here I come... Well, not till March :-(