2 days to go . . .

Well, it's getting closer and the excitement is building (and I'm not talking about going to see Jurassic World).

I have purchased all my repellent, travel money, a new iPod shuffle (I left my last one on my return flight from Portugal) and some more sun cream. Yes, I've learnt my lesson from Albufeira.

So the weekend brought lots of emotion and excitement. On Friday, my cousin Mark married his long term partner, Donna. A ceremony at the Archbishops Palace in Maidstone followed by a reception at the Maidstone United Spitfire Lounge saw the happy couple celebrate with seventy plus guests and their adorable girls, Izzie and Lois.

The Happy Couple!

Somebody had to rock a bow tie . . . 

 
























It was such a great wedding day and everyone spoke highly of the couple and everything about their happy day. Congratulations again guys.

As if that wasn't enough excitement for one weekend, I headed out on Saturday afternoon for a couple of beers with my brother, his wife and my sister. We headed to the Fisherman's Arms and engaged in a game of football darts before my brother told me we needed to move on to meet his friend in the next pub, The Brenchley.

Upon arrival, I was greeted with an amazing surprise. All my family and some friends were sitting, waiting to have a drink with me and wish me farewell. It was overwhelming that fifty or so people turned up to say goodbye. 

I'm still not sure about the Prince William, 'Kirk' from Coronation Street or guy from the Carling Advert lookalikes

They all signed the above poster that bore my ugly mug and it's a moment I will never forget - once more, to everyone who came, you were incredible and I'm grateful! What a way to say goodbye to everyone.

Sunday continued in the same vein, with Mark, Donna and the kids popping around to visit us. We ended up having a late lunch with them and spending some time with Izzie and Lois which is always fun. If ever I needed reminding of how much fun kids can be, Izzie and Lois made me remember when they had me running up and down the stairs whilst they took things from my sister's room and presented them to their parents with a giggle and proud smile on their face. Ah, the innocence.

Today, I've just been organising the last few bits and had dinner with my cousin and sister in one final bid to convince myself that I am doing the right thing (what am I doing!?)

Well, tomorrow I see my niece, Emmy and brother for my last day at home for a lengthy period. My nan will also be joining us for dinner so I'm sure emotions will be running high (actually, that was a little presumptuous).

I'M EXCITED!!! BRING IT ON!!! ALMOST TIME TO #ROAMALONE


 

6 days to go . . .

So it's ON!!! 6 days until I #roamalone

GROSS ALERT - I'm currently shedding skin like a python after my 4 days in Albufeira. I'll refrain from posting any pictures!

Latest update, I've sorted out my 50% Deet repellent for the trip, invested in a train ticket to get me from Beijing to Xian and then Xian to Shanghai. I found this awesome company called China Highlights. I looked at Seat 61 and Beijing Travel but found China Highlights to be easier to use (Sorry Seat 61).

Basically, going Beijing - Xian, I am in a second class seat which is just like a row of six seats (similar to a plane layout). However, this is only a five and half hour journey - 1,100 km. On my journey from Xian to Shanghai, I am taking an overnight train with a soft sleeper which is basically a bunk bed with a thin mattress, sheet and pillow on a train. This journey takes 20 hours, crossing a distance of 1,400 km. (I know you look at the math of the two distances and can't believe the time difference, but hey, that's what it says on the timetable!)

So, in my ordinary life (if it can be described as ordinary), it's my birthday today! Hurrah! I'm having a family BBQ, with my niece coming over too and then four of us are off to see Jurassic World ('We've spared no expense!')

Tomorrow, my cousin is getting married in Maidstone so that should be a cracking occasion.

At the weekend, I am assisting @_InspireTravel with getting the t-shirts printed that I'll be wearing on my trip and she is getting my ass organised with my travel money. Keep an eye on this blog for them. On Sunday, I'm writing the final episode of my sitcom with my co-writer, Suz, to get ready to send off to the BBC, Channel 4 etc before I leave on Wednesday morning.

I also need to complete my diploma by sending off my final assignment, which is a drama television script. I hoping, yet again, that this will be the one!

So, plenty to do before the off. . .

Just over 1 week to go . . .

Well what a week (or weekend should I say) with just over a week to go until the off.

My cousin, Mark is getting married on Friday 19th June to Donna, so last Thursday until Sunday we took him to Albufeira, Portugal to give him a stag do to remember.

What started off as a civilised pint in The Dragoon in Maidstone, quickly descended into four days of carnage. Unfortunately for you guys, what happens on tour, stays on tour.

OK, here's a couple of snippets, but nothing more!

The Stag T-Shirts

Cousins on tour

So what I thought would be a relaxing break in the sun before my big trip turned out to be a sleep deprived, party trip. And I loved every minute of it. A big shout out to all sixteen lads who went through it with me! Solid effort, chaps.

I did have writing withdrawal symptoms so I have been working on my final diploma assignment this evening. The TV script I'm proposing is coming along nicely and I'm writing the final episode of my sitcom this weekend in time to send off before I #roamalone

Getting back to my bigger travel plans, I have now secured my place volunteering in Cambodia from August until October. I'm going to be assisting a project that helps develop communities in need via sports. Watch this space around August time for more on that adventure!

I have secured my travel insurance so here's hoping when people say, "Break a leg," that it doesn't actually happen! But if it does, I'm covered. So pretty much, it's a make or 'break' trip (sorry, I couldn't resist).

So now it's the dreaded week I was not looking forward to. The family goodbyes. Anyone who knows me will know that it's going to be tough to say goodbye to my mum first and foremost but equally, my dad, my brothers and sister, all the other members of my family and two very special ladies, one at both ends of the age scales - Emmy, my little niece and my Nana! That's the bittersweet part of going travelling. 

But I know I'll be back before I know it to see them all again (without wishing away my time before I've had it - I can't wait to get out there and see the world).

But to conclude, I have my birthday this week (27 years young), a family wedding as mentioned above and Father's Day to look forward to before my last three days at home for many moons. 

Ah, life is sweet.

 

2 weeks to go . . .

So, it's been a busy few days.

First and foremost, I received my supplies of Malarone so I'm all set with 3 months worth for my trip. A big shout out to TravelPharm - http://www.travelpharm.com/ for the quick medical check and dispatch. I made a huge saving on these pills as well. Getting them through the NHS was double the price!

It's Nicholas Cage and Stevi Richie - well not quite!

 


On Sunday, I went for an X Factor audition. Yes, I took the plunge and plunge I did when I was turned away after thirteen hours of queueing in total and a two minute audition. But hey, it was a blast and I enjoyed every minute. Plus it crosses off number eighteen of my bucket list - go for an audition. There was some incredible talent there and I knew I was out of my depth, but kudos to my cousin, Davo for getting through to the next round. 

Smash it Davo, someone needs to restore some pride in our family after my fiasco!








Back to the travelling aspect, I picked up a new half zip fleece today from Mountain Warehouse ready for those cool nights in Asia.  I also purchased a couple of t-shirts for @_InspireTravel . Watch this space for future updates about this twitter user.

On Thursday, I'm off on a four day stag weekend (Bachelor Party to our American cousins) to Albufeira in the Algarve. It should be an interesting experience, but a great way to send my cousin, Mark off to married life (as you've already probably guessed from two cousin mentions, I have a large family).

So, lots to do to keep me occupied during my countdown.

14 days to go! Come on!

3 weeks to go . . .

Well, what can I say. I'm excited, raring to go, on the verge of something great? All of these are true.

This is the biggest risk I've have ever taken in my life. I'm about to go in the deep end and go backpacking, on my own (roamalone as I'm going to hashtag it) to foreign lands and despite what other people have fears about, I'm not even remotely scared (well, not yet anyway!)

This is going to be one hell of an adventure and the sooner I start, the sooner I can start to see what all this backpacking malarkey is all about.

I've got a few weeks to sort out my affairs and then I'm off.

The most important thing for me to finish at this moment in time is my Creative Writing diploma. I'm on my final assignment and in touching distance of doing something which has given me four years of real experience in writing.

Watch this space people!