JAMES

It is the night before we set off, everything is packed, the house is pretty much sorted, we have said our farewells, and my thoughts have now turned to the trip ahead. I have been thinking about all the places we are going to visit and all the sights we will see, what the highlights might be, what I will miss about England, and what I won't!

Highlights - where to start? There are going to be so many! 3 days trekking in Peru culminating at Machu Picchu at dawn, returning to Bradenton for a few days at Mum and Dad's place, finally getting to visit Nick and Janet in the Caymans (Nick, it is a good job your 6 month secondment is still going strong 4 and a half years later!), seeing Old Havana before it potentially changes for good, Hong Kong harbour by night, Sydney, Uluru, the New Zealand scenery, Orang Utans, climbing Kinabalu, getting a tan and so much else besides...

Lowlights - too many early starts - 2am for the Kinabalu climb being the earliest! At least they will all be worthwhile!

What will I miss? - family, friends and erstwhile colleagues, good English home-cooking, Dylan's birthday (again), proper pubs and my own bed.

What won't I miss? - the rain, Tottenham Hotspur's dreadful form, chavs, work, Slough, running, staring at a computer all day, Strictly Come Dancing, ham and Philadelphia sandwiches for lunch every day, the credit crunch and wearing a suit.