JAMES

Ok, here goes - my first ever blog entry!

I still can't quite believe that my persistent attempts over the past 5 years to coerce Katie into jacking it all in and going travelling have finally paid off, and in 4 days time we will be somewhere over the Atlantic on our way to our first port of call - Miami, Florida. We're not quite doing in authentic backpacker style, that's true - our itinerary is pretty well planned, and for all the hostels we stay in I am sure there will be an equal number of 4 star hotels - but it is going to be a fantastic trip of a lifetime! After 4 continents, 10 countries and 23 flights crammed in to 11 weeks travelling, I am sure we will return with a million photos, even more fantastic memories, a record breaking credit card bill, incomprehensible jetlag, and a carbon footprint big enough to make Al Gore weep!

Like Katie, I am feeling pretty calm about it. I probably should be more stressed. I just worked out that, after taking account of the fact that we are out for dinner with Tiff & Spencer tonight, spending 2 nights in Norfolk for Jo & Jim's wedding, having a family send off at Suzanne's on Sunday night, and I still have a day and a half at work, there are only 16 hours available to me, in which time I need to complete a seemingly endless to-do-list, pack my rucksack (no mean feat given that this will involve cramming items that currently cover a whole double bed to a depth of about a foot into a 65 litre space), and fit in 2 nights sleep! Oh well, I am sure it will all get done somehow!

Roll on Monday morning...