Given that I once spent 50 minutes composing a text message for just one recipient, I suppose I do have some concerns about writing something that could be viewed by all and sundry! Yes, I have most definitely been putting it off; beginnings, just like endings, are tricky. They are also inevitable though, and so here goes.

One of the concerns I had was that I predicted a bit of a battle with the English language. I knew I would find it really frustrating when I was unable to do justice, in words, to the amazing things I would see and experience. I even considered throwing a Thesaurus in along with the Lonely Planet and obligatory India/'finding the meaning of life whilst travelling' reading matter! What I hadn't foreseen was that I would encounter this problem before I even left the country! But I am afraid I already find myself resorting to the tired cliché…"words fail me", when trying to capture something of the extraordinary generosity, warmth and kindness that friends, family, and colleagues have shown me in the run up to my big adventure.

Over the last few weeks and months I have journeyed the country - London, Dartford, Cornwall, Weymouth, Sheffield, saying my farewells to friends and family, and I have been reminded again of just how wonderful all you people are! [NB Apologies in advance for the liberal sprinkling of cheesey/sentimental material that will no doubt flavour this blog - but at the age of (nearly) 32 I think we all just have to accept a predisposition towards cheese and overemotionality as inherentlly 'Liz' and, as I have discovered the hard way, trying to be anything else other than me is just a waste of energy!] So, as I said, I am struggling to find words to describe it; but if you just conjured up the happiest, sunniest, most genial feelings there are, then covered them in Belgian chocolate and ate them whilst luxuriating in a warm bubble bath, well you might just approach something of what I am feeling. In my years I have already known enough love and friendship to last several life-times, and still have some left-over for emergencies! So I just wanted to send out some heavyduty Thank Yous to all my fabulous family and friends; I am well and truly stocked with extra supplies of everything I need to keep me going in the coming year.


So I hope you'll forgive me that emotional outburst. Of course future entries will consist of shrewd social observations and incisive cultural analyses….or maybe I'll just leave that to BBC documentaries and the Cultural Studies section at Waterstones. I can at least guarantee that forthcoming entries won't be written at 5 in the morning after an emotionally gruelling (as well as massively uplifting) twelve hour LAST day at work…probably wasn't the wisest move, but at least now, the beginning is begun!