As per our plan, we departed the flat and waved goodbye to Martin at 11:11 on 11/11/11. However, what wasn't on the agenda was an unscheduled stop at the shop Blacks on Deansgate, as Anne only realised that the shoes which she had bought from there a few weeks earlier were actually an odd pair and she had one size too small on her right foot. Luckily, they corrected the mistake without a receipt of purchase and we were back on our way. Any slight anxieties felt ...

So here goes, sat down with a bottle of beer, our belongings boxed up and stored away at Shaun's amazing dad's house, nearly packed, fairly organised, only about 5 points to cross off on my "to do list".... Not sure if it is tradition to list what we ended up taking, so I'll do a little summary in case anyone's interested. I think we've done pretty well, considering we'll be crossing over from moderate early winter European climate, getting gradually colder to F...

So, it's currently 6pm on the eve of our departure. Anne has been sorting the last bits and bobs whilst I have been for a Nando's with my mum and aunt for a final feast before I leave (and now I am faffing about on this instead of doing more important tasks). It has been a rather intense last few days. Both Anne and I left our respective workplaces on Friday of last week and so we've been able to dedicate more time to completing the final preparations. Tuesday w...

Ah, finally, some space in my head to think and post my long due first blog entry, ever! So here are some of Anne's pre-travelling thoughts - When I think back to, ummm, must be good 5 years ago, when I first started thinking I really wanted to go travel around the world, it just seems like such a different life and me as a person. Or even when I came to Manchester from Finland... and suddenly 10 years later, I'm still here...! What happened?? :) Having done so...

So, both Anne and I have now handed in our notice at our respective workplaces and thanks to Anne's impeccable organisation, we have acquired the majority of our attire and have nearly completed our extensive course of injections. At this current moment, Anne is having trouble with a feisty online order for our merino wool base layers, but once that is sorted and aside from a few further purchases, there's really not much more to do other than to wait it out; We...