I have just got back from a week away with the boys in Marbella. It was an amazing trip but I now only have a 4 day turn around and an awful lot of things to do before I leave. I have injections to be administered, insurance to be bought, travel essentials to be bought, clothes to pack flights to book...the list goes on. I don't feel like a week tanning and drinking on the Costa del Crime was the best prep for the travels. 4 days till lift-off.

I am currently in Maidenhead, UK preparing for my trip around the world. I don't think the omens for said trip are too good, volcanic eruptions, cabin crew strikes and civil war in Bangkok have threatened to scupper my plans but I am determined to overcome such obstacles. For those of you who don't know what I am doing and where I am going I will give you a brief outline. I begin in South East Asia, visiting Thailand, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore. I will then fl...