Hello 2013 what a year!

2012. What an amazing year that was! The Queen's Jubilee; finally selling my house after all the emotions of that process; moving to a great little flat with a roof terrace overlooking beautiful Abingdon; playing some fantastic softball tournaments and picking up the associated injuries (!) but made some great friends; the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, with all the fun, excitement and admiration that went with them; the birth of my beautiful twin nephews, Charlie and Oliver; finally leaving work after 8 1/2 years, putting my world into storage and moving back home in time for Christmas.

2013. Here goes. The start of the biggest adventure of my life...

All the big things are done - flights are booked for trip 1, insurance sorted, visas applied for and Intrepid trips booked.

Next comes all the smaller things, like planning out my route in more detail so I can decide on bus/train routes, or when to meet friends and family along the way. My desk is covered in all things Lonely Planet! The next few weeks will be fun...