P45

It's weird not having a job. Until yesterday it was something that other people were - unemployed that is - and now I'm it too. Luckily it was my choice and I was prepared. I can't really imagine what it would be like to be unexpectedly unemployed.

My last day was quite similar to the 1500-ish work days before it. I was at the same place most of the day. They were very nice about it and gave me a card that they'd all signed and a wallet. I left the building considering that I may never be back... Rather poignant really.





The folks at work were great. Several customers sent emails wishing us all the best and my (now ex) colleagues got us a few things to help us on our way, including a National Geographic explorer's set complete with binoculars and a compass - thanks Simon - and some shower gel, soap and breath fresheners... Maybe they were trying to tell me something?

I hope we'll all stay in touch because I really thought we all got on pretty well. One day we'll all get back together again I'm sure.

Still, as one chapter closes another opens. There's no going back now.

Half of us now unemployed... time to hit the booze

Tracy's now finished with work! Woohoo!



She can now publish comments about ex-colleagues with impunity! People worthy of special mention are...

...now that would be telling :-)

Anyway, I'll leave that to her.

In the last few days we've been immunised against all sorts of scary-sounding diseases including RABIES - although there are some equally scary sounding diseases that don't have any available vaccinations. Then there's the snakes, sharks, spiders, rats, wild dogs, aligators, poisonous fish etc that await the unwary traveller. Can't wait!

Also this past weekend was Nick's stag night which went pretty well. Much alcohol was consumed, fun was had by all and the polar bear vs. shark debate pretty much laid to rest - along with the enterprise vs. death star, storm trooper vs. red-shirted securty detail and other such rubbish. I guess you had to be there...


Beer good...

Well, this is my last week as an employee. My last day will be interesting as we'll all be going out for drinks and a meal afterwards - after which I may never be back. It's a weird feeling. I'm not fully prepared for it yet as I don't know what to expect - I've never left a job before. I'll try to get a few pictures.

P.S. Boiler's now been fixed. We have hot water and central heating again!

Hitches galore...

Since the initial post there has been a buzz of activity as our plans progress apace. Unfortunately there has been plenty of hassle too.

The central heating broke down a week or so ago, so we got a local company out to have a look at it and after two visits they decided that the main circuit board in the boiler was broken and needed replaced. £200 and it's no closer to being fixed. Hopefully someone who knows what they are doing will be out (we called the company that made the boiler) on Saturday, so fingers crossed that'll be the end of it. Pretty soon we won't have to worry about such mundane things as boilers and repairmen (fingers fully crossed).

This Saturday is my brother Nick's stag do which will basically involve going out and getting drunk. He dowsn't seem to want to do much else so that should be easy enough to arrange.

We also found out that the mysterious person who is buying our flat doesn't want any furniture, so We'll have to arrange to get all that removed before the 5th...

Tracy finishes up with work this week - just 3 more days to go! I still have the week after too, but with all we have to do in the meantime, I'm not wishing the days away by any means!

World Travel - so it begins.

So why would two people quit their jobs, sell their flat and give up two years to travel the globe? That's a good question - and one which I will hope to answer in this blog.

This weblog is our outlet for all our world travel stories and pictures that we acquire on our journeys and even if no-one else ever visits it, then it should be a useful resource for us to revisit when we get back so that we can decide just how naive we were when we started - despite the fact that we've tried to plan for any eventuality.


This would be me...

Anyway, just a quick intro first - I am Chris (or Iff). I'm 29, British and currently work in IT. My wife is Tracy, 32 and an American. She works as an administrator for an online course. We currently both work in Edinburgh - although we soon won't :-)

Our flat is in the process of being sold. It is the sale of the flat that will facilitate our travel plans - so we're keeping our fingers crossed that all goes well and that there are no last minute hitches.

We're still trying to finalise what countries we want to visit so that we can get the appropriate immunisations and any necessary paperwork before we leave. We're also hoping to get a phone we can use in emergencies and various other bits and pieces required - details as events warrant.

The definite plans at the moment are:

1. Nick and Sarah's wedding - October 14th in Norwich.
2. Christmas with Tracy's family - December 25th (obviously) in Seattle.

It's an exciting - if daunting - prospect!

However, in an additional twist, we're going to try the whole thing without flying at all. Whether this policy will stand the test of time or will fall by the wayside after too many 30-hour bus journeys remains to be seen...