Back to normality...

Okay, so it's been a few weeks since my last entry. I forgot to update my holiday blogs so I'll try and summarise below.

The holiday was a mix of successes. I loved my first week travelling around Germany. Saw all the car museums I wanted to see, met up with my friend Matt, and even though the German hotels weren't great, it added to the overall experience rather than detracting from it.
I did find travelling around Germany a lot more painful than I remember, but that was mainly due to all the roadworks they had going on. I realise it's all part of their scheme to revitalise their economy, but it's a pain for us 'speed tourists' who go to Germany to try and max out our cars. Oh, on that note, I got Big Tom up to 158 mph! And before you ask, no, I wasn't going down hill at the time.
On the Friday, driving to Davos was fantastic. Lots of mountain roads with hundreds or hairpin and S bends. I actually drove over a mountain and through a national park where the road got up to 2600m high.
On the Saturday I headed down to Italy and the plan was to go via the Stevlio pass, but it was closed due to bad weather, however Little Tom must have realised what I wanted to do as he took me on some back mountain roads that honestly more than made up for not driving on the Stelvio pass.

My week in Italy wasn't as good as the previous week. I think it was a combination off idiot drivers, being rear-ended in the village and being quite isolated with too much time to think that was bad for me. But hey ho, you live and learn.

Anyway, I've been back now a few weeks and it's all very strange. The first day back felt odd as my place felt VERY empty. And I soon realised that I'm pretty much alone up here, as most of my friends who live in London have told me that they won't visit and I know no one around here. It was never a problem when I was dating Andy as I met him just a week after I moved here and he came round here or I went to his a few nights a week, so the nights I had free were to catch up with washing, cleaning or TV I had recorded. Whereas now, especially as I work so close to home, I have far too many hours spare.
So, this has spurred me into changing my life, for the better (I hope). I've started back at the gym and I'm now swimming most mornings and doing cardio/weights a few times a week in the evening. The plan is to try and get as fit as possible by next Spring.

The reason for the Spring deadline is I'm thinking (and at the moment, it is only thoughts) about going travelling. I've always wanted to do it and now seems as good a time as any. I've opened a savings account and I've started to plan the route. My current thinking is taking the Trans-Siberian railway to Beijing, then a train to Saigon, then a train from Bangkok to Singapore and then fly down to Australia. I then want to spend a month or two travelling the Australian ring road and then maybe settle down for 6 or so months and make some money to live and experience life in another country.
As I say, all in the earlier thoughts stage at the moment, but need to start planning now as I want to do something after the end of my current contract (which ends in March).
I know it means a lot of change and upheavil, but I think it'll be worth it.
Anyway, that's still all a long way off. For now, I'm just enjoying a nice lazy Sunday at home, watching TV, reading papers, and catching up with e-mails from friends.

I hope you're having a good day and I promise I won't leave it as long until the next blog.