Hi everyone, The planning for the trip is coming together! Both of us are still working hard - so we are finding it hard to find time to sort out everything we need to! Although it is only is now only a month and a bit away - there seems to be so much still to do and we are still so far away- but we WILL get there! Saying this it is still really exciting and I cant imagine what it will feel like getting on the plane in Manchester not knowing exactly when we will be back in the UK (although we have promised that it will be no longer then 2 years)! We sorted out some banking things over the weekend, bought our rail tickets for Japan today and will be starting the ... read more

We're gradually getting ourselves prepared for the trip now, starting to pack up the house and finally considering our itinerary in a bit more detail. This Wednesday we went for our first visit to the travel clinic to plan our vaccination programme. We were amazed at how many injections we will need to safely take our trip around the world so we're now preparng ourselves to become human pin cushions. The funniest part of our consultation was the fact the the computer system that's used to work out which jabs we'll need couldn't fit all of our destinations in! We started with a nice bit of rabies and some japanese encephalitis and we're due back next week for another dose. Thankfully neither of us is scared of needles but I had to tell the nurse lady ... read more

We have just arrived home feeling extremely relaxed after our week in the lakes. We were so lucky with the weather, the cottage, the food etc. etc. We spent the week in true Hayward Holiday fashion (still can't quite get used to my new name!) in our truly sexy walking gear, taking in the landscapes and sites of historical and natural interest (and making many u-turns both on foot and in the car!) I have enjoyed my break from the Michelin Bride diet and enjoyed much cheese, crisps and chocolate - do all tasty things begin with C? Highlights included a wet and windy drive along the Hardknott Pass (the steepest road in England), a trip to the stunning Wast Water and Ennerdale Water and a walk to the Stanley Force Waterfall in Eskdale. Oh and ... read more

3 months to go With only three weeks until the wedding and three months until we get our first flight to Japan - we are really getting excited yet understandably a little nervous about everything we have to achieve before we go. The Flights are booked and paid for, most of the kit we need is sat upstairs in our cupboard, and Chrissie has started working out to take her hair and beauty salon around the world. However, although the trip is really exciting, at the moment it is massively overshadowed by an even more exciting event. THE WEDDING! See you at the wedding! ... read more

Here we are, two passionate people in search of an adventure. This a story taking us from our little house in Manchester to far flung and wonderful places that we had so far only dreamed about. It's a story where we find out more about ourselves as individuals and where our limits may or may not be as well as story of two people coming closer together than they thought possible. Unlike many stories on film or in books, and strangely you may think having read the previous couple of sentences, this is a story that starts with the happiest moment of our adventure. On January 6th 2007 in a country house hotel just outside of Manchester we were married. It was an amazing day with (almost) everyone we loved with us to celebrate, great food, ... read more