Blogs from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe - page 7

Trying to decide what I want to do next summer before I go to university; I feel I should make good use of the long period of time I have between finishing my exams, on the 20th June, and setting of for uni some time towards the end of September. I don't think I get a much better opportunity to travel - as this is, I would think, what i'll end up doing, in one way or another - than during the break next year; I'll have no work to be doing, I currently have basically nothing planned, and it'd be great to do something before everyone found new friends and interests at university. I've got a bit of money saved up too, so I suppose I should make use of it before I spend it ... read more

Its just gone midnight on the night before I fly so I thought I'd take the opportunity to write my first blog. Im pretty much packed and only now starting to get excited....still can't help thinking I've forgotten something though?? I've been able to contact my family out in South Africa. They are going to meet me at the airport in Cape Town, put me up for a few days and show me the sights. Thats made me more relaxed as at least I'm not diving in head first dealing with hostels etc straight away. Haven't done anything interesting yet....so I have nothing interesting to say!! Wish me luck!! ... read more

I started out by trying to work out when this journey started and of cause I failed. However, why it starts is probably a little easier and more relevant. We all have some of the nomad in us or as my mum called it the wander lust and all it needs to kick start it is some catalyst. In my case this was the sudden death of a very close friend in April this year. We had a drink on the Friday before Easter, as a little farewell, before he and his partner went off to play music in Majorca for a folk group and we went to stop with friends in France. The flimsy nature of life comes as a cruel and bitter lesson. Looking for some rationale, as humans tend to do in such ... read more

Health Issues Now had all the vaccinations except the final Rabies. Thanks to Jean our Nurse Practitioner and the National Health Service this has been a painless exercise and not too expensive. So far had Polio, Typhoid, Tetanus, Hepatitis A/B, Rabies 1 and 2 and all were free except the last ones which have cost £210 for both of us. This of cause does not include Malaria tablets which will cost £36 for 200. Had we decided to go for Malaron then the bill would have been in the £100s. Also there are tablets for Delhi belly and various other things. At this point we would like to give a big thank you to Jean for her skill and professionalism. Furthermore, she's going to spend her main summer holiday on a hospital boat off the coast ... read more

Untitled Reflecting and Looking Forward Graduation is a very final event, I have decided. After spending the past three years at the University of Nottingham (apparently reading Biology) the time has come for me to end this chapter of my life. Having been cautious, even sceptical, about the graduation event (and its money-making-machine status) I was pleasantly suprised to discover that it was both very well done, and almost emotional, for now, after three years, I will spend no more time there in an academic sense; which is really quite scary. However, the end of one chapter of my life gives way to the start of another. On monday I begin another exciting adventure, this time to the land of the Maya, Tequila and the Luchadors, but this time with the addition of a new travelling ... read more