Blogs from Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

It's 5pm on Sunday 8th Feb 2009 and there is more snow forecast within the next hour. Well the snow did arrive but less than was expected so I guess it is work tomorrow. It has been many a year since we had such cold weather for so long, these last few years, if it has snowed it has not lasted more than a few hours. This year (February 2009) everyone over a certain age is comparing it to years like 1966 (which I can't remember) or 1952 (which I can remember). Even though it is still very cold it has not stopped the birds in the garden starting to look for nesting sites. I watched a couple of blue tits inspecting an old nesting box in a neighbour's garden and thought I ought to get ... read more

I can't carry my rucksack! Good start! I will let you know when I'm safe when I can find the nearest internet cafe, this probably won't be until I get to Bangkok. I get into Bangkok in the early hours your time. Let people know I have this blog because I will be taking lots of pictures to show you what I'm up to. Saves emailing everyone individually. Kimba x... read more

After the alarms of being without my passport....it is returned in the post the very next day, one day ahead of the postal strike. But no visa. Postal applications no longer accepted. Well, we had just discovered that from the Indian High Commission website, though it still explains in detail how to go about getting a visa through the post. Malcolm has an improving morning on the net looking for Plan B and finds it. Visa clinic in Bradford, today. Plan C was to get to Birmingham by 8.00 a.m Monday morning on our way to London.... please, no! Friday evening, Malcolm and I go to a cracking amateur performance of The Full Monty in Bolton, featuring among others, daughter Elinor. So we stay over with her family, got up at 6.30 a.m, and are at ... read more

Well I'm off again , India this time, Im scared and excited at the same time . My flight is booked with my Friend Tony , Flying Via Germany to Bombay - (Arriving at a stupid time in a new country is never a nice experience especially India ) but im sure some forward planning and lots of patience should get us through the first 12 hours until we can get are barings . The plan is to spend the day in Bombay to see the sights , but no more, as this is one of the most expensive places to stay in India and my Budget isnt as good as i would of like it to have been . If all goes well we should be heading for Goa on an Overnight express train , ... read more

Following my unexpectedreturn to the uk and a visit to the gp then two visits to the A&E dept, they diagoinsed it as a virus clled Bornhams Diease. I took a course of antibiotics and have been declared fit. Du to the fat that I am fit I have booked a ticket to Beijing for Thursday 26th April with Lufthansa so that I can continue with the Trans Siberian trip. The blog will be updated during the trip but infrequent as I am not taking the laptop with me.... read more

Went to the doctors who took blood and is to send them off. a new appointment for next week. Later on I lost all feeling in the left arm so ended up in Bradford Royal they did full ECG and chest x ray and advised the symptoms are a pulled muscle behind the ribs as the ECG and x ray are clear. They advised the muscle can mimic heart problems. Was given pain killers so will take these and see. They advised could take a long time for the muscle to heal. If I am fit enough I would like to return to Beijing and do the Trans Siberian trip that is already booked.... read more

I have now packed the rucksack and re confirmed the flight from Manchester to Auckland for Wednesday 8th November. I have booked the first 2 nights accomodation. I will not update this site until I have arrived in Auckland.... read more

Only tomorrow to go now before I set off on my new adventure. I am so excited but at the same time I am beginning to get nervous. I have had an emotinal two days saying goodbye to my friends and family and am sure tomorrow night will be even worse - but I am ready to go now. The good news is the house should complete on Friday morning so I will hopefully be able to move straight in when I arrive - which means loads more photos to come :-) Kozy and Kyzer are now about four hours away from Sydney - after the airport managed to lose them. I am not sure how two dogs can just be lost - but they are fine so that is all that matters. They were probably ... read more