Run of my feet at the moment, preparing for talks at Globetrotters:  Nikki and I are giving a talk on our trip to Cuba, on Saturday the 21st of November at Chester, Grosvenor museum.

Packing and preparing for Japan next week, and Planning two weekends away and a week in Malta between now and Christmas.

With loads going on at work, and trying to keep up with friends while working on the house (and keeping it tidy) I just don’t have a lot of free time.

But its worked in everyone’s favour.

My thoughts on Facebook are well know, but a few of my friends can only be reached on there (they don’t have text or email).

While I’ve been keeping up to date on my friends, I’ve collected a few interesting graphics. Some are funny, some thought provoking.

I’ve put them up bellow, have a look and see what you think.

Bible bashing is a popular pastime on Facebook.

So is social justice.

Click on the one above to enlarge it. I thought it was hilarious and friends with children said it was highly accurate.

The first of a few “kick back” type graphics.

Philosophical.

Bashing astrology.

I find this one quite funny.

I don’t think I know anyone like this.

Someone said, this reminded them of me.

More observation humour.

I thought this was really good.

Politics bashing. Click on this to enlarge it.

2nd of the “kick back” graphics.

Reflection on whether to be trendy or not.

Classic motivational quote.

Technically accurate and highly informative.

Probably a fake, but funny anyway.

Crude impirical’ism.

Good sales advert. Click to enlarge.

Spoof motivational poster with a mini-gun.

Information about “yoof” triends.

More religion bashing.

Yet more religion bashing.

Lego Stephen Hawking.

Someone posted this, who’d recently had a bad time. I really like it.

Near and far, the search for adventure continues…

Nikki and I are giving a talk on our trip to Cuba, on Saturday the 21st of November at Chester, Grosvenor museum. More details here.

I always say, in adventure there’s no 2nd chances.

I was faced with a dilemma recently. A chance to visit Japan, and spend Christmas in Malta (along with a weekend away before Christmas, and a weekend away in the lakes).

Problem, this will leave me with just a few days holiday between now and the end of July.

Logically, I should hold back more holiday. I don’t know what opportunity’s are around the corner.

Practically, I’m just going to go. These trips are real now so I’ve opted for adventure and thrown caution to the wind.

I’ve often advised people on how to get out and find adventure if they’re on a budget, but what about if they haven’t got enough holiday from work.

Adept now, at making the most of the 141 *, I present a plan for what I’ll do for the first half of next year to illustrate what is possible.

Firstly, my adventure season doesn’t really start until the end of March, so I won’t need any time off before then.

25th – 28th of March	Walk Hadrians wall over the Easter bank holiday
30th April – 2nd May	Bank holiday weekend, I’ll go youth hostelling in the Peak District for my birthday
28th – 30th of May	Bank holiday weekend, camping in the Lake district
4th – 20th of June	9 day walking trip in Morocco. Will use my 4 days remaining holiday, and I’ll have to buy an additional 1
1st – 3rd July	Weekend in Iceland. Late flight on Friday, normal weekend
29th – 31st July	Camping in Tenby
12th – 14th August	Youth hostelling in the Yorkshire Dales

I’ll probably do even more than this, and I’ll be out with the walking group every Sunday that I’m free.

I hope you can see that people who say I can’t get out in search of adventure, I never have the time, just need to re-think their priorities.

* 141 is calculated to be the number of free days an average working person has in a year.

Ironic that I started this post talking about no 2nd chances.

I did my first trip around the world in 2004. My first stop was Tokyo for 4 days.

I remember being exhausted from the work I’d had to do in order to take the time away.

With little travel experience up to that point, I hadn’t really researched the place.

As a result, I spent one day on an organised tour, and the rest of the time, just wandering around.

I missed an opportunity, which I deeply regret (above is a picture of the Shinegawa Prince hotel where I stayed with its’ amazing bar on the 41st floor).

Well, now that I’m going back to Japan, I have to chance to put things right.

With 3 days in Tokyo, I’ve planned an extensive itinerary, which I’m really excited about (and that doesn’t even include the stuff I’m doing in the rest of Japan !)

And, I’m going to revisit the bar on the 41st floor with its spectacular views.

Sometimes there are 2nd chances 🙂

Near and far, the search for adventure continues…