Xmas wishes

Hello peeps!

Did you all get loads of pressies from Santa yesterday?

We had a very nice family gathering, with food, laughter and presents. Wagon loads of presents! Less than last year - la crise oblige :) - but still enough to fill the few car loads!

Very early on, I told the family I did not want any presents. Call me Scrooge, but anything they would give me, either I would have to find a space for it in my bag or it would spend a whole year in storage while I am off traveling. I still got a few little things - bless them - but all very practical: food, food and more food :)

While I was high on all the chocolate and sweets I got from Santa, I got remembering the Christmases of my youth. Back when everything was less about how many gifts you could afford, but more about that sense of togetherness that would wrap around you like a fluffy blanket.

OK, I know things always seem nicer and rosier when you look back on the "good old days", bit still. I remember each one would bring a dish to share and a couple of gifts, and we would all get a little token pressie at the end of the evening. Sitting at the table and sharing food was the main focus of the evening, not the frantic unwrapping of presents.

Now it feels the more stuff under the tree the better.

But actually not so in my opinion - specially when looking at the truck load of gifts for the kids! My little nephews and nieces had so much stuff, they could not focus on any one thing. They were opening gifts whilst eying the next one already. In the end - everything was opened, but already this morning all these toys are pushed to a side!

Now do not get me wrong - it is always nice to receive a gift. it makes you feel a bit fuzzy inside whether you are the giver or the receiver. But - I think we should be careful with confusing buying power with measure love.Even with the most disgruntled teenager, more gifts is not equal more love. It just means you have deep pockets and calls for more

So leave the credit card in, your bank account will thank you for it, and give more of yourself - this is the most important.

If the end of the world was tonight, you sure would spend the rest your time together - so I wish you all a very Merry Xmas and my wish is that you enjoy some loving and caring time with your families and friends.

OH OH OH
:)

Let's stop and reflect - 2wks into the trip

Hello peeps!

Tomorrow will be 2wks I have started my trip, and I feel like a bit of introspection time is due :)

Here we go then - 2 wks ago:
- I left the UK to start my 15 months adventure around the world
- I was looking forward to spending my days at the beach, eating seafood and drinking fruit juices at every meals, including snacks
- I was a little sad to leave behind my life and friends but eager to get on the road. At the same time I was a bit anxious as to how things would go since I have never done any traveling on my own for such a long time before

Now, 2wks after:
- I have been actively looking for a job since last week - either teaching for the Xmas holidays or as crew on a boat. I actually miss the routine of going in the office!!!
- I have met an American guy also on holidays in Martinique and we are now hanging out regularly to go to the beach or drinks
- My hair and skin are so happy - no dryness, no tightness, just happy and full of life
- I do spend most of my days at the beach, but I am definitely not eating as much seafood or drinking as much fruit juice as I thought I would!
- I have lost all sens of time or days passing, which can be slightly disconcerting sometimes
- I find it rather difficult to keep the routine of working on my training and I am already 1wk behind schedule - not good at all as my credentials are time bound, so I will have to make up the missed sessions somehow!!
- After 2wks back here my home country I can safely say that I will not be able to come and live here - something I have known for a while now, but now it is confirmed beyond any doubt :(

Verdict of these 2wks:
Still very much positive. I truly believe I took the right decision to go away for a while. Despite missing my friends dearly, having my own home and - I know, I am crazy - the routine of going to the office, I feel good and I am enjoying every single minute of it!

This is a feeling I wish everyone could enjoy. Taking control of ones life is one of the most exhilarating joys you could ever experience - so people, TAKE CONTROL and enjoy :)

That's it for now, I am off for a ride with my little nephew. He's so cute, but what a nightmare to look after!

7 days to Xmas.....  :)

There's no such thing as free cash

Hello peeps!

I am now officially a backpacker - or more like a suitpacker! Last Friday was my last day in the office and since Tuesday, I am in the Caribbean living out of a suitcase :)

My last few days in the UK have been rather hectic with sorting out storage for my car and belongings, but I managed most of it and the rest I left to the good hands of a couple of friends.

I began my journey around the globe at 6.50am on Tuesday 4th Dec, and I will not be putting my bags down for another 15months. I will be back in the UK for a few weeks to exchange my suitcase for a proper backpack then I am off again, only to come back in Heathrow in March 2014.

My first flight London-Paris was rather uneventful. After the 4am wake up call, I was glad to nod off for a bit. In Paris I had to get a connecting flight to Martinique, then off on the beach.

This is where things started to go a little bit off track... 

When I got to the check in desk, the lovely Air France lady - a touch surprising to see somebody from AIR FRANCE in such a good mood so early in the morning - so, the lovely lady asked me if I would be up for being bumped onto another flight, in exchange for €150 cash. Instead of my initial direct flight, I would need to get to another island, then catch another connecting flight before finally arriving in Martinique, a mere 45min later than initially planned.

At €50 the 15min, I said yes please, gimme the cash! But there is no such thing as free cash, oh no...

To start, we left with 1hr delay for the Paris to Pointe a Pitre flight. That meant I missed my connecting flight to Martinique as I only had 45min between the too. Fair play to Air France though, they got me a seat onto another flight later that day, without me having to yell at anybody. It was actually rather funny to see all the other passengers in the same situation getting all worked up and stressed out, while I couldn't have been less bothered - I am off traveling, so who cares 1.5hrs delay?

I finally got to my final destination only to realise that my bag didn't quite follow the same itinerary! You know that feeling when you are the last one standing by the luggage belt, looking at the same abandoned bag turning round and round and round, hoping that yours will be there in just a second...

Still, it was with the same good humored mind set I had all day that I went to the customer service lady to explain my case and confirm that my suitcase would be arriving on the last flight of the day. The other guy in the same situation was completely losing it! By the way, no one I knew, but he had the same name, traveling on the same flight - how random??

All in all, the journey from wake up call to bed time was a long 22hrs, as opposed to the usual 13hrs. BUT - I learned a few things:

1. It is all about perspective: I didn't let the little things get to me and kept smiling and having a good time - despite the long delays, the bag going missing, the aisle seats, being tired - while others where losing it around me. Why? Because I choose to keep my cool. Simple.

2. The way you approach people will determine how they react to you. Go in there all guns blazing and you are less likely to find an understanding ear, as one my fellow delayees found out. Smiles, positivity and a cool head will get you a lot farther and open a lot more doors than yelling at someone!

3. Just C.H.I.L.L.A.X man and enjoy the ride, you will get there eventually!

4. There is no such thing as free cash - but if you follow pt.3, you can come pretty close to it :)

That's it for now peeps - I am off to eat some pineapple :)