Housekeeping... (not the cleaning type)

Soooo what have I been up to you ask?

Well actually quite busy.... whilst I haven't been jetsetting the last 2 months, I have been sorting out my life and have moved house and got a brand new visa, meaning we can stay in London for 2 more years and keep travelling if we so wish!

Our next plans are a trip home to NZ. Our leave has been approved, meaning we get a whole month for travelling late Dec/Jan! The plan so far is to hit up the US for a week (I've never been there) to visit our friends in San Diego... we'll do a few day trips and at this stage planning on Las Vegas for NY Eve which will be awesome!!!

Then straight to NZ to see some of my favourite people and places in the world. Given we are only there for 3 weeks, we will be quite limited as to what we'll see, as the eventual plan is to live in NZ for the rest of our lives, so no need to rush on the sightseeing! I will definitely be going to Mount Manganui, the best place in the entire world, to climb up the mount, and check out the beach after the recent disaster of the oil spill from the container ship Rena. So so so sad :-(  Auckland is where most of my friends and the in-laws are, and Matamata (aka Hobbiton) is where my family are. Finally, it's off to Nelson to a wedding of two very close friends (hubby is BM).

Today is the first day of broadband at home, after many months offline at home, it's good to be back! Plenty more to tell...

Mrs D xxx

My 2011 work life balance

Firstly, I know 2011 isn't finished yet, but for me, the travelling has alas, finished for the calendar year.



I've had a crazy year of travel and managed it all within 21 annual leave days. I plan, plan, planned, making the most of bank holiday weekends. When I was about to go on my last week long trip for the year (sailing in Greece), I think everyone at work must have thought I'd rigged the annual leave calendar!

Me in Paris (August 2011)

Here is the chronological order of my year of travelling:

1. January  - Czech Republic (Prague, Cesky Krumlov)
2. March - Netherlands (Amsterdam)
3. April #1 - Spain (Malaga)
4. April #2 - Egypt (Cairo, Luxor, Dahab)
5. May - Italy (Pisa, Cinque Terre)
6. June - UK (Manchester)
7. July #1 - Spain (Ibiza)
8. July #2 - Croatia (Dubrovnik, Korcula, Hvar, Split)
9. August - France (Paris, Poitiers)
10. September - Greece (Kefalonia - Lixouri) 



Best location... well that's a hard one. I am mostly drawn to the sea, and the 3 places I would like to visit again are Italy (all over!), Croatia - sailing next time, to see more of the islands and go off the beaten track and Greece - sailing again as I got my ICC Skippers license and can now charter a boat! My week in Greece was all about learning to sail, so I didn't actually see much of what Greece had to offer, but I loved what I saw (and ate!), and we're definitely going to use that next year to go on a sailing trip!



The crew in Ibiza

 Given I have 3 months ahead of me, with no travelling in sight (my bank balance needs to recover!), I'll be gradually catching up on my blogging,of each location. I've got some amazing photos, and I have to share them with someone!  So watch this space....

In the meantime, check out the photo to the left - this is at the Blue Marlin in Ibiza. It was one of the BEST days of my life at a day club drinking cocktails on the most amazing day bed! More tips to come.

Mrs D xx