It's that time of year again...

That funny time between Christmas and New Year when nobody really knows what to do with themselves other than indulge in the odd bout of gluttony or sales-induced vanity and greed.

This year though I've got to thinking about how much my life has changed in one year. This time last year I was mourning the loss of a relative and the end of a long-term relationship. Christmas last year was a struggle and I was glad to get it out of the way so i could focus on 2006 and the changes it would bring. And didn't it just...

2006 brought me new friendships, new experiences and a new zest for life. In short, I got my mojo back.

This year I'm looking forward again to another year full of new things, new people and new places.

Cannae wait, man, cannae wait x

Tons o' Photies

10 points if you can name every stop.

1 down 1 to go

Over the next 6 months 2 of my friends are leaving to start new lives in different parts of the world. Isla in Sydney for a year and Karen in Portland, Oregon for who-knows-how-long?

My final goodbye to Isla was last night and, like all good nights, it consisted of a hanging collection of polaroids, an unwelcome chinese takeaway, Snow Patrol and a department of consultants and registrars from Monklands Hospital.

Leaving Isla was difficult as she was the one who gave me the impetus to travel round the world in the first place, it was while booking her flights that I decided to take the plunge and go for it. She's also been the one telling me I really won't need my straighteners, yes I really will need SPF30+ no matter how much I want a tan and I really can live without 24 pairs of shoes. She was also the one I was relying on to pack my bag for a year.

Aside from all that, Isla has been a great friend over the past few years, seeing me through some difficult times and helping me keep a sense of humour about Blaze performances while she's been kicking asses in the background on my behalf.

On the upside, she's leaving a bin bag full of unwanted 'stuff' which I am free to claim.

Every cloud and all that, eh!

The beginning is nigh

January 2007 is when I plan to plan my round-the-world trip properly. I've thought about loads of people and places I'd like to visit and have tried my best to save some money (not doing very well on that front I have to admit but I've always been better at spending so it comes as no surprise really) so now is the time to put those plans into action.

The rough idea is to start with a trip to New York, Canada and Chicago with my family to visit family and friends for a special birthday (not mine, my mum's) then when they go home, I'll carry on across the states towards the west coast.

From there, I'll pop over to Fiji for a few weeks of topping up the tan then a bit of a trek across New Zealand. Just before Christmas I plan to arrive in Sydney, Australia to spend Christmas and New Year with my friends, Isla and Zain, then January will see them head off to China and Japan and me head round the rest of Oz before meeting up with Isla on a beach in Thailand for another tan top up session.

China and Japan will be next for me in April, then hopefully a wee jaunt to India to see the bits I missed tha last time before heading home for my mum's next birthday.

It all seems very simple in black and white but I'll be doing most of this on my own and am hoping to get work choreographing, performing, teaching or pulling (pints!) en route.

Wish me luck!