The countdown continues ... 96 hours and ticking ... Garden tidied? Check! House hoovered? Check! Spare toothbrusdes added to missing essentials list? You bet!

The countdown is on! Dog groomed? Check! Lawn mown? Check! Nearly last minute internet purchases fretted over? Check! let's face it there's always time for a last last minute Internet purchase to fret over ...

Tickets? Check! Passports? Check! Itinerary? Check! Woo hoo - lets go!

The most challenging part of organising this trip, for me at least, seems to have been finding trousers that I like, that fit and are approved of by my fashionista family. I have bought 5 pairs over the internet and 5 pairs from high street shops, and returned 8 in the past 2 weeks ... anyone browsing my credit card statement would think me trouser obsessed! Apart from trouser trauma, or pant panic if you are american, planning has proceeded smoothly bar an ove...

Flights booked and paid, Northern Peru tour (Chiclayo, Chachapoyas, Keulap, Leymebamba, Cayamarca, Trujillo) booked and paid, Region VII Chile tour identified, car hire booked ... it's all coming together nicely. Only 70 days and counting!