Well. Planning is well underway. Feels like yesterday we were 'joking' about going backpacking this year. Next thing we know it's 3 and a bit weeks to go.. Still got a huge To Do list, but it's starting to dwindle and the more pointless things like 'do I take roll-on or spray-on deodorant' are starting to creep onto the To Research list. It makes you wonder whether the Internet is a blessing or a curse in this day and age of the flashpacker. Our parents used to use travel agents (yeah, I know) and would have to take travellers' cheques, and would have to rely on guidebooks, if that.. Yeah it was complicated but that would be part of the fun, surely? Not knowing the exact star rating of your hostel, or whether a sleeper train is better value than an overnight bus.. I'm totally grateful that I can read up on these things, but part of me thinks that next time I might just leave.. and see what happens?

But for now, I will happily trawl the Internet for the perfect travel-friendly deodorant...