Wednesday 5th JanuaryHow quickly one forgets how heavy a pack can be! Not sure where the extra weight has come from as I've barely bought anything that I'm carrying in my pack. Oh well, it's keeping me fit :) Just have to rework the straps so that I can feel my left arm again! Used the computer check-in booth at Heathrow Terminal 5 and then put my bags in at the bag drop. Very different way of doing things. Straight through security, well as quick as it is when ...

London - Sunday 2nd to Tuesday 4th January Despite my iPhone alarm not going off when it should have I made it to the train on time to travel back to London. A quick stop back to Kelly & Will's to leave my pack, I headed into Coventry Gardens to have dinner with my cousin, Collin & Katie. We had some quite nice (& mild) Mexican at Wahaca, which is owned and run by a British Masterchef winner. It was lovely to catch up with them. Monday 3rd Jan. I...

New Years Day A good sleep-in was enjoyed by many today, but I think out to breakfast by 10am is very good. Boots, scarf, gloves and beanie on and my camera at the ready, Kelly, Will and I headed out for a morning of hiking up the beautiful Arthurs Seat. We began up the hill taking some lovely photographs over Edinburgh before the path headed down. This wasn't right! And then we saw ... We'd walked around the rocky mound next to Arthurs Seat. So up and up we we...

New Years Day A good sleep-in was enjoyed by many today, but I think out to breakfast by 10am is very good. Boots, scarf, gloves and beanie on and my camera at the ready, Kelly, Will and I headed out for a morning of hiking up the beautiful Arthurs Seat. We began up the hill taking some lovely photographs over Edinburgh before the path headed down. This wasn't right! And then we saw ... We'd walked around the rocky mound next to Arthurs Seat. So up and up we we...

Hogmanay and Edinburgh Six in the morning was a very early start having not long arrived. But this is all part of the amazing experiences of travel. By 6:45am Will, Kelly and I set off for the station and caught the 8am East Coast Train up to Edinburgh. I made good use of the 4.5hr train ride by writing in my travel journal. It was a short walk up and down hill to our home for the next three nights - MacDonald Holyrood Hotel right near Holyrood Palace. A brie...