Firstly, I must start by saying that I’m very much a risk adverse person and so when we first starting discussing a 6 month career break and travelling there was much trepidation and a raft of questions to overcoming obstacles to make this trip a possibility.

As Mark and I worked through all the aspects of life that we’d need to put on hold, it also made me reflect upon my life which had become very routine based.

Monday to Friday my alarm would sound at 5.15am to enable me to complete my up to 2 hour commute, of stop start traffic on the M42 and M6, to be at my desk for 8.30am. I’d typically get home at 7pm, making the evening meal and head to bed at 9pm for the whole process to start again the following day. Weekends were spent enjoying a couple of bottles of wine, shopping, cleaning and meal prepping for the week ahead.

Whilst, I have worked hard to get the job I have and thoroughly enjoy the role, company and colleagues, it did make me question if this was my lot in life until I retire or could I take a career break, have a once in a lifetime experience with my partner and best friend and then return to my career?

The longest trip I’d ever done previously was 16 years ago when I spent 4 weeks travelling around Australia, but that was staying in 5 star hotels and business class flights. It also needs to be said that I’m a home girl, love my creature comforts and pride myself on looking presentable 99.9% of the time with immaculate hair, make up, nails etc, how would I cope with only a rucksack, the essentials and living on a budget for 6 months?

There was only one way to find out and so here we are!