"Not all who wander are lost" J.R.R.Tolkien

As a child I was fortunate enough not just to travel but to live overseas, growing up in a number of amazing environments, learning with a rich cocktail of people and experiencing some of the most beautiful, diverse cultures this planet has to offer.  Leaving the UK on my first birthday, my family moved to Indonesia, then Mozambique, then Nigeria.....then Papua New Guinea.  Its true that travelling broadens the mind - you may be thinking that these experiences are lost on a child, but actually these early childhood experiences and memories have shaped who I am today.
We didn't live in a compound, we didn't go to a British school - me and my sister Vikki lived as locals, in the local communities and were educated in straw huts surrounded by spiders.  We were the minority yet treated no differently.

Me and my big sister Vikki in Indonesia

Walking the streets with mum in Indonesia

This blog post title is taken from a J.R.R. Tolkien poem "All that is gold does not glitter' written for the Lord of the Rings trilogy (for the Geeks out there it features twice in Fellowship of the Rings).  It is one of my favourite quotes as it describes me perfectly.  I grew up wandering and will probably never settle - but that doesn't mean I'm lost, travelling is home to me.

Going for a swim in the local swimming pool 'yuk creek' in Papua New Guinea

The older I get and the more the world changes - the bigger the pull I have to give back, and to do something for the animals, people & environments that are fading away as the gulf between the developing and developed world grows.  I'm all for change, in fact I thrive on it, but wouldn't it be great if everyone could benefit as the world advances - without the loss of the diverse cultures and environments that exist across the world.

Big sister Vikki, me, yellow ted and the house boy in Nigeria 

Me, Vikki, Ngozi & her daughter in Nigeria

I can't wait to get back to the more rural parts of Africa to see the landscape again, feel the dry soaring heat and see the wildlife running free as it should. I'm hoping for some great views as I make my way up Kilimanjaro.  Whilst climbing this mountain is going to be a great challenge for me I am hoping to raise a shed load of money to help the local communities thrive and the wildlife survive.  My fundraising page will be up soon so please do what you can to spread the word and get people following me - I will not only be updating you on my training and planning but will be highlighting some of the vital work being done by my chosen charity along the way.

Living in the wild often meant visits from the local residents!

I now have the dates confirmed and deposit paid for my climb, its all getting real now.  The toe is on the mend so I'm hoping to get back to training soon.....but first a week of treats as my school friend Jo from Papua New Guinea is visiting from Australia.  Last time I saw her was a year ago as we celebrated our 40th birthday's together with our friends and family from PNG in Bali.  The world is such a small place, and life is too short.  Get those walking boots on and get travelling, there are many overseas volunteering opportunities available if you wanted to give back as you go!