Blustery Norfolk in Late November

Song to accompany reading: Salad Days by Mac Demarco.

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It has been several months since our last blog entry and about time we updated you all on what we've been up to.

There is one ever-present, looming dark cloud that hangs above every prospective traveller when planning their adventure. That dark cloud (you guessed it) is MONEY. Setting yourself a budget and trying to achieve it can be a pretty daunting task. Over summer, Ed and I set out researching flights, accommodation and daily living costs for all the amazing places we intended to visit. Although lots of research is (of course) necessary, there is certainly an element of guesswork! You're never going to be able to account for every possibility. For any budding travellers reading I have copied some links to websites we found really useful when initially planning out our budget. They're at the bottom of the blog :).

Since then, Edward and I have both been working hideously hard, squirreling away all our money into the joint savings piggy bank. Always with the end goal in mind. Slowly our hard work has begun to pay off, and the end goal is in reach. We both have office jobs, but have also had to be fairly creative in our means of raising the necessary funds for our trip of a lifetime. I've been waitressing on the side and Edward has taken up tutoring school children for that all important extra cash. We've also used Ebay (to varied success!).

Aside from working like Trojans, we've been taking time out to plan all the logistical aspects of the trip. These are the decidedly un-glamorous parts of travelling, I'm talking travel vaccinations, travel insurance, visas, and so on. (Again, I've popped some links down at the bottom of this blog for any readers planning their own adventures!)

It's now less than 6 weeks until we fly (8th January - write it in your diaries - ahhh!!). Ed and I are currently on holiday with Ed's family in Norfolk - the county I live in! We have rented a pretty, quaint cottage in Old Hunstanton, a small seaside village on the North Norfolk coast. The cottage is a stone's throw away from the beach and has a distinctly festive and homely feel. Taking this break has made me realise how easy it is to forget the beauty of home, especially when your mind is so focussed on getting away.

While in Norfolk we have taken plenty of blustery walks on the beach and trips to forgotten countryside pubs (promising warmth, protection from the harsh wind, and the occasional glass of mulled wine). It has been so lovely to spend real time with family as well as with each other.

Anyway, this blog is just a quick update to let you all know that plans are full steam ahead! You'll be hearing from us very soon :).