2010 - A year of travel ahead

I got an email from *shewhomustnotbenamedontheinternet* today and it turns out we are going to Thailand via Brunei at the start of April.

I also found out that it looks like my proposal to take some of my clients from my disability job to New Zealand in June. And on top of this my gf (*SWMNBNOTI*) and I are planning a month long trip to Europe around the end of the year, where we are aiming to take in about 8 countries. So I'm thinking my little old passport is going to be getting a bit more of a working out. It's a good thing I chose this year to start blogging, at least I'm going to have some interesting pictures to share.

I've got a stamp for Thailand in my passport, but I never left the airport. Last year when I was on my way to London I had about a 6 hour stopover in Bangkok and I was so bored at the airport I checked myself out just to get the stamp. I was tempted to go and have a look at the city but the guy at the taxi rank recommended against it, he didn't think I would get back in time for my flight.

This time will be different though, it will be rough leg massages and cheap hire scooters all week. I'm looking forward to experiencing the culture, when I was stuck in the Airport the people were so nice. I can't wait to go, Looking forward to spending some time with my gf and her family.

New Zealand winter 2010

My New Years resolution of making positive change in my disability clients lives no matter what is already looking to be starting to make it's way into the way I am planning out my year.

I started thinking about the things that make day to day life really good and I realised that I am always more energetic and positive when I've got something to look forward to (particularly holidays). And I realised that whenever I have clients who are going to be going on a holiday they are super excited and upbeat from the point of planning until the time comes and they fly off. Then when I looked at how long it's been since some of the guys I work with had been on a holiday, I figured it was time to make something happen.

I've put together a plan and submitted a proposal to my managers, but I've still got a long way to go. I'm planning a 10 day holiday to New Zealand's north island in the second half of June. My itinerary has us moving around nearly every day to see everything around the upper north island. I am thinking it might be a better idea to try to stay in the one place maybe near Rotorua and then we can drive out to all the attractions each day and not have to worry about luggage etc.

Either way, progress is being made and I've got a massive list of wants from the guys I'm planning to take so I'd best get back to the drawing board and start inserting some more numbers into this budget.

If you've got any good ideas on things to do on New Zealand's north island, feel free to let me know.