I know, I know. It's been a while. Sorry. But I've been busy. Well, as busy as it's possible to be when you're unemployed. Since leaving my job at the start of July I've been surviving on the odd bit of freelance work, but generally spending my time doing as I please and feeling extremely relaxed. I'd recommend it to anyone.

 

Having said that, I can feel myself slipping into a self-made pit of lie-ins, daytime telly and extended lunches. So it's time to do something. I've decided to go to Russia. Specifically, I've decided to do the Trans-Siberian railway. At over 9,000km and 10 time zones, it's a bit of a way.

 

This evening I've been packing my bags, sorting out my documents and panicking. Actually, I've mostly been panicking. I fly to Geneva on Saturday (I wanted to get the train all the way, but it's a long story...). From there I'm going over land and sea (including the Trans-Siberian bit) to Tokyo, before taking the easy way out and flying to visit Australia and New Zealand before coming home.

 

I should be back just before Christmas, but I'm not sure what the KGB are like these days.

 

Wish me luck. And if you tell me your address, you might even get a postcard from Siberia.