Meet Bob!

Nice...

I think it’s fair to say that the biggest dilemma facing any traveller is ‘how the HELL am I going to live out of one tiny back-pack?’ To some, it’s not that big a deal. A few carefully selected exclusions, some strategic packing and - voila. Bring on the chicken bus. To others (i.e. me and Denise) it is a thought that brings on hives, restricted breathing and panic attacks. What, no Clarins? Not even a cute travel-sized pack? And what do you mean, there’s no room for my John Frieda Tea-Tree and Camel Dung Alpha-Hydroxy Quadruple-Action Root Nourishing Hair Mask?

And then, falling into neither camp, there’s Bob. That’s him in the picture above, just after I’d begged him to let me straighten his hair. Bless.

It may not seem quite so obvious at first, but Robert was born to back-pack. I have never, EVER in all my life met anyone who can manage money like this man, and live quite happily off so little. Robert could live off £10 per week. And that would include mortgage, utilities, food shopping and perhaps even a night on the town. With drinks on him. I’m serious. When children hear the Bible story of how Jesus fed the five thousand with five loaves and two fish on the Mountain of Galilee, most are in awe. Robert’s reaction? ‘Five loaves? I could have done it with three…’ Bob likes to call himself ‘frugal’ or ‘money-wise’. But I prefer to use ‘tight-fisted old gimmer’. Joking aside, it’s a gift – and one that if I’m honest I’m quite envious of and certain will be a Godsend over the next few months. I just know that when he gets back at Christmas, Robert will write to ‘Lonely Planet’ and tell them that the $15 per day budget they suggest for Guatemala is complete nonsense, and he managed it on $10 thank-you-very-much…

There’s so much to say about Bob I don’t know where to begin. So here’s the heavily edited version. He’s from Cumbria, he’s 36 and has an accent so thick you could smear it on with a trowel. He grew up there, started his own business, got married, had a baby, decided at 28 he wanted to go to University… and then realised he was gay. Oops. I met Bob in Preston (post-divorce), where he was doing a Psychology degree. We hit it off and ended up spending seven fantastic years together. We had the house, the jobs, and the lifestyle – but somewhere along the line we grew apart and we ended up splitting up (amicably – on a Maldivian paradise island of all places) in the New Year of 2004. After a weird year, during which we went our separate ways, bought our own houses and both had a relationship with other people (both of which have recently ended) we have found ourselves at the beginning of 2005, one year after we split up, closer friends than ever and – rather bizarrely – about to embark on our biggest adventure yet. I guess Bob is my soul-mate and I hope he would say the same of me. He is my bestest friend and the person I trust more than anyone. I can’t think of a single person I would rather be starting this with. Except maybe Lisa Scott-Lee from Steps. Bet she’d be a hoot… The plan is to start off together and then see what happens. Whatever may be, I'm glad to be starting this thing with someone I know so well.

OK, so now you've met the intrepid trio. The ball is rolling. It's gathering pace. And I am realising with every passing second that THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING!!!! Stop the ride! I want to get off! Then after a couple of Vodkas I want to get right back on!

Stay tuned - and stay cool!!!!