I think I have about an hour before I really ought to climb into bed and let my weary head rest up a bit. I am going to use that hour to start a post with my answers to Game On – S2 Created by A Guy Called Bloke and K9 Doodlepip!
Take a look at Rory’s original post for find out all the rules and see his original questions:
https://aguycalledbloke.blog/2018/09/26/game-on-series-2-adventures-and-travels/
Are you ready for an adventure? Well, if your bag is packed and you have your passport and boarding pass ready, I think we should embark on our journey along these fabulous questions! I am not going to make this journey without you!
Q1] What is the last holiday you took?
Back in July, I spent two entire weeks visiting friends and family in the North of England and North Wales. I tried to keep up with blogging and filled my posts with holiday spam!
All my holidays now are spent on visiting family. I have not been on a “holiday” holiday for many years…I think it was Texas USA perhaps…but even that was not a holiday as such, though we had an amazing time out there.
Turkey…was the last time I went on a beach and relaxation orientated holiday…although we were bored after a day and went gallivanting every other day. We went scuba-diving in Turkey which was pretty awesome!
Q2] What is your most favourite place in all of the world that you have seen?
Oooooh la la….how could you ask a question like that!
When I was in the north of Sweden our friends took us to see a frozen waterfall. There were icicles all the way down. It was one of the most exquisitely beautiful sights I have ever beheld!
Q3] Do you think travelling enriches your life, your learning, your wisdom or it’s just time off?
Oh yeah..of course I think travelling is enriching. It often opens your eyes to looking at the world in a way you have never had the opportunity to do so before.
All teenagers should travel to Africa. It would stop them complaining about not having the lastest phone or sneakers.
Q4] What is your favourite mode of transport?
That would have to be boat for me.
PQ5] In your opinion what is a great quote that symbolises adventuring and travelling?
I have never thought about quotes other than “LIFE IS ONE BIG ADVENTURE” but while I was researching quotes to see if any were familiar, I found this:
That’s quite an inspiring little ditty – is it not!
Q6] Since you have begun travelling have you noticed any change in who you have become as a person?
I think I can say yes to that. Especially after visiting West Africa when I was about twenty-two. This is going to sound really stupid, but as a teenager, I started to think our family were poor, and that we were missing out on so many things our school friends had.
I realized when I first left Europe that perhaps half of people on this planet do not have a flushing toilet. Things that I have had my whole life and take for granted like a shower with warm water, electricity to boil the kettle, to toast a slice of bread or central heating, not to mention all the services the local council provides like refuse and recycling collection…there are literally millions upon millions of people who have never had those things and yet…from what we saw, many of them were happy, healthy and incredibly kind to us.
Life was so warm (literally, it was roasting hot!) colourful and people were so friendly and gregarious. I picked up the journal I kept during my time in Ghana when I was at my parent’s home recently. I still plan to write some posts about our adventures out there and the very special people we met.
When my sister Mandy and I returned to England, we had a completely different outlook on the world than the one we had before we left.
PQ7] What is a great song to get you in the mood for adventuring? [provide link please]
Q8] When on holiday, travelling or adventuring – do you take books/kindle to read or simply rest on the knowledge that your time away is enough to provide all your stimulation anyway?
Ooooh very rarely have I had chance to read when I have travelled.
It seems like a nice idea, lying on the beach and sunbathing and reading a book, but my holidays have usually been to visit friends abroad and they always arrange a jam-packed schedule of trips and excursions.
I think I took a book when I went to Turkey because my friends said they wanted a beach holiday to relax – but it didn’t end up that way!
Q9] Five best holidays you have had and list why?
Oh dear…
Ghana because we had the most incredible dive into African culture and art and music and food. People made that holiday very very special (well, we did a lot of work out there, but we had chance to spend some days relaxing so I am going to count it as a holiday)
Sweden was spectacular and full of surprises – an adventure beyond all our expectations!
Romania was beautiful and so interesting. We had so much fun out there and made some amazing friends.
Houston, Texas, USA when we were staying with friends who lived there. We just happened to plan our first ever trip to the States when it happened to be “All-Stars” basketball weekend in Houston. I mean “Hello! Welcome to America!” I have to write a post about that trip one day…it was memorable – to say the least!
Belgium with Mandy, Milly and my mum – we bought so much chocolate. Then when we came home we wrapped it all up into little parcels with ribbon to give to friends. It was really nice to have a girly holiday with my sisters and my mum.
Q10] Do you have a favourite blog that deals with adventuring or travelling that you read before you go?
I have not been abroad since I started reading blogs. I have been reading the posts of several travel bloggers regularly. Their posts are often quite stunning and they put lots of ideas in my head about where I would like to travel to.
My Dusty Flip-Flops is my favourite travel blogger though!
Q11] Are you a soloist traveller or prefer company?
If I had to, I could travel on my own (as in the transport part of it) but what is the point of travelling without someone wonderful to share it with?
PQ12] What is the most significant lesson you have learned when adventuring?
Don’t forget your toothbrush! Nah…
I think I would have to say that my travels have confirmed that the mod-cons of the western world do not make us happier. I have often found that in lands where there was less in a material sense, people were so much happier and friendlier. I am dying to tell you about a family from Liberia we met…I think I will save it for another post.
Q13] When in a new location, what are the first five things you check or do to ensure your adventure/holiday is successful?
Ha ha – define successful! The only thing we worry about is making sure we don’t forget which date our return flights are back because we are having so much fun.
In Africa – drink lots of water! (3-4 litres a day)
In Northern Sweden – don’t go outside without your hat! (in the winter of course)
In Spain – Cereza = 
Cerbeza = 
In USA – don’t eat for three weeks before you go, and don’t eat for six weeks after you go!
In Germany – rules are made for breaking! (Ooooh er – there is a post I need to publish to explain that.)
Q14] Are you a rigid planner for adventures, or just throw a few things into a bag and let the day take you wherever?
At one stage I think I would have been a planner, that was in my nature. However, almost every holiday I have been on turned out to be an adventure because I let go of worrying and let others whisk us off to the most unbelievable places – way off the tourist route.
When we trust our friends and let them surprise we have been amazed at what they have arranged for us.
PQ15] In your opinion what do you think is needed to make an adventure/holiday really successful?
Friends or family abroad who know the area, and have the time to introduce you to the delights of life in that land. I would rather be in a sleeping bag on the floor of my friend’s living room than in an all-inclusive hotel. Friends abroad make travel wonderful.
Q16] When adventuring do you have a traditional routine or just go with the flow?
I like trying things I have never tried before!
I go with the flow…some of the friends I have travelled with have a bit of a routine or holiday customs. But I am happy to “go with the flow” so long as that means seeing new places, eating new foods, singing, dancing, fascinating culture or history or art, lively people, gorgeous scenery.
Q17] Are you totally relaxed when holidaying/adventuring as in let your hair completely down, or hang on to a sense of reticence?
During the day, I love anything outdoors, any opportunity for climbing, hiking, swimming, sailing, scuba diving or anything active is something I would grab. I love feeling like a kiddo and availing myself of any energetic and unforgettable activities.
I have had a lot of fun when travelling…there is something about being “on holiday” that makes me even braver. I have done a lot of singing and dancing when abroad and I certainly do have some tales to tell!
Or maybe I will tell them in future posts!
Q18] How important is adventuring/holidaying away to you?
I have always loved opportunities to travel. Of course I want to travel again in the future. Right now, my desire to get back to my home on the other side of London is far greater than any desire to travel elsewhere. I feel lost at the moment. I hardly have the appetite for anything like adventure until I am feeling settled back at home.
You see it is a wonderful thing to travel knowing you have a home to return to. I have a very sweet abode currently, but it is not MY HOME. I need to be home before I have the appetite for travelling.
Q19] Are you completely and utterly true to your personality when ‘away’ or do you become someone else?
I don’t think I change as such. But the playful side of me is allowed more fun and expression. I seem to laugh a lot when I am abroad. For years I have had a jam-packed schedule (don’t we all) where I am always thinking of the next task ahead and it is nice to be on holiday and not to worry about what my next job is.
For some reason I have always felt the need to be a bit of an “entertainer” with friends. When I am abroad on holiday I think I need very little encouragement to get the party going! I like to see my friends enjoying themselves as much as I am!
PQ20] Are you deleting any questions, if so which ones?
Q4] Recently l read, and it’s not new about windowless aircraft which will be the future of air travel, what are your views on this?
Windowless planes???
Q21] You have been gifted a 42 day holiday of your dreams all expenses paid – where would you choose to go?
Six weeks! Ask me this month…. I think I would say South America because I never have been and I would love to go!
Ask me in December and I would say Australia to see my wonderful Goldfinch!
Caramel 