Step Two - From Tiny Acorns

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Well hello!

I apologise for the length of time between entries. I packed away my computer and it's still in a box. I'm on a friend's laptop for now, and it's taken me until now to get round to popping back.

I'm in a chirpy mood today. A weight is off my shoulders, now that the world of corporate subservience is behind me. I'm also free of my Bombay Bad Boy landlord. I don't think he's been east of Dulwich in his life, but he likes to come across as 'connected' in the sub-continent underworld. As expected he griped about notice, and kept the deposit. No great loss, though it would be handy to have an extra grand-and-a-bit right now but I'd sooner lose sleep because Steps might reform than a few quid from the kitty. Shame he's such a tit, his wife is drop-dead gorgeous and popping round for a leaky tap or jamming door was a brilliant excuse to check her out. Way too lovely for him. She wears the most lovely saris and other traditional outfits made from incredible looking materials that must cost a fortune, and that's just for kicking round the office bringing tea and snacks to her husband. I could wax lyrical about how they swish when she sways, but I'd only set my own pulse racing. There must be a 25 year age gap between them, so I'm sure she'll enjoy the financial rewards when he pops a vein in his head some time (probably) soon. Maybe I'll chat her up at the wake when that happens.

Ringing around my friends bore fruit in the most unexpected of ways. I'd given up hope with my main social buddies and the people I am still in regular contact with from uni, so I gave my old flat-mate Andrew Walker-Fowldes - AKA 'Chapman' (due to his remarkable likeness to Graham Chapman) a call to see if he could think of anyone. We had adjacent rooms in halls at uni, then took a flat together with two girls from China for our 2nd and 3rd years. His little black book was the biggest in the western world back then so I reckoned he'd be bound to know someone somewhere who might help or point me the right way.
Turns out he's just taken on a house he inherited in Twickenham, deciding to move in while the market is on a downturn - let it pick back up before cashing in its potential. He's spent the last 7 years wasting his degree in fine art, boosting his portion of the family coffers on the property market. I can't say I blame him to be honest. Every time we've met up over the last few years Chapman has been wearing suits that could each buy a house in Newcastle. Anyhow, he was considering taking on a tenant for a spot of company, and to help with the hoovering rather than any income concerns. So, he's offered me a place to stay as long as I need it, and won't take a penny! Quite a turn-up for the books. I'm sure I'll feel guilty and like I'm taking advantage of his generosity in a few weeks or so, but until then... RESULT!
Anyway, the old house has no broadband, and it's taken me until now to sort out an old fashioned modem to use until that's all sorted. Hence the gap.

So, what next?

I've had a few brochures to see the nice pictures of various places around the world, as well as intrepid explorer and backpacker type publications to see what the risk of mutilation by rebels or pimps are in some of the more exotic locations. I quite fancy hitting the hippy trail, except there'll be hippies there. I'm also thinking about flying out to India, picking up an Enfield motorbike and seeing how many countries I can see on a wedge of US dollars before I need to beg a British Consulate to help me home. South America is looking mighty fine too. You never know, I might get lucky and catch a nazi or two in Argentina. I hear the bounties are quite good for one of them! Best of all options though seems to be buying a tent and a bicycle, and making my way from somewhere near Barcelona around to Istanbul. I'm sure the hilly bits will sort out my fledgling love handles and stave off the threat of man-boobs.
I'll try and decide before next week. I don't want to be spending winter somewhere snowy, in a tent with a kidnapped goat my only source of heat, so I need to do some research.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, if by some bizarre chance someone reads this!

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