Well, tomorrow morning. Thanks to everyone who came out to see us before we left – sorry to those of you we didn’t have a chance to catch up with. Special mention to the Campaigns Team for their Club Tropicana karaoke triumph!

Finally, Labour politics is getting interesting again and we’re leaving the country for six months. I’ve signed up for every Labour leftie Twitter, blog, Facebook group I can get my hands on, just to try to keep up. Wonder what it will look like from the other side of the world?

Even though the Cow has finished full-time work, I’m being kept extremely busy on a long list of things to do to get us totally ready to go.

Probably 20 years ago, the only thing on the list was get passport, wash pants, buy travellers cheques and tell me Mum that I’ll be back. Now this includes; the exciting (organising diving in the first week, getting Visas for Indonesia and Vietnam) to the ordinary (organise painting of the house, work out which mobile phone SIM & ATM card is best) to the downright tedious (put cats in boxes to take to the vet, clearing out wardrobes, kitchen and garden). Glad to say that the “to-do” list is going down although there’s still quite a few things to go.

A quick shout to all at my previous contract and to say good luck with your first set of moves this weekend.

Remember the following;

If it goes well, credit  yourselves (you deserve it)

If it goes badly, blame the previous guy (he deserves it)

Went to say tara and bon voyage to my Mum and Dad yesterday.

They’re off to Australia and won’t be back before we leave. Seems very odd we won’t see them for more than six months, but they’re going on their own adventure. It’s the first of our proper goodbyes.

Before we go, we wanted to see as much of friends and family as possible. As a result, we’ve had the busiest few months for ages – Northumberland, Somerset, Kent, Suffolk, Newcastle – we’ll need a holiday by October…

Was late meeting my Mum for breakfast this morning. Left my mobile at home by mistake. By the time I got to her office she’d called the police. It seems her imagination had run riot and within half an hour she had me accidentally brutally stabbing myself to death while cutting toast.

Mum, please don’t watch ANY international news while we’re away…

I thought I’d counter Chloe’s post with a picture of everyone’s favourite Conservative.

Question: if the Tories manage to form the next government (though too early to tell yet) can we claim to be flouncing out of the country in disgust in October?

Dear diary.  I, the cow in hardcow travels, is now taking a travel photography course at City Lit. First lesson was this week and was very good, the teacher was excellent – and very patient with us all – and fellow students seem very nice, keen and about the level I am. Which is nice. And now understand what ISO is, not speed, it’s all about sensitivity apparently. Got some homework to do; take photos of my environment. So I reckon I need to take photos of us, the 77 bus, work, cats, the sofa and our TV. That’s about it, especially as the football season is ending.

Tell us your photo you want to see from our travels whether it be “Chloe diving in the SE Asia”, “Allan eating a spider” or “Monkey stealing our lunch”. Suggestions welcome. In the meantime, here’s “Cat lazing around”.

I’m supposed to be researching destinations but keep being distracted by interesting tidbits, like Indonesia’s biggest band being a grunge-punk outfit called Superman is Dead. Bought their first (I think) album, Kuta Rock City. Catchy Ramones-style short rock songs, some in English and some in Bahasa Indonesia, made me find an unexpected familiarity in at least one country we’re visiting. It brightened my journey into work this morning. I like it – and you can try it out on iTunes.

Know of any other local groups, from any of the countries on our itinerary, who we should check out? Leave us your suggestions.