2013 - that was the year that was

So we're fast approaching the end of another year. 2013 has been an eventful one. We've lost some of the world's most iconic historical figures in Thatcher and Mandela, a Brit finally won at Wimbledon and Wolves sunk to new depths with a second consecutive relegation.

But for me 2013, without sounding too X Factor-like, has been a journey. I've clocked up thousands of air miles, scored at Molineux, went to Wembley, took a dance class and survived the Oldham Half Marathon to name but a few.

I can't believe it's been twelve months since I set myself the challenge to complete 30 new things before I hit 30. With just eight months to go until I wave a final goodbye to my 20s it seems like an opportune time to look back and reflect on the journey thus far...and think ahead to how on earth I'm going to complete the rest of my challenges.

I've taken a look back over the year and picked out my top five moments (it's still December so I wonder if Noddy Holder will do the countdown for me; he seems do all the others at this time of year)...so here are just some of the highlights of what's been a year to remember:

I'm not sure this was in my new job description

Coming in at number 5: New job

It's been eight months now since I said a fond farewell to South Staffordshire Council. My professional home for nearly six years, leaving Codsall was actually one of the most daunting experiences of 2013; but ultimately it's proven to be one of the most rewarding. The time was right for change, and professionally, I couldn't have made a better move.

Number 4: When a non-stag doo stag doo is better than a stag doo

It might not have been on my list of 30 things to do but what should have been my stag doo turned out to be one of the best weekends of the year. Munich now holds a special place in my heart. Its architecture, its cutlure, its beer halls. Seeing the Olympic village, Dachau, the Allianz Arena and of course Rogers the Spaniel and 'Des Lennis'.

Number 3: The Golden Gate Bridge

My trip to San Francisco was incredible. Some great people, some wonderful places - but for me, taking an early morning stroll over the Golden Gate Bridge as the fog sweeps in from the ocean over the 'Frisco Bay was just incredible.

There was something cathartic about that walk, with my ipod playing Bob Dylan and with me inadvertently wandering into the middle of a 'Free Tibet' demonstration.

Number 2: Down Under with Rich


New Zealand is an incredibly beautiful country. The views are spectacularly stunning - and I got to spend some quality time with one of my best mates who I haven't seen nearly enough in the past few years. I also managed to take a trip on the 'Vomit Comet' ferry, get bitten to buggery on a beach and watch an England test match in Auckland (back in the days when we were good at cricket).

Number 1: My biggest failure

My inner-child still chuckles at this

We didn't manage it up Snowdon

I feel like I've done and achieved so much this year - but strangely enough, my only failure to-date has arguably been my most enjoyable. Coming in at number 24 on the list is to climb Snowdon. On 4th April (what would have been said wedding day) me and my entourage of misfits set out to conquer Wales' most famous mountain. Sadly, the snow scuppered those plans. But it turned out to be one of the best weekends I've had for years. Surrounded by my brothers and closest friends we had a great time full of laughter and fun. A walk - an on-going battle between Rogers and Becs over his inappropriate choice of footwear and a late night sing-song. It was a nice reminder that it doesn't really matter what you do, or where you do it, it's all about the people you do it with.

It's impossible to predict what lies ahead in 2014 - but I'm hopeful it will be as eventful and fruitful as 2013. I've got 8 months to get back in the swimming pool and prove my doubters wrong; my plans for a TV debut have taken a big leap forward - and it looks like I'm going all Samba in June!

I've been incredibly fortunate to have the love and support of some very good people throughout 2013 - I hope you all have a great 2014.

365 days to go until 30...a look back on the challenge so far

New Zealand was incredible...
but hopefully I'll clock up a few more
air miles before I hit 30

Well, tomorrow will be 1st August 2013 and there are now 365 days to go until I wave goodbye to my 20s and welcome in my 30s.

Ten months ago or so I ended up on a different path to where I thought my life was heading. Having had things mapped out quite clearly, all of a sudden I was a man with no plan. So, having set myself a challenge to do 30 new things before I'm 30, I find myself in the final year of the challenge.

So far I've seen a Maori in a mobility scooter singing Sam Cooke songs in New Zealand; I've been accosted by a hooker in San Francisco and I've written this blog.

I've totted up a few other achievements too:

• crossed the Golden Gate Bridge
• visited Alcatraz
• watched England play at Wembley
• seen England beat the Aussies in the Ashes at Lords
• scored a goal on the pitch at Molineux
• scaled the top of the Shard (via the lift of course)
• got a new job
• ate seafood overlooking San Francisco Bay - and of course I hate seafood.

And there are a few things which I'm still chipping away at:

• learning to swim
• 9 new football league grounds left to visit
• 5 music or comedy gigs left to go

By my reckoning that's 11 things done, three started and 16 left to go. It could be a busy year!

I've met some great people along the way - and I hope there'll be more great people to meet in the next 365 days too.
Well, tomorrow morning I'm off to do something which I've never ever done before; work on my birthday. As a kid my birthday was always in the school holidays and up until now I've always booked it off. But this year I didn't really have anything better to do. Plus, I'll need to stockpile my annual leave if I'm going to achieve some of the things left on my list!
Well, my 20s - they've been interesting, and I've got 365 days left of them. So, for the final year I can feel as if this song is relevant: take it away Jamie...

Wellington, the Vomit Comet and the South Island

Wellington, the Vomit Comet and the South Island



There are worse places to have breakfast I guess

Rich and I arrived in Wellington and checked into yet another hostel - but this time it was a private twin room with no scary Germans and no odour-ridden Dutch travellers.

Wellington's a bustling, if not windy, city. We started our day with breakfast at the Quayside where I proceeded to choke on a cup of coffee - much to Rich's amusement of course.

We then thought we'd take in some culture and visit the New Zealand 'Te Papa' museum. Rich got to see the world's biggest squid preserved in formaldehyde. His inner-geek was clearly very excited. For that matter his outer-geek was rather excitable too.

We took in a hike to the top of Mt Victoria which overlooks the city before traipsing across the city to get sight of New Zealand's parliament building; the 'Beehive'. We managed to catch the final guided tour of the day. It was now time for my inner-geek to shine. They sat us down and showed a 20 minute DVD on the history of the parliament and its buildings. It was about 14 minutes in during a fascinating piece about the origins of the stained glass windows in the lobby when I became aware that Rich was perhaps not enjoying this as much as I was. The clue was the closed eyes, the heavy breathing and the dribble from the corner of his mouth. In fairness, back home he could have passed as a Member of the House of Lords.

Still - things looked up later that evening - Rich and I were hitting the town. We started off at a Welsh Bar and ended up talking to an ex-pat called Jeremy...he was originally from Grimsby. On my trip to New Zealand I wasn't expecting to talk about Clive Mendonca, Paul Crichton and other stars of Grimsby's 1990s Division 1 heights. I also never realised Grimsby had such a rivalry with Scunthorpe, and as Jeremy so eloquently put it, you can't spell Scunthorpe without a c**t. It was only the next morning we concluded that a witty retort would have been to say you can't spell Grimsby without 'grim'. Still, never mind.

We then made our way to a few more bars before we reached decision time. Do we carry on drinking, hook up with some backpacking honeys and party into the early hours or grab a bite to eat and call it a night? I had a lamb kebab.

The following morning was ferry-time. It was to be a three hour ferry crossing across notoriously choppy seas. Before boarding, Rich had already christened the ferry the 'vomit comet'. Delightful.

Still, a few hours later we were hiking along a mountain range. This meant two things: firstly we arrived in tact; secondly, and more importantly, so had my stomach lining.

We arrived in the port of Picton and set out on a trek to Bob's Bay. It took us nearly an hour but the views were stunningly beautiful. We pondered along the way as to what Bob's Bay would be like - and indeed who Bob was. Was it Bob's Bay - perhaps some local legend or was it Bobs Bay - the bay belonging to all the Bobs? When we arrived we found an information board which read "Bob was a fisherman, but that's where the story ends". Bit of an anti-climax really.

Still ,the following day we made our way to the town of Nelson, checked into another hostel, then made our way to the Abel Tasman National Park - and to what I can safely say is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. We sat on the beach at Kaiteriteri and just took in the views. The clear blue sky, the golden beach - it was stunning. We returned the following day and hopped on a boat to travel further down the Abel Tasman to Torrent Bay where we'd walk for a few hours before resting up at Bark Bay. I am running out of superlatives to describe this country. It was a nirvana of tranquility set against a truly stunning backdrop of mountain terrain, golden, sun-kissed shore lines and crystal blue waters.

The only minor irritant were the midges who, quite frankly, bit us to buggery. But I'd take that incessant itching to see those views for five minutes longer. Plus, I'd pay money to see Rich being chased down the beach Mr Bean-style by the mama of all bumble bees just one more time.

We only managed a few days in the south island - I could have stayed there for a lifetime. Soon enough we packed our bags and headed back to Auckland. Although not before Rich pointed out that this was the most middle-class 'backpacking' experience of all time. We'd taken planes, ferries, rented cars, ate steak, BBQ ribs and had drunk the finest beers and wines our hosts could offer. Come to think of it - Rich didn't even have a backpack - he had a suitcase on wheels. Still - it was an experience.  

So, that was it. A couple of days in Auckland then I was flying off to San Francisco. New Zealand is a stunningly beautiful country. If you ever get the chance to go - don't even think twice; just do it.

Next time: Falling for Fran; Otis Redding facts and achieving numbers 2,3 and 4 on my list.

Youth Hostels, a blossoming bromance and black water rafting

Youth Hostels, a blossoming bromance and black water rafting

 
Rich and I left Auckland on the Saturday morning and were heading for the town of Rotarua. The drive took about three hours. Driving in New Zealand reminds me a bit of driving in Wales. There isn't really a motorway network here, it's mostly long, winding A-roads - reminiscent of my trips to and from Aberystwyth as a student - minus the obligatory McDonald's stop in Newtown of course.
 
It was on that journey I began the process of reconnecting with Rich. Despite having rarely seen each other for a decade, things with Rich never change.

Dr Richard William Naylor PhD...
brain of Einstein, humour maturity of a toilet duck

I said many years ago that Rich was the most likely of my friends to marry a supermodel and find the cure for cancer...then lose it. I still stand by this. Whilst I have settled for the more modest surroundings of Lanesfield then Gornal, Rich's work has seen him travel the world. He has a PhD yet this a man for whom word 'poo' still illicits childish giggles - as indeed do the names of several local towns in New Zealand.

The mention of Wai Pu (Why-poo), Uretiti (You're a titty), Whakepapa (F**k-a-papa) - and my personal favourite - Waikikamukau (Why-kick-a-moo-cow) sees the smartest man I know regress to a toddler. He also could barely contain his excitement as he told me of a town in Ireland called 'Muff'.
 

We laughed a lot on that journey - although it was tempered somewhat on our arrival at Rotarua. We'd made our way to the Waiotapu thermal pools which, in fairness, are spectacular. The bubbling mud pools are an incredible sight and the heat the omit is incredible - the only downside is the gases which emanate from them absolutely honk. The entire town has a sulphuric, egg-like whiff - a bit like a teenagers' bedroom the morning after a night of lager and a 2am Balti.
 
It was a great day though with plenty of laughter - typified by our evening dining experience. We sat outside a restaurant enjoying a well deserved beer when we were serenaded by a street band who's lead singer was a Maori in a mobility scooter who sang one Sam Cooke number then simply left leaving the rest of the band to finish the set. He simply wheeled off down the road. You couldn't make it up.
 
We stayed in our first youth hostel that evening - it was a cosy affair. Suffice to say there was a touch of Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street about us as we snuggled up in the final room the hostel had available...a double.

The following day we made our way to the nearby Waikite Valley to take in a rather bro-mantic thermal pool spa. It was a secluded, private spa, overlooking an almost rainforest-like terrain. Now the thermal spring water running out of the hot taps here come out a ferocious 70 degrees - so although the gesture of the pool attendant to top the hot water up for us was appreciated, the third degree burns our feet received as we attempted to get in the pool was somewhat reminiscent of a scene from the film Dante's Peak. I'd like to point out that Rich and I were not in a thermal pool for the same reason as the couple in that film!
 
Our next stop was at Lake Taupo - on St Patrick's Night. It was a fairly lively night and I can safely say we met one or two local characters who were clearly as p****d as a lephrecaun's fart that evening. But we weren't really in a party-mood. Our hike across the famous Tongariro crossing had been scuppered because the weather had nose-dived. I know Rich really wanted to do that hike too so I felt bad for him.

But unpeturbed - Rich and I made our way the following morning to Mt Ruapeho. Well, Rich told me the mountain was there - the mist was so bad we could barely see ten yards in front of ourselves. Still, we went on a lower level walk and stumbled upon the spectacular and most magnificent Taranaki Falls (right). It's the first time I've seen a waterfall - I was quite awestruck.
 
We were then back to Lake Taupo for our second night in our hostel. This hostel was a little different to the one in Rotarua - we were sharing with two others. On the first night it was with two Germans - Max and Rafael. They were nice guys to be fair - on the second night we weren't quite so fortunate. We were shacked up with another German, and a Dutch guy who's personal hygiene issues made Rich gag. All of a sudden the double bed 'spooning' in Rotarua seemed somewhat more appealing. Needless to say we were grateful for our 6.30am alarm call to escape the 'Dutch Oven'.

We then set off on our way to see the famous glow worm caves of Waitomo...and to take in some black water rafting!

The caves were really impressive and it was interesting to know that it's actually a big PR stunt. The worms are actually maggots and the light actually comes from their poo (cue Rich chuckling). But as Rich pointed out, 'come and see luminous maggot s**t' is quite a tough sell for the local tourist board.

Black water rafting - think wetsuit, helmet, a huge rubber ring, hypothermia-inducing water and caves 65 feet underground. Individually; 'water', 'rocks' and 'underground' are normally things I'd avoid at all costs - but together as one collective...my comfort zone was obliterated.

I think Rich sensed my hesitance so when the instructor asked for any volunteers to jump backwards of a ledge into the freezing cold water on their rubber rings, Rich did what all good mates do - he stepped up to the plate...and said 'he'll do it'; as he pointed at me and grinned. So, away I went. Not going to lie - a faceful of ice cold water whilst being dressed as an extra from 'Hole in the Wall' wasn't necessarily my idea of fun...but it's something I would never have even entertained doing just a few months ago. Another new experience - and that's what this trip was all about.

Next time...Wellington, the South Island and onwards to the US of A...

In the meantime - I don't think words could really do justice to the wonderment and beauty of the Taranaki Falls - and neither can this song to be honest. It's just the only song I could think of that bared any resemblance...

 
 

 

 
 
 

Arriving in Auckland - and Glenn the tour guide

Arriving in Auckland - and Glenn the tour guide

From the departure lounge at Heathrow, to the arrivals gate at Auckland, it took around 30 excruciatingly long hours. That included a brief finger-printing intrusive stop-over at Los Angeles. LAX by the way is one of the dingiest airports I've been too. Looks like it had its finest day circa 1986. I've got no idea what Rachel Stevens was singing about. Mind you I suppose 'my sweet dreams my BHX' doesn't quite have the same ring.



Dr Richard William Naylor PhD

When I finally arrived in Auckland, I sat in the arrivals lounge waiting for my friend Rich to pick me up. Now, for those of you who don't know Richard William Naylor - he is one of life's 'characters'. He's a cross between Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory and Stephen Merchant. He happens to be king of the nerds, the brainiest guy I know - and one of my oldest, and bestest, friends.
Rich and I have known each other for almost 25 years. We went to the same play school group, then onto the same infants, junior and secondary schools. We played in the same football team, went on holidays to Borth and even hit the clubbing scene of Faliraki together.

After university - and after obtaining his PhD (told you he was brainy), Rich moved to Boston in the good old US of A. He then moved to Auckland, where he now lives. He's tried explaining what it is he does - but all I've been able to ascertain is that it involves a laboratory, a bunsen burner, a white jacket, kidneys and a tank of fish.

We've rarely seen each other over the past ten years but whenever he's made it home we've always met up and it's always been like picking up exactly where we've left off.

Rich met me at Auckland International and immediately drove me to Mount Eden, just on the outskirts of the city, so I could get my first glimpse of Auckland. It truly is a beautiful city.

It was great to see Rich - but for week one of my trip I was pretty much on my own. Rich was at work still so the days were my own - that meant it was time to go exploring.

Without sounding too smug, especially given the arctic-biting temperatures back home, the weather in New Zealand was rather pleasant. Whilst snow drifts brought parts of the UK to a standstill and, as my Dad dug himself through the snow into my house in Dudley, I was exploring Auckland in temperatures of around 25 degrees at the tail-end of one of New Zealand's hottest summers for many, many years.

The city is great - but where you want to be is out on the harbour; taking the ferry out to the nearby ports and islands like Devonport or - my personal favourite - Waiheke Island.

I took a mini bus tour of Waiheke Island when I was there. It turned out to be one of the more amusing guided tours I'd take on my travels.

Glenn was our tour guide. A middle-aged guy with a thick head of white hair; Glenn looked like the unfortunate love child of failed US Presidential candidate John Kerry and former Wolves boss Mick McCarthy.

Glenn was driving the blue, 12-seater minibus which would take us around one of the most beautiful islands I've ever been to. I was joined on the tour by a group of elderly American tourists with Hawaiian shirts, baseball caps and some rather fetching socks and sandles combos.

I should also mention that Glenn had a lisp, which, when you're a tour guide reciting the history of an island through a minibus sound system from 1976, makes understanding him a tad tricky. That said, five minutes in, Glenn was cracking a mother-in-law joke. Like a Kiwi Les Dawson. I liked Glenn.

We made our way across the island, taking in some of the stunning landscapes and lounging around on almost deserted sun-kissed beaches. But it was on the way back to the ferry when Glenn came into his own. We drove through one village on the island when Glenn announced over the crackling tannoy that the locals on this part of the island were "all a bit Cadbury's". The Americans on board looked at each other, clearly very confused. Glenn then finished - "you know, they're all a bit fruit and nuts". The Americans still looked baffled...I chuckled quietly to myself.

My first week was all about discovering Auckland, discovering the local islands and soaking up the city's rich and diverse cutlure and cuisines. But week two was all about 'Jay and Rich's week of fun!'. Rich was booking a week off work and we were going on a road trip!

It would take us to egg-smelling towns, glow-worm caves, a nap in parliament and a ride on the 'vomit comet'. But more of that in my next instalment.

Auckland is a wonderful city which I fell head over heels for. So, I'll end this blog with a tribute to the Kiwi's greatest (and only?) music export...oh and, fortuntately it turns out that you don't take the weather with you at all. There wasn't a flake of snow in sight...

Stamps in my passport - Number 1 on my list - New Zealand

Stamps in my passport - Number 1 on my list - New Zealand

It's been a while since I've updated my blog - but there's a good reason for that.

I eagerly await Sky's response to my planned sequel -
'A nervous middle class idiot from the Black Country goes abroad'.
I think it's a ratings winner myself.

People tell me it's been the coldest March in memory in the UK. Without sounding smug, I wouldn't know. For I have been a busy boy - on a mission to achieve five more of my 30 things to do before I'm 30.

To achieve these five milestones I've travelled more than 17,000 miles; travelled by coach, ferry, car, plane, bus and rubber ring.

I've travelled back in time; made one day last almost 48 hours; seen dolphins in the ocean; seen the world's largest squid and got scalded in a thermal spa. I've reconnected with one of my oldest friends - I've met new people from almost every continent on the globe.

I've slept in dorms with smelly strangers and I drank with green painted leprechauns. I got soaked through to my skin and I got sunburnt.

I drank with saxophone players, fled from a rock gig with the help of two guys who had, in their past set a British guy's hair on fire, and was serenaded by an obese Maori in a disability scooter.

My next few blogs will offer just a snapshot of my recent travels and my quest to broaden my horizons and experience more of what this wonderful world has to offer. They won't include everything - I couldn't bear to write, and wouldn't want to inflict upon you "and then I did this, and then I went there and the German guy on the plane said to me". Instead, these are just a few of the highlights.

It all started in Wolverhampton - the glamorous setting for all good travelling tales.

It was 7am. It was cold, drizzly and misty. There was something Lowry-like about the landscape around the new coach station. Shadowy, hunched-over figures; expressionless faces; as grey as the winter weather. But the mills and factories of the north west were instead replaced by the commuters of Wolverhampton - my home city. Making their way to another monotonous day in a drab office in Birmingham.

And me - well, I was waiting for my National Express coach to begin what would be a 40+ hour journey to complete Number 1 on my list of things to do before I hit 30: visit New Zealand.

The past six months have been some of the most difficult in my life. When I booked this adventure it was through a desperate need to escape. But here I was, in a better place, not running away anymore, but excited to be setting off on a new adventure and start a new chapter which would rip me out of my comfort zone.

Now I mentioned that my story started in Wolverhampton. It needn't have done. I live in Dudley and the second stop on my coach journey was...Dudley. I'd needlessly travelled seven miles, spent £12 on a taxi, sat and froze in a drafty coach station, got up 45 minutes too early and wasted an hour of my life which I'll never get back.

If I'd managed to mess up my journey to my neighbouring city, how on earth was I going to travel to London, fly to Los Angeles and then on to Auckland without similar itinerary cock-ups. I guess only time would tell.

But I arrived safely at Heathrow and as I sat in the departure lounge I thought about where I'd been, where I was going and what I was setting off to do. I'd never flown alone before. I'd never been outside of Europe before. I was going to miss my friends and my family. But - this was my time now; my chance to explore more of the world - and hey, if all else failed - at least I'd get a stamp in my passport for the very first time.

Coming up next time - New Zealand, hostels, glam-packing and Naylor.

But for now - as I type this at 4.00am due to my body clock failing miserably to adapt back to UK time - I'll leave you with the theme tune to the first leg of my journey. May I also add that other travel companies are available but if you are down and felling blue and with nothing better to do, don't just sit there feeling stressed, take a trip on....