I married my girlfriend in the midst of turning everything upside down in August - after five years I realised that if she had managed to stick with me through my increasing derangement, there was nothing to wait for.

It has been a fairly... tough is the wrong word... diplomatic? discoursive? few months, but despite having just started a promising career, she's game for trying something completely different - if it all goes pear shaped then she can start afresh, as she'd invested only six months and emotional energy, as can I - but while we're unburdened by sprogs and gammy hips or what have you problems of age we agreed on taking the opportunity.

So it takes compromise, but even were I alone, I'd likely be doing the same - when you travel, particularly alone, you meet kindred spirits - some of my fastest friends are fellow travellers I've met in the damndest places.