Greetings

Well, I have finally succumbed. Seeing as how I am, after all, a journalist, and I am on a gap year away from reality I've decided to put a few thoughts together from time to time. At the moment I am in Malaysia, doing a one week visa run on the beautiful island of Langkawi, but since I left home in the snow and chaos of early January I have spent most of my time pursuing the Divemaster course (or partying, or sight-seeing) with Blue Planet Divers on the Thai island of Koh Lanta.

It was a bit of a mad step to take at this stage in my life, over 40 and 18 years into my career at the Tribune, but I can't say I have regretted it at all. Well, maybe just for a few days when my lovely Irish bank decided to cancel my credit card, but otherwise it's been fab.

In no particular order, I've been a guest of honour at a Muslim wedding, featured on Thai TV getting a traditional massage, been 'forced' to pose naked (but hidden behind a dive tank) for a charity calendar, had a private chanting session with four Buddhist monks in Trang, had five articles published in Asian magazines and websites, danced until dawn at Ozone or The Korner Bar . . . and to think I wasn't sure about leaving wet and windy Galway!