Looking back - 12 Travel Goals for 2012

Just over one year ago  I wrote a list of twelve goals for 2012.

Here is what happened next.

One I went to New Zealand in January 2012 and I saw more than I thought possible during a twelve day trip around both islands in a campervan with my best friend Betty. It was a special start to 2012.

Two I'm not sure I succeeded in this goal as I didn't "travel alone' in terms of making my way on a journey during which I didn't join in with a group of other travellers or one of my friends. However, I think the goal for me was more about not travelling in a couple and I certainly succeeded in this, leaving NewMan on many an occasion to explore and travel without him in Portugal, Canada, Italy and in Spain. It surprised me how "healthy" travelling alone felt for our relationship and it's something I plan on doing again this year should the opportunity arise.

Three Done! Read more about this challenge here.

Four Of all the things on this list, continuing to write in my travel journal was something I was so enamoured with a year ago that I assumed I'd achieve this goal easily.

I was wrong.

At some point - I believe it was while we were living in Amsterdam - I found writing my travel diary on top of writing for a living, writing this blog and writing for pleasure just too much, well, writing. From that point on I started to use it more as a scrap book than a journal but even that became very time consuming.

Maybe I'll start again, maybe I won't but I don't feel too bereft not keeping up with this challenge. It was a sweet relief when I decided to not continue.

Five One week in March saw us spend some time on our snowboards in Lech, Austria. It wasn't anywhere near long enough but we've already made plans to do something about that next year.

Six While I didn't exactly get away with the girls I saw New Zealand with Betty, parts of Thailand and Malaysia with another sweet friend and I also happened to enjoy the company of many lovely new female friends on my travels. Girls are good!

Seven Will 53545 words do?

Eight While I haven't ventured very far from the south of England during the times I've been home,  I have made small efforts to see more than the usual sights. However, as I wrote recently I know for certain that simply being away from the UK for extended periods of time has opened my eyes to how wonderfully diverse and beautiful my home country is.

Nine In the last twelve months I have crocheted three and a half blankets, two cowls, two pairs of wrist warmers and a Kindle cover for NewMan that he still uses and shows off to other people proudly saying "Frankie made it for me" (which makes my heart smile!). If anybody who travels regularly wants to find a way to kill those wasted hours in airports and on long haul flights then I recommend you pick up a hook and a ball of wool and learn crocheting now.

Ten This happened in Penang just a few months ago and it was a very special and relaxing time. We already have plans to see NewMan's Mum next summer. I'm also happy to say we'll be seeing my family lots this year too.

Eleven Home is where the hearts of your loved ones are. I'm lucky I get to travel with one of my loved ones all the time and I'm even luckier that I got to go home to many of my other loved ones on many occasions this year.

Twelve I hope four months in Amsterdam counts for this?

Well, I guess nine and a few fractions out of twelve isn't bad? I'll be back with 13 Travel Goals for 2013 soon and if you'd like to join in please do...