Dear Reader, Hold back your flabbergasted grasps for breath during the following sentence: I have never been paid for writing. I told you not to get amazed: it can physically damage you. I once heard of a girl who heard such an astounding statement that she sprained her jaw, fell backwards off her chair and landed inside a cage of lions. She was hospitalised for a few good months. The lesson of this fable: forget your preconceptions. True story. Anywho. The closest I have been to gaining financially out of writing was when I wrote a travel story for St. Christopher’s Hostel chain’s website. (http://www.st-christophers.co.uk/backpacker-resources/travel-stories/sweden/travel-tales-from-stockholm) I was given a voucher that entitled me to a two-nights free stay at the aforementioned hostel chain’s outlet – never used the damn voucher as I didn’t realise they expire. Recently I have spent considerable time on KLM website looking at ticket prices either to Las Vegas, Nevada or New.... read more.

The prisoners depicted in Louis Theroux’s documentary film were engaged in activities that did not require much physical motion; reading books, casual conversations with other inmates and listening to MP3 players. As my Geordie friend pointed out “the prisoners look like they are on a bus journey that seemingly never ends.” This comparison came to mind when I travelled from London to Newcastle by Megabus. I felt like a convict at a death row. Although the coach was physically moving forward it was not that easy to distinguish if we were going round in circles, always stopping at Scotch Corner. There is possibly a regulation about the commercial services that are allowed to operate at Northern England coach stops. Anything apart from Costa Coffee Shop, WHSmiths’s and Mark’s & Spencer’s have to be out of the question. The driver seemed more concerned of the safety instructions than any other coach driver working for the Megabus Company. The safety demonstration lasted for a good five m.... read more.