About two years ago, I had a momentary lapse in sanity and agreed to go on a canyoning trip in the Spanish Pyrenees, which involved hoisting myself in a far from fashionable wetsuit and jumping into mountain rivers from a ridiculously high perch. Stepping out of the icy water battered and bruised, I couldn't stop grinning. Contrary to all expectations, I was not a comfort craving material girl but an adrenaline junkie with smelly feet and a propensity for jumping off things. Who knew?

Now I'm on the verge of taking off on a six month round the world trip, and I'm ready to take another jump into the deep end, one that will take me to Cuba, South America, French Polynesia, New Zealand (bungee heaven!) and Hong Kong.

So, mom, dad, if you want to know what I get up to this time (although perhaps you'd rather not know), you'll read it here...