Γεια σας - I'm Leaving The BBC
I'm pleased to be able to finally write on currybetdotnet that I will be leaving the BBC at the beginning of next month. Although quite a lot of people already know my plans, and went to our 'going away party' last month, it was only yesterday that I resigned from my job and made it all official.
My wife and I are both taking a break from working. We'll be spending Christmas with her family in Qatar, and then in January, February and March of next year travelling through Europe. We plan to call in on Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Belgrade, Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Venice, Milan, Ravenna, Pisa, Rome, Sardinia, Naples, Brindisi and several other places I've no doubt forgotten. After we have finished touring Italy we are going to head to Greece, and we are hoping to live in Crete over the summer at least, maybe longer if we find we really like it, and can make it work financially for us. That at least explains the sudden flurry of eBay activity and doing a boot sale as we attempt to reduce our possessions to a volume that can be carried on our backs.
I don't plan to be updating this site much until we reach Crete, though I do intend to keep a travelogue on my Yahoo! 360° blog, where I have already been writing about our preparations to move, as well as practising my travelogue during my recent visit to Zaragoza. And I'm sure there will be lots of pictures uploaded to Flickr whenever I get a chance.
You don't know me - but I've thouroughly injoyed your insight into New Media life at the Beeb. Good luck with your travels.
Wow. I guess congratulations are in order. As long as the requisite snarl about how I've always wanted to do that, why am I shackled to a salary, the world is against me, nothing I want to do ever happens etc. etc. etc.
I don't quite understand the 360 thing yet. It's a bit portally, and so I don't know where to look. Guess I'll get used to it...
>> I don't quite understand the 360 thing yet.
No, me either. One thing I find confusing is it looks completely different to me when I am logged in, so I'm never quite sure what anyone else is seeing.
There is an RSS feed of it - http://blog.360.yahoo.com/rss-E55I7egybrR6Ok.dj7srJw--
I'm not totally convinced myself yet. Still, I thought I'd try something different, where I wouldn't (hopefully) have all the hassle of moderating comments. I also didn't want to fill currybetdotnet up with endless "Look at my photos of Prague" type posts, or keep logging into my server from internet cafes...
Congratulations on making the downshift. I hope it works out and you find a sunnier life.
PS: Can I have your job please? :)
Congratulations and good luck.
If I can offer my personal opinion, Pisa consists of a famous tower, and sod all else, and Naples is a little bit dodgy.
I'd add the Amalfi coast, Portofino (South of Genoa), and Siena to your list, but feel free not to!
Good luck on your travels Martin - Currybet has been an education over the past few years and I look forward to reading your travelog. Have fun on your trek!
Hi Ian, thanks for the ideas
>> Naples is a little bit dodgy.
IIRC Naples is only on the list because it is the other end of the Cagliari-Naples ferry line to get us back on the mainland after Sardinia. But then I don't think there is much in Cagliari either except memories of the 1990 World Cup :-)
Congrats! Sounds like you're going to have a very exciting year! Thanks for all the insights into life at the BBC - it's been fascinating
Woo hoo and hurrah! I'm so happy for you and the Mrs. - I think you'll have a Grand Adventure. Way to go for taking the jump.
I liked Naples - dodgy, definitely, but at least some sections are full of people who don't care about tourists, and are just getting on with their day. It also has the most fabulous museum, containing a lot of the best material from nearby Pompeii/Herculaneum.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/europe/italy/naples?poi=39567
I loved Naples and it really does have the best pizza (and cheapest) I've ever tasted. And still a lot of Maradona graffiti.
I'll miss this, you, bbc blog stuff (and the bits about walthamstow, the evening standard, and er, that ghost walk book). Good luck fella.
Over here in Holland i also n-joyed reading ur stories on this site, even more afer attending ur presentation at the 'IP-Lezing' back in January in Amsterdam.
Anway, Good luck in the travels and whatever might follow!