Around 2001, when I was working for the software company, my employer had a job for me in central Manchester which required me to stay over during the week. As it happens, my younger sister and her family lived in nearby Preston. One evening, after work, I popped in to see them. On my way back to my hotel in Manchester, I found that I was unable to actually see the road signs indicating which junction off the orbital M60 motorway to come off. In fact, they were dazzling bright and I realised I could not focus as everything was a blur! This was very frightening and concerning. As soon as I got home I made an appointment to see my optician, who informed me, as I suspected, that I required glasses! Since that day I have always worn them whilst driving. Thankfully I have never since had a repeat of that experience I had on the M60!

In 2002, when I started working with my last employer, I was able to cycle to work just 6 miles away from home. During those initial years I was frequently visiting Derby, Hull and Slough, but also Copenhagen. In one of my previous blogs, I mentioned how I joined a cycling club around this time. Here's a photo of myself with my fellow cyclists from Team Ridgeway.

Team Ridgeway - can you guess which one is me?

For the journeys in Britain that required a car, I used my own, the Vauxhall Omega; which we affectionately called 'Goldie'.When travelling to Hull from Royal Wootton Bassett, it was a 220 mile journey to the factory. But I used to get up at, what we called, 'the crack of sparrows’ and get there often by 9am ready to do a full days work. I would then head to West Carlton Country Guest House and I would often stay there for 2 or 3 nights before returning home.

I will take this opportunity to recommend them, as Tim and Caroline Maltas were always so good to me and provided a very high standard of accommodation and hospitality. Do check them out on their website as they are worth considering when you are in the Yorkshire area. We have even spent a few days on a family holiday there as I enjoyed the visits I did for work so much. Here is a photograph of their property, as it looked in 2008, during a family holiday we had then. Can you spot my youngest daughter in one of the windows?

With all the extensive travelling I have done, both abroad and in Britain, it has certainly given me a wealth of experience!