Allo!

A few key phrases can epitomise your whole trip and ultimately inspire you for more.

This is what it was like June 2010. My European trip started in Paris, roamed through Italy, travelled along to London and ended in Hong Kong. Each place was as inspiring as the next, blowing my mind and tantalising me for more.

Simple words such as 'allo', 'allora' or 'prego' became part of my conversation and carried onto my life back home.

Everyone we met touched us in some way, from their friendly smile to their advice. They encouraged me to have more culture, learn a language and to make sure I pass all of that onto my children.

So in saying that, my time has come, to explore what else is out there, to take the exciting step and move overseas.

So thankyou to the waiter in Olio, France, to the beach bar owners at Monterosso, Italy and also to that man who fell asleep on the tube in London - you have paved out my new life for the next few years.