Walkabout Media

About

Most people who have found themselves looking at this webpage know us relatively well, so much of what we say here will be of no great surprise.  That said, we have attempted to list a few things that even those who know us well may not be aware of.

 

We met in the fall of 2004, with some thanks due to a common workplace, but more thanks due to Tara’s proactive nature (“you gonna ask me out, or what?”).  It quickly became clear that this was supposed to be, and we were married on April 19^th, 2008. 

 

When looking ahead to this trip, it may appear to the innocent bystander that this is an awfully ambitious expedition for two newlyweds.  In many ways, it is.  Yet we are not, however, plunging into the deep end without testing our swim gear, so to speak.  Here are some of the reasons we consider ourselves as prepared for this as possible:

·         We’re young.  We are therefore also energetic and somewhat foolish (stupid, perhaps?)

·         Recognizing that things on paper don’t always parallel reality, we have researched our little tails off

·         We are very well supported by our family and friends

·         We have travelled together to a bunch of different places, including several spots in the Caribbean, the United States, England, Holland, Uganda, and South Africa

·         We each have fairly extensive travel backgrounds

 

As promised, this page is supposed to include facts and figures about us that caters to both people who know us well and people who do not.  Here are 10 things you should know about us:

 

Tara:

1.       Tara is slightly neurotic about controlling and running an efficient, easy to use, properly labeled, Tupperware-driven freezer

2.       Tara can’t find anything whatsoever in her closet

3.       Tara can type over 80 words-per-minute with 100% accuracy

4.       Tara is an aunt to three nieces and three nephews

5.       Tara has played with dead human bodies (OK, an explanation: she took a full human anatomy course at university that required investigative lab-work on cadavers)

6.       Tara has been to the emergency room at the hospital more than all of her siblings combined (and thus was flagged by the system for possible child abuse)

7.       Tara doesn’t like people touching her collarbone

8.       Tara is a great cook and in so doing makes the most unbelievable messes

9.       Yes, Tara is darker-skinned than most, but no, she is not Persian, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Greek, Syrian, Lebanese, Jewish, Egyptian, Moroccan, Portuguese, Brazilian, Mexican, Eastern European, or anything other than a white, Anglo-Saxon, Canadian

o        Yes, Tara is darker-skinned than most, but no, she does not speak Farsi, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Greek, Syrian, Lebanese, Hebrew, Arabic, French, Egyptian, Moroccan, Portuguese, or any Eastern European language

10.    Tara doesn’t like porridge because of its texture

 

Martin:

1.       Martin stands with one hand behind his back while he shaves

2.       Martin insists that his shoes match his belt that matches his shirt that matches his pants that matches his watch that matches the jacket he is going to wear

3.       Martin was born in Greenwich, England, and has lived in Vancouver (B.C.), Nipawin (Sask.), South Africa, Tabubil (Papua New Guinea), and Oxted (England), and hadn’t celebrated three Christmases in a row in the same place until 1993

4.       Martin’s favorite cartoon character is Astro Boy, and if you argue this point he will force you to re-evaluate your priorities

5.       Martin likes to drive and finds Vancouver drivers very frustrating because they:

a.       Drive in the passing lane while not passing anyone

b.      Don’t use their turn signals

c.       Stop, inexplicably, in the middle of the road, then put on the hazards as if this is a carte-blanche to do whatever the hell they want

d.      Try to be overly courteous to other drivers (by letting them turn first, for example), and therefore screwing everything up

e.      Did we mention not using turn signals and driving in the passing lane for no bloody reason?

6.       Martin can only sleep laying down: he cannot sleep in a car, train, plane, bus station, or a living room chair… this in stark contrast to Tara who can sleep anywhere (much in the same way a horse can sleep standing upright)

7.       Martin used to be able to do a pull-up with close to 100lbs strapped to his body

8.       Martin hates wearing shoes, or any footwear; he would go barefoot if possible

9.       Martin goes by the alias Ricky Ponting in India and David Beckham in Korea

10.   Martin loves porridge and eats it every morning