One whole year ago I uploaded the first pages of the Unplanned Journey Website onto my server. At the time, I was making plans to go to France for the ski season. There was hardly any content (mainly due to the fact that I hadn't undertaken my journey yet), it was shabby (and still is!) and I had no visits to it!

Am I proud? Well, the website started as a way of letting close friends and relatives know of my whereabouts and what I was up to. I had no plans for 1000's of pictures, web forums and regular emails - it was just going to be what has now become a 'blog' and a few insights into what I was doing. So yes, I am proud.

I may have spent the last year 'wasting' my life as my father would say, but to me, I've gained a lot. I have certainly met a lot of people. I've made a lot of friends. I've done a lot of wide and varied things. To cut a long story short, I've enjoyed the last year more than most of my life (and that's saying a lot!)

As for the future of the unplanned journey, it ain't stopping here in Wolverhampton! I have plans for America, Hawaii, India and Canada - we'll see. I'm just having a 'pit-stop' until I get fixed.

Anyway, below are a few favourite parts of mine of the unplanned journey so far. Also, I'm looking for a new menu bar design. I'm not talking about the actual 'menu' bit. I mean the picture at the very top of each page, where it says 'unplanned journey'. I've just changed it but am not very happy.

The size of the menu pic must be 750 x 75 pixels and no more than 50kb in size. Please either post your efforts on the forum or email them to: menuentry@unplannedjourney.com

It must say 'Unplanned Journey' as a title, but apart from this, the competition is pretty open.

Unfortunately, I can't give out £1000's but I can include a special mention and a free advert for your website on my pages. You have until the 1st January 2006 and the winner will be announced by 17th January. Good Luck...