blog.

So recently I've started thinking about our first camping trip of the year, maybe we'll be brave and go early Spring time. But before we can go we really need some new sleeping mats, one of ours has an undetectable leak and frankly they are horribly uncomfortable anyway.

We paid a visit to a couple of Outdoors shops after Christmas, and had a look at what was available in their sales. But this wasn't enough choice. So we've gone online and looked at their full range, plus some other high street retailers' websites. And then some other, online-only retailers. We now have a lot of choice, too much in fact.

So we've started reading reviews and feedback and scores-out-of-ten from users of various mats, which has been really interesting and informative, and given us ideas for other sleeping mats that we hadn't yet considered. We're checking Amazon and eBay for their best deals, and pricing comparison sites too. Just when we think we've made a decision, along comes a bad review, or a price discount on another mat that was originally out of our budget, and off we go again on the rollercoaster of indecision.

I love the internet, don't get me wrong. It never ceases to amaze me, it gives me options and solutions and endless knowledge. I'm empowered by facts, figures and statistics at my fingertips… plus the bargains can be incredible. And I know how lucky I am to have all this choice and be in a position to purchase. BUT. And it is a BUT. It's almost spoiled my shopping experience for these flipping sleeping mats. I'm now stuck in an endless cycle of reviews and best prices, and can't go camping until we get it sorted!

I'm sure we'll give ourselves a deadline, and the decision we make will be all the more rounded and satisfactory, knowing we know all we can possibly know about the mats' thickness, durability, weight, inside leg measurement… And then we'll be onto choosing a campsite. Uh-oh. Here we go again…

So the adventures of founder Mike Newing and his amazing round the world adventures continue.

Mike and Lynne headed north up Australia's east coast with trips to the Blue Mountains, Sydney (controversially described as "a bit of an urban sprawl"), Port MacQuerie (dolphins everywhere), Byron Bay (rain, rain) and Brisbane (more rain). After an emotional goodbye with some of the locals (see pic), it was time to catch the short flight to Auckland and head for the great outdoors of New Zealand.

NZ has taken the breath away with it's lakes, mountains, wildlife and a close encounter with a whale and despite some fairly wet weather, they're loving it. Although Lynne banned Mike from attending an international cricket match he wanted to go to.

Next stop Fiji, then Singapore, then.....errr....Heathrow......

As some of you may know, founder of FNM Mike Newing has recently started his trip of the Far East and the Pacific that won't see him return to the UK until mid April.

Currently sweltering in forty degree heat, we've heard he and wife Lynne can't help but raise a little smile at the thought of us buried under a bit of snow.

After a short stay in Hong Kong they're now just outside Sydney and have stays in New Zealand, Fiji and Singapore to look forward to. Yes, makes you sick doesn't it.

However Mike's already keen on the idea of a Hong Kong office and sent us the following photo as evidence that he's found the ideal location.

More news and photos no doubt to come.