After my talk at Stoke Newington the other night a girl called Kylie from New Zealand came up and told me how much of an inspiration I’d been to her. (You thought I was talking about that other Kylie, didn’t you?)
I usually stutter awkwardly and stare at the floor when people say these kinds of things to me. I know me better than anyone else and, frankly, I ain’t no inspiration. But Kylie had just travelled overland through Asia to the UK after spending a couple of months in Africa the year before. And she told me she would never have had the confidence to do such trips before reading my books.
It really made my night. After nearly sending a young Aussie to an early death on a Vespa in Italy, I was pleased to hear that my writing had had such a positive effect. Kylie had travelled the world, met interesting people and, most importantly, got out of New Zealand.
(Sorry, cheap shot that. I didn’t really mean it. NZ is a great place. I guess I’m still a little upset after the Tri-Nations Rugby League match last weekend!)
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I was all excited, I hadn’t heard a whisper about the Tri Nations games, tucked away as I am, so far from home … and I was about to mock a little, just friendly Kiwi stuff but thought I’d google first, well … goodness gracious, how things can change in a week … less said the better methinks.
From all accounts they were two of the best international Rugby League matches ever – I don’t think either side won any substantial bragging rights. I’m hoping to get up to the final at Eland Road in Leeds. It could be another Aussie/Kiwi match – depending on what sort of form the Pomsshow, of course!
Peter,
I was similarly inspired by NSITT to go travelling – unfortunately i didnt read the book from cover to cover and suffered a similar fate in Delhi trying to locate the Hotel Yatri Niwas. After I spent the night there I came perilously close to catching typhoid and then got chased by a pack of stray dogs all the way to New Delhi train station – no fun thing with 23kg on your back! But the book always reminds me to have a good laugh at myself when i start taking things to seriously, or when i panic or if i miss home (rare). So, thanks for writing it and keep the good stories coming – here’s to hoping I don’t shit my pants in Kigali.
Adam.