Apples and Watermelons: November 2012

The last races of the season are now over. Austin was awesome and I spent way too much money on cowboy boots, clothes and peanut butter m&ms! Americans are so enthusiastic, even about things like f1 which they don't really know anything about. I packed to go away with summer clothes and it ended up being freezing there! An excuse to buy more jumpers :)
Then onto Brazil where we should have got a 1-2 but these things happen. I hope Lewis does well with his new team.

Brazil was my last race in F1. I am now back to being factory based from next year and am looking forward to getting my life back. I can now get back into photography and see my friends and spend time with people when I want to.

It's been an experience. Being the only girl amongst 40 guys was tough at times but you get used to it and I've learnt a lot about men! And I thought girls were bad!!!!
The last 2 years has been a huge roller coaster. I started the job blindly and 2 years later have gained a lot of experience as well as visited countries I never would have had the chance to go to. I've met a few great people and a few, not so great... But overall it's been interesting!
I'm glad I finally had the opportunity to do what I wanted to do and experienced the madness of racing.

I'm totally shattered now, physically and mentally... And am going to Burma for 3 weeks for Xmas to chill ou and explore. I cannot wait.
The new year brings new beginnings and I'm going to find new challenges. Who knows what 2013 brings...

On BBC Sport website back in October

Bye bye Lewis

With Jenson

Me trying not to get run over in the pitlane

Add caption

It's been a while since I've had 5 minutes to write anything down...
I travelled 6 countries in 5 weeks in September and I came back absolutely shattered. Starting in Singapore, then Malaysia and Cambodia on holiday then back to work in Japan and Korea. After a week in Japan, it felt like I never had a holiday. Cambodia is not a relaxing holiday. Well, not the one I had anyway. It was full of exploring and emotion. Once back from Korea, I landed at about 6am and caught a flight that afternoon to Tunisia to chill out. And that's exactly what I did for 5 days. Doing this job, I cannot explain the emotional, physical and exhaustion that you feel when you get home. There is nothing I can compare it to to explain it.

2 weeks later and I have been working on India and Abu Dhabi time. Starting work at 3am and finishing at about 2pm makes you feel like you have jetlag without even going anywhere. Going to work when its dark and going to bed when it's light. I have enough trouble trying to sleep as it is, let alone when its not supposed to be bedtime!

So, Japan.... It was nice to go back to Japan and fill up my suitcase full of sweets and food :) I was also surprised, again at the adoration the fans have for F1. People should not forget that that those fans are what keeps the sport going in some countries and although may seem totally fanatical, it's nice to know that there are people out there who are so into what we do.
I had a few fans come and talk to me to say hello and one had made me a paper fan with my picture on! I also received lots of Japanese sweets. It was quite a shock that anyone even knows who I am.

I've now finally got to spend a few weeks at home, although all I have done is work and sleep! But its nice to be able to come home after work and be in my own space. I haven't had time to catch up with people I want to see due to my weird hours lately, but hopefully that'll soon change.

I went to see Skyfall the other day in a cool cinema which has sofas in. For the first time ever, I went to the cinema, fell asleep and woke up at the end. So I still haven't seen it... :( Very annoying, but just shows how long it takes to recover from working constantly and being totally shattered beyond belief.

I've been trying to edit my photos from my trips when I can but there are so many I still haven't got through them all. A lot of Cambodia pics can now be seen on my flickr page. www.flickr.com/steppy1980
I'm a perfectionist when it comes to photography... and I'm still frustrated that I can't take the photos I want to take most of the time. I'll get there eventually... I'm planning to go on holiday again when the season is over for about 3 weeks. We are still yet to find the perfect destination, but Vietnam is a possibility. I know that I'm going to need a secluded beach, a hammock, lots of sun and a bit of exploring :) Any suggestions?
Problem with travelling in December is that flights double in price... I'm going to have to keep searching...

So the last leg of this years travels is almost here. In the next week, I will be in America and then Brazil. I've only ever been to Vegas so I'm quite looking forward to seeing another part of America... and eating big fat cheesecake, and visiting an Apple store :) It's the little things... :) Then onto Brazil to eat lots of meat and look forward to a month off and getting my life back.

There's a lot of changes going on in my life yet again. This time more confusing. I need to decide where my life is going and what to do with it. I've always been one who is capable of many little things but never have one thing that stands out. Like, most people can say they are good at drawing, or mathematics or science... but me... ermm, I'm good at eating, does that count? I need to find that one thing and learn to do it well. Or do I... who knows... I need to look for more challenges and I have a feeling 2013, which is fast approaching, will be a year of many changes.

“I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.”

Mary Anne Radmacher Hershey