Ooh, I like this. Mainly because I can fill in a lot more of it than the world map that's been doing the rounds lately. But also because I'm quietly amazed just how much of it I can fill in. You might have guessed that a Londoner like myself never ventures outside the M25, but as you can see you'd be wrong. Blimey, I've even lived in nine of these counties.
I've only filled in counties that I've deliberately visited, not that I've merely travelled through. In fact I've travelled through every single English and Welsh county on the map, with the exception of Pembrokeshire. It's probably just as well that Northern Ireland isn't on the map (the Ordnance Survey left it off the original), but a pity that the Channel Islands aren't included because I've done two of them. Big respect to my parents for dragging me round the UK while I was a child. Large chunks of this map would still be blue were it not for their sterling efforts. So, where's still left for me to visit?
Rutland: Bit of a cheat this, because Rutland used to be part of Leicestershire and I have been there. It's a tiny county, lost in 1974 but reborn in 1997 because its 34000 inhabitants had a very loud political voice. The local paper is full of particularly thrilling stories as you might expect. Rutland Weekend Television broadcast from here in the mid 70s, courtesy of Eric Idle and Neil Innes.
Pembrokeshire and Camarthenshire: Hmm, how come I've never quite made it to gorgeous southwest Wales? I've stalked the nearby Gower Peninsula (beautiful) and I've spent a week just over the border in remote Lampeter, but I've never quite been to these two counties. <adds Tenby and St David's to potential holiday list>
Flintshire: A thin sliver of northern Wales containing such delights as, erm. Erm. There's a large town called Mold. I may continue to give the place a miss.
Isleof Man: Definitely on the holiday list at some point, oh yes. The island's full of three-legged tailless cats riding motorbikes, you know. No? Maybe the local bloggers could paint you a fairer picture of their homeland.
Most of Scotland: I've done Edinburgh and Glasgow, and a week on the island of Bute, plus I walked over the ForthRoadBridge into Fife once for about ten minutes, but that's it for me and Scotland. Still huge areas left to visit, but all so far away. Must try harder.
