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How a Lad from Yorkshire Ended Up in Texas Chasing the World

Howdy! I’m Matt – 25 years young (although I don't always feel it!), proudly Yorkshire-born (yes, I still call it tea, not dinner), currently living just south of Houston, Texas, and on a mission to see every single country on this planet. Crazy? Maybe. Doable? Definitely! Especially with enough snacks, dodgy WiFi, and a questionable sense of direction!

Let me rewind a bit.

For most of my adult life, I’ve been balancing two things: a passion for exploring new corners of the world, and a full-time career that requires a hi-vis jacket and more spreadsheets than any sane person should ever open. By day, I’m an Operations Manager at a manufacturing site, which basically means I keep things moving and solve more problems than any normal person would consider able to exist (believe me, they do!). On other days (weekends, holidays, late nights with Skyscanner open), I’m a full-on travel addict.

So far, I’ve visited 35 countries – and no, I’m not stopping until that number hits 195 (or however many the world has decided on by then). Some of those trips were solo escapades, others with my brilliant girlfriend Becky (who deserves a medal for putting up with my travel craze, although we won’t talk about her obsession with 6am flights, the cheapest…yet!), and a lot with my parents, who thankfully passed down the travel bug early on.

In March 2025, life took a bit of a plot twist when I relocated to the U.S. through work. Suddenly, this Yorkshire lad found himself deep in Texas, where the portion sizes are heroic and “y’all” is a legitimate greeting. Becky joined me a couple of months later, and together we’ve decided to make the most of this new base. With the USA (and beyond) right on our doorstep, we’re diving headfirst into road trips, weekend getaways, national park hikes, and the occasional “what the heck does that menu item mean?” moment. I’m almost embarrassed at how often we have found ourselves saying that…

This blog is where I’ll be documenting it all – the highs, the lows, the food fails, the incredible views, the near-misses with public transport, and everything in between. I’ll share recommendations, stories, photos (including one coming soon, showing where I’ve been so far – spoiler: it’s getting colourful), and plenty of honest reflections. I’ve learned a lot on the road: how to pack light (still working on that), how to travel on a budget, and how to find the sweet spot between spontaneous adventure and “I probably should’ve booked that ahead.”

So whether you’re a seasoned traveler, a curious couch explorer, or just here for the occasional Yorkshire sarcasm – welcome aboard. There’s a lot more to come, and I’m genuinely excited to have you along for the ride.

Here’s to ticking off countries, collecting memories (and passport stamps - Becky’s favourite), and embracing the madness of travel, one journey at a time.

Cheers,

Matt