Category: Claybornes World

Clayborne in Thailand and Singapore 2025!

25/10/2025

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Clayborne has been travelling all over the World for six years now and despite his advancing age, he is still very much a part of our travelling abroad. His head is rather wobbly, fur matted and worn, but like us, he keeps going, spreading the message for Cancer Research UK, where it all began in 2019!

Here he is on his latest trip to Singapore and Thailand last month. As ever, I would like to ask my readers to make a donation to Cancer Research UK. This is a charity I worked for and one I continue to support, despite now living in Australia. Please click on Claybornes paw to danate!

Please click my paw to donate to Cancer Research UK!

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Clayborne in Taiwan!

30/10/2024

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Clayborne's World — Vietnam 2024!

24/4/2024

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Click above to donate to Cancer Research UK

Since 2019, Clayborne The Cancer Research Teddy, has accompanied me on my travels all over the World. Even during COVID, while I was unable to travel, Clayborne boarded a repatriation flight to America — even getting to sit in the cockpit (Something I have never done.) As he clocks up the miles, he is also creating awareness for Cancer Research UK, a charity I am proud to have volunteered for.

Today I live in Australia, but my dedication to Cancer Research UK remains as strong as ever. I still make a monthly donation to them, and believe passionately in the good work they do, helping to irradiate this dreadful disease.

Clayborne, is a brand ambassador like no other; today, after five years of travelling, he is looking rather dishevelled and in need of a bit of TLC. His head is a bit wonky and his fur requires a good brush, but the scars he carries with him, are a mark of the cause he champions. I feel proud that he has helped create recognition and understanding of the complexities surrounding cancer, encouraging more people to donate to Cancer Research and helping to stop this disease in its tracks.

Clayborne travelled with Darrell and me to Saigon, Da Nang and Hội An, traversing the south of Vietnam for 12 days. Like me, he is a seasoned traveller and enjoys experiencing new cultures. Many people have stopped and asked me about his story, bringing, yet more, understanding of a subject, that many find difficult to discuss.

His travels document a journey, that began with me volunteering for Cancer Research in 2018, and the fond memories I take with me on my voyage to Australia. Clayborne has become an important part of my life; he is not only a symbol of past endeavours, but also a shining light of hope for the future. As I continue to travel across the World, His story, is my story, and together we will help to make Cancer history!

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Clayborne's World - Bangkok and Chiang Mai!

3/11/2023

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For the last five years, Clayborne the Cancer Research Teddy, has accompanied me on my travels, both in the UK, when I lived there, and abroad. This little bear is looking rather bedraggled these days, having clocked up the air miles, flying all over the World. Like me, however, Clayborne remains a committed traveller, bringing awareness to the good work Cancer Research does and for that reason he remains an important part of my journey, even in my new home of Australia!

Clayborne is a reminder of my years working for Cancer Research, and of the wonderful characters who worked in the little charity shop in Portsmouth. He is also a mascot for me, as I traverse across the planet between my home in Australia, my old home in the UK, and my adopted home of Spain. I feel exhausted just writing that - we really have travelled a lot!

Even now, as I settle into life in Perth, Clayborne remains an important part of my past, as well as crucial to my future direction. He may well be, essentially, just a stuffed toy, with a wonky head and dishevelled fur, but he is a reflection of my life over the last half decade and hopefully a special part of my future travels as well.

If this little bear could talk, what stories he would have to tell. Travelling to America on a repatriation flight, during the COVID pandemic, has been the highlight of Claybornes endeavours, and I'm sure the best is yet to come.

Like me, Clayborne enjoyed Thailand for a second time, and looks forward to our trip to Japan next year. Apart from Darrell, Clayborne is the second most important part of my life. He may well just be a bear, but he is my bear and very much a part of my family! I really am such a sentimental old man!

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Clayborne in Bangkok!

1/10/2022

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Clayborne in Croatia!

1/10/2022

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Clayborne's World - Farewell to my Happy Place!

20/8/2022

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As we count down the days to our departure, Clayborne came out on our final farewell to Cancer Research. As the Cancer Research teddy, he travels with Darrell and me on all our trips around the World, so it was only right he was there at our last meal with the crew.

Like us, Clayborne has a lot to look forward to as we travel across the globe and I hope to get as many photographs as I can of this little bear, bringing attention to what, I believe to be, the best charity in the World.

It looks likely this will be one of Clayborne's last UK adventures for a while, but you will see more of him, as he enjoys the beauty of Croatia, wonders of Thailand and uniqueness of Australia. Like us, this will be the biggest undertaking of his life, and we look forward to sharing the memories with you all!

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The Long Journey Ahead!

26/7/2022

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Having made the decision to take a year-long lifestyle break from work, now comes the hard bit. My calendar is full for the next few weeks, as I say farewell to friends and colleagues from Tesco and Cancer Research. Both of us made a conscious choice not to get involved with other people too closely, over the last few years. It was a decision born from experience and a need to save as much money as possible for our journey ahead. We had targets to meet to fund our trip, so we tried to not over spend and only buy essentials. I can probably count on two hands the amount of times I went on a good night out, and as sad as that is, it has given me more options today, as we set our sights on the holiday of a lifetime!

I am trying to spend as much time as possible with my nearest and dearest here in Portsmouth before we leave. After all, this isn't the usual holiday. Cancer Research has played a huge part in my life over the last four years and even though I no longer volunteer regularly, it is always good to catch up with Zerina and the rest of the team. I know Darrell has thoroughly enjoyed his six months there as Deputy Manager. Without this charity shop, my faith in charities and the good work they do, would have never been restored. As readers of Roaming Brit are aware, my blogging career started through adverse times at Oxfam, so anything that helped me overcome my fears was welcome.

Naturally Clayborne the Cancer Research Teddy will be coming with me, as he does on all my trips abroad, highlighting the good things this charity does. Clayborne came with Darrell and me when we last left the UK on our travels to the far east. He will equally be a marker for the sites and sounds we encounter this time. This little bear has travelled further than me over the last few years during the pandemic. He was even part of a repatriation flight to Los Angeles, when COVID was at its height. Cancer Research will leave a long legacy in the name of Clayborne, and he will be a link to this wonderful shop in the heart of Portsmouth for as long as I can travel!

With my Father approaching his 75th Birthday, I am trying to spend as much time with him as possible over the next few weeks. Today I visited him and also my Aunt at home in Fareham. Dad is understandably apprehensive about me taking a 'gap year' at 51 years old, but as I said to him, 'I want to enjoy travelling before I am too old.' Dad isn't someone who has ever been on holiday abroad, so for him, it is a concept he finds difficult to understand. Nevertheless, he has given me his blessing and just wants me to be happy. He understands both Darrell and I are travellers at heart, and although I will miss him terribly, I will see him again in a year!

The Siam Heritage Hotel will be our first port of call in Bangkok, as we spend four days in the heart of this vibrant city. This small boutique, traditional Thai hotel, will give us plenty of time to explore downtown Bangkok, a five-minute walk from Patpong and its extraordinary nightlife. This place suits me down to the ground, as a lover of accepted, time-honoured traditions. Modernity and souless architecture have never really been my thing; I would prefer that my stay in Thailand is more culturally centred, staying in surroundings more in keeping with the country in which I am staying.

This evening we are looking at hotels along the riverside, near to many of the historic monuments, in complete contrast to the fast pace of Patpong. I enjoy seeing the different contrasts of city life and like to experience the diversity that makes up the urban sprawl. I am immediately drawn to Chao Phraya River in the centre of Bangkok, having lived near or close to water most of my life, and would like to stay in a Hotel overlooking this stunning waterfront. Wherever we stay in Bangkok, we are both looking forward to exploring a new city once again; This is what makes us gel as a couple, creating more memories for years to come.

Choa Phraya River

We have also booked our flights to Croatia, Thailand and Australia and have been looking at flying to Bali and Indonesia after a two-month stay travelling across Australia. I have booked tickets direct with Thai Airways, having flown with them before, when we travelled to Vietnam in 2019. It was probably one of the best long haul flights I have ever been on, and although I am not looking forward to wearing a mask all the way to Perth, Western Australia, I understand the rules and regulations are in place to protect everyone flying with the airline. This will be a holiday like no other for many reasons, but at the tail end of the biggest pandemic in over a hundred years, it is even more poignant for us. Despite my initial fears, this is a journey we both need to take, as we get to know one another again after our two years of forced separation!

The next few weeks before our departure are going to be hectic. Planning a long trip isn't without its pitfalls. Working out an itinerary that works for both of us, especially two people with very different ideas, can be problematic. However, we've done this many times before, and it is the one thing at the moment, that keeps us focused. I am looking forward to leaving Portsmouth behind for an extended period, it is my home, yes, but it is also a place I have grown tired of. Maybe a year away will help me reconnect with this great naval city, returning on very different terms. For now, it will be a fond bon voyage, in future I may fall in love with Pompey once again, who knows... Only time will tell!

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Clayborne's World – Trip to London!

11/5/2022

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A day out in London for Clayborne this May. Mixing with the hoi polloi in Harrods, a few drinks at The Punch and Judy in Covent Garden and a trip along embankment in the rain. This was the first time he had been out since his trip to Los Angeles, during the height of the pandemic.

Clayborne, spreading the word of Cancer Research far and wide!

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Clayborne's World - A Trip Over The Atlantic!

10/9/2020

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Clayborne has returned to Britain after his short trip to Los Angeles. Despite not being able to go away myself, I have been following my little travel companions adventures in the United States instead. A big thank you to the Virgin Atlantic crew for taking good care of him on his journey, especially Lucy, who I work with at Tesco.

Lucy was on her first repatriation flight and returned safely to London this week. By all accounts Clayborne thoroughly enjoyed his brief time away. It looks like he may well be travelling again very soon also. Lucy will be flying to different parts of the globe continuing to bring people back home to Britain and it will be nice for Clayborne to fly with her, helping to document her journey during this strange time, in the history of the World.

Until Darrell and I are able to travel, as we always used to, it is quite fitting that Clayborne is able to take on that mantle during the interim, flying to places that are on my bucket list. I look forward to the day, when I am able to step on a plane once again and start where I left off in 2019. I am of course counting down the hours when I can see Darrell again, but I am also yearning to continue my journey around the World. I have rarely stayed in the UK for this length of time, without holidaying abroad at least once, so my feet are itching more than they ever have.

Once again thanks to everyone at Virgin Atlantic, Captain, crew and Lucy for allowing me to at leat 'feel' I am there with you all. I look forward to Clayborne's next adventure to Lagos and Delhi!

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From a new life in spain, to an old life in britain, 'roaming brit' documents uncertain times!

Clayborne in Thailand and Singapore 2025!

Clayborne in Taiwan!

Clayborne's World — Vietnam 2024!

Clayborne's World - Bangkok and Chiang Mai!

Clayborne in Bangkok!

Clayborne in Croatia!

Clayborne's World - Farewell to my Happy Place!

The Long Journey Ahead!

Clayborne's World – Trip to London!

Clayborne's World - A Trip Over The Atlantic!

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