"Take a few lovers, travel the world, and don't take any crap!" could quite be the most memorable piece of advice I was given in my early twenties. I first started travelling at the grand old age of 12 when my mother came home from work one day and loudly announced she was taking me travelling around India, Pakistan and Nepal. Being 12, and the eighties, I wanted to spend my valuable summer holiday roller-skating around the local leisure centre and discussing with friends about the latest shimmery lipstick that Rimmel had just brought out! However, the trip proved to be invaluable and it opened my eyes at a very early age to what was ‘out there’. I continued to travel but more extensively in the last few years. The wonder of travel to me is that almost nowhere is out of reach these days. The other side of the world can be visited in less than 24 hours and that includes a brief stop in another country along the way! However, in the current climate and as women are taking the initiative to get out and travel on their own, safety has to be considered. Despite thoroughly enjoying my travels, there are situations I would have rather not have been in. Men in my bedroom with carving knives whilst I sleep and men kindly showing me their ‘wares’ whilst I take in the more interesting of monuments, are not what I had on my itinerary! For this reason, I created Broads-Abroad. I wanted to provide an international network where women can link up with other women, both locally and abroad so we can all experience what this wonderful planet has to offer in, hopefully, a slightly safer environment for us all. Happy travelling! Carey.