Well, here I am sat sitting here in my affiliate jimmy jams contemplating yet another year that has simply flown past. Kieron , Ray and Nadeem (in Two Parts) have already published fine overviews of their year. I could reflect in the same organised way they have… but to be honest 2007 was an absolute blur and much of it involved me visiting some of the most exciting places in the world.
So I can encapsulate my year thus. I ran my affiliate business at the same time as travelling the world. During my 2007 tax year I achieved a 400% increase in turnover working 3 days a week and visited Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand for a total of 10 and-a-half glorious months before heading home on a 6 week jolly via Fiji, Hawaii, San Francisco, Las Vegas, The Grand Canyon, and finally New York.
My highlights from the trip would have to be: -
Railey Beach in Thailand, a spookily beautiful place with towering limestone cliffs surrounding it. I also met up with an old friend from uni there and we spent a quality week with him. It was just like when we were young and irresponsible again!
Wai U Tapu Thermal Park - Rotorua NZ - I’ve always been fascinated by volcanoes and their wily ways. I felt just like David Attenborough!
Spending my 30th birthday drinking Bollinger in a spa bath looking out over a tropical rain forest in Australia… Nuff said
Seeing a piece of art with a hefty price tag that absolutely took my breath away in Katherine, Australia and being able to say “What the hell, I’m having that!” without thinking of it. Actually, I wish I’d taken a picture of the gallery owners face when two scabby looking young backpacker types wandered in and spent $4,300 without blinking. Now THAT was a work of art folks!
Sailing around the islands of Fiji on a beautiful old boat, visiting all the famous film locations where they filmed movies such as “Castaway” and “Blue Lagoon”, sipping Fijian beer and generally making remarks such as “wow” and “this is the life, isn’t it?”
That’s me in the green dress!
Driving out to the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon when we were visiting Vegas. Truly amazing places I never thought in a million years that a wee lassie fae Colmonell in Ayrshire would ever get to visit!
Is this a God Dam?
Visting the Empire State Building in New York… and also getting to be very rude to New Yorkers. Those people really know how to let you know their feelings on any issue (which generally seems to be that you’re an idiot and must do things their way). However, they forget they learnt it all from their Scottish / Irish roots so I had a great time abusing everyone right back… from casual street hustlers to tour guides, bellhops, taxi drivers, and finally innocent passers by, everyone in New York caught it in the neck from a short, irate Scottish girl. I think they secretly enjoyed it 
I’ve no idea how Duncan managed to take this picture… there were about 2,000 other people in that foyer!
Finally, the best bit of this year has been getting home and doing 3 months solid work at the job I truly love. I have had so many ideas when we have been away and so little time to develop them. It’s a real pleasure to now be able to work on them and really strengthen my revenue streams. I already know what I’m doing in 2008… I hope y’all have made your plans to make the best of what is likely to be a challenging year for the industry.
Bring it on I say. My resolution? To be innovative, keep ahead of the game, and to represent the affiliate industry as a good example of professionalism and ethics. I hope we can all do the same this year.
Thanks to everyone who’s subscribed and read my blog this year. It’s always a real pleasure talking to you all!
Happy New Year!!!
Oh, I’ve also realised I’m getting married this year. AARRGGGHHH!!!!!!!
January 1st, 2008 at 2:38 pm
a pleasure to read - nice to hear someone really enjoying their affiiate earnings in a good way - wish you all the best - health, happiness and wealth for 2008
cheers
Elaine and Dave
January 1st, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Love your blog posts
keep them up in 2008
You trip sounds amazing, it makes me think that’s what I should be doing now instead of at uni. How did keeping up to date sites, emails etc go in places such as fiji ? was it easy.
I’m so very tempted to leave uni after a year and go travelling while doing AM work.
btw that beach looks breath taking
January 1st, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Same to you Elaine! And congrats on the new addition to the family.
Max - doing a trip before r-r-r.. responsibility kicks in is certainly a good idea. It wasn’t that easy in Fiji I must confess, they really are quite poor resourced particularly out on the islands. However, Thailand was extremely well set up and in Australia I just got a 3G datacard on a contract and accessed the internet wherever I went.
The beach was surreal. We are totally going there on honeymoon!
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:13 am
Delightful blog post Kirsty - you do live the affiliate dream! Your blog posts are a true inspiration (I’m so swamped with projects, I haven’t even had the opportunity to travel abroad for five years :-))
> makes me think that’s what I should be doing now instead of at uni.
I know the temptation is there, but focus on your studies my friend. Seriously. You can do the Round the World trip when you’ve completed your degree. Catch me on Messenger again if you want to chat, or gimme a ring
Wishing Kirsty, Max and all the wonderful people out there in AM a great 2008.
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Hi Kirsty,
What an awesome post! You deserve all the success, certainly! =)
I don’t want to be rude or nosy or anything, but I’d love to have a similar lifestyle as you (through hardwork of course - which I’m already doing through the Internet, although not at your level, yet) because I absolutely love travelling, and I’m really really wondering what kind of monthly income YOU generate such that you can do all those nice things? (i.e: 10.5 month travel….oh my God!)
You don’t have to tell me exact figures, but what about some hints? 5 figures monthly? Low, mid, high? A range perhaps?
I just want to get a better idea!
Thanks!
January 4th, 2008 at 6:00 am
Dang you looking kinda hot in that tub
January 4th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Always wanted to visit Austrailia and the Pacific Islands. I’ll live vicariously through your pictures for the moment.
Anyway if you ever get the desire to visit Southern California it’s where I’m from originally. I don’t know if you prefer tourist attractions but there are plenty of things to see off the beaten trail. I’d be more than happy to point you in the right direction.
January 8th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Kseniya - I’m not telling you how much I’ve been making, but I’ll tell you what we needed to travel around. To travel in Australia for 2 people we needed about £1500 per month. This was a moderate life of very few bar extravaganzas and lots of fuel for our camper van.
In thailand we mangaged to spend £6000 in 8 weeks, but could have managed about £2000 if we hadn’t bought everything in sight and stayed in 5 star hotels all the time!
January 12th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Wow, what a year! Thanks for sharing. And many congrats on your upcoming wedding.
March 13th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
[...] New Year post shows some of pictures from her 2007 travels, including this [...]