Hello world!

If this is your first time viewing these blogs, welcome - and I hope you find them entertaining. As I sit at my desk on a cold, albeit sunny, Sunday in January writing my first tlm blog, the world of travel seems infinitely more appealing than the winter bleakness of Essex outside the windows.

If you need a panacea for the post-New Year blues (or your team being knocked out of the FA Cup), the latest issue of tlm will surely help to lift your spirits.  You can dream yourself away to the paradise island of Bali, marvel at the splendour of the Gulf States, imagine being pampered on a luxury cruise and soak up the romance of a break in Venice. On the home front, you can take a walk through history on the Jurassic Coast, join the village people in London and revel in Britain's glorious maritime history.

The Winter 2010/2011 issue also looks at the appeal of solo holidays, we highlight some of the latest travel gadgets and gizmos as well as giving suggestions for things to pack for your holiday, check out some of London's latest hotels and give our take on what we think are 10 of the best views you can get from hotel rooms around the world.
Just go to the tlm website to register for the online issue. Or better still, take out a subscription for your own regular copy of tlm, and be in with a chance of winning one of 55 Michelin London guides. You can also win more than £2,500-worth of other prizes in competitions on the website. They range from a short break to the European Capital of Culture, Tallin, to a golf and spa stay at Ryder Cup host resort Celtic Manor, an overnight airport hotel stay and 15 days' parking, a set of six Insight Select guides, four stylish wristlet Bam Bags and 20 pairs of tickets to the Adventure Travel Live show in London.
There is also a £180 Flip MinoHD video camera up for grabs in our reader survey, and you can win a copy of the Insight Guide to Travel Photography in both January and February with our fun winter photo competition. See the website for details, and visit tlm's Facebook page to see a selection of entries and the winners of our highly-successful summer photo competition with Leica.
Keep following these blogs, and keep up to date with tlm on Facebook and Twitter.