I've always done that, I never believe my own UK Foreign Offices advice.

I've lived and worked in many countries and many that are supposedly friends and allies are the worst.

I have had friends tell me how dangerous The Philippines are when I've had nothing but pleasant times there, same with Thailand where I had a house and business for 14 years, and it was the same with Spain, Portugal in my youth when I first started travelling.

Spain under Franco was hairy at times yet there are some who miss those hard line cops today.

I felt unsafe sometimes in the Yemen, but survived and wandered around Freetown in Sierra Leone, just after their civil war, with a backpack and 7 million Leones currency between Western Union and the Bank, with nothing but a young driver and a lady friend.

I've always wanted to do more of South America and a business pal of mine swears by it, so hopefully I'll get there one day.

Many people prefer a sanitized existence. I grew up in East London and moved out because I didn't want my kids to grow up there, where I'd experienced pub fights and muggings, even the old Soccer hooligan battles on the terraces, where bottles and knives, hammers and bricks were used. People get blinkered and our governments don't see half of what goes on in their own country.