HOW far can you go on an empty fuel tank? And this time I'm talking literally – nothing to do with sport!

Well, I'm closer to knowing after finding myself cutting it rather fine last Friday. I know for a fact that my diesel Golf can do at least eighteen miles with a zero flashing at me from the dashboard. I was risking rather a lot as I was heading to Heathrow at 4.30 in the morning to get a flight to my friend's wedding in Gibraltar.

I hadn't considered the early start, meaning the local fuel station wasn't open, so my only option was to keep going with my fingers crossed in the hope I could make it to the next services.

Driving along at 50mph with lorries cruising past I did feel a little silly, but that was the least of my worries. I used to have an excuse, my last car didn't have a fuel light and the one before that didn't even have a fuel gauge. But the problem with this one is I like to see how accurate my fuel warning is and push it. I think now I have pushed it far enough and used up my lifelines, as I got away with it this time and did make my flight.

It wasn't just my lack of fuel that nearly prevented my weekend away. I'd been anxiously waiting for my passport to be returned from the Chinese Embassy, it arrived Thursday afternoon, in the nick of time.

I'm not going to be risking so many factors for my next travels. I've spent the last few weeks trying to sort out flights, insurance, vaccines, visas, and itinerary. This is suddenly a lot harder when it begins with a competition that includes air pistols and epees. I think I am just about there, only one flight left to book and a visa to complete. Now the fun of packing remains.