In Bucket Lists and Walking Sticks, after her husband Darryl had a severe accident in 2011, Emma Scattergood decided that they should try to do their bucket list. The decision was brought to fruition when Darryl started to suffer from depression. It was decided that the time was right for this adventure. Their children had reached the stage in their lives when they would be doing their own things. The author takes the reader through the planning stage and how they make use of various cruise offers they find, as flying would not suit Darryl, who cannot sit for long periods of time at this stage. On the 20th February 2017, their journey commences on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line departing Brisbane for Singapore.

Bucket Lists and Walking Sticks by Emma Scattergood takes the reader through 19 countries and ticks off 13 bucket list items. Emma makes each visit to the different countries an adventure on its own. The comments on each country and the people living there are most amusing. They make contact with family and friends as well on their travels. Their Irish trip is the most hilarious, but there are so many interesting sections throughout that it is definitely a book that a reader will pick up when wanting to escape from the mundane and enjoy an adventure. The author brings each country to life in the most beautiful way, painting pictures and adventures with words. The quotes at the beginning of each paragraph foreshadow each adventure, making the reader want to see what happens. When the reader gets to the end, the book comes to the most delightful closure. Even if the reader only goes on an armchair adventure, it will bring a smile to their face and light up their day. Thank you, Emma, for taking me on the adventure of a lifetime.

Bucket Lists and Walking Sticks: An Unexpected Adventure by Emma Scattergood records a long, continuous trip with husband Darryl that begins with a cruise from Brisbane to Singapore and then expands into a months-long passage through Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the UK. Emma shares stories, anecdotes, and experiences as they move from ships to trains to hotels, hopping in and out of Ubers, documenting each transition, every border crossing, and the practical details that enable the journey to keep them moving forward. Their travel path rarely pauses with all the stops, whether it's a city visit, a family stay, or an excursion, functioning as one more stage in a single extended transit, until the final preparations are made for the return flights that close the loop on their worldwide adventures.

Bucket Lists and Walking Sticks by Emma Scattergood is a personal travel account that takes the journey of two individuals and makes this into vignettes of not-so-everyday encounters. Scattergood’s writing is simple and straightforward, sharing the rhythm of travel in a relatable way, whether describing urban streets, local markets, or the quirks of maneuvering through new environments. The author conveys both practical details and misadventures with wit and a conversational tone, and we get a good idea of her adaptability. This is a memoir that produces a pleasant sense of life on the move, but it works equally well as a travel resource. I think readers who enjoy travelogues will find a lot of good stuff here. Recommended.