Is travelling in your handwriting?

I have a feeling a love of travelling and exploring in your blood. If you're a travel-fiend, you'll baulk at the idea of a mortgage and traditional lifestyle of 9-5, home by 6, with dinner on the table at 7 and reality telly until bed.

You'll love the thought of discovering a brand new secret hotspot, free from package tourists and the monotony resorts bring.

You'll love the feeling of the unknown, and probably have turned up at an airport or train station desperate to buy a ticket to somewhere, anywhere, to see what adventures lie ahead.

You'll see the sea and be transported back to That Time When. You'll get wind of a scent that'll take you back to a beach-side cookery school where you learnt to make local food by a local.

You'll come back home, and realise that your home can be anywhere. Sure, you have the familiarity of your culture. But there's so much more to see and to do.

Right?

So, we decided to put this to the test. Can travelling be in someone's blood, the love of the unknown be as much a part of them as their hair colour? Or is it something we develop?

Graphology, or the study and analysis of handwriting, is used as a means to pick out certain personality traits and assess character. So, it can be used to tell how introverted or extroverted someone is. Are they confident in social situations or do they shy away from them?

Two travel bloggers, and one lifestyle blogger sent their handwriting samples over to Emma Bache,  a graphologist who often writes for The Times, to see whether they had a natural affinity for travel.

Kelly

Around the world in 80 pairs of shoes

This writer shows many traits of independence, self confidence and a need to conquer her environment. Her writing is disconnected, quite slowly written and for the most part regular in size and spacing. She has a controlled and practical approach to life and would rather choose to be on her own than caught up in compromising her ideals for others.

Travel is important to the writer because she is hungry for new experiences and sees foreign adventures as a logical way to self improvement and fun and it satisfies her observant and febrile mind. Happy to travel alone or amongst a group of close friends she can be decisive and spontaneous but not a reckless risk taker. She is torn between the love of new experience whether it be a safari, camping out under the stars or horse riding in South America but also the intensity of exploring a new City.

She is unlikely to be drawn to a lazy fortnight on a beach as she can be restless and easily bored. The writer has a strong sense of proportion and form so a holiday that involves architectural sites such as Roman ruins would be of interest. Whatever holiday she takes it is likely that at least part of the time she would choose to unwind by getting away from her busy life and spending some time on her own to discover her inner peace.

Rosie

A Rosie Outlook

This second sample of handwriting at first glance appears to be in stark contrast to the first as the script is larger, more crowded and more vertically written.

The writer is most definitely a people person and would enjoy all activities that entail being with groups. She is communicative and extrovert and gains most from travelling with companions. She loves to express her feelings and is likely to be a keen record keeper during her holidays whether through avid photography or writing.

Her reactions and thoughts can be erratic and she is easily bored therefore likely to opt for multi sensory vacations, taking in several locations on one trip. She seeks all types of fun and pleasure and is certainly open to interesting ideas and suggestions. A deep capacity for enjoyment, she will make the most of any situation even when she is far from the lap of luxury.

Despite possessing a strong willpower and at times stubborn streak, she comes into her own during an emergency. Her outward persona of party animal masks good leadership ability and a cool head in a crisis.

Laura

Er, six out of ten

This writer is often in a dilemma when it comes to travel and holidays because she is both practical and realistic but also yearns for experiences that indulge her fantasy world. Her writing is vertical and legible but the balloon like loops on her tall letters suggest that she has an active imagination and so holidays are likely to be well planned and interesting journeys.

There is a great sense of humour and a desire to entertain as well as be entertained so it is likely to be important for her to undertake group holidays and in fact she may enjoy a theme based vacation.

The writer prefers change and variety to routine and so is unlikely to have the same holiday destination each year. She enjoys preparation and is a good organiser and would be meticulous when planning a trip.

She talks of childhood holidays and the long and deep swinging loops on her 'g's and 'y's suggest strong links to the mother figure and holidays are likely to evoke memories. Holidays may be expensive because there are indications that she enjoys materialism and a certain amount of luxury even when away from home!

Interesting results. While Rosie is clearly a blogger through and through, recording everyday life and daily adventures through the lens or her keyboard it's obvious travelling is an intrinsic part of Kelly's life, as she seeks new experiences. I can vouch for having an active imagination and needing a change every now and then, and who doesn't like a little bit of luxury! Unbelievably, my mother is the Italian one who would take the lead on childhood holidays, so it's amazing that's possible to detect in my handwriting.

All in all, it's been such a fun way to find those characteristics that makes travellers tick. Whether we're all the same or all different, who knows. But one thing's for sure, we all love an adventure!