POINT OF CONTACT WHILE TRAVELLING: Newly trained journalists going away on a long or indeterminate trip worry about how editors can keep in touch, how they will get paid, get messages, etc. No worries in the world of the third millennium!! FIRST no one sends you an old-fashioned cheque . . . they deposit direct to your bank account. "Oooh-wah! I can't give out my bank account number." Why not? Having your bank account number means people can only put money IN . . . no-one can take money out without your passwords. Remember, every time you hand out a cheque you hand out your bank account number. SECOND if you can afford it and ensure it's not lost or stolen, take your mobile with you, with world-wide roaming ability, and anyone anywhere in the world can phone you up anytime. THIRD you must have an email address. It is foolish and nave to not have an email address. You can keep up-to-date by dropping into internet cafes or libraries anywhere in the world. It's as simple as that. You DON'T need a friend or relative back home acting as your point of contact.