The Epilogue

Sunday, 25th February at 10.15 am and after 33 flights in 4 months the big BA bird touches down at Heathrow. David & Andy and Alex & Mags (and a definite bump) had all turned out to welcome us home - which was wonderful - and we were so very, very pleased to see them all.

They had brought three cars for us and all our luggage - and seemed quite disappointed that we only had 4 dumpy bags and a couple of small backpacks in total. However, and to be fair, we had sent home about 50kg in boxes.... so when we all got back to 2 Fairfax Gate it was just like Christmas as the boxes were opened. Lots of souvenirs, books and presents.

Now we have been home nearly a week and it almost feels as if we haven't been away at all!

Everyone is asking about which was the best bit... but to be honest ... it was all marvellous. There were no real disappointments, nothing we would have left out, and probably not much that we are very, very desperate to visit again soon - but only because there is still so much of the world that we haven't seen.

We do know how fortunate we are to have been able to do this and our memories will be with us for the rest of our lives.... and we still have the 6000 photos to sort through!

But these were probably the greatest highlights for each of the major destinations visited -

India - Rajasthan - The Taj Mahal
Thailand - Rayavadee, Krabi
Cambodia - Angkor - Pra Thom
Malaysia - The Petronas Towers
Bourneo - Anna Lisa - Sepilok
Singapore - Boat Quay

Australia - Great Barrier Reef & Our First Turtle
New Zealand - Mountains, Rivers & Lakes & The Sperm Whales
The Cook Islands - Doug's 60th Birthday
Hawaii - The Humpback Whales
California - San Francisco's Cable Cars

What we didn't see ....

Tigers in India

Kangaroos in Australia

Mount Cook in New Zealand

But what we did see included a few surprises -
A fine selection of cement mixers (for those current members of the Cement Mixers Convention, the President asked that you particularly note the use of one at Humayun's Tomb in Delhi, another at our first campsite in New Zeland - Hokitika and he was very excited to have found a very elusive specimen, locked away for its protection in Alcatraz).

For those members of the Aston Martin & Jaguar Club - Orgiva Division -

Two Aston Martin DB9's both near Auckland, New Zealand and a Vanquish in Maui, Hawaii.

And Doug took it upon himself to compile the Beer Drinkers Friendly Society Guide to Beers of the World, which required a lot of sampling.
Needless to say this is only a fraction of the compendium, so if you require further detailed information or copies of the photographic data or maybe you would like to leave some feedback then please don't hesitate to contact the Secretary of the Friendly Beer Drinking Society, Mr Douglas Howe.

So the sillyness is put on hold, temporarily, and it's back to reality!

We have a house to sell ... so the agents will be in again next week and hopefully we will be able to make a new life in Spain before too long.

We do hope you have enjoyed travelling with us - and look forward to seeing you all before too long. We just want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have dropped us a line via the web during our travels.... it was always lovely to hear from home.

With our very best wishes,

Diane and Doug xx

The end.