Coxswain Bill

Throughout all of the organisation and planning for the trip we've had many people say things like, "Is there any room in your backpack?", or "I've always fancied doing something like that!". Our usual response has been, "Why not come out and do a bit of the trip with us?".

Well, we've had a take up to join us all the way :)



Coxswain Bill, named in memory of William Hillary, the founder of the RNLI, is coming along for the ride. Bill is a knitted lifeboatman hand made by friends of the RNLI's Poole & District Branch and donated at last year's charity Jazz event. I acquired Bill for the princely sum of £5 and we've become good friends ever since...

Amber & I will be taking photos of Bill all around Australia, New Zealand and China and updating the blog with not only our antics but his as well. He might even get to help raise funds and generate awareness on his trip.

Volcanic ash

So the disruption continues for another day.

The BBC have revealed that UK airspace is still closed and expected to last until at least Sunday morning. Full article here.

Although we're not flying for another 32 days, many friends and family have had journeys cancelled or seriously delayed causing all manner of problems so our thoughts are with them all for a quick resolution.

We've just sorted our travel insurance out but after this disruption will be checking the small print for any 'acts of god' or natural disaster references.

What A Relief...

Tim set me the task of going shopping today - not a difficult task for me I hear you all saying. But this was no ordinary shopping trip. I had to buy multi-activity shoes and paraphernalia for my rucksack!!

Starting my shopping adventure at Blacks I thought I'd be able to walk out of there with a pair of Goretex (waterproof to you and me!) multipurpose walking shoes - how wrong was I. The industry seems to think that women over size 8 (like me) don't do adventure!!!! Leaving Blacks shoeless and frustrated my next target was Field and Trek - again I left there shoeless and even more demoralised. Why do they not have walking shoes in pink and over size 8s?????

Time for a chocolate bar to keep me going... Next came to the rescue with the trousers I needed - practical yet still with a bit of sparkle; Field and Trek had a nice turquoise fleece top to keep me warm.

Oswald Bailey came to the rescue just in the nick of time. £26.00 pounds lighter but with a smile on my face I walked out with a carrier bag containing not only a pair of multi-purpose shoes but also in pink (and grey)! Yippee!



To finish off the shopping expedition I rewarded myself with a much needed Flat White coffee and a cheeky muffin from Costa... Lets hope the remaining items left to purchase are stress-free!

F-Day minus 41

We're up and running...welcome to The Big Twelve Monther

Amber & I will try and keep this updated throughout the year with our daily activities, sightseeing photos and comments so you, our captive audience, can come on the journey too. We apologise in advance for stunning sunsets and blue seas in your inbox on a gloomy UK Monday morning and tales about food and drink.

So on that note..let's begin...

41 days to go til we board the big Airbus to Singapore and it's getting close. Plans are well underway, the bubble wrap is slowly taking over the lounge and we're running out of days to arrange the goodbyes with friends.

It's got so bad we're having to highlight free days on the calendar and marking specific time for Amber to actually go shopping...you heard it here first :) Some friends are still in denial and some family members just can't wait until we leave (I'm sure there's some love there somewhere!!!)

Big things still to get...travel insurance, new lens (v.important) and probably the most important more boxes to pack. We don't have much stuff but you'd not believe how much needs to go in a box. There's smaller bits and pieces still to get but its got to a point where there'll have to wait.

We're getting used to the new netbook - thanks to Dell - and hopefully we won't get in a muddle with all the new features...keep your fingers crossed :)