Cathedral Quarter Hotel Derby

Woke up this morning. Had that 'Red Letter Day' feeling. Steve obviously felt the same as we bumbled through the usual morning rituals, all the while thinking that today was not just another ordinary day.

Having said goodbye to my esteemed host of the past week I set to getting things ready to leave (and having a final idle surf on the internet). I had initially said I wanted to be out of the ...

Wow - only one week to the day before we make our way down south to London town to stay in the very affordable 'heathrow' travel lodge.

Liz in in Manc saying goodbye to friends and family and i'm sorting the last bits out for the fresh box before we go.

Just wanted to say thank you to Ron and Sue for ...

... filled with Laphroig single malt but will probably hold a number of different spirits around the way).)

Backpack: Clothes, Food and cooking utensils, Duck tape

Top Bar: Energy tablets, gels and Caffiene tablets

I'm glad that is sorted - now just to put my affairs in order.

Precisely 1 week today!

... in Cologne Hostel
CityNightLine Sleeper train from Cologne to Copenhagen
3 Nights in Copenhagen Hotel
Mum and Brother return to Manchester via Easyjet

It's taken me 4 weeks to get the timing and money right, but today I've booked the majority of the tickets, and I have a shortlist of accommodation.

It's weird how it's all coming together now, it still feels like booking a holiday....but it's slowly starting to sink in that this is a 1000 mile house move ...

So I'm back in Stoke after my brief trip back to Cumbria (where, sadly I did not see everybody that I could have). I would just like to say now that if I didn't get a chance to catch up with anyone during the whirlwind that was the last couple of months then I'm sorry and I'll see you down the road.

With a little over 10 days til departure three goals need to be achieved:

1 ...

So there we have it - the ferry is booked! I will be taking the 'King of Scandanavia' out of the country at 1700 on the 5th December. It's another one of those milestone events that forces one to reflect on the reality of the situation; however fear has given way to anticipation on that score.

For a few hours yesterday I considered "copping out" with the Dover to Calais crossing - being cheaper ...

... 45 minutes while he takes his break, what a joke! We stop at a service station and I wait around while he takes his break and we get on our way again. Finally I arrive at Helena and Phil's house at 00:30 and sneak in a get straight to bed. What a day!!!

... sat nearby as if to see us off. Goodbyes are short and we set off into the countryside and the deserted (well they were never busy) roads.

The leisurely drive south down the A2 – IP1 autopista is uneventful and gives us the chance to start thinking about life back in the UK, something we have never had time to do at MV. It’s going to be strange being home after ‘settling’ here for six months and I’ ...

... As it has been a bit dull, have added a couple of photos showing some other aspects of life in the UK. By the way if you want to see really cheap airfares, then visit ryanair.co.uk You can fly out of Midlands Airport (the closest to Alan, about 15klm away) to say Berlin, Germany for 24pence, which is 60cents Australian! There are taxes and charges to add which can be as much as 12 pound, but still, you can book a return flight to Germany for as little as 25pound, ie $62AUD! Check it out!!

... now contains a network of footpaths that can take you from one coast to the other. The English do love their country walks, as witnessed by a two-week walking festival in the Peak District that coincided during my visit. My aunt did offer to sign me up for a morning walk at a nearby abbey. However, upon inquiry, I leaned that the walk started in the pre-dawn (at 4am) so that the walkers could ...