Etap Hotel Portsmouth

Hello everybody <br><br>We are still alive and well. We are in Cambodia at the moment. Apoligies for not sending any travel blogs for a while. As we're are trying to do 2 blogs at the same time it has become too much to keep both of them going simultaneously, so this one has been neglected for a while. If any of you are interested in our travels I can add your email ...

Sophia&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;<br>Right it is Wednesday the 11th November we'll be departing in a few days!!!! Realy getting excited and a bit nervous now just thinking this time next week i will be on the other side of the world!!! Busy time now though ahead last jabs tomoz as well as seeing katie and lexie for the last time till i get back!! Then the evening ...

... along the east coast from Brisbane to Melbourne. From there I'll be getting active in Tasmania, with visits to mountains, forests, beaches and cultural sites. Along the way I hope to write and document my experiences, so I hope you'll drop in from time to time and see how I'm getting on?!

At around 06:00 Arcadia slowly approached the Ocean Terminal berth and our Cruise was nearly over. We enjoyed one last breakfast in the Belevedere and waited for our disembarkation at 09:15. We sat and reflected about where we had been and all the facilities that the ship offered. My favourites where the Crows nest which is a bit like "Ten Forward" on the Enterprise "D", the Palladium ...

... and a cider at a pub! I walked in with my bike pants on and riding top.. looked a bit wild I think.. everyone just turned around and stared!! lol The lunch was huge.. big slices of ham off the bone, a bagette, salads and their home made relish.. yum but it was a long ride home!! And I nearly got run over.. lol. I went to dodge a squirrel running across the road, laughed and swirved to miss him and a car came around the corner just at the same ...

... people coming from London to take in the sea air and take to the water, ie the spas! Jane Austen apparently stayed in Southampton for a time as well.<br><br>The last night with the Smiths and we had a bit of a party night, I bought Indian... the music was put on and we were dancing and Olly was playing with his guitar and the dogs!<br><br>

Back in the motherland again! Like coming home...well it was home I guess. Arrived here today after a mad dash across France and ferry ride across the channel. gav &amp; Sue picked us up. You will remember them from the 9 C wedding a few years ago. We're staying here a few days before moving northward.<br>

The only way to leave the UK is by boat, well for the romantic anyway. The sun is setting behind the clouds somewhere. All well and good, I will see it rise again over mainland Europe. Au Revoir, to friends and family. In fact to all that has brought me to this point. Scared...Nah, I'm a big boy now. Excited...You bet, I'm still a child after all.

... Cruise &amp; Waterfront Even though we had a late night and Frank was a bit groggy we had a good breakfast and left early for the old historical dockyard where we first visited the HMS Warrior an amazing old battleship then took an amazing harbour cruise through Portsmouth and got sunburnt! A beautiful day around 25 degrees. Spinnaker Tower After that we came back to the waterfront for a trip up ...

We're finally off tomorrow after a particularly surreal fortnight and rollercoaster of emotions. We've left work and are now officially unemployed (a surprisingly good feeling); we've packed up and moved out of our flat; said goodbye to our feline friend (or fiend as some might say); moved back in with Mum and Dad; had a farewell party; packed our bags (with just a few tantrums) and are now 12 hours away from leaving for the airport. One minute the ...