Heathlands Hotel Bournemouth

... Michael's Church to help us sort and pack the boxes. You are all stars...

We can't wait to start seeing the smiling faces of people receiving your shoeboxes and we promise to keep you up to date with where we are, who we meet and the reaction your gifts receive.

Check back on Monday when the Trussell team will reach Bulgaria and start distributing your shoeboxes to men, women and children living in poverty...

Booked flight today - Guatemala on Feb 22nd 2010. So to mark the occasion I thought I'd start my travel diary today as well.

Two months to go - and a lot of list-making, planning, shopping, getting vaccinated, freaking out, and bouncing with excitement to do!

Hello everybody

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>>>>>
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 ...

Bournemouth has a very funny layout.. the two main streets of the town go up both sides of the hills that lead down to the park and eventually to the famous Pier.

I was a bit down in the dumps this day.. I think because I was watching all the families and couples having some fun. It was mid term break so there were heaps of kids around and the entrance to the Pier was packed with amusements and ...

... 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 ...

... instead.. lol. I still can't get over that they don't have huge shopping centres, everyone still has to walk between shops in the wet!

While I was there I had to work out how I was going to get from the railway to the catch the bus to the New Forest. My next port of call!

Southampton is also famous, well in the olden days ...

... Not to be deterred, Ralph set out down some back streets, heading to what he hoped was the centre of town. We very quickly passed the prison, and the area around it looked as rough as the place itself, but one block further on we found a nice square and another brasserie. It was definitely the kind of place you would expect from a poorer area, but it wasn't rough and we decided to give it a go. We had a very nice meal. Ralph had steak and chips and I ...

... one former student even worked as a personal chef for Prince Charles. The food is served by students who aim to have a career as a chef. After lunch we spoke briefly with Lawrence and other administrative staff, spending the most time with Rob Garner (head of 6th form academy) discussing the structure of BPC and reviewing the organizational chart. Went to Alcatraz Italian restaurant to celebrate Julie's birthday; the food was fantastic. Another great day!

... people have no issues about queuing for stupid amount of time. Us on the other hand after a moments of discussion was to queue the Australian way. Up to the restaurant and put our names on the waiting list and head out into the sun for some ice cold beers and wait for our names to be called. After a quick bite to eat and the "Saturday Afternoon Lazies" coming on very quickly, the only decision left was to try and to determine how we were going to find ourselves some sand ...