Premier Inn Christchurch - East

... 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 ...

... 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?!

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 ...

... They have these cycle paths.. I did only about 5% of them so there is heaps more to discover when I go back. I also managed to do some jogging ... whew my poor old knees didn't like it all... but the scenery was so lovely. The leaves were all turning, animals were wondering around it didn't feel you were in a country of 60 million people at all.

One day I had a ride for about 3-4 hours, ended up in a small place called Fritham... I had some ...

Visited this town while I was visiting my Uncle in Portsmouth. Its a lovely little place, well not little but seems about the size of Newcastle. Not that I have seen its outskirts etc.

When I arrived I went to have a look at the old wall and the old castles etc set up by Henry the VI I think. But it started to pour down so I went ...

... planned calls in England though, so we enjoyed a week catching up with some damned fine people, some who we hadn't seen for many years. We were able to do that ...

... people once the gate opened as well was definitely a sight, everyone wanted to get on quickly I guess to get a good seat. The flight to England was short, so Carmel and I just did a bit of reading. At the airport we had to go through immigration and I got through relatively easily as I had my working visa for Ireland. Carmel got through too, but only after she got grilled by her immigration officer wanting to know her travel plans ...