Leaving!! :-((

Well, we have now started our journey in earnest. To be honest, I think it hit me sitting on the plane in the middle of the night just how enormous a change this trip is going to make in our life. I still haven't quite processed it all and probably won't until we are actually on board Shirley Valentine. Things are moving fast now and we are in regular contact with our 'man on the ground', Anthony Camilleri, with regards to final touches. Shirley Valentine is arriving in Slovenia the same day as we do all going well (10th of February) and Anthony thinks we are mad to be considering commissioning in the middle of winter. I must admit that right at this moment I am beginning to agree with him..... (Craig is worried at all!).

We are currently sitting in Scotland looking at snow falling. It is not particularly cold, just wet and slushy!! Leaving Australia was extremely difficult. The last few months have been so busy and traumatic that I didn't really have time to think about getting on the plane and how hard it was going to be. We had so many friends and family contact, visit us and help us with our last minute preparations that we were very humbled. Why is it in life that we don't realise how much we mean to others until we are preparing to leave them for a while??

I bawled my eyes out when I said goodbye to the dogs and also (luckily) as we farewelled our lovely friends and family at Brisbane airport. If I hadn't, my daughter would have told everyone that I loved the dogs more than my kids!! We got some both lovely and practical gifts which we will treasure while we are away... Kathleen and Helen - I am glad I opened yours on the plane as I cried for about 30 minutes after I opened it! Thank you so much, what a great sentiment. Maggie - we have already used the clock and I have now learned how to turn off the alarm. It is fantastic! Kim - Mum is going to inscribe the front of our log for us to make it look really fancy. Can't wait to record all our adventures!

Must admit, writing in our blog makes me realise that all of this is actually happening! Anyway, plenty more to do and people to see before launching so I better get on. Will talk to you all soon. Take care and thinking of you all!

PS... can't get any images to load today. Will try again tomorrow!

xx

Lesley and Craig