The Christmas Message

Well, now that the Christmas cards are out along with a message about using this blog to keep in touch as we make our way around Australia, I thought it would be a good idea to post this up-date just in case there are any really enthusiastic people out there who actually read the note and have visited the site and will maybe even leave a comment.

If you are reading this you are obviously one of these enthusiastic ones - well done!

Sandra effectively finishes work next Friday i.e. 18th December then follows a fairly hectic period of social events, farewell parties etc then we can get around to finalising the trip.

All for now - see you soon.

Another piece of the jig-saw falls into place

As previously blogged Sandra and I have our flights booked from Edinburgh to Sydney via London and Hong Kong.

Travel insurance has been a biggie, mainly because we need cover for pre-existing medical conditions. Whilst tempted to risk the trip without full cover, the prospect of paying for a medical evacuation from the Bungle Bungles back to Dalkeith, whilst exciting, would probably devour my meagre pension for the next 25 years! So we bit the bullet and are now covered.

However a big step forward today which saw the arrival of e-mails from the Australian immigration people telling us that our visas have now been approved. We can stay in Australia for up to a year.

It's beginning to look more and more that we are going!

Resignation

Today I resigned from my job. My last paid day of working is 8.1.10. I have enjoyed working but feel there are pastures new.
James may not be admitted to Australia for various reasons but I feel quite confident that I will be accepted for a year at least. I am practicing my social graces and have always had the 'gift of the gab'. Let's hope I will not fall at the first hurdle!
After my sister, Johann and her partner, Stretch, failed to purchase 'our' trailer tent (with appropriate interior sprung mattress, integral sink, work surfaces, significant storage etc. etc and mossie barriers), spotted on Gumtree, we are searching again for the bargain tent offer. Now we have booked our flights we are raring to go.

Flights booked

Well that's the dates finalised - or at least the departure date. We leave from Heathrow on Monday 25 January 2010 flying with Cathay Pacific (a first - have never flown with them before) and arrive in Sydney on Saturday 30 January. En route we will be stopping over in Hong Kong for three nights - again a new experience never having been there before.

Now the dates are set next thing is the visas. Let's hope things go more smoothly than the last two times we went to Australia when Sandra's visa applications went through without a hitch whilst mine was refused both times. I didn't realise I was so undesirable!

In the beginning ......

In January 2010 Sandra and I (the good looking couple in the photo) are planning a "gap year" in Australia. We thought it might be a good idea to set up a blog so that we can stay in touch with friends and family as we circumnavigate Australia in our 4 wheel drive.

Never having done this before, a search on Google got me to a site offering a free blog so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm still groping around in the dark but it looks as if I might be getting somewhere - I wonder if this will publish?