The Final Weeks...

One thing is for certain: We aint in the southern hemisphere any more people! As I write this blog entry, I’m sitting in a pub on George Street, Edinburgh, surrounded by posters of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sir Walter Scott, bottles of single malt whiskey, a plethora of cask conditioned ales and lots of Scottish folk.

It would be hard to envisage such contrast in backdrops from our hidden away jungle idyll in the farthest reaches of Borneo, where just a few months ago, we sat baking in the tropical sunshine. Since then we have:

• been on 2 flights
• several train journeys
• clocked up many more miles on the bikes
• navigated our way through 4 countries
• I turned 32
• visited friends and family in France, England and Scotland
• Mel has worked in Lush Edinburgh
• Moved into the flat we’ll be renting in Musselburgh
• couch surfed with more great people
• missed Nelson a lot!
• been to Lucy and Ed Todd’s wedding
• met our new niece, Felicity
• and much, much more

I can barely express the mix of emotions I’m experiencing as I go over all the stuff we’ve done since the last entry. I’m also not sure how to end this blog or even if I should – I’ll have to give it a new title mind you, can’t exactly go on calling it our adventures in the southern hemisphere any more can I? In fairness, anything I do from now on would pale in comparison with all that has happened since we left Newcastle a lifetime ago. Hmm. Best make this the last entry then. We’ll add more photos before too long, but I didn’t want to leave it much longer without bringing you up to speed.

Are we happy to be back in the UK? Happy to see our friends and family again and happy to be able to buy cheap fruit and veg in the supermarkets again. But if we’re honest, New Zealand was as close to heaven as any place we have ever visited in our lives. The entire trip we have just undertaken was more life affirming and enriching than anything we could have done had we stayed at home. It was the best journey we could have hoped for.

I think it would be best if I finish with a few words of advice for anyone thinking of doing something like us whilst the best part of your life is still ahead of you.  The most important part of your life is right now, it’s all you’ll ever have, be present and live it well!

To all those we have met and to all those who have kept up with this blog - Many thanks for reading – We hope to see you again soon…

The End

Mel unpacking her bike at the airport in Paris

PS: Mel and I are hoping to get this printed some time in the not too distant future, we would really appreciate any comments or witty anecdotes you may have – feel free to post them on this web page and we’ll add them to the book.

Waiting to board the ferry to England in Dieppe