The time has come! The countdown is almost over and in less than 7 hours I shall be on a plane (only to London, but still that's the journey begun)!

For someone who's normally pretty organised, I've completely swung the other way and it took until yesterday to buy travel insurance and 07:25 this morning for my travel money to arrive. Still, it is now all here and I'm almost packed!

I've had some final good old British food including BBQ steak, strawberries, pork chops, pancakes and full english breakfasts to set me on my way! Hope the plane is able to take off after I've consumed all that!

My interary goes something like this:

9-11th June - Hong Kong

12th June - 20th July - New Zealand (4 weeks in Christchurch and the rest travelling about)

20th July - 12th Aug - Vanuatu (again "working")

12th -27th Aug - Aus (all I know is I fly into Brisbane and leave from Melbourne. My actual movements remain to be seen)

Don't worry! I am definitely going to make the most of each and every day!

So thank you to everyone for all your best wishes and help getting me organised! It is all very much appreciated!

I will miss you all very much, but these days the other side of the world really isn't that far away! Some of you will probably have a better idea of what I'm getting up to than when I'm at home!

Much love and many smiles xxx

PS currently a thunderstorm in Manchester - really not giving me a good reason to stay for a British "summer"