15th - 23 AugustWe haven't quite had the access to wifi that we thought, and refused to pay the $13 in the Vegas hotels that we ended up in due to the heat of 105'c in the Arizona dessert. Lots of fun in Vegas at the pool, at MGM hotel where there is literally a lions den with 3 lion cubs in a glass cage, acrobatics at Circus Circus. Over the jet lag by day three, Edward was waking at 3am - having a little chat with me and then thankfully going back to sleep afte...

As a result we set off from LA with out so much as a map. CT preferred the GPS method, but hadn't got round to setting it up, I had thought that buying a good old fashioned map would be ok, it wasn't until we got to Barstow, using my mini GPS on my work mobile phone that we started to realise that perhaps we should have planned a bit more. So a few false starts, stops at Walmart, and mini marts in the hottest place in USA 104'c we managed to arrive at our first v...

Last night in the UK, in Birmingham. We now have our zappy little laptop that will keep us in touch with things and people over the next 6 months. We also have a number of other gadgets which I daren't ask what they are for or where they have come from, we have one for everything including one that sticks everything to a car windscreen! My favourite gadget is the one that will make me a Pimms & Lemonade as the sun goes down in the desert. LM (little mate) ha...

Popped into Birmingham Bullring today to look for a dress for RB's wedding - but seem to have missed the boat for nice floaty summer dresses - will be spring of course in Sydney in October. Got drawn into looking at outdoor clothes which I find much more interesting. Found a fab fleece jacket - Brokeback Mountain style (has anyone seen that film, CT & I have seen it twice and have never quite caught any of the dialogue, Heath Ledger seems to mumble his way ...

Did you know that to have the best of life, the everyday activities need to be mundane. I can't wait for the highlight of my day to be getting up, making the coffee and not really having anything else much to do. Quite the opposite of the last few days before we go. The schedule is tight and the list of things to do endless. Some of which simply aren't going to get done, but its not worrying me. Chris and I are determined to get as many curries in before we go, ...