Home sweet home! xxx

At the airport ... I'm sure no-one will be surprised that we are late and in a very slow queue! We had planned to get the rucksacks security wrapped but we're in terminal 3 and they only do that in terminal 1! We don't have time to go and do it now so I just have to hope that the baggage handlers don't pull all the straps off!! Otherwise we won't be back packing around Europe we'll be bag dragging instead!!

We are about to leave for the airport and we are VERY excited - verging on hysterical if I'm honest! Eliza has drawn all the things she thinks we'll see on our trip and as you can see both kids are dressed for the occasion. I've made sure we are wearing layers so that we can contend with all weathers but I am actually struggling to move my arms! So now we're off .....

Can you believe that the Eiffel Tower was evacuated today because of a security scare?!? As Martin said that means that the crowds might be smaller!! Wish us luck!

We are about to embark on the trip of lifetime. We are calling it interrailing but really it's a "Grand Tour' just like they used to do! We have Craig and Becs to thank for this - it was their idea and we must confess - we stole it! Who's laughing now as we try and find a route from a tiny town in the north of France to Amsterdam that will take less than 8 hours?! In the meantime the countdown has begun... There are piles of holiday clothes all over the bedro...