It was a beautiful sunny day when I arrived home in Edinburgh, I phoned my brother Tom and he came to take me home. He arrived with a newspaper under his arm and a card with my name on it, daft devil, I asked him where the suit and cap were but he drew the line at that. My rucksack hadn't been as quick as me at crossing Heathrow, it was on the next flight up and they would deliver it to me.

Irene and Sandy were in the house when we arrived, it was spotless, it was great to be home. There were welcome home banners and congratulation banners all over the place. There was a menagerie of animals throughout the house, penguins, seals, dolphins, whales, koalas, monkeys, kangaroos, sheep even an aligator in the bird bath, it took me a few days to work out why the birds weren't using it. There was a huge colourful statue of an INCA but we think he is of Mexican origin, anyway he was holding my welcome home balloon, I think he was originally holding a big spear, Tom must have done some trawling of the auction houses to find him. I'm still finding little animals in drawers and cupboards, my daft family leaving me reminders of my travels. We had a great afternoon together then I pottered around until the man arrived with my rucksack. I then had a bath up to my neck, I had been dreaming about this for weeks,ahh!! luxury, I remember sinking into my wonderful bed and thinking sheer bliss then nothing else.

My mission now is to sort out my photographs and put them and my diary together!!! HAH.

I had a wonderful trip and I'm so glad I had the opportunity, the health and the wherewithall to do it. I know I shall never do anything remotely like it again, not in this lifetime anyway, so it shall always be a treasured memory.

My next trip will be to Australia to spend some time with my family. Canada is a country I would love to visit SO I had better start saving again.

A huge big thankyou to all of you for keeping in touch with me, it meant so much when I logged on and found a message or an e mail from you, especially on my home sick days. Look forward to seeing you all soon.

Lots Of Love,

Jan xx