Hi Folks

Well what a send off! Thank you so so much you don't know how hard it was to leave after so many well wishers, wishes and gifts etc etc!! The dvd has already been viewed by the Manchester folk so I look forward to my slurred goodbye speech, once again thank you, you all made it a night to remember, I'm privileged to have such good soul mates. Thank the lord we also got Maff as he took me to the truck on time with one minute to spare I arrived half cut at 7.59am. I'm sure those that saw me the night before can imagine just how terrible I looked still the group are gonna have to get used to that! Anyway I was last on the truck but we all knew that was gonna happen....

So I left the UK very tearful infact I didn't stop crying until we left France! Yes I'm soft but I still can't quite comprehend the journey I have ahead of me....

First night was spent in a campsite in Belgium it was like Hi De Hi and if the barmaid had put anymore hairspary on there would've been alot of smoke... not sure what era we landed in but I wouldn't like to have been stuck there for very long! After a dreadful nights sleep still wondering "have I really done the right thing" I shook Jack Frost from my tent and it was back on board the beast to Deutschland....

Beautiful drive through Germany listening to my archos at the front of the truck although still feeling homesick! I know I know it's the trip of a lifetime but it takes a bit of adjusting (by the way Tobes the blow up globe has gone down a treat.) We camped the night in Southern Germany and a few of us naturally me included wandered to the very 'local' pub for very local people no prizes for guessing who was on the 'jukebox'... that's right good old Phil Collins. The barmaid was a huge fan and cranked it up everytime easy lover came on (now you see why it takes time to adjust!!).

The walk home was entertaining we ended up deep in some woods with our headtorches on looking like the folk from Blair Witch....next day group porridge followed by the drive to Czech Republic check (no pun there) the photo from the border....

And here I am now in Prague, everyone is off sightseeing but as we were all here at New Year celebrating I see no point in pounding the streets again (the sailor boys are still at the end of the bridge!) so instead I have to do a bit of essential shopping as I left the UK rather drunk I left a few bits and pieces at home after I had to climb over ten bodies on the floor to leave!

Right folks I miss you all, quite desperately infact so keep in touch...another night in Prague tonight and it's off to Vienna in Austria tomorrow, roll on Iran.

Raquel xxx

P.S The company webiste www.eoe.org.uk also has a diary....