Well guys as the famous saying goes "All good things must come to an end" but we are not classing this as the end but more like a new beginning for us.

After 18 aeroplanes, (2 left) 1 helicopter, 33 trains, 48 buses, 42 boats, 2 camels, 1 elephant, 1 bamboo raft, 1 tractor inner tube, 1 paraglider, 2 pairs of weary feet and thousands of tuk tuks and rickshaws we are on the verge of returning to the UK for the first time in 364 days. I know that from talking to people back home some think the time has gone quickly and some think slowly but we just know that for us it has been the time of our lives.

We are now checked out of the hotel and sat in the lobby drinking tea and listening to funny pipe music, but couldn't be happier or sadder. Seeing family and friends again will be great as will catching up with all the changes back home in everyones lives.

The last 12 months has seen us traversing glaciers, climbing bridges and mountains. We have been in caves and tunnels and also seen some amazing wildlife in it's natural habitat, which for us was special. We had the opportunity to spend a few hours of our trip with the underwater world too.

We have had the chance to see some of the wonders of the world as well as many UNESCO world heritage sights and learnt so many new skills from bartering to cooking and diving to camel riding (so if there is ever a drought and a lot of sand dumped in Bradford we are the people to contact!!!)

On our travels we have met many new people and some will remain friends, as with any trip of this magnitude there have been highs and lows but even when you put the lows into perspective they made us realise what we were achieving together. There have been a few tense moments but we could count on one hand and we always got them sorted out in the end. We certainly have not got any regrets about any of the things we have accomplished while moving around the planet, and it really gives you an understanding of how big this world is and how fragile it is.

In 24 hours we will be back in the land of over priced lattes and expensive petrol but it is England and over the last 12 months we have both realised that it is home and we appreciate it, especially the plug sockets which are ace. Soon we will be tucking into roast dinners and fish and chips with cold beer in pint glasses and decent wine.

So after the last few days here at the hotel it is with a heavy heart that we leave India behind, the land where all the men seem to have a moustache. It hasn't been our favourite country but we have seen some superb things and eaten some excellent food here.

Without further a do, we look forward to seeing you all back in the UK over the next few weeks (don't go mad with the coming home gifts!!!!) wherever you are in the country.

"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it " George Moore

Lots of Love

M & M (Older,wiser and with more grey hairs than a year ago!!)