This is really only to close the loop on the map. Back in Sydney to be met by Beth - how nice! No symptoms yet after hours of desperate coughing from typhoid Jane!

That's all folks. M: Sunday is a work day in Dubai, so the boys and Jayne were all off to school. Anne and I opted for a quiet day 'at home' - final washing of clothes, downloading photos, drafts of blog to publish, and scheming how to cook the evening meal. Despite not having been able to do so on either Qantas or Emirates apps, I managed to check in on line using the website. I spent a bit of time trying to get my head around the next couple of weeks with som...

Abu Dhabi Louvre and a Sock Saga We said goodbye to Anthony knowing he is unlikely to get back home for possibly 14-15 months. Jayne offered to make a day of it in Abu Dhabi with us as the boys had touch trials there at 9 am. This was a drive of about 90 minutes and so a bit like us driving to Wollongong, only much further. Half way there and Andrew announced that he had left his boots and socks at home. This prompted a hilarious few minutes in the car as h...

We woke up and went down to find we were in the right house after all! We received a lovely welcome from Jayne and Andrew and Mark. Anthony was to fly in from Basra at 1.30 pm. As we had said to Anthony on WhatsApp earlier, Basra is a pretty exotic excuse for turning up late. The new house is in a complex that is similar to Semmler Villas - their previous address. This one is somewhat bigger than the last, with less yard space and more - six! - bathrooms. A and ...

The blog photo is actually from last night as one of the cruise liners left under the approaching Blood Moon. After all, there's not much to show for a flight to Dubai is there? We did a final load of washing in Valletta (this place has a dryer) and wrote a big thank you in the visitors book. Our taxi arrived on time at 11.30 just a few steps from our front door and the somewhat silent driver indicated it would cost 19E to the airport. Our flight left on time a...