Well its been six weeks since we moved out of our beautiful forge and moved into Rays mum and dads. Seems strange that I left Copnor in 1980 and have returned 32 years later. A lot of life has happened in between!!.

The day of the move was sad. I had to go into auto pilot and just get the job done. The night before we moved we went and had fish and chips at The Fox, for one last time and I managed to capture the owls hooting to his mate in the horse chestnut tree, just one last time.

I went round every room like a soppy sod saying goodbye, then did the same in the garden. It was and is a beautiful place.

Although a long day, the move went fairly smoothly and now my lifes belongings are scattered between South Chailey, Lancing, Paulsgrove and Copnor. Am really going to enjoy collecting it all back up again and unpacking when we get back....!

So we are now 2 weeks until the big trip...very excited but cant seem to believe its happening still even though we have tickets insurance, itinery, jabs and disposable toilet seat covers!

Today is my penultimate day at the Meath Epilepsy Trust. This little job has been absolutely brilliant and once again I have been lucky enough to stumble upon some amazingly kind, supportive, generous and caring people. I have always felt privilaged to have a career within the special needs sector, it has enabled me to work with the most vulnerable and yet happiest and delightful people, each one a unique unforgettable character. To quote a friend- "They walk up and down mountains everyday... and with more grace than most I know".......the people I have worked with and have taught over the years live with such debilitating illnesses and syndromes everyday but never complain and the staff who work with them are also very special, unique people . Ive only been at The Meath for 4 months but as with my last job, I am geniunely sad to leave. I really do need to thank them for being a brilliant team, if only for a short while. I have promised to stay in touch while Im adventuring and return next year to see them all again and I will.. Really hope they stay well and happy.

So here we are, the count down...we have a little farewell party planned next Friday. Me , Si and Jo have been practisin with Matt Pete and Ray (AKA Dave-all bassist are called Dave apparently ) over the last few months so that we can do a bit of a 'turn' for the punters. Hope we don't get canned off ! (now that would be a bit embarrasing as all the punters are friends and family members!) anyway should be a happy event.

Tom, Louise and Joe will be accompanying us to Heathrow ( getting a bit emotional just thinking about that!) but I am going to use the next two weeks to whiz around the family and spend some 'quality' time with those lovelies that I may not see again for a year. Ooooo you see now that sounds very scary!!!......

The next installment of this blog will probably be coming for Peru....eek that also sounds VERY scary!!!....