And they're off!

Ho ho ho, only 3 hours to go until we head off to the airport and check in for our first flight! Jo & I have ceremoniously eaten a large plate of sausages, bacon & scrambled eggs and I shall be drinking huge quantities of tea in readiness of two months without either decent bangers or tea. I'm sure my determination to consume as many local specialities as I can will ensure that my burgeoning waistline will remain in place despite the plan to explore all our destinations on foot. Well, you never know I may return to the levels of fitness I managed on my last grand tour of the USA, but that was when I was 18 and significantly skint.

So, we've spent the last week in a frenzy of socialising - it was really great to see everyone and has made me realise I'll have to try very hard to make friends as good as you guys in NZ. Of course everyone is expected to visit as soon as they can afford to, and Jo & I will try to be back next February for Ali & Sini's wedding (work commitments etc allowing). Although I am assuming I'll see everyone again over the next few years, it was incredibly hard saying goodbye to some of the older family members - particularly Auntie Marj - as there's always the morbid thought that they may not be around for many more years, but then I guess it would be slightly strange to stay in the UK until everyone had popped their clogs. However, on the more cheery side I have been given a wad of cash for my birthday, which I intend to spend on a slap up feed, and perhaps some new pyjamas (cleverly I decided that I could just make do with a sarong, but I am having second thoughts). I may also use some of it in Heathrow duty free etc, after I have doused myself in Chanel No.5 just to irritate the perfumery ladies, and buy some Body Shop products at reasonable prices, along with a book or two to keep me amused.

Hopefully we'll be able to post fairly regularly, and I'll try not to be too melodramatic and put the wind up people, although I fully intend to wring as much drama out of the Inca Trail as possible.

Gotta shoot now 'cos we need to return Sacha's front door key. See you in Rio!!!!