Well the challenges have started already …… had to ditch half my belongings in Sydney after the airport weigh in scales were completely wrong !! (??)  They were at least 2kg over what they should be and absolutely no leniency to overweight cabin luggage!!  I don’t know what is the world coming to…..but better still my main suitcase was lost somewhere between Dubai and London.  Oh well never mind …. I don’t mind wearing somebody  else’s clothes… mideastern robes in Dubai and sister’s PJs in London J   Am very quickly becoming use to “less is better”  !!

During my first stop (Sydney) I was quickly rationalised into a smaller unit of living by my daughter (Clare), and it was a great spot to become accustomed to travelling away from my home turf and familiarities of life in NZ.  Second stop (Dubai) was a breath of fresh air where I explored the sights and sounds of this middle eastern country with good friend Jodie.  

Many photos of mosques and buildings (both old and new) later…

….much eating of curry and chilly…..

….deciding that being near to a camel was just as desirable as riding one….

 … that the desert could accommodate both the past and the present…

… and that it held a fascination all of its own.

…. But for those who know me very well I could not leave without buying some material – beautifully printed cotton lawn from Pakistan I believe – plus the haberdashery shops were to die for !!

Third stop (London) saw me (fortunately) navigating the underground with only a small backpack and a cabin bag (larger bag having been left in Dubai) to a welcome haven at sister Frances’ place.   Have been spending last few days exploring the local environment of Walthamstow with its century plus old terraced houses, quaint corner stores and double decker buses in abundance.

But the job of the week (til Wed anyway) is to repack for Africa and brush up on my French.  Having bought a French language phrase book in Sydney airport and “Lets learn French” CDs provided by my sister I have no excuse not to be able to “parlez une petite fransais” before arriving in Guinea.  I am surprised how much of it appears familiar after nearly 40yrs of not using that part of my brain.

So the journey begins – I am over the jet lag thanks to the homeopathic remedy provided by my mother (Felicity) – skyped family (including son Peter) for the last time for 8 weeks - and am rearing to go – can’t wait to scrub up and get used to life on board the Africa Mercy…. next blog posting on board ship…