Thought it was about time...

..that i said hello to our readers!

so, brads kept you updated on most of our activities...and rest assured the photos are coming. all 250 odd of them from the last 3 interesting days and 2 mental nights!

i guess that just leaves thoughts and feelings...well, i was smiley-faced saying goodbye to mum, dad, claire and alex (rob, i know you werent there but u were in my thoughts and it was good to speak to u just before boarding). it was only about 2-3 hours into the flight that it hit me how long it wuld be till i saw u all again. to use the words "emotional rollercoaster" wouldnt do it justice. lets just say tears and grins kept swaping places!

it still feels completely surreal. we're in china for gods sake!! theres been so much stuff going on and for us to overcome...i think brad probably mentoned about us having got ourslves japanese yen in london, instead of the chinese yuan we can actually spend here...if he hasnt someone let me know and ill give u the full details of the debacle that was our arrival in china!

it also hasnt quite sunk in that im not gonna see the boys and girls that are so important to me for a damn long time. please please keep in touch...and for those of you who will be visiting us on our travels...i feel lucky to know ur coming all this way and delighted to be able share some of this journey with you.

And nino, if you're reading this...u get urself out here at one point, i refuse to go 2 years without my favourite black-boned itallian! hey rocco! hey sly!

well, my rice-based dinner has just arrived so im gonna cut it short. i love and miss you all. thank f*ck for the internet!!

Richie xxx

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