Driving back to London from a weekend away in Cheltenham we received an unusual call from our flatmates who were just checking to see how we were. We thought this a little odd as they hadn't shown any particular concern regarding our whereabouts before, and on getting into Central London we realised they were worried we had been stuck in the snow. We had heard that there was supposed to be a huge snow storm coming off the Russian Arctic but except for a few flakes we hadn't really seen any and put it down to the British media being melodramatic. The further into London we got the more snow there was but thankfully we made it back without any trouble and like the children we really are - we got out our cameras and played ... read more

Christmas in the UK is completely different to the beaches, BBQs, sunscreen and ice cream kind of Christmases that we have always known and loved. It is cold and miserable but does its best to get you in the Christmas spirit with the lights, carols, food and parties that you couldn't really avoid even if you wanted to. Christmas time over here is a lot more about Christmas than it is at home, possibly because everyone in Australia is already excited about summer holidays and the great weather and Christmas is just seen as an bonus. An Irish doctor told Lara that once the Christmas lights come down and everyone has spent all their money the weather becomes "suicidally depressing", which was something to look forward to! So we decided it was best to enjoy the ... read more

What a tour! We really didn't think that after one year we would be returning to Australia with so many memories, and so few things! We also didn't think that we would be going back separately, due to Al getting a job in London and me unable to change my leave at the last minute. Al set off immediately after returning from Rome, which came as a surprise to his family when he turned up on their doorstep unannounced! We were both just excited about the prospect of a family visit so returning home separately was a small sacrifice to make, although it was very strange spending so much time apart after having been almost attached at the hips for the past year! Al was picked up in Sydney by his brother, Dave (the only family ... read more

Leaving Spain was when reality really started to kick in, our travels were really over and it was time to buckle down and find somewhere to live and some way of supporting ourselves in our new home. Before getting to grips with apartment hunting and job searching we did manage to have a little fun! On our arrival at Heathrow we headed straight to the Witherspoons (well it is an English icon of sorts!) for dinner with Lara's aunt Jill. Jill was flying out the following morning so Heathrow was the best place for the meal and it was lovely to see her. We'd stayed with her in Maryland 10 months ago and it was great to see her at the end of all the travels. Lara's Dad was also in London on his cricket tour ... read more

Our last few weeks in South America were spent in Chile followed by 6 days in Rio de Janeiro. Chile We flew into Santiago and spent a few days checking out the sights beneath a layer of smog, as it is apparently the 3rd most polluted city anywhere in the world. However it was a great city and we enjoyed getting lost in the side streets, trying the food and seeing even more lovely Spanish Colonial buildings. From Santiago we headed to Valparaiso on the Pacific Coast, Chile's cultural capital and famous for the colourful houses that line the top of numerous cliffs. Its a pretty crazy town with street art, windy alleys, beautiful houses and wonderful seafood. We spent our time exploring the cliff tops and little alleyways, trying to avoid stepping in the dog ... read more