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Imagine my delight when i checked and found that not only was the seat next to me on the flight free but all the ones to the front and back. Score! Imagine then my disgust when I walked up to my seat on the plane and a man (that smelt like the landing at Hollington when DizzyWizz has used it as a litter tray) said to me - "are you with me?!" followed by a leer. Hmmmm. He then proceed to tell me about how he was traveling with his mother, while he stuck me in the ribs in his fight for ownership of the armrest. Fun! Although I have to say I was quite impressed with Virgin in general and I'm sure I will have much worse flights during my travels ahead!

The week or so before this first flight into the unknown was pretty hectic; I have barely had time to sit back and take in that it's all actually happening. (Have to say a quick sorry to anyone that i didn't say goodbye to properly before i jetted off; I had a list of people I was meant to phone and didn't actually get any of it done, so sorry but like I said - hectic!) So many people asked how I was feeling and I rarely had a good or succinct answer for them, so now I guess is a good time to answer it. The title of this entry pretty much sums it up. Holey Moley! I basically just got myself through all the admin stuff (banks, phone etc) and didn't think about what I was doing; until the saturday before I was to leave and Sam and Laura organised a surprise night in town. I had already asked some people to come out for a few drinks and I had an idea that something extra might be going on (thanks Mull!) but had no clue when I arrived all the people that were in on it until I saw the Bucks boys peering through the windows (although we were missing Max!). Was so great to see everyone and soz I couldn't spend enough time with individuals but it was all really appreciated! Thanks guys! I think that evening more than anything made me think about what I was leaving and started to feel the whole holeymoley/what-I-crap-am-I-doing issue! The weird thing is that it was only for that minute; I think I found it difficult to explain how I was feeling because it felt so normal. I'm sure that fear will kick in when I leave S.A and arrive in Hong Kong but for the minute; with Carlyn meeting me at the airport and having my own room with balcony and en-suite, i'm not exactly roughing it!

I was intending to use my week off work to write a bit about Newbs because I had read a forum post about knowing home before you left it and really liked the idea of seeing the sites and doing a Newbs blog (since there isn't one on here; shocker!) I also thought I would have this blog to look back at if I ever got homesick (not likely!). Unfortunately I didn't get anything other than the photos done (and still haven't visited Highclere Castle even though it's just a couple of minutes from my house!), so I will just include those and hopefully that will be enough.

I'm in Joburg now and so have obviously arrived safe and sound. I'm using this time to chill out, learn more about what's going on here and basically have the rest and relaxation that was missing from my last few days/weeks in England.

I guess i must also explain the rest of the title! Introducing Maude Meenoo! She was a present from my very pink, very crazy (only in good ways!) friend Sarah. Sarah made Maude, who I will carry around the world with me as my travel buddy. She apparently wants to see everything and is not shy about having her photo taken, so hopefully we will be seeing much more of Maude Meenoo!

lots of love to everyone and I'm sure you are having lots of fun without me! Will get you all up to date with life in Joburg in a little bit .... xxx

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT SOME VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE (and a shameless plug for a good cause!)- 4 lovely ladies are doing a long and dirty bike ride from London to Paris in aid of Bone Cancer Research. To find out the reason why and to give as much or as little as you can please follow this link - TEAM BONES or you can check out their facebook page - ON YOUR BIKE FOR BONES!!!!

p.s. i want to be kept up to date on everything, so even one liners via email, FB, travelblog etc would be super! ............ and sorry for the EXTREME lateness you can not understand the level of frustration i have had with computers and the internet! (also sorry some of the photos are pixelated, problems uploading Grrrrr!)xxx

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