Saying Goodbye - preparing for 'The Long Way Home'

---

Dal - Emigrating to New Zealand. Sounds simple enough. Four words. Since taking the decision to go life has been non-stop. luckily, sharing my life with a project manager of some repute (and a demon list writer) has made things easier, but with 9 days to go I'm filled with feelings of anticipation, excitement, and sadness.

The plan is to go to NZ overland. Impossible? Almost, but we'll do the best we can, ticking off a few places along the way and hopefully giving something back as well as taking. For those of you who think I might be a bit of a nerd or trainspotter, have no fear, we plan to live up to your expectations by travelling on as many trains (and possibly taking pictures, notes, and specifications!) as possible.

Since christmas, we've tried to break the mould of your typical Londoners. We've seen the sights, we've been tourists, followed the trails, and learnt to really appreciate the pomp, circumstance, ceremony and tradition that makes this fair isle what it is. I thoroughly recommend this to everyone. Just take a day to visit the place you live and work, but try to see it as a tourist. This has helped us get some perspective, and remind me what I'll miss so much.

So to goodbyes. A boys day out shooting in Essex for my close friends kicked things off. Since then, seemingly endless rounds of works drinks, lunches and goodbye meals has found us almost short of time for ourselves - still, five months ahead of us for Daren & Abbie to 'catch up'!

Two days of work left for both of us, followed by a final round of admin (packing, cleaning, re-packing, etc.). Then, it's off to Euston station on the evening of Wednesday 7th June for the first step of our journey proper...

---

Photos

Houses Of Parliament
Being tourists, this shot was from the South Bank of the Thames, close to the London Eye

London, west of the City
From the top of 'the Gherkin', good coffee there too.

Sunset at Whitby
Up on the cliffs over the town is a graveyard clinging to the top, made famous in Bram Stokers Dracula

Angels of the North
Abbie is the one on the left...

Comments

[cheryl wells]

Farewell
Good Luck and Goodbye. I will follow your adventures. Lots of pictures please. X Cheryl

[Leanne and Mark]

From Australia, we'll watch the maps distort as you make your way down under. Have a safe trip, look forward to seeing you and perhaps relieving your parched travelling lips with an Australian Ale or two upon arrival in Sydney.

[Domhnall Dods]

See you soon
Good luck guys and see you in Edinburgh on the way to the ferry. With the weather the way it's been this week we may even get the barbie warmed up before you go!! Domhnall

[IMOM]

Congratulations
Congraulations on the engagement, i assume you have got engaged from all the other messages!!!! Just a quick note from sunny old England, opposed to flooded old Oz. Hope things are going well, not quite sure where in the world u r at the mo. If u r anywhere near Argentina or Brazil thank them from all the West Ham fans back home. Take it easy and keep in touch. IMOM