THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES

It’s been so long since we updated our blog that you may be wondering where we have been and what we have been doing. Well, we are still on Planet Earth and still enjoying life.  We have had an eventful  few months so lets do a very quick recap.

Just before Christmas, Jan and I returned from Africa and the heat of over 45 degrees Centigrade to land at Heathrow around 6.30am in a big snow storm. Andrew, Louise and Karen met us at the airport and made us smile as, not only were they all wearing their Christmas jumpers, they were snowed under with w thick jumpers, hats and coats  for us. After an emotional few minutes, we set off in the snow to our “new” home in Wiltshire. We couldn’t resist stopping for a full English Breakfast: well, we were back in England!

Christmas back in UK and Karen is opening presents

We had a great Christmas with the family, with lots to eat and drink. Well, maybe a little too much to eat. I really enjoyed all the cheese and cream that I had missed in Zambia. So after Christmas, and a visit to the Doctor, I went on a very strict diet and started running again. It was hard going but I’m now feeling so much fitter and have more energy than I have had for a few years. Our early Park Runs (5Km timed runs) saw us finishing in over 30 mins, now we are running at 26 minutes on a good day

After our 1st 5k Park Run way back in March

Much slimmer here with Andrew just before our most recent Park Run on June 21st

Jan giving it all at Melksham Park Run

Mike pushing for the line

The cold winter seemed to go on forever and that snow was just the first of many falls we had which was great for us as we could go out walking in the snow. We couldn’t help but reflect how so many of our Zambian friends could only dream of seeing snow. 

Our Wiltshire homem in the snow

Jan and I managed a break over to Barcelona for a few days to celebrate her birthday. It was much warmer and sunnier than England and we really enjoyed walking around in the warm sunshine. We worked hard at sighseeing and managed to see all the top sights. 

Jan in front of "Gaudi's" most famous structure

Park Guell in Barcelona

However, for us, March was the highlight of the year when Andrew married his fiancée, Louise. It was a fantastic day and not marred at all by wet cold weather. Miraculously we did not get any snow although it was cold enough for it. It was lovely seeing both Andrew and Louise looking so happy and Karen looked beautiful as a bridesmaid. 

Andrew and Louise with proud parents

Our family of Karen, Louise and Andrew

The rain did not spoil a thing

even a small shaft of sunlight helped

Thanks to Karen we have managed to get to the theatre twice in the few months that we have been back. That was great as it was one of the things that we really missed in Zambia. We have also managed to catch up with most of our friends our friends while we have been here. 

 Most importantly we have now arranged and planned our next “adventure” After our “Great Migration” around Eastern and Southern Africa this one will be called our “Grand Tour” as we are going to Europe. Hopefully we will be very cultured by the time we return. 

Back in March we found our new ‘home’ which is a little different from the fantastic Toyota Hilux we had in Africa. We now have a AutoTrail Dakota Motor Home so a little more luxury with hot and cold water, a full kitchen with double oven, fridge and freezer, microwave plus a large shower and toilet plus TV. It’s very luxurious compared to our Hilux, but it will get colder in the Winter months so the heating will be needed. 

The first time we saw our new "Home from Home"

Checking out the front

We managed a couple of trips the The New Forest

Karen also checked it out

We will be travelling throughout Eastern Europe starting with a visit to friends in Bensheim, Germany then on to Nuremburg, Czech Republic, Poland and onwards north to Estonia via Lithuania and Latvia. After Estonia we turn south and head back down to Poland and onwards through Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria to Greece. From there we aim to head back west via Albania, Kosovo and other Balkan States if we can get the car insurance and onto Croatia, Italy Switzerland and France before returning quickly to UK early March next year.

We are just  sorting out the house that we have been living in, so that it is  ready to rent out again.  This time next week we will be leaving UK ready for our Grand Tour. Exciting times ahead so keep checking up on this blog. You never know but we may get some videos up this time around.