Up at 7.00 and out of the house by 8.30 to give us plenty of time to get to Dover.  The sky is clear blue, the sun is out and there is a lovely fresh, spring breeze.  

With the bikes on the back of the car, there is a noise much like a 300lb bumble-bee buzzing behind us, as the wind vibrates the straps on bike-rack when we exceed speeds of 70mph.  This noise will accompany us for the next 2 days all the way down to Montargis, where we pick up the motor-home.  Callum isn't sure about this noise, and peers back at the bikes for the bulk of the first leg of trip to Dover.  

Despite our fears that Callum wouldn't be happy to be in the car for such a long time, he is as good as gold.

We arrive at Dover with half an hour to spare before departure, the port is virtually empty and we sail through passport control - not even really having to show our passports.  No queuing at the approach to the ferry, we are waved straight on.  Literally 5 minutes after parking and climbing up onto the main deck, the ferry departs!  This is great, but we wonder what would have happened if we had turned up at 2.15!

Callum loved being on the ferry, looking out of the window at the sea and seeing other boats.

Posted by xpresha at 12:11 PM BST

Updated: Tuesday, 13 April 2010 9:37 AM BST

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From Calais, we travelled South for about an hour to a small village not far from Arras.  Used the peage and got used to driving on the right.

We stayed with a French family on a small farm (complete with view of a tractor from our bedroom window) and were instantly forced to speak French, which was a challenge that we seemed to rise well to!  It was holiday time for them as well and we were told that there family would be joining us for dinner as well.

We settled into our room and at about 8.00 we came down for dinner with their family, all 6 of them.  We had a delicious 4 course dinner, complete with a cheese course (of local cheeses) and both Lorraine and I conversed with the others in a mixture of French, 'Franglais' and hand gestures.  Conversation was a bit stilted at times, but it was an enjoyable evening.

It had been a long day and we turned in and slept well.

Posted by xpresha at 12:01 AM BST

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Mood:  bright

Callum is very excited that it is his Birthday.  Not for the presents really, but he knows that we will be travelling soon - in fact, Callum asks first thing "Are we going on the motor home now?"!

We go to The Canteen in Stokes Croft for lunch with Vicki & Polly and Sandra & Ramzey, have a tasty and 'loud' lunch with the kids tearing about all over the place.  A friendly Diamond White drinker professes to be the owner of the place and tells us that the kids can dance on the stage if they want to, he reckons it is a hard job being a professional alcoholic and a successful restaurant manager, hmm...

Back to our house to play in the garden for the rest of the day, which is lovely.  The sun is out and feeling more and more relaxed. 

Posted by xpresha at 12:03 PM BST

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Spent a lovely day with Nanny and Granddad in Chilcompton.

Louise, Jules and Marie were also there, which was nice.  Julesy's presence always brings out a bit of a competitive streak in me (although it's never entirely hiding) and I insisted that we see who could eat a pickled onion the fastest.  We'd already had a huge roast dinner, but it seemed like a great idea.  I wouldn't say that our onions were exactly the same size, but I managed mine in 37secs, Jules in 1m15secs - you do the math 

Lorraine is just finishing off wrapping some presents for Callum's 3rd birthday tomorrow.  He's already had presents from his Grandparents, so I hope he doesn't get used to having multiple birthdays every year!!  

Posted by xpresha at 9:28 PM BST

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Mood:  energetic

We have a great day in the house and garden doing lots of spring cleaning.  One of those days where I feel like I have really made the most of my time and having a tea is well deserved.

First time this year that I have soaked up the sun in our garden - it was bliss - and makes me long for more.  

Also got a lot of packing done and sorting out documents, etc, etc.

Rounded off the day watching a good, but not entirely uplifting, French movie called The Beat my Heart Skipped. 

Posted by xpresha at 9:22 PM BST

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A fun and productive visit to Wells.  

Have a great time with Granny and Grandad.  Get there for lunch, play about, get lots of bits and pieces in town that are required for our trip, drink some champagne, eat a nice fish pie, play on the Wii (some gut wrenchingly funny moments, watching Grandad pretending to be a flying chicken).

Early start, read the papers, back into town and a big pile of sausages for lunch.

We say our goodbyes, but it always feels as though we'll be in touch during our trip, so doesn't feel sad. 

Posted by xpresha at 9:12 PM BST

Updated: Monday, 5 April 2010 9:22 PM BST

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Mood:  quizzical

Nice start - wake up late.  Confusion sets in quickly... Where is my phone, need to check emails... hmm, no phone anymore, therefore no emails....  this feels a bit weird.

Very little gets done during the day.  Very much a 'house' day, but with no actual 'house' work, although Lorraine is as busy as usual.

My thoughts turn to the evening and going out with my work friends.  Tony and James turn up at mine and we head down to the Prince of Wales pub to meet the others.  Chris is still poorly, so there's 11 of us.  A quick pint, then next door to the Sheesh Mahal.  Despite phoning twice over the course of a week, there is no reservation for me.  Not panic as such, just the knowledge that I've got 10 hungry friends with me, it's 8pm and there is a chance that we haven't got anywhere to eat.  I absorb the jovial ribbing from everyone, whilst glaring at the owner as he sorts the table out.  On the plus side, it gave us another hour to have drinks before we eat.  Tony is suitably derisory towards me, but fair play to him.  Food is really good and we have some laughs + play an interesting game where I use 1 word to describe everyone and they can then do the same for me.  I think I got as far as calling James 'cocky', before I was called 'diplomatic' (strongly objected to by Lisa) and '[too] honest' by Sam.  I suggested that we stop before it got ugly - fortunate, as I couldn't really think of anything!!  Finished at the restaurant about midnight and went over the road to the Blue Lagoon bar for a night-cap.

I didn't spin out, which is kind of how I ended my last day at work - on a high!

Posted by xpresha at 8:56 PM BST

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Mood:  bright

After 11 years of working for Apak, I had my last day.

It was very strange saying goodbye, making the customary leaving speech that I had seen so many other people do time and time again and being the focus of so much attention.  It was a very positive experience and one that I will take with me with pride!

Lorraine and I went out for a lovely dinner together at a restaurant in Bristol, called the Wild Wood at the top of Colston Street.  We had a delicious meal and a great laugh.  It feels like a great weight has lifted for us and we can now view Apak with some nostalgia.

I am looking forward to tomorrow and wondering what it will feel like not to have the responsibility of running a company's finances and starting another countdown, 1 week until we go traveling! 

Posted by xpresha at 10:51 PM BST

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