We could not have timed our arrival home better - the Swans are at Wembley in the Championship play-off final against Reading..... and there's another surprise awaiting us - two tickets for the match.
Having spent the final five days of our world tour back in Thailand's chaotic capital Bangkok - a city we grew to like and appreciate the more we became accustomed to it - it's time to board that big bird in the sky for a 12-hour night flight back to Blighty.
We arrive, hopefully not looking too dishevelled, at London's Heathrow Airport at 7am to be greeted by our great friends Joan and Arwel, who have very kindly volunteered to drive us back down the M4 home to Swansea. Nice one, Mr and Mrs Morgan. Breakfast at Leigh Delamare services is on us (the least we can do) - and we might even stump up the £5.70 it will cost us to cross the Severn Bridge and clap eyes once again on the green green grass of home.
Having rented out our property until July 1, we are staying with Chris's mum in Sketty - and she is there to greet us and give us a warm Welsh welcome home and a 'cwtch'. Our eldest daughter Hannah (youngest Emma is in Manchester sitting her university finals) is expected any minute too, but we are told she is currently ''on a mission.''
Five minutes elapse and she arrives somewhat breathlessly at Chris's mum's front door. Cue lots of hugs, kisses and tears. We jokingly ask her: ''Where are our Wembley tickets?'' not realising that they have come out that day. Hannah, her ''mission'' accomplished, reaches into her handbag and, like a magician pulling a rabbit out of the hat, produces three tickets - one for John, Chris and herself. What a homecoming this is turning out to be. The only downside is that Emma is not here, but her exams take priority - and she will be home soon for a big reunion catch-up.
So here we are then - back in God's Country after nine months globe-trotting. We took in 10 countries, jumped on 31 flights and drove thousands and thousands of miles through and across vast swathes of mountain ranges, forests and deserts and along some of the most spectacular ocean roads on the planet.
Along the way we met old friends in Canada and America, made new ones in wild and elemental Australia, slept under the southern stars of New Zealand, fell in love with Fiji and its people, snorkelled on the Great Barrier Reef, island-hopped on Thailand's turquoise waters, rode on the back of motorbikes in Vietnam's heartland and marvelled at Cambodia's jaw-dropping ancient temples.
Our world tour has provided us with an unforgettable experience and was made possible by the kindness and patience of family and friends, so to each and every one of you thank you.
This blog was designed for us to look at when we are in our dotage (some may say we are already in it) and for those who wanted to keep in touch with us on our travels.
We would also like to dedicate it to those who helped us to make our dream come true.
Not only has the travelling been utterly memorable, but life-changing too. Magical does not begin to even do it justice. All we need now is a holiday to get over it (but, strangely, we're not getting much sympathy on that score)!
Oh, just in case you were wondering, Wembley wasn't half bad either, with the Swans winning 4-2 to become the first Welsh side to win promotion to the Premier League. Well done the lads - icing on that homecoming cake, for sure.
Next up on the blog . . . our top tour highlights and pictures. Hope you stick around to enjoy them with us.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment