La derniere etape

Having spent a week being very impressed by what we saw at the Somme, we began to feel a little emotional.  The year + was nearly at an end, we had achieved what we set out to do......undoing.......

We have both learnt so much.  Relationships with people are the most treasured memories.  Without the people we have met on the way our 'trip' wouldn't have been as much fun, or as interesting.

Without the support of our family and friends at home it wouldn't have happened.  There have been times when we've felt homesick and thought maybe a year was too long, but in those times we have gained strength from one another and from our faith in God which has also led us to a new understanding of living.  Some of the 'chats' we've had with our children have really pulled at our heart strings....wishing we weren't so far away....but that just confirms the love there is between us.


We've spent over a year living out of a 'box' which measures 4.7 metres by 2 metres, only able to carry with us what would fit in the the car and caravan - moving from place to place with everything in tow (literally!) -  only being able to store provisions for 2 days at a time, so really relying on local shops, stalls, etc for replenishing foodstuffs -being lucky enough to have good weather nearly every day so the few clothes we had with us could be washed and dried quickly and no ironing for the whole year (might continue with that one!)  ...........

                       ...................... and we've loved it!!

We've adapted so well to this kind of environment....living simply.....that we now have a mission to transfer it to the house.  Watch this space!


We couldn't have thought of a better way to spend our last 2 nights in France than to stay at one of our favourite "sites" - Chez Tony and Claire in a village in Nord Pas De Calais

We got to their cottage first and set up the van in their front garden. 

Tony and Claire arrived late afternoon and we shared a meal recollecting their journey down to Porto to visit us, and the wonderful time we had spent together.  (Just to remind you, this is the couple who refused to be prevented from coming to see us in Porto just because a volcano in Iceland had decided to let off steam - and drove for two days there and two days back just to spend three days with us)

Unfortunately the weather on our last 2 days in France wasn't as good as it had been in Portugal, but it didn't stop us from doing anything (apart from visiting the beach!)  We even managed breakfast outside on the first day.