Heathrow Terminal 4

Well I'm sitting in Heathrow Terminal 4 and it's been an emotional few days to say the least. Mam and Dad were over this weekend and got to see the sights of Newcastle and had a lovely meal in Blackfriars restaurant, highly recommend it (don't expect to come home with money in your wallet-definitely worth it though). Packed up all the non-essentials ie. everything, and sent them on their way to Ireland. Tears shed but will see each other in July again anyway. So that left packing.....
Oh my God, unless you've done anything like this before you have no idea, all my essentials packed into a 45L rucksack weighing in at just over 12kg. Got lots of gadgets and supposedly useful items.
Thanks Purvi for putting us up last night, got a chance to try out my silk sleeping bag liner and it's brilliant, if your travelling get one, they sound a bit iffy but its like 3 feet wide, v roomy and folds over your pillow with another fold over the top of your quilt, sounds like I've gone mad but they're brilliant! Though I have been told I probably won't need it cos everywhere provides towels, got one of those microfibre travel towels. Think their worth it just for the experience, very strange, like drying with a giant slightly furry plastic rubber sheet, weird but kind of nice feeling. Now you're going to think I definitely have gone mad!! Don't worry, wont take it personally, I am a bit nuts anyway :-) or I wouldn't be doing this!
Well I'm sure it'll kick in when I get there how anazing all this is but at the moment it's all a bit of a blur. Been pretty heartwrenching leaving Isabel and am prone to random bouts of girly tear-shedding, but sounds hopeful that Is will be out for 6 months in August when we're in Australia and New Zealand. Just me and Der for the next 6 months then.. Thank God he doesn't snore, though just bought ear plugs just in case I need a bit of peace and quiet :-)
Dumped my mobile phone (dying from terminal button failure) at the security gate and by the security guys reaction you'd swear I'd just dumped a baby in the bin, the whole security contingent were passing it between them cos nobody wanted to put it in the bin. Kept it all the way so could make last-minute phone calls. Derek had to leave his Sudocream behind (no pun intended) cos of security issues, gutted! Still, it's very nerve wracking going through security, you keep thinking you're after forgetting something really important, like a passport or plane tickets or floss or something and security are going to tell you you can't bring that dangerous chocolate caramel through. Anyway we made it through and here I am, eating my way through a bag of chocolate comfort food caramels and thinking of the Wee Man and will he keep me safe, especially after I accidentally took an envelope out of the post office without paying for it cos I forgot to tell them I was buying it and instead confused them and myself by asking about stamps... Which I did pay for. Just to remind us we're still in the UK the plane has been delayed an hour for email writing and chocolate eating.
Anyway Derek is looking bored so I think I'll finish up, hope you all stay with us on the blogs (Derek is at derekdennison.blogspot.com). Take care all and wish us luck. Colin.