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Well it has finally come around. After so long talking about it Gwen and I have managed to get everything packed and are ready to leave New Zealand for the sunny shores of Ireland tomorrow morning. But we will have a few stops on the way, namely Australia, Thailand and England. We have been offered generous accommodation by many friends and relatives in Australia and England, which we will be gladly taking up. It will be great to see you all and catch up. I am just looking forward so much to seeing Australia and Thailand and just generally having a holiday with Gwen on the way home.

I have to say that I have a million mixed emotions right now. I am really sad at leaving New Zealand and all the wonderful people we have met here. My cousins and friends, we both really do have family away from home here in Napier. Gwen’s friends in Palmy have been so kind and welcoming to me as well once they figured out I wasn’t a dodgy Irish fella. And basically everyone else I have met here. From my sisters mates in Auckland that became my mates (Congrats Barney & Sue) to the lovely farmer I worked for who became a mate in Central Hawke’s Bay (Thanks Mike) and to Gwen’s lovely Mum, Joan.
Joan, God bless her, has been looking after us both this last week and as you can imagine we have both been a little stressed but Joan just kept smiling and serving up the loveliest home cooked meals to get us through it. Thanks Joan!

I would also like to send a special shout out to all the people we have both worked with. I know that I have met people that have changed the way I look at the world and I will cherish their friendship forever. Just keep giving me hassle guys