Here's where I expect all my friends to jump ship, although I may update this blog from time to time as I have found it to be good therapy. My life journey has a way to go yet, I hope, and once I am settled in my new home I will be saving up to go travelling again. The plan is to let my boat out whilst I'm travelling, to help pay the bills whilst I'm away, or do a "house swop". Obviously, when I'm in a permanent job, 7-week jaunts will not be possible, and anyway I doubt Charlotte will be happy to take my mad dog on again as her head is still spinning from seven weeks of constant circling (for those of you who don't know my dog, she is a 12-year-old border collie who runs round in circles all day long - and always in a clockwise direction).

I have seen many astonishing things on my travels, especially in India: elephants and camels at traffic lights; a man on a motorbike with another man and two goats riding pillion; an elephant in a truck; a bullock in the back of a truck slipping in its own piss and taking four men down with him; The Hovel Hotel (sic); Panickers Removals; The Lonely Bar in Agra; children snatching scraps of food from dogs in the street. I loved the Banyan, Neem and Ashok trees. In India, everything you eat or drink tastes of India.

I'm sure I will return to India, as in terms of beautiful architecture, mysticism, romance and wonder it is the place that most made me catch my breath. The poverty and opulence are poles apart, yet co-exist side by side. The people I met there were mostly warm and friendly, and always ready to help me with my Hindi. I would love to see more, especially Simla and Varanasi. I would also like to visit Mumbhai where, of course, my grandparents were married, and also Darjeeling.

As a place I would like to settle, Australia wins hands-down. The lifestyle there is fantastic and the weather suits me just fine. I would go tomorrow, without hesitation. However, I have to resign myself to the fact that Australia does not want me, and there are only three remote options: (1) winning the lottery - unlikely, and even more so unless I start buying tickets; (2) marry an Australian - again unlikely; (3) - and this is Gail's suggestion - marry a suitably qualified toyboy! I also loved the land; the Balga trees, the Banksia, and the miles and miles of bush. What I most feared there was spiders, but I only saw two and one of those was dead (at the motel in Dunsborough).

South Africa took a little getting used to, but I would certainly go again, especially as a stopover point on the way to/back from Australia. I was surprised just how reasonable the cost of living was. Cape Town was an intriguing place and some of the scenery was stunning.

I have learned how to travel hopefully, and next time I fly I will be dressed to impress, with laptop, in the hope of getting an upgrade. Steerage is all very well, and the best I could afford on my limited budget, and I must say it wasn't too bad (could've been worse, at least there were no screaming kids to contend with), but a fidgety person like me finds it incredibly difficult to sit still for 11 hours with nowhere to swing my legs (this may be news to certain friends of mine who would imagine that I could spend any amount of time motionless on my ample backside).

Best Airline Award goes to Singapore Airlines, mainly for its fantastic inflight meals. Golden Turkey Award goes to BA/Comair - never again, I'd sooner walk.

So thank you for flying with us, and I hope you enjoyed the journey. Pop in from time to time if you want to see how I'm getting on, and where life takes me.