Whew!

Just got everything packed and into the car (or the basement!) with a minute to spare before going to a family party in the evening and then on to family in Carlisle after midnight friday. Thank you friends and family, and several miracles:

-retrived the car keys twice from piles of rubbish

-sold the Vauxhall hours before leaving

-obtained replacement Yellow Fever certificates ditto

From here we visit family and friends in Leeds, Sheffield, Cambridge, Reading and Sussex in the next week before flying on Monday 30th. (available on 077-515-73522)

Enclosed a pic of the instruments that were bought from patients and the proceeds of the ceilidh two weeks ago. I am thrilled with them, especially the Mayo scissors with microscopic serrations that will be brilliant for the scar tissue found in the most difficult cases. I shall remember you in dark moments when wondering "is this operation going to work or not?"

Goodbyes, preparations and packing

Hi
Since decision time 3 months ago pressure has crescendoed in the last two weeks, and we've rarely felt so tired. But we now see the end about a week away and realise that 90% of tasks have been acheived, for which we are very thankful. And we feel very thankful for a huge number of things that have worked out very well, including the warmest of send-offs from a great circle of friends. Thank you!

Current challenges are; sell the Zafira car in the next 8 days; a suitable family apppears to rent our house. PS The car was sold 6 hours before we left; the house was let to a family within a week, just before we left UK!

Thank you