Before we finally set off

This whole trip would have been impossible and certainly less enjoyable than it has been so far without catching up with our friends and receiving invaluable assistance from them.

Len Stewart collected us from the airport and has continued to provide so much assistance and friendship that we can never thank him enough. He has saved us a heap of money with his DIY skills and has always been there when we needed a bit more help. Len's granddaughter, Mikaela, welcomed us into the household as if she had known us for ages. Len and Mikaela both gave us so much help in feeling 'at home' in WA once again.

Tony & Stella Weldon provided masses of really helpful advice both while we were still in the planning stages in England and once we had arrived and recovered from Steve breaking his hip! They were among the first people to visit us at Burns Beach.

Kathy & Keith Walsh have been really great in arranging meetings with many of Steve's former colleagues and friends from his days working at what was then the Lotteries Commission (now Lotterywest). With all the lunches and feeding that we have enjoyed, I suspect we may start our trip just a bit heavier than when we arrived. Thanks Kathy for enabling us to catch up with my other former Lotteries colleagues Peter Y and Peter P, Barrie, Marion, Moira, Darrell, Chin, Kay and Joe. We also caught up with Alex Graham (one of our friends through photography) both with Keith & Kathy and Peter Yong and again with his family.

Although we have not had to call on them for help, it has been wonderful to catch up with Mac & Sue and their family (Judith's former employer).

We also enjoyed catching up with Mark Greenland and Ray Meckenstock (other friends through photography but unfortunately we have no incriminating pictures). It was also great to see Davina Drage again when we visited Geraldton.