A wise woman (my Mum) once told me 2 sayings that seem particularly appropriate today...
1) Live the life you love - this trip will definitely involve doing just that! It's been both mine and Matt's dream from long before we met to go travelling and experience sights and sounds you just don't find at home! I can't believe that dream is about to come true & even better I get to share it not only with Matt but my brother too (we are meeting him in Langkawi on 8th October when he finishes his 6 month trip with Odyssey Overland!) . Even so, it hasn't been an easy decision to make: there have been many moments when we have asked each other if we are sure we are doing the right thing and there have been sooooooo many tears!!! But like you have all told us, yes we are doing the right thing & it's going to be amazing!!!

2) Don't put off until later that what can be done today - ok so I didn't listen to her on that one & boy was that a mistake!! For those of you who think I'm super organised, I'm afraid I have let you down & I defo chose the wrong time to let my halo slip!!! Our flight left Heathrow at 22:05 so we needed to check in around 20:00 at the latest, working backwards Dad decided we should set off at about 16:00! Sounds feasible I hear you say, I have after all had the 6 week summer holiday plus the last couple of weeks to get sorted so the house should be empty, bags packed and everything in place! Well it wasn't!!!! At 3pm I was still choosing what clothes to pack, no furniture had been moved and the house was still full of our belongings! Have I learnt my lesson? Indeed I have! Organised Laurs is a much calmer and happier person to be and I can't say a big enough sorry & thank you to my parents who now have the unenviable task of clearing our house ready for Step & Steph to move in!

Somehow amid all the craziness of today, we made it to Heathrow on time, checked in, said our final farewells and now our adventure really has begun!

We want to take a moment in this first post to say a few thank yous...
To everyone who has helped us plan & organise our trip, you have given us so many ideas of things to do & have truly inspired us
For all the presents we received - we promise to spend the money on amazing things we will never forget & not on alcohol!!
To all those who came and gave us an amazing send off at our numerous nights out & get togethers!!
To our families, for supporting us in our crazy ideas & enabling us to make them a reality!

We hope you enjoy following us on this adventure, we will miss you all!!
Lots of love
Laurs & Matt
xxx