Continuing with the plans ...

I am buying lots of little gifts for people who help me while I'm travelling - am I being over-optimistic? WILL anyone help me while I'm travelling? Well, if they do, they will get a little "thank-you" from me in the form of a little stickpin (I have koalas, kangaroos and boomerangs) or little pair of socks for a child, or a bib for a baby (cute Koalas again!) and - if someone is REALLY generous - I have a few rather nice reproductions of aboriginal artworks to give away.

Is it right to do this? I am not Australian (but would like to be - too old, unfortunately, to become Australian - they don't want non-breeders, a bit like any stock station I suppose) but have spent the past five years here, which is about the longest I've ever spent in one place since I left school. My previous record in one place/one job was also five years, but in Saudi Arabia. Big difference!

I need to start sorting through my belongings soon and dividing into sell, give away, throw away and ship out. Ship out has to be divided into what I will need immediately on arrival in the UK and what can go into storage and be got out when necessary. The saddles are a bit of a problem as they are awkward to pack, but I think that I'll be able to pack household things around them so that little space ends up being wasted. Tea chest suppliers, here I come! Disappointingly, teachests nowadays come as cardboard flatpacks, and the only relationship they have to the teachests of old is the matching size.

Am going to send away to the US for a couple of bridles. No import duties here.