You've nearly got rid of us! Time for all the women to start crying, Ralph is leaving the UK. Thanks to Rob, Lesley & Bill, Alan & Jane, Ralph (snr) and Bubbles (Ralph's parents) and Jo & John (Angela's parents) for putting us up (or up with us) over the last week or more. Thanks to Paula for coming over to Rob's today and for volunteering to escort us to Heathrow (it saves Police time) tomorrow with Rob. Next postcard should be from South Africa unles...

Well, since the last postcard we've moved to Greenhithe (Thames Estuary) courtesy of Rob Hale. Great views of all the ships and bodies coming in and out of the Thames, very exotic. The house exit on 2 June went smoothly apart from a last minute crisis (45mins before the agent was arriving with the new tenants) that involved Angela, a blocked downstairs toilet, the main sewer, me and a set of drain rods and brushes. Fortunately I avoided any splash back and w...

Since our last UK postcard on 20 April, we've both left work and we need to get out of the house on 2 June, but apart from that it's been quiet. I had a leaving do on 12 May, which involved some great London pubs, excellent beer, and a cultural tour of the Inns of Court, Fleet Street and Smithfield area of the City of London (organised and conducted by Jeff, an expert on London history despite the handicap of being an American). Thanks to everyone for turnin...

Now that Bird Flu has clearly reached the human population it is fortunate that our preparations for Africa are well advanced. Showing considerable bravery I (Ralph) endured a second round of jabs recently (without fainting) though the £140 for the Hepatitis B course had both of us feeling dizzy. A further £80 for Yellow Fever jabs awaits, we'd better get some of these diseases after paying so much for them! The house interior has been re-painted in white thr...

The house is a bit drafty now so we've decided to go somewhere warmer.