4 weeks ago we were in [url=http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/3916487]Colombo – [/url]the 50th country we have visited since 2000.

Apart from the very occasional trip to Australia and Asia we did not really travel until 2000, and we thought that our trip to UK & Europe would be a ‘once in a life time’ holiday.

We married at 21, had our first child at 24 and our 3rd 10 days before I turned 30. I chose to be a full time mum, and said I would devote 25 years caring for my boys (4 boys if I count gd!!) ……….. and then when we turned 50 we would set off on our Big OE. That sounds so old-fashioned – but that’s the way life was 40 year ago 🙂

Didn’t really think it would happen, but we all have to have dreams. Early in 2000 we sold a business, our 2 eldest boys moved to London, so we took the opportunity to make our dream trip.

13 years on, the 2 boys have married and settled in UK, our 3rd son married his childhood sweetheart and then moved to UK, so we have had many trips to see them all and to explore the world. That is something we could never have foreseen when we went on our first OE, and what a wonderful adventure it has been.

W are not so keen on long haul flights now, but still have a few more countries on our list. Wonder if we can make it 60 counties by the time we are 66?? ….and then it will definitely be time to holiday close to home and visit our favourite areas of NZ – which is still the most beautiful country we have ever seen?