This is the second post, which is now being done by yours truly (the Sheep is not IT literate).  I have been allowed by my sainted wife Lynne (and not so sainted daughter Heather) to go on my gap period (31 days) between retiring and commencing semi-retirement.  This will not be a fantastic, exciting blog that you can see on seasoned traveller's professional blogs.  This will be a record of the build up and the actual odyssey to keep my friends (?) and family up to date with my progress. For those who don't know the details...here goes.

I will finish work on Friday 13th. February (lucky for some) and I fly out from Glasgow on Monday 16th February on the EMIRATES daily flight to Dubai where I catch an EMIRATES A380 (the big double decker) to AUCKLAND (via Melbourne).  I will have a few days in Auckland to recover from the 27 hours travelling and see the sights.  I have hired an old style "hippie" Campervan (no toilet) for 3 weeks with the intention of travelling the length of NZ North and South Islands.  The itinerary is all planned but is also flexible.  After this I have 3 days to recuperate and maybe wash, if I need it...the intention is to go North to the most Northerly point in NZ.  Then it is back home the reverse way except this time I have a 9 hour stopover in Dubai and EMIRATES kindly provide an hotel for the stay.  That is it for now...will elaborate on some of the finer points before take-off in the next 2 weeks and 2 days...meantime if any one has tips or input please let me know.