Update 16/10/04

So here I am then, writing the final post to the diary on my own computer on the Isle of Wight. Feels a bit odd to be writing this here, I’m used to updating the diary from libraries and internet cafes!

For a change, just a couple of days to catch up on!

Up at 7:45AM on Monday morning. I finished packing my bag and then headed downstairs for breakfast. After a bite to eat and fixing the TV, I spent a little while on the internet to reply to a couple of emails. I said goodbye to Edgar and Caeco (Andy and Jackie’s cats) and left the house with Ab, Kathy, Bruce and Lawrie. We jumped into the jeep and headed into Boston for the day. Once we had arrived in the downtown area we headed to the Prudential Centre to sign up for one of the legendary Boston Duck Tours. We were very lucky actually, as we managed to get the very last seats of the day on the 5:15PM Tour. With the tour booked we had a very nice lunch and then caught the ‘T’ to Park Street. From there we headed to an old graveyard, well, old by American standards anyway! The yard is home to Sam Adams, Paul Revere and plenty of other people from the revolutionary period. We then followed the ‘Freedom Trail’ route for a while before jumping on the ‘T’ and returning to the Prudential Centre for the tour. The tour, which takes place in a World War II Amphibious Vehicle, left at 5:15. We were driven around the city and then cruised though part of the Charles River. The commentary throughout was excellent and the whole trip was so much fun! Once the tour had concluded we headed to ‘Legal 1 Seafood’ for dinner. We had to wait an hour for a table, but it was well worth the wait. We all have a lovely meal and great dessert…..no calories at all I assure you! It was then time to say goodbye….it was terrible. I was so sad to be leaving and it was just so hard today goodbye to Ab and Kathy. I spent plenty of time with them this summer, and I had such a great time…..what made it worse was the fact that I don’t know when I’ll see them again. Sooner rather than later I hope. I then walked back to the hostel and went straight to bed. I wasn’t looking forward to having to be up at 5AM to get to the airport.

I didn’t sleep well that night at all…I kept waking up..I was worried that I would miss the flight. I hopped out of bed at 5:15, crammed a final few things into the backpack and then left the hostel. I walked a block and a bit to the ‘T’ station, jumped on a Green Line Train and then a Blue Line Train straight to the airport. I arrived at the airport around 6:15. I checked in for AA156 to Heathrow, then passed through security before grabbing a bit of brekkie. I then found a computer terminal and wrote a couple of quick emails. I still had a good couple of hours before the flight, so I wandered around the terminal and read my book for a while. The flight was late to board and we departed about 35 minutes late at 9:35AM. The flight took 6 and a half hours. During which I napped for a while and watched a couple of the TV shows, both of which were very funny! If only we could get ‘Good Morning, Miami’ and ‘Two and a half Men’ over here. The plane landed at about 8:45PM….it was then what felt like a 10 mile walk to the baggage claim area! My bags came out…..eventually, it was then through customs and into the arrivals area to find my Mum, Dad and Sister. They were all very happy to see me! It was then time to find the car and for the journey back to the South Coast. We were able to make the midnight Wightlink Car Ferry and finally got home at about 2:30ish. By which time I was exhausted….it was also just starting to sink in that I was home and my adventure was over.

So to the last couple of days then. Well, it’s been a bit hectic actually. For starters, it just feels odd to be back on the Isle of Wight. I had become so used to living out of a rucksack! It is certainly going to take some time to adjust to normal life. Over the last couple of days I’ve had a chance to catch up with friends, family and try to sort out work. Still haven’t seen Laura yet, but she will hopefully be coming down to the Island next weekend, she’s a bit busy with her PGCE right now.

The last nine months of my life have been absolutely fantastic. I could not have had a better time! Over the period of my trip I met so many wonderful people, plenty of whom I’m still in contact with, and some I know I’ll see again. My trip cost a hell of a lot of money, and yes, my financial situation at this moment, isn’t particularly good - but in honesty I don’t care. I had the most amazing time and I have memories that I will cherish for a life time…the trip truly was worth every penny.

I’m glad that through this diary, I have been able to share my experiences with my family, friends, and other Gapyear.com members. I sincerely hope that my diary has been of help to some people. Most of the time it was simply an account of what I had been up to. If I had had more time, I could quite easily have written reviews of hostels, activities and areas in general. So, if anyone has any questions on anything like that, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

So, as the Fijiaans would say, ‘‘Vinaka na wilika na noqu i vola’’ - thanks for reading my diary.

All the best,

Dom

Hi Dom!

Good luck settling back into life back home, its very hard.  :)

Just want to say that I enjoyed reading your diary, and it was great meeting up in cairns even if it was only for a quick drink :)

Hope to see you again at some point -a meet up perhaps?

Cheers

Terry

Hello Terry,

Thanks for the message! Glad to hear that you liked the diary!

I’ll definitely try and make it to a meet up at some point!

Gotta dash, off to Peterborough for an Ice Hockey game.

Hello Justin,

Good to hear from you!

Thanks for the info about ‘Good Morning, Miami’......shame I haven’t got Sky at home! Hmmmm, I’ll have to try and get a friend to record it for me!

Speak soon!

Hi Dom

I used to listen to you when you were on the radio.  have enjoyed reading your diaries.  Will you be back on Isle of Wight Radio again?

Also, you might be glad to know two and a half men is being shown on one of the sky channels (can’t remember which one - think it might be paramount).

Leanne

Hello Leanne!

If only I had Sky at home I’d be a happy guy! Still, I’m sure I can find a friend to record it for me.

I’ll be back on Isle of Wight Radio in a few weeks time. I’ll be presenting a show on Saturdays…not sure of the time yet though. I’m currently trying to find a full time job somewhere in the South. In an ideal world, I don’t want to be too far from the Isle of Wight so that I can get back for Ice Hockey. Watch this space for news…...