Arrivando in Australia…home!
We’ve arrived back home now and we really do know how the Pevensie’s felt after they walked back out of the wardrobe! Nothing has change and time has stood still!! Italia seems a universe away!!!
For the trip back we drove a hire car to Roma and caught a plane to Londra. All the baggage came under the weight limit which was always the worry. Otherwise, plan B was Grace stays…and we’ll be back someday soon. From London it was onto Singapore then Brisbane. 30ish hours altogether over a few timezones. At one stage we were served breakfast on one plane then 2hrs later dinner on another plane. In between was Saturday! We were flying QANTAS and luckily the plane kept ALL it’s engines attached!
We made it into Brisbane (very over-dressed) and VERY tired. Immigration and customs were no worries up until the sniffer dogs started to take a liking to my bags! Meanwhile my wife had been through the check and moved on… Apparently Fido liked the Qantas lollies that were in my hand luggage.
We moved into Jim and Paula’s (Anna’s parents) for a week or so till our new bed arrived and the furniture was moved out of storage. Once again we were living out of a suitcase…All part of the adventure! After unpacking boxes and once again throwing away a lot of ‘stuff’ (things we thought we needed and had to store) we have the place back into some type of ‘normal’ routine. It has been very ‘cleansing’.
Paddy and Grace got to visit their old (and new) schools in the first few days back. Patrick went up for a lunchtime game of handball and Grace met her new teacher and Principal. She also went to her old school and had a day at school with them. We posted the last of the Brisbane School of Distance Education work and now simply await their reports.
As we write this, we’re at the Coast lapping up the surf air. It’s also pouring so it’s not quite idyllic.
This blogs purpose was to keep friends and family informed whilst we were on our adventure overseas. Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to our ‘journey journal’.
Until the next adventure…cotters@home
Ci vediamo!



Welcome home!
Thanks Debra! We must catch up for coffee soon.
I would like that. My email is debrakolkka@gmail.com
Thoroughly enjoyed following your journey. Thank you for sharing and for giving us some ideas and advice. Look forward to catching up next year.
Welcome home Juliano and family,
Enjoy the final part of your great adventure mate. i have just returned from another 10 days in India which was great.
Lynn goes into hospital today for the start of our next 6 month journey of chemotherapy so life will be a little more sedate for a whie.
Looking forward to catching up in January.
To the Cotter family – I have thoroughly enjoyed watching your journey, photos and most of all your joy in being in Italy. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experiences along the way on your blog.
Kind regards,
Carolyn Bindon p.s. Merry Christmas and Welcome Home!!
What an adventure! Nice to know we played a tiny part in it – pizza night at Casa San Gabriel will be remembered for many years to come!
You now have the challenge to make 2011 even more exciting!
Have a very Happy Christmas and think of us in the cold.
with love
carole, ozzy and jack