On our first full day in France we did what any sensible person would do and immediately left after only 2 hours. Belgium was the place to be. We spent most of the middle of the day in and around Ypres seeing lots of the places I will no doubt frequent as a history teacher later on a battlefields tour. Then finally off to Ghent to hit the ground running tomorrow visiting the city! Bye bye England A really cool trench system and underground dug out in what is now an industrial estate outside Ypres (shame we didn't get any pictures of it above ground). Very close to home seeing fellow Yorkshire men in Belgium A dressing station at Essex Farm in Ypres (sensing a theme here) it was bizarre seeing the tiny rooms the doctors and orderlies practiced in. Despite its troubles Danni is confident the NHS isn't quite in this state yet. The aftermath of the obliteration of the top of the Caterpillar (next to Hill 60) from 32 tonnes of explosives (approx. 10 x moiras). The photo really doesn...

I guess we've fully committed now. Long drive down to Dover today ready for an early ferry tomorrow (although I was under the impression that quitting your job would mean lie-ins...?) Moira before thousands of miles of abuse A very excited and confident Danni (and her still not fully processed what's happening fiancé) The first of many many expensive fuel ups I thought these cliffs were supposed to be white not golden...

Moira on her first night being owned by 2 unemployed silly little people. She's somewhat grumpy that there was no valentines present for her (beyond a new tank of diesel) Only 2 nights to go now before we head down south to start our journey down the Rhine to Italy!!! After 3 and a half years at, not only a wonderful school with lots of interesting and passionate staff and young people, a stable job and an actual paycheck. At least people did listen to my constant ramblings about travelling: there's a clear travelling theme! The face of a man truly contemplating if quitting his job and driving his rickety 18 year old van around 20 odd countries is the best idea in the world. (He does have a cool new hat though)

 A little over a year ago we started the process of converting Moira from her mouldy, carpeted and confusingly constructed self as we made her into our new home. It was a very difficult process and one that posed an absolutely absurd amount of challenges. It was, however, one of the most satisfying and enjoyable things I have ever done. Getting to share that process with my girlfriend then fiancé has made it all the better. We have navigated the trials of working full time and converting then living in a van even through the bloody cold winter. As the final few days before we give up our jobs and head off come to a close this has been an awesome chapter of our lives and the next one looks to be an amazing (albeit extremely scary) one.  - Rob

                                                                                            The original gal Oh no, what have we done I guess we've got to commit now Floor incoming  Would be good to have some light Walls! Not another hole to cut... A bed! First chance to take her out for a test run Kitchen unit construction Even packed the kitchen sink More storage incoming Looking good!

  A forest in the Netherlands that provided a nice home for a night (albeit with an abundance of cowboys) The calm after the storm of getting stuck up a mountain in Switzerland and dramatically burning out the clutch (we're talking plumes of smoke) Who even knows where but it sure is pretty The classic Moira park up in Notts

A slightly dinged up Moira in pumping station in the magical town of Gainsborough With only 20 days left to go now the pressure is on to get Moira travelling ready. She is back in the garage tonight (hopefully!) only one more day to get any pesky goblins out of the gearbox and avoid any nasty shocks breaking down in rural Switzerland! We've got a few bits and bobs left to sort with her interior and getting the various paper works finalised. Although fortunately paperwork seems to be a job that has fallen under Danni's remit and not mine! This blogging business seems fairly straightforward (albeit with more coding than I was expecting) although I do have an overwhelming sense that I'm an internet blogger from 2006 with the quality of my posts and blog generally! Oh well... See you all when the big event finally kicks off on the 17th of Feb! - Rob