Dads Unauthorised Travel Blog - the Final Episode

Well it only feels like two minutes since we were saying our goodbyes at the airport as the girls set off on their backpacking adventure. But all good things must come to an end (or money can only stretch so far) and after four months travelling up the East coast of Australia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam, visiting some absolutely  stunning places they have decided to hang up their backpacks (for now) and bring their washing home.To be honest I've lost track of everywhere they've visited, but what an experience it's been for them and it's certainly opened my eyes to visiting some countries that previously I just wouldn't have considered.

It's back to normal at home, if I'm honest, there have been moments where I've quite missed the buzz of all the comings and goings, but it has been nice to have some 'couple time' together It's made us reflect on the things we might want to do in our next phase of life once both the limpets finally decide to fly the nest permanently.

In the absence of the girls Oscar the Dogs standing in the family pecking order has risen. He's become a surrogate son, over the past few months I've increasingly started treating him like one of my offspring, having chats with him and asking him questions. You don't get much of a response back apart from a slight raising of the ears and a quizzical look, you can imagine him thinking what is this muppet on about now. But it did occur to me more than once that maybe life would have been simpler if we had just got two dogs and skipped the kids phase, I mean he's cheaper, there's no back chat, he does what you ask (if food is involved) he doesn't leave cups of coffee and plates of food everywhere, in fact, quite the opposite, he just hoovers it all up and you get free exercise everyday, it's like the perfect scenario. He does however have some limitations, he can't make his dad cups of tea or drive him to and from the pub - believe me, we've had lots of conversations about it. So girls, after abandoning your poor dad for 4 months, some tips there if you want to resume your place in the family hierarchy.

A lot of people have been asking if the girls were safe with the outbreak of Coronavirus. I did get concerned at one point that they maybe super hosts as the trail of the virus outbreak hotspots appeared to be following in their wake. Thankfully they are both well, although there was part of me that sort of hoped they might come back with at least a temperature and I could self isolate and work from home for a couple of weeks.

Since they made their decision to return home we have been getting a flow of food requests, basically anything that didn't include noodles or rice - ham baguettes, chicken mozzarella (a family favourite) chicken and bacon pie, full English breakfast, capped off with, "as we were away for Christmas, can we have a Christmas Dinner?" I'm not sure who us most excited about that, me or them. We've got the turkey, my chefs apron has been washed and pressed and thank god for Amazon, where else would you get some Christmas crackers. It will be lovely to be all sat round the table together again, having a family feast with lots of chat and maybe just a bit of banter.

Well this is the final blog in my unauthorised series. I hope you have enjoyed reading them as much as I have enjoyed writing them. I'm immensely proud of my daughters completing this backpacking adventure. It's something I wish I'd done and I hope I'll get the opportunity to do something similar (but more in the luxury hotels space rather than hostels) in the future.

Mark Twain wrote: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” Travel builds a perspective on life, to see how others live and to always be grateful for what you have. In my experience despite what we hear on the news and in the press, the majority of people in the world are good people, with the same aspirations and expectations as we have and always willing to help the stranded traveller. I hope the memories and experiences  of the trip will be one of life's anchor points for the girls.

But above all else it's not so much that they have done this trip but that they have done it together. Girls; as you travel through life make sure you build on that bond, don't take it for granted because it is special. Support and be there for each other ........ for me, as a dad, that's job done.

Love you both xx

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