Trip to Middle East and Africa

Hello All,

I am writing to let you know that Fred and I start our six month journey
to the Middle East and Africa tomorrow. We will be trying to maintain a
weblog at the following address as we go along
http://charlesfred.blogspot.com, as well as uploading pictures onto the
following site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/sets/ . It is
possible to leave comments on the weblog by clicking on 'comments' (in
green underneath each post) and following the instructions on the next
page (click 'other' by identity), or by signing the guestbook and
leaving a message there.

It will be great to hear from you, either in
this way, or by e-mail in the normal way. We hope to keep the weblog
current and interesting and promise to do our best to bring you stories
and anecdotes rather than a diary explaining who got up first to have a
shower and what was served at breakfast.

Fred managed to get a six month sabbatical from school, which is
well-timed because the new system in Holland requires History to be
taught in blocks each of half a year, so he will be back for the second
block. I have been enjoying a period without work since finishing the
job at Nortem, spending a bit of time in England and some in Italy. I
think the idea is for me to look for a job when we get back.

As can be seen on the weblog, we have a rough idea of where we want to
go,but aprt from the flight tomorrow to Istanbul and the hotel there for
two nights, nothing has been arranged. We will be carrying rucksacks,
travel guides and seeing where the road takes us. There are many things
that we would like to get out of this journey adn hopefully we will be
able to give a flavour in the weblog.

Sorry for not making this a more personal e-mail but all of a sudden,
time seems to have run out on me and I still have to pack!

So, I wish you all the best and hope to hear from you somewhere along
the way.

Cheers for now,

Charles