We're leaving on a jet plane

If we are sat on a coach, then it must be time to blog. As you have read
from other posts, yesterday was very emotional indeed. The tourist part of
the day was very fascinating and the shopping element was an amazing
experience. The shop people were not content with calling out to you, but
were grabbing hands, backpacks and even taking sunglasses of your head, all
to get you to look at their goods.

Then there was the haggling. Under advice from our guide we were aiming
for at least 30% of the original price, if not less. Very traumatic for us
reserved Brits, but a challenge that somehow we managed to rise to and
"shop till we dropped".

But the real focus and highlight of last night was the farewell dinner and
the highly emotional speaches from parents of children at Newick House,
their teachers, Trekkers and Kevin himself. We all shed tears at the
sincerity of the feelings that were expressed, hugged and laughed together.
We started as a group of 31 people who knew each other in varying degrees
and ended as a band of friends who have bonds forged over five amazing days
on the great Wall of China.

There will be more on the site, but I too have an addiction to battle and
have to wean myself from posting on the blog. Thanks for all your coments
and the messages that have meant so much to us all.

Goodbye from Andrew, Ann and Simon.