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We left our flat in Trinidad at 0330 on Wednesday and arrived home in Wrightington at 1330 on Thursday. Many thanks to Rob Grew, who picked us up from Manchester airport. There was a five-hour time reduction so it was a little shorter than it appears. We had a 9 hour stop over in Barbados and we were treated most kindly by Evelyn Brown, who allowed us to stay in an air conditioned lecture room, rather than outside on metal seats. All the transport was good, although we only managed one hour of sleep on the Virgin long haul.

Our house and cars, which had been looked after by our neighbours, Ruth and Frank, and the garden, which had been managed by Sue, were wonderful. It really was as if we had just stepped out. There was no dust, no cobwebs and with flowers on the table, bread, butter and milk in the kitchen, we really did feel very lucky to have such cosseting.

On the Friday evening as Kathy and I sat in front of a roaring coal fire, we discussed how unreal the trip seemed to be. Could it all have been a dream and Sal Darago was now attached to the pontoon at Hesketh Bank in Lancashire? It was exactly like the second day at work after a holiday, when the holiday is fading into memory and, well, it is life as normal.

Emily arrived shortly afterwards and our attention turned to WEDDINGS. Well one in particular. Oh, she also brought our mail for 9 months. Quite a pile.

As I look out of the front bedroom window across the beautiful, green, Lancashire countryside, I can’t help thinking how lucky we are to live in such a wonderful country and to have had such a magical sailing adventure.