10/08/05 - After much planning we have made a start on the bookings. Today I reserved our flights to Moscow from Zavantem (Brussels), which were good value at 343€ for both of us, including all taxes and fees. We plan to spend a couple of days in Moscow, then take the train to Irkutsk, which will take about five days. We will spend 2 days in Irkutsk and Lake Baikal before going on to Ulan Bator again for a couple of days. Finally we will hop back on the train for the last leg to Beijing.

23/08/05 - I have finally booked the train tickets from Moscow to Beijing, stopping at Irtkutsk & Ulan Bator en route. Although we intend to travel as real backpackers, staying in hostels and often eating at roadside vendor's, especialy in the far east, we have decided to start off in a bit more style and acclimatise gently to our new way of life by taking the Trans-siberian 1st class. The cost of a ticket from Moscow-Beijing including the stops was $597 per person, booked through Marlis Travel, a Russian Travel Agency, who have been very helpful. Tickets are only available for sale 45 days before the departure date so the agency will book them on our behalf as soon as they become available.

30/08/05 - The Ulan Bator - Beijing leg of the journey is confirmed as the 45 day rule doesn't apply. The Russian part is not available for a few days yet.

09/09/05 - The Moscow-Irkutsk-Ulan Bator tickets are now also confimed. We just have to try and find the Yaroslavsky train station in Moscow, which is by the Komsomolskaya underground station,  on the red line.

15/09/05 - Still not sold our cars, the Argus in France, apparently the best, has provided exactly zero responses to my advert in their magazine and web site. Perhaps we'll have more luck with French Property News, a UK based magazine dedicated to people wanting to buy homes and hopefully cars to go with them, in France.

20/09/05 - The tenants for the appartment moved in today, it feels a bit strange having someone else there.

24/09/05 - Sam's last day at work, at a French Property Exhibition in London, funnily that was how she started her job as well.

27/09/05 - We met the tenant for the house today, he came to see us with the estate agent and we signed the rental agreements. Well that's it, now going back now!

28/09/05 - We are madly packing the house up. A few friends have come to help, Gilles has come round to help us after already moving someone else this morning.

29/09/05 - My last day at work. As I am on my own in the office there were no champagne good bye's, I just turned the key in the lock and walked away.

30/09/05 - Another day of packing, the estate agent is coming at 6.15 to make sure the house is all ok, read the meters and that everything works. He has come with a 'Huissier', a French Bailiff who took lots of photo's to ensure that when we come back the tenant can't disagree with how we left the property, which is reassuring. Our Seacat to the UK leaves at 8.15pm, we must leave the house by 6.50, it's going to be very tight.
5.45pm, My friend Patrick, the Notaire arrives to collect the keys for our cars and 'Carte Grises', log books in English. He will continue trying to sell them for us while we are away.
6.15pm, The Huissier arrives spot on time, but no estate agent yet.
6.45pm, Jean-Jacques finally arrives, he was delayed at his previous appointment. He is a bit dismayed when I tell him that we have to go in 5 minutes. I give him the keys, read the meters with him and tell him we have to run, leaving him and the huissier to look round our empty and cleaned house.
6.55pm, We've done it, no home, no jobs, just a great adventure!!