Antwerp

I'm here, currently struggling with a weird keyboard in an internet cafe, unable to upload photographic evidence but here in Antwerp nevertheless. My journey from Birmingham was easy and Richard was waiting for me at Antwerp station, which is to quote Richard a 'magnificent edifice' ( he's said that quite a few times). We've decided to stay put here for a few days, there is plenty to do and we should be able to board the Amber Lagoon earlier than we thought on Friday. Today we're going to visit Rueben's house, eat fish and go and watch Chelsea play football in a bar ( when I say Chelsea I mean of course Torres). Last night we stumbled across an Irish bar showing football and I got to watch my favourite Portuguese manager celebrate Real Madrid's victory in style- sorry Jake but it was a great game and the bar was bizarrely full of Spaniards so it would have been impolite to support anyone else.
Don't suppose I'll be watching much football in the next 3 weeks so thought I'd make the most of it now. Next update may not be until Cape Town, although there may be a stop in Lisbon. I am fully stocked with sea sickness medication and ready to go!!

So near and yet so far

I am still in the country, admittedly I've left Brighton and said my sad farewells to all my lovely friends but as yet I am still in the UK. I've spent the last week celebrating my dad's 70th, organising my son for Uni, catching up with my family and enjoying the fact that I'm not at work. I finally leave on Tuesday 18th and all being well will meet up with Richard in Antwerp ( how glamorous).

My early predictions about the boat/ship were correct and we shall indeed be travelling on the Amber Lagoon - when we travel is however still not definite. If all goes according to plan then we should be onboard on the 23rd, leave on the 24th and arrive in Cape Town on the 16th of October. We await further news but we intend to make the most of our few days in Europe-22 days on a container ship is a long time, particularly for someone with my previous sea sickness history.