Day 86 - Disembarkation, Transition & New Beginnings

 An early start this morning as we disembarked the ship. Joe was more than ready to go home, whereas I could quite easily have stayed on a little longer. Life onboard has felt like a comforting blanket, wrapped around you—safe, warm, and gently holding you in place.

I know the last three months have been a bubble, a pause from real life, but it was one I deeply needed and am profoundly grateful for. This time has allowed me to rest, to reflect, and—most importantly—to reconnect with my boundaries and values, the foundations of who I am. I know I’m stepping back into the reality of everyday life, but I’m doing so stronger, clearer, and more grounded.

As we move forward, I’m looking forward to these next chapters:
a few days in Sydney with our friends Ellen & Joe,
then the long journey home,
time with the kids in London,
and finally, on the 1st, back home to Gibraltar.

Leaving the ship was emotional. Saying goodbye to the friendships we had formed was hard, but that is the circle of life—nothing ever remains static, and forward is the only way we move.



The disembarkation process itself was thankfully very smooth. We collected our luggage, had help from porters, handed over the bags being shipped back to Gibraltar to the Luggage Forward team, and our driver was waiting to take us to the hotel.

One small oversight—we hadn’t booked the hotel room from the night before (something many fellow travellers wisely did), so we had a bit of a wait. The concierges kindly stored our luggage, and we headed out to the shops to buy a much-needed extra suitcase for the bits we couldn’t ship home. Our tour partner had left us a small gift of chocolates at reception, which was a nice little touch.



Of course, we passed a Swatch shop, and Mr C couldn’t resist. He found the very watch he’d liked back in Cape Town—so yes, that came home with us too.



Back at the hotel, we grabbed a drink and a snack, and soon our room was ready. And what a room…
Huge windows, breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House—absolutely stunning and such a gift after a long morning.



Joe then got a message from Paul and Adie, who were also in Sydney and—by coincidence—staying in the same hotel. We arranged to meet later for tea. After unpacking, I may have had a very quick snooze before heading out again.

We met Paul & Adie, then later joined Ellen & Joe for drinks before heading to the wonderful Luna Lu, an Asian fusion restaurant where we had a truly fantastic evening. It was extraordinary to realise that the two Joes hadn’t seen each other in over 50 years—and they spent the entire night chatting away, clearly very aligned in their views. It was a joy to watch.



It’s always such a delight to see Ellen, and seeing her on her side of the world this time felt extra special. She always makes me smile.

By the time we got back to the hotel, we were completely exhausted, but our hearts were full.

And finally, a very special note today—
🎉 Happy 18th Birthday to our gorgeous nephew Sam 🎉
You are an incredible young man, and we cannot wait to see you next week and celebrate properly with you then.

🌿 Daily Reflection

This wasn’t an ending—it was a transition. Gratitude for what has been, excitement for what’s next, and deep appreciation for the pause that allowed me to realign with myself.

⭐ Highlight of the Day

Stepping into our room to that jaw-dropping view of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House—a perfect welcome back to life on land.

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