London, United Kingdom

So we come to the end of our adventure, safely back in England, just memories to sustain us and about a million photos to sort through.

We had left our hotel at 6am with a very smooth journey to the airport. A basic lounge at Mumbai provided us with a little sanctuary at that time of the morning before we were driven at great length all around the perimeter of the airport, past the slums crowding up to the fence and the heavily militarised air traffic control tower, before eventually boarding our Air India plane to Delhi. Their Executive Class is highly recommended - very spacious seats, great service and what looked like a wonderful breakfast menu. Needless to say, I ate hardly anything, fearful of the effect.

As we landed a very posh steward announced, "It has been our great delight to have provided your transportation this morning. Please ensure to remember your spectacles, telephones and personal effects as you leave. And of course, allow our Executive members to depart the plane before leaving your seat." Ah, travel as it used to be...

A short stop over in Delhi airport and then onto our Virgin flight back to London. Just as we were all settled in and awaiting departure, an announcement came over the tannoy. "Due to sickness, we will be returning to the stand." Some poor lady was throwing up at the back of the plane. Having been that soldier of sickness recently I sympathised. Although when we eventually took off two hours late, my sympathy had rapidly descended to frustration.

Even more so as I had to ask the cabin crew to prepare me a special dinner of just plain rice and apple juice... when Coman and the rest of the Upper Class cabin were tucking into a three course dinner, extensive wine list and a cheese course. I rolled over and went to sleep as fast as I could, waking up mid-afternoon UK time as we were soon to land. Jetlag is going to play havoc with me tomorrow.

Finally, at 9.30pm - 21 hours after we left our hotel - we walked through our front door. Home, sweet sweet home, at last. God, it's cold!!!