How to Change your Life in 45 Minutes





As the train hurtles into Somerset, our excitement increases. We're now just hours away from taking possession of our tandem. And we know one of two scenarios will come true - either we have made

a dreadful mistake or we are embarking on a

wonderful shared adventure.

Sam the Man in Sydney

The decision to change our lives - to buy a tandem and go adventuring - is based on the flimsiest of trials. We hired one in Devonport, Auckland, one sunny winter's afternoon and rode it backwards and forwards past the moored yachts on the waterfront. It wasn't an auspicious start. We couldn't even get moving without minor drama. As we attempted to push off, Judy on the back yanked at her handlebars with such force that she pulled them out of alignment. Oblivious on the front, I mounted the bike and attempted to slide onto my seat only to have a handlebar end attempt to slide its steel shaft into a certain part of my anatomy. We regrouped, twisted the handlebars back into place and tried again. Lesson one: the person on the back doesn't steer. Relax and leave it to the joker on the front.
The rest of the ride went better, until we became bored and retired to a cafe for coffee and cake - the hired tandem propped against a nearby post so we could admire it.
All that seems a long time ago now. We've quit our jobs, moved out of our house, said goodbye to family and friends and flown half way around the world to where our very own, brand new tandem awaits us.

For the past few days we've been enjoying stopoffs in Sydney and Abu Dhabi, and a stay with friends in London.


Merran at Mangawhai, Northland with Judy and friend Grace

Judy with Janice and Roger in London

Two of the Brockie brothers, Hokianga

Tarzan Tai at Leigh, Northlanf

Sam and Agi, Sydney

Judy astride the Meridian Line, Greenwich, London

Jack makes a spectacle of himself, Poole, England

Judy's favourite - Regents \park, London

Shirley in her garden, Umawera, Hokianga

Some of the clan at Leigh, before we left. Judy, brother Mark, sister Sarah, Tai and brother-in-law Ross

Night out in Sydney

Judy and friend Alison at the Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

Sky scrapper reflections, Abu Dhabi

Judy pauses in an Abu Dhabi furniture store that specialises in the colourful.

Jet ski, Abu Dhabi. A place of contrasts.

Relaxing on a waterborne ride, Abu Dhabi high rises in the background

Wow, what an exhibition. Leonardo da Vinci, the Anatomist, at the Queen's Gallery, London.

Jack gets friendly with Lord Baden Powell - founder of the boy scout movement