After several years it was finally time for our next longhaul. Destination: Olhuvelli Beach on South Male Atoll.

Another trip up North for the senior Gates family. This summer the Bradys' celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary

A very special holiday to both of us as it was our first together. And for good measure we saw in the New Year in Beijing.

After a stressful first quarter of 2004 it was time to organise the annual hols. Sean had survived the six month probationary period in his new job and Elaine was nearing the end of her notice period for her old one, with a two week break before the new one started. So it was go now or wait another four months.

It all started in Dec 2004 when we were looking for somewhere to go for a quick warm getaway over Christmas and New Year. Sean fancied Tobago. Accommodation was no problem at such short notice but all flights were fully booked. This started us thinking that this would be a great place for our honeymoon and bookings were made almost immediately while we settled for Brussels for the New Year.

It was a fantastic three weeks at the Coco Reef resort. Not quite what we had in mind for our quick getaway - but it was, after all, our honeymoon. Here are some of the pictorial highlights..

2006 started on what could have been a bad note when Sean was made redundant immediately after returning from holiday in SA. We decided to go ahead anyway as the holiday was already booked and paid for. It was a pretty relaxing break after a pretty relaxing 5 months for Sean. Little did he realise that he would be back at work within 2 weeks of our return.

This was a really great position and stayed there for over 3 years

This is John Snape's account:

My Fears

• Getting a duff bike.
• Getting a dose of the trotters / Montezumas.
• Being bunked up with a snorer.
• Getting pissed and missing the plane.

Yes I've done it again. In July 2003 I cycled 450 kms from Moscow to St Petersburg in Support of British ORT.

To do this I had to commit to raising £2500. The obvious question is why!!! Well there are several reasons.

• Education is vital in securing a better future and that is what ORT is all about. Providing money, food, clothing, running water (the list goes on) for disadvantaged communities needs to be supported by education, without this these communities will never learn to become self sufficient and will continue to rely on external support.

In July 2008 my job changed dramatically. In addition to the convenient 12 mile from home office which meant bicycle in summer and tolerable car journey in winter I inherited another office 30 miles away - only thing was it was in London, and the opposite side to where the local (slow) train goes. (I also had to take a 25% pay cut for the pleasure of moving from contract to perm but that's another story.) One week in and I was ready to resign. I was leaving home at 6:30 and usually not making it in for 9. I was also rarely home by 7:30.