The 3 "P"s progress. Mike has done all the planning over the last few months sorting the travel arrangements, acquiring maps and practising his Arabic. This aspect has now pretty much stopped as we decided that having anything more definite than "point towards the mountains" might act like a carrot to a donkey, and we'd end up chasing a schedule. We've both marked up the maps with our Must See lists and hope that we'll be able to join them together,perhaps not.Packing has been delayed a lot, mainly due to the horrendous gales and sandstorms we've been having lately. This week has been especially bad with what seems to be all of Moray's topsoil migrating eastwards at 40mph. We've parked Daphne out of the worst of it, but there's still a not-so-fine layer of sand over everything now so all of what we've packed so far will have to come out and get dusted off. Then we will have to remember where it all went.

Preparation - well, that's Mike's department. I don't think he realised that prepping Daphne for the trip was going to be quite so uncomfortable. Our trips are normally in the summer, and getting the truck ready can be done in relatively warm weather. A trip at this time of year though, means working when it's wet, windy and freezing. Daphne won't fit in the garage so absolutely everything has to be done outside on the driveway which hasn't been pleasant.

Nonetheless, he seems happy that all has that can be done has been and I am beginning to understand the difference between "reliable" and "serviceable". Mike's view seems to be that Daphne will break down but we have the means to fix, repair, lash up or otherwise deal with most things. Judging by the list of spare parts and the weight of the tool box, I can believe it.

I organise the kitchen department, and as long as all the boxes are replaced in the correct places they WILL all fit in neatly. As we will be away for nearly five weeks, the first priority is to ensure that we have enough teabags. We ran out last year in France and what was on offer in the supermarches there was NOT tea as we know it! The second priority is to make sure we have wine boxes. Mike will probably say that I have got the priorities back to front there!

We are leaving tomorrow. A leisurely drive down to daughter's flat in Glasgow and travelling to Porstmouth via Mike's mum (HALLO EILEEN) near London. The ferry leaves on Tuesday so we'll take a day to see the sights of Pompey, particularly the Mary Rose museum.

So, one sleep to go! We will be missing the spring flowers here and more especially the cherry blossom on the trees around the local hospital. It's a fantastic show every year and always lifts my spirits. However, the thought of the sights, sounds and smells that are awaiting us in Morocco is overwhelming! We are all set to saddle up and wagons ho!

Mike? Have you seen my driving license......