On their way home!

44 students and 4 staff are now on their way back home, from Manchester via Dubai. Fortunately they don’t need to travel Bangkok with a direct flight back from Dubai to Sydney (same as outward journey).

We had a lovely last day starting with the 10.30 a.m. Parish Communion at Southwell Minster.  It was poignant that we were worshippers in an Anglican Mass, where we could all reflect and understand this worship after our two sung masses (in latin) in Prague and Paris respectively. This was the start of some emotional reactions as we all realised that this was the end of the tour. One of the hymns was “O Come O Come Emmanuel”!!!!.  Many students and staff took Communion. Local parishioners who had attended the previous night’s concert took the opportunity to talk to our tour group.

Then it was across the road to the 16th century Saracen’s Head for our final “Christmas lunch” . This was a chance for us all to celebrate what has been an amazing 18 days. I gave awards ( some “Bean”) to all 47 students  and 8 staff for their contribution to the tour. Nick “Guten” Morgan read a brilliant and hilarious poem about the tour, and Dr. Kefford (as he had done all tour) expertly and sensitively brought the event to a suitable conclusion.

So then to Manchester Airport. The redoubtable Barry somehow managed to get them there (without going the wrong way too many times!) by 5.40 p.m.. Check – In took a while but everybody got on board (and all their luggage) including the two students whose return tickets weren’t dated 21 December!!

All the Allington family would have loved to be on that plane heading for warmer climes, and a few tears were shed as (along with Keffords who also are staying with family in England for Christmas) we bid a very fond farewell to the students and staff travelling home. (It’s cold and grey this morning although not raining!)

Enjoy your reunion on Tuesday morning!

A couple more posts from me before Christmas about the last part of the tour, so that there is a record on the website which will remain open.

Love to all,

James A.