I haven’t sent a proper email before now because it’s just not *fun* typing on the iPad, and I know none of you would want me to feel like writing to you was a chore. So, of course I will try to make up for my lack of contact now by writing an email that is neither too short or too long, and is filled to the brim with exciting tales of adventures through the rugged Scottish highlands…
However, I only have 43 minutes of internet time remaining, so I’ll just do what I can. Internet here at Gatwick is a bit ridiculous, because, despite the fact that you have to pay £5 for an hour of internet time, you still get a proliferance of advertisements adorning your screen. Greedy much, Gatwick? It’s just like when you go to the movies and they show ads, even though you’ve paid close to $20 for the ticket! It’s enough to make a person waste their first email home on righteous indignation.
As I said above, I’m now at Gatwick airport. That means that the first part of my trip is over and done with (Scotland and England), and the next part is about to begin (Europe). First stop in Europe – Vienna. I’m looking forward to seeing Max and Theresa, who I’ll be staying with. Some of you may know them as the Germans who were staying with Tim and I in Brisbane; couchsurfers who turned into dear friends. After that, a train trip to Prague to meet up with my wonderful pal Ben, and then back to his current home in Rome. I fly home to Sydney from Rome on 18 January.
Mum left Anna’s place (where we’ve been staying) in Brighton yesterday at lunchtime to stay at Heathrow, or near Heathrow, as her flight left early this morning. She’ll be landing in Sydney and staying with Tim for a night before heading back to Brisbane.
Scotland:
Mum met me at Heathrow on 29 December London time, late in the afternoon. My flight had been uneventful, fortunately, and the seven-hour stopover in Kuala Lumpur wasn’t too taxing. The immigration line at Heathrow was much more frustrating than the stopover, in fact, and I’m glad I won’t be flying out of there again. Gatwick is a much nicer airport – employing more staff and with lots of helpers around the place. People are quite surly at Heathrow (mind you, I would be, too, if I had to work there).
Mum and I picked up the car from Budget, and commenced our journey to the North. We stopped at Leicester for the night, and continued on the next morning to Inverness. The scenery along the drive was amazing, and as we drove past Perth, the sun appeared and lit up trees and fields covered with pristine snow. The roads were clear, and apart from some fog, everything was fine apart from a stressful spot just outside Inverness, where it got very cold and our windscreen wipers ran out of water. We managed to get going again though.

![m_158065[1] Some friends of mine](http://www.casbot.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/m_1580651-1024x684.jpg)

















