I guess everyone else was feeling nervous

I guess everyone else was feeling nervous, apprehensive, exited and a whole host of emotions before joining this trip, But I wondered if these feelings should be intensified because I was joining the trip in Marrakech and not in Portsmouth.

I some ways I guess they were, but who really knows? I do remember thinking about the trip on the 5th November they would be leaving the UK and I wasn't. Weird really I was advised to join the group between the 15th and 20th November so booked my flight and Hotel accordingly. I do know that the weekend before I flew I was feeling extremely apprehensive, but it was more due to the enormity of the trip and the fact that I was so sad to leave home, rather than join a group of "Bonded People" Who were they? Why did they? Where did they come from? They could have been aliens for all I know! (Almost but not quite!)

To cut a long story short, I did have to wait longer than expected in Marrakech for them. I did have to correspond with the office a few times to find out where the group were, and I was told they would arrive Thursday or Friday. So I waited patiently - or was it impatiently! The more I waited the more I wondered what I had let myself in for ! Kind of scary, but exciting: daunting in a way, but maybe they should be more scared of me than I am of them! I had a call on the Saturday night to say that they had arrived in town! Hooray! (I think!).

I met the driver, Graham, and then we wondered to the market in Marrakech to meet some of the others who had come into town. I was was excited really, but also quite calm considering. To be honest it was cool. The guys I met seemed almost "normal", some "mad" but all made me feel welcome! sigh of relief.

The next day I arrived at the camp site along with my pack and everything, this was it!! I gradually met all the guys and "girls" - all seemed friendly: which made life so much easier. There were obviously certain routines in place, to be honest you just muck in, you soon pick it up. Even putting up the tent is becoming routine - and it feels like I have known them for ages.

So, even though the group had been together three weeks, it has been a pretty easy time joining in.................... I guess I have been very lucky!!!! or these guys aren't so bad after all..............!!!