For the first time, we travelled as a family to Africa and could not keep away. These trips were followed by our first visit as a family to the India Ocean - Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The Namib desert began to feel like home - as did our four wheel drive Hi Lux. It wasn't as splendid as say, the Britannia Hotel Newcastle, but it can be considered as a haven. The Maldives made a pleasant change - and for once, we were surrounded by water.