Hello from Moscow!:  If you haven’t already heard the news, I broke the 100-page barrier on Tuesday (October 6th), so I have effectively completed my charity writing challenge,  although I am continuing to write my travel diary and am heading towards the 115 to 125-page mark.

I am extremely proud of what I have been able to do. At the time of leaving the Island, I had raised approximately £3,000 for the hospice and I hope to raise a lot more.

I know I raved about Mongolia, but Siberia was equally amazing. I know when people think of Siberia, they probably think of snow, gulags and Dr Zhivago. But at this time of year the landscape looks more like Canada in the fall - blue skies, green pines, the golden and red leaves of silver birches and other broad-leaved trees, it’s absolutely stunning.

I reached Moscow late yesterday afternoon, will be exploring this great city today and tomorrow and will arrive home on Saturday.

You can still sponsor me online at  Just Giving or by snail-mail if you prefer. Please make cheques payable to the Earl Mountbatten Hospice and send them to: Trans-Siberian Writing Challenge, Fundraising Office, Earl Mountbatten Hospice, Halberry Lane, Newport, Isle of Wight, UK. PO30 2ER.