And we're off...

My round trip journey of 25,000 miles to the antipodes, and back via California, began with a half-hour train ride.

It was followed by what should have been a 4h30 train journey to Paris, which turned into nearly 7 hours, after we sat for over two hours in the station at Limoges while a fallen tree was removed from the line ahead.

The day was topped off by a lousy meal at the Novotel at Charles de Gaulle airport - pre-cooked food re-heated in a microwave to tepid. A shameful affront to French cuisine.

Tomorrow, the second phase of the journey, by air to Perth, Western Australia, via Doha. We arrive on Monday evening, local time.