Mark Stevens Hi Amanda, always love to hear what you up to. Be a good girl this new year. Have a great 2013. Got a new fella, Tony, doing your old job now, Kelly has finished up to be a busy Mum.

Smeg Good to hear from you Amanda, you keep our culture of binge drinking to the fore - I'll have a yarn to John K tomorrow and see if we can make you an official ambassador. Good to see you sharing your food with the Spaniards.

Lanerr Hahaha i actually LOLed mander. You are one talented blogger... least when your finished on your gullivers travels an pennyless you will be able to sell these pieces an make billions rather than sleeping on my couch :) Good to see your still the same mander wasting all the good food... p.s. hope you sort the gangrene out sicko

Lynette great to read your blogs-thanks

Mark Stevens Good on you booze hag, sounds funny as. That guy has let down all the men named Mark. Sorry about that - will have him excommunicated. You look like a wee lepro-corn in the photo.

Kate fairbairn Delightful neighbours weren't they! Hope you said hello frm all of us! Love your blogs Manda, will catch up soon!

Justine haha

Kurt My sons name is Mark

The other manda Thats so cool you saw Stu! :)

deb Great story Manda, good luck.

Mark Stevens Good work you tight tiger. Turkey is great the people are awesome especially if you try to talk the lingo and wear an All Black top. If you going there for Anzac day you will learn the Turkish losses were much more and had a greater impact than ours. Go to the 57th Battalion cemetery to give you an idea. Keep safe enough but keep it out there. Hugs from Smeg.

Kate Loving your blogs - keep having a great time and keep blogging!

Laner Baird Mander you never did tell whether you scored a raging ranga? I can just imagine you locking eyes with one as you went into that -100 degree water and running towards each other slow motion style as his carrot top protrudes out of his pants. Am i anywhere close to the truth? Keep up the fannytastic journalism skills mander these titbits make my day a little brighter every time i read a new one xo

Mark Stevens Keeno, put me on the notification list whenever you do another blog, it's almost like talking to you. Haggis is great, try Scottish Sausage (the edible kind mind you! Like meatloaf but better), I missed out on my trip.

Mark Stevens Mate, i can picture you doing all this stuff. You're a good writer, especially from a Kiwi perspective. Maybe you could compile this into a short book "Kiwi booze hag's tour of Europe" - maybe a better name but I sure it would sell. Live it up but don't catch anything other than a cold. It's dry as back home, ever heard a Southlander wishing for rain?! Hooroo