Hello Son, Hello Mark. OK boys you've made your point now, yes you are grown ups (well kinda...) and you can survive (sort of...) without your loving parents, but you've been away a month (yes a month!!!) (why do I keep putting comments in brackets..?) now, so its time to come home!!!! (you can't knock a girl for trying...) (there go those brackets again!!!).
Well, the adventure goes on, so you have now ventured into the good ol U S of A. You must go to the fish market in Seattle Andy, do you remember I made you sit through that training video I was using at work...? It was all about team work and the guys at the Pike Place Fish Market, as Pierre says, get ready to catch that FISH!!!
Life in the Megarrell household goes on much the same (which is a nice same but not as exciting as your life at the moment). Your Dad and I attended our second "Strictly Come Dancing" session at the Mykita last night. Its good fun, the place is packed so luckyly no one notices when you go wrong. Having said that your Dad is quite good, except when he starts wiggling his head and turning his mouth up to the side and doing his "La quenta por favor" look...(Andy knows what I mean). But when I looked round, most of the other blokes were doing something similar, must be a man of a certain age kinda thing!!!
As you know the luck was not with the Irish on Saturday, we had the (Welsh) Bryce's round. I have got a classic picture of your Dad dressed in one of your Irleand shirts wearing your Guiness lephracorn hat in a rugby scrum with Don who was wearing a bright (and I mean bright) red blazer her wore when he represented Wales in the common wealth games in the early seventies (and it still fits him!!!).
Chris is now home for Easter and is working very hard. He is also still on the lookout for a new car and went to test drive a clio yesterday, but unfortunaltely one of the guys that works there scaped the side of the Tigra so he's had to take it in for repair today...
Nothing much else to report, looking forward to the Easter break, planning to do some gardening and try to fit in the odd pub lunch!!!
Well, boys, will sign off now. Take care, I'll eat an easter egg for you Andy!!!

Lots and lots of love XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mum XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

hello boys,

Geuss they let you through the USA/Canadian border then, just got you text Mark. Did you drive or go by coach, are you going to take Andy to the famous Pete's fish market, watch out Andy you may have to catch a fish, but it wont be with a fishing rod or net, Mark will explain. After your long journey I suppose you will both be Sleepless in Seattle, sorry about that I coudnt resist. Hope it is not raining as it did when we got there Mark, this was the trip we all got brain washed with James Taylor cd and Paul would not let any one else drive the 4x4, we had a laugh though and I am sure you both will. Diane and Dorothy are here for tea tonight and grandad Johnny tomorrow, I will get him to post you a message, but I will have to sensor it (as I will be typing the message) to protect your innocent ears !! Well enjoy and keep safe and watch out for low flying seagulls they can really hurt !!!!!

Love Pierre for Andy and Dad for Mark XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

are we there yet ??????????

Hi Fellas....Thought I'd say Happy St Patricks day especially to Andy as he's Irish.... but also to Beanpole as I know he loves a bit guiness. I've just come in from Leeds and had a few tooo many Guinesses. Work tommorow. Fun ;). I'll have to see this Surf Bum town. I expect a full rundown when you get back! cos im planning Vancouver next year for 3 months and what better than a run down on the places to go and not to than a Beanpole tour guide!. Anyway I won't write an essay as bed is calling me but its cool to hear your having a cool time and enjoying it all. I can only imagine the awesome feeling you'll get from seeing a whale or for seeing something new come to that. Stay safe Explorers and keep living the dream :) Nik XxXxXx

Yo Yo Yo!!! Hello to u all. thanks to everyone for all the messages, its great to hear from so many people - too much of a scouse hating vibe going on though - still - QUARTER FINALS BABY!!!- thats it i've jinxed it, although they'll probably do that on their own anyway! Tofino was amazing, Nik you'd love it there mate, its a surf bum town with about 3000 people living there, beaches and whales and forests and stuff. We went over to a small island called Meares island which is uninhabited - i think, coz we might have scared some of the locals off with camp T-Rex impressions - don't ask. The guy at the hostel kindly rang this guy called d*** who takes people over to the island on his boat, he dropped us off at some rocks and said "i'll see you in 3.5 hours" we went on a trail through the middle of the island and found the biggest tree you've ever seen, unless you are a hobbit and live in middle-earth. I took a pic on the old phone and sent it to some people, tracy, claire and hannah thought it looked like something rude! We got covered in mud walking through the forest but it was quality. We went whale watching the day after, we saw only one but it was pretty big, andy got a perfect pic of it, but some guys head was in the way. Sea was a bit bumpy, mum and claire don't think you'd have liked it. Got back to Vancouver on monday and went to mongolian all you can eat place, i went a few times before when i was last here, mum, dad, paul and eve you may remember falling asleep in your noodles when you came to visit. Going out for St. Paddys day later, although the Guiness here isn't that nice, and is about $8 but what u gonna do?! Just to say that ive had some probs with my email, but i think its ok now? ([email protected]) So soz for not replying to u all. Hope everyone is ok, thanks again to u all for messaging - oh, i played a guitar for the 1st time in ages last week at the hostel!! I well miss it, not sure if mum and dad do though!!?? Big hello to lucy the cat. Canada is a beautiful place with awesome people so big shout out to it for havin us!! Love to u all, will speak again soon, and will hopefully have some pics aswell, as we found a place yesterday that puts em on the internet for u. miss u all, love Mark.xxx

HI Mark and Andy: Your mother sent me your web connection. We have had 3 weeks of lovely sunny weather but this morning it is snowing. Geo is sleeping. Janet and Victor have gone out to clean pens and check on the calves, we are over half done. Hepled Geo pull one last night and the night before. Nicole is busy playing with tactors and cars. Sounds like you had a good time in Tofino. That can be a very wet place. I chuckle over the bear comments! But do watch your backs as the bears denned late and some not at all and other are out early due to it being so warm. They have already been causing problems in North and West Vancouver. Looking forward to seeing you. Sorry to hear you have had problems getting into your mail Mark. Did you get the address list I sent? If not let me know and I can give you any numbers you need. Best Wishes Kathie

Hello everyone! Sorry me and the beanpole haven't been in touch for a while, we've only just got back from spending a week in Vancouver Island where the internet was a rip off and the phones were being awkward! Anyway we're back in Vancouver now so should be able to keep up with the website/emails and phoning home, etc. We both had a fantastic time in Vancouver Island, it is a really beautiful place with plently to do including trails/hikes, beaches and whale spotting and we did the lot so it was quality! Not really a lot planned for this week other than having a large one on Thursday for St Paddy's Day (of course), and then probably recovering for the rest of the week! We are due to go down to Seattle next week so we're going to wait until we've got a few more photos from this to then put on the website, but there are going to be plently to look at (Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Paddys day, Seattle) so will be worth waiting for! Well I best get this message posted as my time is just about to run out so I'm gonna love you and leave you! Take Care, Andy.

Fo shizzle guys. Hope the wide world is treating you kind? Scotland have done me proud this year, we got a big 'W' against the Italians. No wooden spoon this year, result. Hope you're both lapping up the sun and the ladies. Enjoy yourselves.

Andy/Mark,

Thank you for the postcard much appreciated!!! Very jealous of you both doing this trip so enjoy and don't get hung up over the Mummies tearful messages.

By the way although England won the rugby it was a really crap game (you'll be pleased to hear that Andy)

S & P Baxter

Hi there boys, hope you are doing ok, not heard from you for a while, must be out with those whales!!! Mark, just been on yahoo to check the email. Managed to get into your account, but didn't read any of the 25 messages sitting there waiting. Checked yahoo yesterday and couldn't get on, but seems ok tonight. Try again, and let us know if you still have problems. Weather cold and wet here in Macclesfield, although the weekend was dry, sunny but cold! Dad keeps twanging your guitar strings every now and again to keep them working! Rather quiet, and I have to say missing the 6ft 4in heavy metal guitarist appearing from the East wing!! can't get use to the TV staying on one channel for so long (cos Claire isn't here either!!) Let us know what you are up to, like Hugh said a phone call would be appreciated, but if you are out and about, we do understand. I will be out Wednesday night, but dad will be in. Keep on enjoying yourselves, love you lots mum and pops McCurriexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

How dooooooo Fellas! Hope all is well. Just thought I'd check in and pass on a hello and see what you've been up to as its been a while, but from reading the posts it's been a while since you wrote anything too.... not that I blame you, all that country to see and all. Well let's see what have I been up to?!... Well I saw the SPIN DOCTORS yes that's right the mighty SPIN DOCTORS yesterday in....no not the Royal Albert but the cockpit in Leeds. Ha well I was shocked that they played there but it was wicked. Been a long time since i got to see a BIG band at a small venue like that. and Beanpole you'd have really liked it, lead guitarist not only had a Superman t-shirt on (well I appreciated that) he fret W****D for every song..... sorry I can't think of a respectable way of putting that :S. He is the best guitarist I have ever seen live! maybe I need to watch better bands....:S... well I was impressed. Seeing the Kaiser Chiefs soon, supporting the Leeds Boys :). Nothing else to really report, still living the goldfish bowl life that is Wetherby.... Steady routine of pubs at the weekend and boring 9-5 through the week. So whats the music scene like out there? You seen any good bands with obscure names? What you up to next? have you met any of your fellow sashquatch's Bean of the Pole? Hows this mission going Andy? ok that's enough of twenty questions I better move on and let someone else take up your time :P Take care Fellas, have a pint on me XxXxXx (_8^(|) D'oh XxXxXx

Boy how I missed you at the weekend! Ireland didn't turn up for the 1st half, improved performance in 2nd BUT always second best against a very good French side (generally agreed by pundits that this was their best performance). Final score 26 - 19. We did lead for most of first half but trailed by 9 points at half time. Came back to 21 - 19 with a brilliant O'Driscoll try...pushed, pushed and pushed again (looked for 10 mins that we could win) and then the final killer blow in the French try 3 mins before end.....GUTTED!!! Hope you are both well and enjoying yourselves. Would appreciate a phone call. Speak with you soon. Love Dad