Had an amazing time in Sydney, a real happnin place!!!. Had a little tour into the bush and got the chance to cuddle a Koala ahhh, was suppose to see kangagroos and wallabies but the little b*****s wouldn't come out, saw a dead kanga by the troad, asked the tour guide to stop so we could stand it up and have our photo taken with it but he wasn't up for it... Arrived in Bali yesterday, oh my God, how posh is our hotel!!! The place is paradise but we exhausted ourselves today when we swam to the bar in the middle of the pool for a cool beer so just had to lie on the beach the rest of the day. Must go now as we need to get ready for cocktails (2 hours of champagne, cocktails and fine wine - all free!!!). Hope you are all well and feeling extremely jealous of our millionaire lifestyle. Take care one and all. Lots of love Hugh and Sue. XXXXXXXXXXXXX

G'Day!! Thought i'd just stick a message on as I've not been on the site for a while! Still in Sydney having the best time with Mum, Dad and Mark taking in all the sites! Had our picture taken with David Campese in his shop near Sydney Harbour Bridge the other day (what a legend, but not as much as O'Drisscol!), which was quite an experience to say the least! Congrats to the new edition to the Hamilton family, hope you are all well. Good to hear from Jack as well, sounds like your having a brilliant time in New Zealand mate, keep living the dream! Anyhoo plently of stuff to do so I best get my skates on and leave it at that!

Take Care everyone,

Andy x

Hi Mark,If you are planning to fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi you will need to book the flights in advance (several days before). The train journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi is spectacular but is a 2 day trip...do you have enough time to do it? Within towns and cities use the cycle-rickshaws but make sure you agree on a price before you set off!Will you be in Vietnam on Sept.2? If so, its the national day (proclamation of the republic in 1945) I'm sure they'll have some celebrations going on.
As for the food, I'm sure you know, don't eat raw vegetables or fruit that you have not personally peeled. Drink only bottled water (where you have broken the seal).
If you have any specific questions when you're there, let us know...
Take care and have a great time...I'm jealous! :) Tracey

G'day!!!!!! We have arrived in Australia after our mad two weeks with Hugh and Sue, barbershop style harmonies and puppet shows et al!!! Sydney is lovely very nice weather, just bin sortin out our van (which is now sorted for 23 days up to Cairns) and our jabs for SE Asia tomorrow. Have also bin gettin info on our trip there too, Tracey (cousin), we are prob gonna be doin the route u and Minh suggested, fly from Bangkok to Ho Chi Min (Saigon) think i got the brackets the right way round??? Then up North to Hanoi, then fly from there to Laos, any info you both have would be much appreciated, hope u, Minh and Lucas r well, love 2 u all. Good to hear from Jack, hope u prosper in NZ my lad and watch out for peacocks (nature's puffs!!!), Lionel is still at ACB can u believe that!!! Hope all my family are well and behaving, Mum&Dad!!! Saw a wall in Darling Harbour with Pierre and Carolyn woz ere spray painted on, i hope that wasn't u 2!!!!!!!??????? Anyway, love to all, Mark.

How's it going fellas? Where are you guys now? Not back in Auckland I hope. I'm down in Dunedin. Went to the legendary Stewart Island singles ball. Funniest night of my life. Came up through the Catlin's and got some great photo's of Jack's blowhole. Bloody disgusting these Kiwis. Take care fellas.

Dear Readers,
Having an amazing time. Great fun in the campervan. We are now more than half way through our mad dash tour of the North Island - so much to see, so little time!!! Had 3 days in Auckland - very pretty city. Drove all the way up to the Cape of Regina, scenary is spectacular, a different kind of view round every corner. NZ is a mixture of the Scottish highlands, the Lake district, Torbay and a Polynisian Island - in NZ speek - AWESOME!!!. Went to a place call Manganui, has the best fish and chip shop in the world. I say fish and chip shop, it is in a spectacular location on the ocean edge with the fish being delivered as you wait... blue nose cod and chips - can't beat it!!! Next stop was Wangherai, had a great weekend with our friends Don and Janet, they live in the most amazing location with 360 degree ocean views. Had some great grub and met some of their very nice friends. Next sop was Rotorua - hot geezer etc - amazing but a bit whiffy. Next stop was Lake Taupo, Hugh was intending to do a sky dive but weather not good. Next stop Hawkes Bay, did the obligatory wine tour had a great time - (I think, all got a bit hazzy after the fourth vineyard!!!). Currently in Napier, a beautiful Art Deco town, was badly damaged in an earthquake in the thirities and rebuilt in the style of the day (Art Deco), shops to die for, Jackie and Sarah, you would love it!!!. Heading off to Wellington this afternoon, then working our way back up to Auckland. Leave for Sydney on 30th, the boys head off to Oz on the 27th. Well I think that's just about brings us up to date... Peace and love to all. Big hello to the Ulster contingent, congratulations to Stephen and Karen on the birth of their daughter (love the name), poor Jamie, he's out numbered by the women!!!.
Take care everyone, have a great holiday Chris and Laura, take care driving on the Spanish roads... Love you all loads.
Hugh, Sue, Andy and Mark. XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hello the Megarrells and Marky,
(just a quick message)
I have this mental picture of you all driving along in the van singing with vocals by Hue and Sue, Mark on the wash board and Andy on the empty wine bottle singing Waltzing Matilde. Belive from Chris you are all having a great time after Hue and Sue's round the world flight to get to NZ. Hear you are sampling plenty of Aussie wine, no there are no two headed kangaroos its the wine !!!! We are off to see Randell and Iris this Sunday for the day hope its a sunny day, we had a good week off last week only trouble is coming back and going to work, still bank holiday Monday this weekend thats good. Baras has gone to Aston Villa £6M. signing off now have fun watch out for kiwis with long becks !! love to all Pierre & Carolyn xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hey guys - what about ye? Sounds & looks as if you are having a fab time. We are all fine here just wanted to let you know that we have a new addition to the family! A gorgeous baby girl called Abi Leah. She was born on saturday 20th @ 00:45am and weighed 7lbs 7ozs. You wouldnt believe the head of hair she has and its jet black!! Hope you get this msg. Enjoy the rest of your roadtrip! We're sure you will!!!!!! Hugh & Sue have a fab holiday! Speak to you soon lots of love Rowena ,Michael & Ellie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

By now Andy, your Mother will have no doubt smothered you with kisses and crushed you with hugs. Hope all is well and they have survived their flight ordeal. Rumour has it that it isn't the catering company/baggage handlers at BA that has caused all the problems but the Megs!!!

Have a brilliant few weeks all of you.

Looking forward to hearing all about the trip

What's happened to the on line photo albums?

Hello Mark, Andy, Sue & Hugh, What a pain having to divert and then BA causing problems all over the world!!! Sue, when you read this the flight change will most likely have reached Andy & Mark. I sent a text to Mark a short time ago with the new flight details. FYI Mark's mobile number is 07786651876. Enjoy yourselves. Weather in the UK today is wet and cold. Lots of love Mum, (Carolyn)XXXXXXXXX

Hi Boys... and all other readers. Have had an amazing time in Singapore. Were divereted to New Dehli on the way here, (some woman went into labour - very inconvenient...however mother and child are doing well, bet that was an Indian takeaway she was'nt expecting!!!). Anyway, arrived at Singapore aiport just now to discover that Sydney/Auckland flight cancelled (bloody Brits at BA on strike!!!). So, need to get message to Andy re arrival. New arrival details are, arrive Auckland Saturday 13/8 at 16.15 via Brisbane. Forgot to bring Mark's mob number... plus having problems with our mobs. I tell ya, life on the road is not easy!!! So, peace and love to all. Hope you get this message Andy. Love from Mum and Dad, Hugh & Sue (intrepid travellers).

Hello hello hello!! Whey back in Auckland after 5 and a half weeks of scrubbing it up on the road in Dolly (very sad to drop the old girl off though!). Was great to speak to everyone up in Penrith the other day, if only for a measley 17 minutes! Looking forward to a couple of chilled days in Auckland before getting back on the road again with Mum and Dad. Take care of yourselves,

Andy and Mark.

P.S. Sorry for the crapness of this message, we are knackered and have forgotten what it's like to experience water falling from a thing stickin outta the wall(a shower i think its called??) Peace and love.