kate hey have a good few last days!, i cant wait until you and your bags crammed with thai stuff come home!! second day of school today the tiredness and stress is setting in, as i learn of all the stuff i forgot to do in the holidays!! I also managed to drop my sketchbook on a poor ladies foot ( it is heavy)on the bus, and then walked right in front of an elderly cyclist who nearly fell of his bike trying to avoid me!!Im feeling ultra clumsy a la mo. Just had the nicest bagel with jam- something to look forward to when you get home!! Im still hungry though so i may have to cut short(ish) my email to go rummage in the fridge- i heard rumours there were tubs of stuff from the delicatessen- i have briefly searched but maybe a more in depth look will yield yumminess!! Loo is just going babysitting so i can watch the tv in piece without the ever present clatter of her online life, yey!!- im feeling so lazy i think it could be an evening in front of the tv, with maybe a few tea making breaks if im feeling v. energetic! (i cant see it)! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A.M. Hi Annie, I gather you wish you had been here for breakfast!! I will cook them again when you ARE here, probably quite often if my current guest has anything to do with it. It seems odd that after Pip[ being away for so long suddenly she is home in a few days!! Can't wait!! I expect you family feel the same - it sounds is there will be potted meat sandwiches and even lashings of''ginger beer' !! Have a good trip home. xxx

Mummy Hello my darling Annie. To think that you will be home on Friday - I just can't believe it! Daddy has just rung me with the details. I bought the champagne last week, but promise that I will keep it if you decide to stay longer even at the last minute! Thanks for your latest updates - it all sounds very exciting even if rather wet! How lovely to be there for the Thai New Year. By the way, do be aware of the tides on Ko Samui. There was an undertow on the beach I stayed at although I know that was a long time ago now (30 years!)- swim sideways if you feel yourself being pulled out, rather than against it completely. However, by now with such a lot riding on visitors, I'm sure they will flag up dangerous places. Enjoy your last few days, sweetheart. To think of you basking in the Indian Ocean! What a delight. We have had a really lovely weekend in Norfolk and the girls were very good and understanding! I was sorry we worried them, but am thrilled that Daddy got into the whole bird experience. He is also really good at 'spotting' things in the first place, which is very useful as a starting point to identification! We did a lot but I have to say that having got there by lunchtime on Friday it was a bit (actually a lot) disappointing to have a hotel on the beach and not be able to SEE the sea until nearly midday on Sunday because we were enveloped in sea mist the whole time. Actually we did see the sea the first day when I took them to Snetttisham to see the vast expanses of The Wash mudflats and its amazing birdlife - the tide was up so high and beyond the tide line it was so misty that we saw nothing in any direction at all - and we had to pay £2.50 for the privilege of virtually turning round in the blessed carpark - grrr! It was also very frustrating to know that the rest of the country was having glorious sunshine and that everyone will have thought we were too. Truly the sun was not visible till Sunday, but it was very mystical and wonderful and everything came into relief when the sun DID eventually come through and gave us the balance. Then everything wasfine and it gave us a great range but I would have found it hard if we had had NO sun at all. I don't think it would have been your scene at all, so hope you didn't waste any emotional energy on wishing you were with us. HOWEVER, we are very much looking forward to having you with us on Friday. It seems so soon now - I am getting very excited and will go and make your bed up! Do take care of yourself - and your acquisitions - for the last few days. What a wonderful trip you have had. Hope the return journey will go smoothly. Can't wait to see you coming through that arrivals channel! Let us know if there is anything particular you want to fit into that 1st weeekend. You know I will be back at work the following week and then going down to look after Ouma from after work on Thursday till the Sunday. Probably Grandpa will come up the following weekend. Don't know if you heard that poor Auntie Sara tore a knee ligament on her skiing holiday - she has just rung and told me she was told on Friday that she has to have it operated on, so that will either be 9 or 15 May, so will need to discuss how we cover her for that and how long she will need to recuperate. Ouma came home on Sat. but still seems to be having a rocky time tho' better today Tests last week showed the treatment is showing good interim results, but she is still only half-way thru' with 3 more cycles to go - next one on Thursday and she has usually found them tougher at the start. It's time I took a turn. Auntie Sara and the family are being absolutely fantastic. Don't know if she can go to Spain now. What a drag this is for her - she really does not either deserve or need this with everything else on her plate. This may be my last chat to you darling before we see you IN PERSON. Lots and lots of love and a special big hug, from Me xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

kate hey we just got back from norfolk- ive actually managed to achieve a reddy tinge! Me and loo are not on best terms- long car journeys are not the best way to increase sisterly love! I am also hungry!! But it was good fun- the weather was mainly mist but today we had sunshine- mum and dad also went for the longest walk, me and loo thought they must have fallen down a cliff or something- it was quite worrying, we actually stopped lazing on the beach to look for them!! they were bird watching so apparently the time flew!!- me and loo have began experts in avoiding their walks or trying to point out a partic bird etc. Going back to school tomorrow- ahhh! But cant wait tosee you soon, lots of love xxxxxxxxxxx

A.M. I should think so!! It is funny to think that this time next week you will both be home with your mummies and daddies,. Enjoy the last few days, TAKE CARE!!!, see you soon. xxx PS it is quite hot here today, Peter is getting ready to go back to school tonight and we were jus tthinking about you both out there lying on a beach relaxing. just what Peter would rather be doing!!

Annie Hello, i'm very sorry to have worried my mummy's! We will do anyway Friday 13th has now been and gone, so hopefully no more bad things!! xxx Nelly bell, i miss you so much aswel amd cannot wait to see oyu. maybe a trip to visit you? all my love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

nell how i miss you walwyn!!so good to look at all your photos!hope you are having lots and lots of fun!!!!!send my love to peeps.i actually cannot wait for you lot all to come back!I MISS YOU ALL SOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!love you walwyn Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A.M. Hi, It sounds as if things have been quite exciting - men with knives and dark, rainy motorbike trips.!! Not want Mummies want to hear - I asked John to message Pip and tell you both to take care!!!! Anyway, make the most of your last week and looking forward to seeing you soon !! lol Kate

Mummy Hi darling - happy Easter Monday! Just got back from Auntie Sara's - all super and Sarah and I called in on Ouma en route and she was much better but probably going to be in hospital for a couple of weeks . Thanks for your email and OK, you sound quite clear that you are ready to come home, so that is great, sweetheart. We will be there on the 20th! Are you sure you can get home that fast if you leave on the same day? Anyway, do give us the time and terminal so we can be synchronised with you! I might start to get excited now. It really will be so lovely to see you again. Lots and lots of love and a big hug from Me xxxxxxxxx

A.M. ogg time????? Can't spell - GOOD time !!!

Adopted Mummy Hi Annie (and Pippa) It sounds as if you had a lovely Easter in Paradise! It's a pity, I must have just missed Daniel Craig when I popped in to your hourse the other day but your Dad was there instead!! I don't know what Kate is thinking of - Stuart (or is he the one with nice eyes and short blond hair?) (Shipwrecked) is not nearly so cool as Will but then I am old and decrepid so probably have odd ideas - at least that is what Pip always says. In Shipwrecked by the way, Lucy (I think it was) the posh one, said that being homesick was was part of being away NOT a reason for going home (Allan left after 2 weeks cause he was homesick) so think carefullly about not travelling on for another week or so. (End of A.M. lecture) If you haven't watched Shipwrecked 2007 none of this will make much sense. (I don't watch it either really!!! - as if I would!) Anyway have a ogg time on the next island and keep the photo's coming, both of you. xxxx

annie Hello everyone and happy easter, spent the day in Paradise, too beautiful to describe! Howver, no chocloate in sight!! SAy hello and send my love to everyone, very sad i missed them all especially cousin sarah. What did she cook?Poor you daddy, it must be a tough life everyone thinking your Daniel Craig! Mummy my ticket actually means i would need to be picked up on teh 20th not eth 21st, if you come on that day there wil;l be no one! Yes that is my little lbd that i had made! I want to come home, im sure once im home i will be wishing i was still here in a way, but i feel i want to come home. Wont see the Claudia and co as Pips adn i changed are plans, so wnt cross over. Can i just say that loo was awful, that bucket of water Kate was the flush!! Love you all lots!

Mummy Hi my darling, HAPPY EASTER! We have been thinking of you a great deal. We have been having a lovely day and have just come back from a stroll round the lake - me , Grandpa and Ross in the late sunshine - really delightful. There is Easter cheer awaiting you in the form of chocolate, so don't worry on that score! Just thinking of you saying you will come home as planned. The minute you get home you won't be homesick any more, so I would make sure you are coming home because there is nothing more you want to do, rather than because of the tug of the heartstrings, (which is only natural after all, especially now you have been away a while.) A couple of weeks more may make a lot of difference in terms of what you might be able to do, and you could still getr back in time to work on the asparagus, which sounds a lot of fun too. Have you met up with Claudia and Co. yet? Will you get the chance to see them before you come home? How are they doing and any news of Jo yet? Anyway, sweetheart, take care of yourself. Lots and lots of love and big hugs. Me xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Daniel Craig (again) Don't really like having to write under a pseudonym but everyone so quick to find fault ... Aineehow, after two years of whizzing past Rockingham Castle we thought we might drop in and have a look and as you learned 'twas shut, so we had a sandwich and went back home. Love the photos (ladyman excepted) & dress beyond chic. Grandpa well (and educational as ever!) and I know sends love. Hope you can find each other Easter Eggs. Lots of love, D.

kate looks like mum is losing her touch- the last message is but a note!!- Dont worry i have been leaning over her shoulder, making sure nothing too embarassing creeps in- she needed remarkably little (act none) censoring!! Shes obviously learning!! Although the pics are great (and who is the hunky ((cant think of a word that describes good looking and not feel a little stupid writing it)) across the table from you- spill all the gossip!! But i do not feel at all sorry for you about the loo- it looks lovley and clean!!- if it was the bucket next to it then i would have felt for sorry for you!! You do look great and so tanned and love the dress, i can already feel the green eyed monster mounting- im not going to be able to stand next to you for months without scaring small children (and probs grown men) with my whiteness!! Lots of love xxxxxxxxx