mum Hi, Great to have you both home safe and sound: Once again; WOW what an adventure. It was great hearing some of your stories and look forward to hearing the rest over the next few days/weeks. John-David I think I could get used to the haircut but not too sure about the beard. Can't have anyone think I have a son who can grow a full beard!!!!!! OKaaay I'll get real!! Anyway hope you both enjoy telling everyone about your trip and dying to see the photos and video. Take care & have a great 27th birthday tomorrow JD luv you luvmumxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

mum & dad Hi, Not sure if you are going to check this while you are in South Africa or not but just incase.......It was great hearing your voice tonight: yeah even if I didn't immediately recognise it. I can only blame the television for being too loud, NO? well the time lapse? No? maybe it was your dad clattering the dishes while he was washing them? Ok it is my age I will admit it. Anyway was still great to hear you have arrived safe and sound in Sth Africa on the final lap of your adventure. We are all looking forward to you coming home, everyone is asking for you. Great news about your dad's promotion eh? I didn't want to put anything on here until he told you himself: so it is a good job you phoned because I was just about to burst.:L Had a nice weekend: Christine and Zoe were at gran's on Saturday. Oh She is absolutely gorgeous. I meant Zoe but Christine's not bad either. She is a real chatterbox: yeah Zoe again. Good thing though she doesn't have an East coast accent. Yip Yip Zoe again. Rightio I guess I should get to bed I've got Tai Chi in the morning. just wanted to let you know how chuffed I was to speak to you tonight. Take care Enjoy your few days with Ashley's relatives then with you Uncle Bobby & Aunt Petra & Stacey-Lee give them our love. Until friday Lots & lots of love n schmaltz Luvmumxxxxxxxxxxxx

MUM, DAD & JO Hi Folk, So glad to hear that all's well. Please pass on my sincere thanks to Charlotte, Jim, Helen and Karen for looking after you both. Can't wait to hear about your day out with Helen and walking with the lions....amazing....but make sure you know they've been fed first, eh! Bad luck about your phone Ash...all this time and it's nicked the last week. Dirty, thieving b's. Dad's reported it and it's been locked. Sorry to give yous the sad news about poor wee Jerry. He was a right funny wee character and sooo cuddly. We miss him terribly but probably not anywhere near as much as Ben does. Sent Vicki an e.mail too....will tell you what she said when you come home. Jordan's going bag packing at Asda tomorrow (Sunday), bet it doesn't seem that long ago since you did it for your trip to Kenya in 2002. Met Allison Casey's mum today. Not seen her in about a year and a half. She's retired now. Anyhow, she said Allison's working in a club in Glasgow and enjoying every minute. They're just back from New York this week and had a fab time. Allison decided to leave Edinburgh Uni cos she decided that teaching kids wasn't for her. Allison's brother is starting his own business...at only 19...in advertising. He was in New York for three weeks at franchisee meetings with his dad and Allison and her mum decided to go for a week too. He's got premises on Leith Street in Edinburgh. As I am sitting here....at 20 past midnight....I can hear Ben shredding up newspaper to carry into his wee den. Keeps him busy I suppose. Watched him doing it one night. Quite funny really..cos he was trying to drag the newspaper up onto the next shelf but was standing on it and it wasn't budging. He noticed me watching and looked at me as tho' it was my fault! Everyone sends their love and hope yous have a lovely time visitng family. Can't wait to hear all about it. XOXOX

Mum Hi, How are you doing now you are into your 9th week? We are all doing good here. Our flight was delayed by 2hours on Tuesday so that was a bit of a downer. We were actually in the queue to board when we were told it was delayed by 20 mins then 40 then nothing until we were told again to board. Seemingly there had been an emergency situation rehearsal over France so no flights allowed in their airspace. We just stopped once on the road up from Liverpool so made up some time, arriving in Moodiesburn about 1am instead of midnight. We had a great time in Spain amazed at all the things we saw. It was also good having internet access to check on your journal. We have also checked out Wendy's journal: WOW!!!! It is really good too. I am totally shattered now and I am going over to gran's tonight so I am going to have a quick liedown before dad gets in from work. Gran has been asking for you and Kelly had been checking your journal while I was away then phoning gran and reading the latest blogs to her. she's chuffed with that. I suppose by now you will be frantically trying to cram as much in to your last week as possible: Good Luck with that. Read all about your Adrenaline adventure. Once again WWWOOOWWW!! Really looking forward to seeing you next week take care, luv you loads & Loads Luvmumxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rory Julie Chloe & Jade Hi Ash & JD, Glad to hear you both are doing good ,we seen Wendy's photo's and saw you both in a few of them also saw your livingroom on the bumpy truck lol. Adrenaline Day sounded like real fun hope you have loads of photo's. Take care you two love Rory Julie & Girl's

Mum Ola, Hope you are both still well sorry to hear your phones are not working, so I thought I'd just leave another quick message. I'm just having a quick cuppa then we are going to head down the town hopefully coming back for a wee sleep then a wee seat at the pool. The weather is looking a little dodgy though. We have had Thunder & Lightning yesterday and this morning but sometimes that's all it takes to clear the clouds. We've had a brilliant time thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Home tomorrow, and by now I am a wee bit wearied for home. Aunt Therese Aunt Meg & Aunt HT are asking for you. Looking forward to next blog entry, Oh have you been in touch with Petra? Take care of one another, Love you loads & loads Luvmumxx

MUM, DAD & JO Hey Ash & JD, How are you both? Long time since we talked on the phone. Been trying to phone you. Helen (Charlotte's daughter) in South Africa has been in contact via e.mail. They've been asking about your arrival details in Johannesburg eg. when & where you're being droppped off. Helen (Vermij is her surname) can be e.mailed on [email protected] and mark FAO HELEN VERMIJ as it's her work e.mail address. Sent her a couple of photos so they know who they're looking for. Also gave her the link to your blog so she could leave a message. Helen would be collecting you and JD and taking yous to Charlotte's house. Helen, and all the family, are really excited about your visit as she said that 'they are all alone down there'. Not a lot happening here at home cos I've been working fulll time over the last couple of weeks. Missed speaking to you. Will I be able to phone you some evening? Couple of things I need to ask you. Everyone sends their love. Love all the photos. Also had a wee look a Wendy's photos, they're great too and yous are in a couple of them. Look forward to more! Love you more, mum xxx

Wendy Jambo, how's the big bad bumpy truck? Well I'm back at work now, , but luckily only got 10 kids in at the moment, 10 more in tomorrow then the final 10 next week. Had an email from Jeff, have you guys managed to check out his photos yet? They are AMAZING!!! Also have heard from the Frenchies. They're all back at work. The Lion/Elephant walk sounded cool. Have ya's picked up any newbies? Hi to Gav, Summer, Dale and the rest of the truck! I've loaded my photos onto my site: http://wendymorgan.spaces.live.com if you get a chance to check them out. Over and out, Wendy

Aunt Therese Hi John David and Ashley Just read your blog about the lion walk and elephant walk, sounds amazing. This is our first full day here in Salamanca and we are loving it. The weather is gorgeous and we have made the most of it today. Had a trip on a road train around the city, which is beautiful. Still it does not match up to your adventure. Keep on having fun and take great care of each other. Lots and lots of love Aunt Therese xxxx

Mum HI, Just a quickie to say byeeeee, I am almost organised for Salamanca. I am just going to pack my case. Kelly has come in to see me before I go, maybe she'll going to give me a wad of spending money: LOL. I am hoping to go to bed about 8ish because I'll need to be up about 3am to get over to Moodiesburn for the bus at 4.30 to leave 5am sharp. Hope you are both well and still having a great time. I will text you when I get to Spain. Take great care, Luv you and still missing you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Is that enough kisses to last til I get back. Luvmumxxx

Mum Hi again, It was lovely to see your photos....but...John-David what has happened to your hair. I blame Del Boy: if you go onto bebo you will see why. Or maybe you had nits?? Is that it? Anyway it all looks fantastic. Zanzibar looks like a dream; very Beautiful All's well here still praying hard for your dad's promotion. Kelly's coming home tonight for a catch-up. She lost her phone at the weekend and her new one arrived today so she will be hoping to sort out phone numbers and things onto her new phone. She's keeping the same number though which is good. We have a meeting tomorrow night of all the folk going to Salamanca. I have everything ironed but haven't packed anything. Getting quite excited though, just 4 full days to go:oooooh Rightio I should go as I was busy doing housewifey things when Kelly phoned to tell me you had new photos and that you had shaved your head. O M G. Na!! you look gorgeous just the same and as papa used to say "There's only 2 weeks between a good haircut and a bad one". Maybe that was because he was baldy. Take great care Luv you millions and missing you like mad Luvmumxx

Steven & Fiona Hi Ash & JD Just a very Small note I can see you and JD having a great time on your fab holiday, us have took some very nice pictures I have been trying to get your Gran and Granda on line for about 1 and a half week, through ?. Talk- talk, going tonight to try again, so hopefully they might see you site and all the great places and people you have met on your journey ( fingers crossed ) lol. Take care and have a great time Ash & JD with Lots of love from Steven and Fiona & boys P.S this will be a laugh GRAN and Granda on the net ( what is that world coming 2 LOL )

Wendy Jambo guys, have finally got onto your website, and Ashley I'm loving your blog's! (J.D - I'm sure you're having input too!!!) I'm reliving every moment on that big bad and I've got a new word 'bumpy' truck!!! So it's the Big Bad Bumpy Truck! Must say, I'm not missing it, and the relief to get back to London and have a HOT shower and a decent FLUSHING toilet! Good to see you've managed to download some photos. I've only downloaded the digital ones on my camera and will take the film ones in tomorrow (yes I know, very prehistoric). Glad to see you guys enjoyed Zanzibar - isn't it Paradise! Shame we missed each other up there. How is the truck going? Say Hi to Gav, Dale and Summer for me. Picked up any new ones yet? Take care guys, people back here just don't understand when I suddenly have an outburst of "..........LET'S GO WAFTING ON THE WHITE NILE..............."!!!! Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. Lotsa love, Wendy

gran hi ashley it sounds as if you really are enjoying yourselves it must be some experiencejust be careful and take care of you both lots of luv gran pap xxxxxxxxxxxx

Rory & Julie and girls Ash & Jadee love yer photos didn't like to hear about the dangerous tragic deaths but so glad yous are safe and well .On a sad note a school girl was raped at ravenswood on friday morning about 11.30 in the morning me and jordan were playing football there this morning and saw all the police activity.We got beat 4-3 but but at least rangers won 2-1 against kilmarnock .Julie and the girls are watching your great adventure through your photos . Take care guys Love yeas xx