Chenkwee. Fantastic tales guys, brought back good memories, we did the River rafting too in Chaing Mia, and lost an oar.
Think I lost a stone or 2 whilst in the wilderness of Thailand, my battle with the belly lasted about 2 months and carried on into Oz for a few weeks. It felt like a creature had climbed inside me and decided to set up camp. Anyway, enough of that. Are you going to learn scuba, please do, it was superb or is Stu scared of the sea. Hope all is good anyway, Pepsi Max...
Warrington's beautiful this time of year didn't you know!!!!
Skin
Chiara & Joel
Nice Chang Mai wrap Nic! I could totally picture you two in the jungle...We did the scooter up to Doi Suthep, it really is gorgeous. I was a little confused though, I though you LOVED little critters with 8 legs! You wait till you get to our place - make sure you look under the toilet seat that's all I can say - you know we only have out door loos here, don't you?!!! Just joking the flat is perfectly civilized!!
We stayed at the Binh Thai 1 at 10/9 Nguyen Tri Phuong in Hue (there are alot of hostels on this street). There is a really cool cafe across from the hotel on this steet called "Cafe on Thu Wheels" - pretty chilled out and they have a decent book exchange. Tip - rent a push bike (but be careful - I did have a prang!!) and book your onward trip to Hoi An from the hostel (we did and they dropped us at at decent accomodation in Hoi An - sorry can't remember the name!!). In Hue you HAVE to visit "Lac Thien" at 6 Dinh Tien Hoang (be careful there is a copy-cat place next door - this one is on the left when you stand facing them both-It is a food place run by a deaf & mute family. You will know you are in the right place, if you order a beer and the guy opens it "karate-style" with a home-made bottle opened (piece of wood with a screw in the end) - he will make you one as a gift. Really cool!!
FYI - Weather in Melbourne is hotting up - expecting 38C (100.4F!!!) next week.
If you need to send any of your belongings to us earlier, our address is: 14/318 Beaconsfield Parade
St Kilda West Vic 3182
AUSTRALIA
Talk soon
C&J
xxxxxx
Mum H
Hello you two.Your blogs are great.Its nearly ( nearly !!! ) like you were home.Hey Ho! However I'm sorry you both got the lurgey and of course Stuart you got it FAR worse than Nic ( ? ) but I'm glad you remembered your Scottish upbringing in that you pickled those pesky bugs with whisky. Take great care of yourselves but savour every minute even those 8 legged critters nicola ,you'll soon be back in the land of hair straighteners darling. XXXXXXXX
Jo Doherty
Hey Nic Nic and Stu - blog and photos are fantastic - take care. Love the dohertys xxxx
Teresa Lomas
HI STU AND NIC
JUST TO LET YOU BOTH KNOW THE LONDON WAS AS FANTASTIC AS EVER. BET YOU MISS THE RUSH!!! TERRACOTTA SOLDIERS WERE AMAZING. WENT TO OXFORD STREET ON SATURDAY BIG MISTAKE, WAS HEAVING, WENT IN THE NEW PRIMARK CAME OUT TRAUMATISED. TEA TIME ROUND OXFORD CIRCUS WHERE YOU DO THE PAVEMENT SHUFFLE, I FORGOT HOW BUSY IT IS THAT TIME OF NIGHT. WE WENT ON HAMSTEAD HEATH ON THE SUNDAY IT WAS BEAUTIFULL THE SUN WAS SHINNING AND IS WAS QUITE WARM. THE TREES LOOKED THEIR MOST BEAUTIFULL, TELL YOU, YOU DONT NEED TO GO TO NEW ENGLAND IN THE FALL, JUST LOOK AROUNG GOOD OLD BLIGHTY IN AUTUMN. MISS YOU BOTH LOADS.
LOTS OF LOVE AUNTY WENDY xxx
Chiara
Nic & Stu!!
I have only just discovered this wonderful site - I kept deleting your emails.."off exploring.com"---I thought it was some advertising spam...SORRY. At least there will be no more random text messages asking, "Where are you?"
I am slowly making my way through the blogs - sounds like you are having a blast!! Great photos too. Joel says, stick to the local grub, we are going to take you out for some fine (read: hygenically prepared, juicy, tender yum, yum yummy!!) steaks when you get to Melbourne, not long now.
We can't wait to see you both. NYE is planned - I am so bad a secrets, just ask me and I tell you what's on the cards .
Keep up the wonderful blogs!
C&J
L-I-V-E-R-P-doubleO-L, Liverpool FC!! 8-0...we rock!!!
Jo And Slips
Fabulous blooging Mr Howarth and man City won last night too- the superman underoants seem to work for everyone....
We are potty training. Nuff said.
x
Mum And Dad
hello, missing you both and I was thinking about you today in particular as I was at Hallam square in Sheffield Stu (whos the globetrotter now!!!)
also thought I would tell you that the great hunt for a TV and unit for the TV goes on, you will be pleased to know we have now been to 4 million shops, looked at 5 million internet sites and still not made a purchase!! whos indecisive now!! plus still not decided on somewhere to stay, who said loads of choice was a good thing.
ah well take care and love you loads and miss you moreXXXXXXX
Lynn Fenwick
Hi nick and stu hope you are both well looks cool seen ur photos and some of ur blog your sure having an interesting holiday will u put me on ur contacts list so i can keep up with the adventure love to u both lynn and mike xxxx
Kevin Horlock
Stu/Nic,
Went to southie this weekend so I will keep it short and sweet as I need all my spare energy to focus at work. the match report for City below. Win has missed something from his short post his recent purchase of buying elasticated jeans from tony humphries! Hes up to 14.5 stone
Manchester City 1-0 Sunderland
Monday November 5th, 2007, 8.00pm City of Manchester Stadium - Att: 40,038
Teams:
City: Hart, Sun Jihai, Garrido, Corluka, Dunne (c), Ireland, Hamann, Johnson (Vassell h-t), Petrov, Elano (Ball 82), (Bianchi 57).
City showed three changes to the side that started at the Reebok - Joe Hart returned for Isaksson, Petrov replaced Ball with Garrido shifting back to left back, and Sun Jihai was at right back with Micah Richards' twisted knee preventing him from playing. Nedum Onuoha had picked up a slight knock in training and was also unavailable.
For the visitors d*** on Etuhu appeared against the club he last played for nearly six years ago.
The Match
This Bonfire Night game kicked off with fire-eaters showing off their tricks outside the stadium, and City fans giving Roy Keane a warm welcome inside it.
A quiet opening phase saw the visitors threaten City's penalty area more than the Blues did theirs, with Collins heading wide after climbing well to meet a corner swung in from the right. Anthony Stokes had the next half-chance on 19 minutes, rising to a Leadbitter cross but putting his header a couple of yards to the left of the goal.
The first moment to get the home fans on their feet came courtesy of, surprise, surprise, that man Elano. The Brazilian jinked into the area on 26 minutes and seemed all set to give us another memorable goal, but his shot through a defender's legs lacked power and rolled straight into Gordon's arms.
Elano turned provider two minutes later, laying off to his right into the path of Mpenza, whose shot skewed off to the right of the goal. The Belgian was on target less than 60 seconds afterwards, firing in from the left but again Gordon was well behind it.
The game was livening up, especially with sight of Roy Keane standing in his technical zone, the Black Cats' boss being serenaded with a cacophony of noise from the home fans.
Stokes took advantage of Sun Jihai's slip on 35 minutes to release Leadbitter, but he wasted a great chance and shot a long way wide of the post with Hart covering.
Murphy fouled Elano just before half time, and despite being nearer to the centre circle than the penalty area he took aim for an ambitious free kick. Sadly there were no fireworks this time, his rising shot flying harmlessly wide of the right hand post.
Vassell replaced Johnson at half time.
City had the first chance of the second half, Elano feeding Ireland just outside the area but the Irishman's pass was too far in front of Mpenza to cause Sunderland any alarms.
Hart made his first meaningful save of the night on 52 minutes, after Jones had latched onto a pass just following Ireland getting caught in possession. The Sunderland striker shot across goal first time, but the England Under 21 dived to his left and the scores stayed level.
A swathe of of substitutions on 57 minutes included Rolando Bianchi's first appearance on home turf since the win over Norwich in September, the Italian striker receiving a great ovation from his supporters.
A lacklustre game needed something special to liven it up, and it was City who provided it on 66 minutes with a lovely move and a great goal to finish it off. Petrov's crossfield ball found Garrido, who nodded it to Vassell. The striker deceived two defenders to cross to Stephen Ireland, who caught it perfectly first time to volley it back across Gordon into the bottom corner of the net.
The visitors now had to chase the game, with Leadbitter almost stealing in at a cross only to see Dunne backheel the ball away from danger between Etuhu and Jones.
Nosworthy was the night's first booking on 80 minutes for a crude challenge on Hamann. Michael Ball made his now almost customary appearance as a midfield replacement for Elano two minutes later.
Sunderland huffed and puffed as the clock ran down, but City had enough to keep them at arm's length and see the Blue through to their seventh straight home win, their best start to a season on home soil for over a century.
Tim Oscroft
Win
hotspur and belle - I've not blogged for a few days, so been good to have a cyber-catch up this evening. Jen doesn't have the web at work, so have to relay your messages via email - or when I forget, just say nothing has been updated. So currently she still thinks you're in India.
with the rock star dream fading, it looks like you've found an outlet for your creative side. although, can you stop hogging the blog entries and let belle have a go.
Good to see Nige couldn't hold back on his marathon exploits - although nobody witnessed it, so you have to take that with a pinch of salt. He's got previous for stretching the truth - always phoning to say he's just on the way to the gym, but you only need to take one look at him to see that's a lie.
As you were,
win
Huddy
hello there good read these blogs kids , sounds like your having an excellent time . howser hows all the local people getting on with your sense of humour hope you haven't verbally ripped anyone to shreds , take it easy and take care.
