Greetings...how's the trekking/kayaking going then? Sounds quite cool, what are the others in your group like? Hope you're getting lots of good photos with that Ideas Explorers rucksack, if anyone enquires about it make sure that you tell them I am available for delivering IX workshops in their own country, the hotter/more tropical/more palm-tree-d the better; I can even extend to a week-long extended workshop if that would help...? I hear you went pretty ape about your monkey being stolen; that type of lowlife thievery would also drive me bananas. Not much to report here; was at the Melrose 7's rugby at the weekend with Iain + co; standing in a muddy, cold field in the rain in the Borders watching hours of rugby doesn't normally appeal but when you've got a rucksack full of Heineken it seems like the perfect way to spend a Saturday. We've also moved office this week to a nice new swish one upstairs and so I am currently 'nesting' at my desk. Speaking of nesting, what's with all the engagements?! I see one of your pals got engaged, as did 2 of mine at the weekend and I believe one of Leanne's pals just got engaged too. Hmmm...can I just point out that the average cost of a wedding these days is £15k, and just think how far round the world you could get on that...

Hi James, just catching up on my e-mails after getting back from Lourdes. I didn't realise you were going away so soon. Looks like your having a great time and seeing loads - pics are great. Things here are much the same i'm sitting here trying to write some essays and putting it off as much as I can - some things never change! Did you know Marcella got engaged? It was 2 months ago now but not sure if you heard we were up visiting them at the weekend as they have a house in Rosyth now - very settled and married like! Anyway I better get on with this work.
Have a great time and take care
Colette x

Looks like most people are out rallying support for various political parties under the banner of several half truths and misconceptions. I as always, will be impartial, like the radio and tv, and shall vote for the first leaflet through the door as always. Then again I maybe dissuaded from the liberal vote as I'm no longer going to be a student and don't need free education.

I must say you seem to enjoy getting up at ungodly hours to get photos. Quite stunning nonetheless. Still no photos of anything homosapien, but you are getting close. I wonder how you will avoid taking photos now you are in a group? Will you eventually break, and take 1 group photo before getting all remorseful and deleting it on the flight home.

I was meant to have a pump quotation coming in today. I find my company rep has done his back in and is lying on a door somewhere doing bugg*r all work on my pump. I therefore have his boss driving up from Birmingham to do me a quote for today.

Whats the weather like now? When is the monsoon season? Still fighting it out with bugs and that. I'm investigating the possibility of flying to Australia this summer with a week stopover in Bangkok or Singapore. Possdibly even Dubia depending on the route and how much money I have.

Go Mr B on that exercise bike. Has le tour started yet? You could do it from your living room. If not the Giro d'Italia isn't far off.

Good to hear from u .Is it in the 90's out there?Pretty windy here. been in school trying to catch up with some paperwork. Dad back at work. weather was not good so we didn't go away. What's your group like? What's the age range ? I suppose we might not hear from u again for a week or so as you will prob. be in China by the time u read this message. Leanne is enclosed in her room studying . No joy! I'm keeping myself busy . Inspectors due shortly after we return from holiday.Sr Pauline away to Rome today for a week . She was asking after u . Dad has bought an exercise bike from Cosco. It has all the state -of -the art monitors! Took 2 hours yesterday to put it together! He's on it now, as I type, in the cell! Boring Bob across the road had a heart attack so dad re-acted by buying himself this bike seeing we didn't go on holiday during this break. He says it's supposed to keep blood pressure down !He plans to get a rowing machine next if this is not 'a flash in the pan .! Dad told me to tell u that Celtic beat Hearts 2/1 and are now in the final of the Scottish Cup( at least that's what I think he said in passing ! ) You know me - memory not good for figures!Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip through China.I look forward to hearing from u again soon . Take care.Keep safe !Mum

Jimbo (previously Dames) - why is your wee flashing dot on the home page not moving out of Thailand - you must know we surveyors have an obsession with detail - another thing - Eastern Front

hello. it has gone all quiet on the western front. i met my group in hanoi yesterday and we travelled along the coast to halong bay in vietnam. the itinery looks really good. we took a 'quite rough' ferry crossing to an island here (quite a few sick bags were being used- i was ok, but it wasnt far off though!), there is a lot of limestone karst rock formations around here. tomorrow im going off on a hiking/kayaking tour thing- i do a bit of hiking in the national park here, then kayaking amoungst all the limestones. we then head off on wed to the mainland again then on towards china. not sure when i will get internet access again- cos we're going out into rural areas. its likely that i wont be able to make contact for several days- up to a week or more.

cherio

Where are you all out there - why have you all gone quiet - in my day Students took to the streets, stopped wars and sang for peace. Good Karma to you and remember to hug a tree.

i can tell that trusty old firstbus dont provide the service to the thai border then! going out to the cinema with ross (park) and neil later on. Keeping the business in the family now! Id best get some work done.. bloody dad is 'moaning' about 'crashing results out' with re: to mum's tidying methods and is now thumping about with the hoover in their room. Oh, dear here he comes to my room... best dash. lea xx

not gary glitter- but eminem. anyway- in bangkok airport- flying to hanoi in vietnam in about an hour. incidentily its gonna be country no 30 in my list. left angkor in cambodia at 6.30 in the morning- didnt get to bangkok till about 10pm. the road from angkor to the thai border is stupidly bad, and we were in this s***e wee minibus packed to the rafters with people and luggage. i was sitting basically over one of the rear wheels, and felt every pothole(crater). some of them made me literally come about 8 inches off my seat. we sorta broke down somewhere on the way and had to change a wheel and hose the bus down. all the wee cambodian kids were out trying to sell stuff (everything is 1 dolla) but they are just cool wee kids- but its very poor. the begging and poverty, especially the kids, is quite difficult to deal with- but u have gotta learn to.

anyway, not had a chance to upload the photos yet- 13hr bus journies and dodgey border crossings has somewhat limited my ventures into the cyber world. as has been mentioned, lack of phone coverage, internet, etc makes it difficult for to me contact. i could probably take about half a day out of my intinery or miss a bus connection or something in order to seek out an internet connection if it is extremely important- or infact i could just find an internet cafe and stay there for the next 5 months so i can be constantly in contact- but id rather not if its alright with u. dunno what the phone coverage thing is like in vietnam, but this is gonna be the place where im contacting thro.

glad everyone is enjoying the message board- including the ex mps who have joined in. wasnt the poll tax cancelled in about 1990? when working man johnny was about 8? i can see him going into primary school while it was in existance proclaiming to all his wee ek mates that this was a english and conservitave tax only introduced to keep the scottish socialist classes down and maintain the north south social and economic divide. i think not.

hendy- cambodians make roman bar men look like charity workers with regards to their sales ploys- the commission based sales tatics are unbelievable. anyway i gotts go n change bats to dongs.

Working class hero? Little poodles gets a job and thinks he is a big shot, when we all know that suit he is wearing came from Next, and the cigarettes he smokes on Mayfair, and the car he drives is actually green (not Kingfisher Blue).

Love and kisses William xx

Well Mr Grey suit, for one thing it was Michael Howard aka the man with something of the night about him, who came up with the crap idea of charging everyone over the age of 18 to pay poll tax. This caused massive unrest and riots, Mr Howard then had to make a u-turn and abolish the poll tax. So you see with this man in charge he will try and bring in other fantastic ideas that will hurt everyone as well as their wallets.

From the working class hero!

And what would you know about the Poll tax little boy?