Thanks to those who´ve been keeping in touch via this message board or by email. It´s good to hear form you...... but the messages seem to be getting thinner and thinner (but on the other hand lots more emails now I´m settled here in Quito). Sorry about the lack of postcards and photos I WILL (eventually) get round to it. it´s not like there´s nothing happening of worth. Just that I´m felling more like a worker now than a traveller. Although every road journey here is an adventure (polite description!). For those who don´t know, I´m retrning (temporarily) to the UK on July 20th for a month before returning to Ecuador for another year at thew British School in Quito (and some more travels around here too of course). Have a month at ´home´ before flying into Quito on the 28th August (to start work the following day!!). Hope to get to se lots of you in that month (if you haven´t been in touch much, perhaps you need to to get on my visiting list!).
M & R - will try to call next weekend .... airport pick-up service???
Cheers from the equator!
Ben

hi Ben
Dont appear to have heard from you for a while , we had a lovely time at our codgers reunion the weather was pretty wet so our planned canal boat ride up the grand union canal didnt materialise we did find some good pubs to dry out though we went to a nice elizabethan house and managed the garden in between the downpours the b and b was super an old thatched house pretty garden and the food was superb a corden bleu cook tanners wine of course helped wash it all down .Did Batsford arboretum on the way home .Mo L is very forgetful so it was a case of lost key s specs etc all the time .had planned to go to Liz early birthday celebrationthis weekend but on finding out it was in north wales on the whit bank holiday weekend for just the one night have said no 5 hours up and then back seemed crazy instead we willrelax in the garden Jonathan is coming for lunch on Sunday so we will try and call you but really dont appear still to have the right no Dom still undecided what to do but they are all welland the boys are thrilled with all the eggs that are being laid
We are off in a week 4th june to lake constance for 12 days hope for alittle warmth its been really cold and wet more like April than May so if Idont hear from you and we cannot get through on the phone hope you are well and still happy love from all the schillers Mum

hello Ben. glad the sun is still shining for you... are the rumours true that you are out there for another year? or is that just the chinese whispers syndrome! Life here is pretty good - the sun has been out which always helps. Work is good - Say hi to Tonky for me. - are you still planning on coming to Will's wedding in August? Take Care Cate x x

thankyou for your prompt reply to my message it is so useful to be able to make contact with you when you come home in summer we really must persuade dad to get a lap top so that he can keep in touch too as i have to take down in longhand all your messages as i cannot print out from the cds computer the facility has been taken away as people abused the system.we are off on friday with gerald and ruth to the malvern spring show a mini chelsea so it should be nice if the weather is ok otherwise the parking will be a bit muddy.jonathan is doing lots of nice things with dave from the aspects and milestones charity we are looking into a powered chair as the latest at the hostel is no pushing of him up the hill
he is also having cranial massage and aromatherapywith aspects it appears to help him relax and also the bad arm appears to move better he has problems with his vision again waiting list at eye hospital is 18 weeks so dave may take him to a and e he has been to see graham dentist as well plus ahair and beard cut dave has agood influence and is good with him .dom is still really stressed doesnt know what to do leave stratagem yes but what to do is the question.he is busy doing his dissertation problem is not enough time in the day.
we are off to codgers weekend after next we are looking forward to it dad has got the vino from tanners and we have a trip on the grand union canal planned we allmissyou too it will be so good to see you even for a short visit dad had to change a tyre on your car today flat battery last week how would you feel about me using it for work rather than it stand for a year id tax it of course think about it love mum and dad

hi ben tried to tel ephone you last night but the no you gave us did not appear to be correct please send me an e mail on work site and send correct tel no all is well here so dont panic . electionresults are labour back in for another term palace are in bad trouble more than that i cannot tellyou the cricket season play on target as weather good more news when i have time

Hi Ben just a quick message, but I promise to write more soon. I hope your enjoying your new teaching post slightly more exotic location. I am extremely jealous as the regular 9-5 is getting to be a bit of a drag. Had a fab trip to South America last summer and really cant wait to go back. Are you staying out there for the summer? How's your Spanish, I hope you are taking lessons. I,ve trawled through your website sounds like you are having a fantastic trip. I will write a longer message over the weekend. Take care Mark Wilson

hi Ben,intelligent finance dad posting end march plan summary think you will understand it better than dad , had good weekend up on the Wirral the sun shone we all went and sailed the little sailing boat on the little pond on the sea front Joseph was quite chuffed that he sailed it across the pond quite a few times and didnt get his feet wet the chickens laid there first egg and promptly ate it peter was really crossthere garden looks immaculate dad did the grass i did the weeds and dom nd tarla planted asparagus beans etc so they will be self sufficient .in haste as usual as in middle of list mum

Hi Benny boy! Glad you decided to take up the job after all that faffing in the decision making! We are in China and enjoying some aspects of it but as Pete says "the only thing wrong with China is the Chinese" and I have to agree, they are hard work people. Pete is also concerned at the lack of birds in China, claiming that the Chinese have eaten them all! We have decided that we will probably go home a couple of weeks early (mid July) to have some sane time before real life starts up again. We are using a new email address now = [email protected] so give us an email some time and let us know what you're up to in detail, or just stick a message on our website. Careful in Quito, it keeps getting mentioned on the news and we know what you're like for getting into trouble!
lots of love as always, J and P
p.s Pete wants a Palace update if at all poss in your busy schedule (please)

Hello matey having aplayers meeting at the mo.... your supposed to be 2nd team skipper !!!! Whats this about political unrest in your new country.. youve only been there a few weeks !! No news about our new arrival as yet but will keep you informed !! (due weds 20th) take care shane & clare

Hi Ben Thankyou for the e mail sorry that I cant reply the same way but its not available from work butv at least we are able to keep in touch Jonathan received the card from you not on the actually birthday but a couple of days late .How did the Quito 1st match go did you field a full team did they think it was a strange game to play on the EQUATOR
surprised that you are considering staying out for a wole year what about the house All is well at home we are off to the Wirral for the weekend the hens havent laid yet but the boys are really excited and go down each day to inspect.Ethel is having a rough time at the moment having had her stem cells put back after massive doses of chemo.the garden looks super the maples are out and even gargantua has decided that its time to wake up she is agood weight Dad gave her agood polish and she moved around a little albeit at a slow pace .The computer has gone back to school at last love M

Ben wow wow wow - you have really fallen on your feet! The job out there sounds amazing - small classes, great school, new appartment next to Tonks! All sounds perfect! So if you say three months does this mean you need a room from July onwards? No probs- he he! Wishfall thinking but you know you want to come back down to sunny Devon were you have lots of friends already, free accomodation, great weather, social life ready and waiting - dont worry about the job thing thats just a minor detail! Big missing you hugs to you from sunny Plymouth! We have just come back from a 2 week adventure in our campervan with ouir bikes - 7 rides in 14 days=legs of steel now turned abit wobbly! So we are now back for a rest! Off to Alans tonight before Abi goes to bed and plan to play the new lord of the rings risk. Back to school mon but do have lots of camping weekends planned starting next weekend with Watergate Bay. Keep in touch now you have no excuses - you have been abit rubbish up to now I must say! Give Tonks a hug from me too! Tell me all you news - and dont even try to tell me you have no time cos of work issues with 5 students in your classes! Have fun xxxxx

hi ben what is it like teaching in an international school.Today is jonathans 38th birthday ,you would have been on route for home but we are pleased you have the opportunity to spend a little longerabroad and at least you will be back in the uk for alittle summer and possibly some cricket.dads classes on the computer are progressing slowly at the moment i dont think he is very keen ,jonathan has got himself a lap top and dave from aspects and milestones the charity that give him 16 hours of outings aweek is going to teach him e mail and internet so you may have amessage on your board from him in the next week or so we had a tiring weekend mentally with jim and jess she is really forgetful and repeats herself all the time its hard on jim.the chickens have arrived on the wirral and eggs willsoon be laid they are also getting apond and fishes peter wants apig ,the good life.sorry about the punctuation in a hurry to send you amessage love m .