Your message must have crossed with mine (am very bored at work!) - just slightly concerned about the picture of that very big shark though - I think we all might swap life to a yacht on the Whitsundays.

Hi there - what a relief to hear that you all behaved yourselves impeccably - it's wonderful for you to have such lovely contacts to visit. Dreary, rain-filled day at work (dogs dripping and smelly under my desk), so am thinking of you snorkelling around the Barrier Reef - hope you remembered to apply sun screen this time!
Waiting to hear what you have seen. Love from us all xxxxxxx p.s. still trying to get your father to add something to the board.

hey charlie seen your pictures looks awesome, the one of the coconut drink in particular. not havin a great time atm cos of exams etc, wish i was in malasia. ill post another later. Alex xxx

You are moving so quickly now it's hard to keep up! Have been up to Brill this morning and hadn't realised that it's 1/6 that you are home, thought it was mid-June. So you'll be back for the stress of Catri's GCSEs! not to mention A's ASs! Mexican eve sounds fun, lots of tequila? Apart from the long coach journey, it sounds like heaven. May morning passed uneventfully in oxford, managed to persaude T. he was too young to go this year! 5 idiots still jumped but no injuries despite water levels v. low. Have really been enjoying tropical weather for last 2 days but must now shift to take Maisie to vet again (still not right), F. in fine form of course! much love from us all and thanks for pc. A&T will write soon!!

Hi there,
Lovely to talk to Claire and hear that it is all going so well. Glad to hear about the lovely food at Iain & Cheryl's, to accompany the gorgeous views. We had an e-amil from them stating what wonderful guests you all were and how helpful you were etc....so all mums (and dads) should feel v. proud reading this! Well done girls - nice to know we 'ave brung you up proper like, in'it? We are having our own little sub-tropical time here in Oxford too - even sat outside in garden after work yesterday and turned off central heating. Expect we will turn it back on in a day or two!
Keep the entries coming.
Luv mum x xx

Hi girls! I'll second Jo's mum on the weather news! The sun is shining and it's wonderful here today - the first day I've walked to work this year without my boots and coat on, so you can tell it MUST be warm! Mike's touring in Normandy and it's lovely there too today, so we're not looking forward to the rain they're forecasting for the weekend. Looking forward to hearing about your Mum and Dad's lunch at Le Manoir. Keep on enjoying yourselves, all of you. I bet you're really tanned now. lots of love xxxx

Hey girls, just to update Barbara's message from the other day - SUMMER has arrived. OK, I know it's only for one day and that we have lots of rain to look forward to at the weekend but it's a hopeful sign. You're not the only ones enjoying a bit of wildlife - I just found Sasha and Cleo barking wildly at something and found a grass snake desperately playing dead in the hope of fooling them. Not sure it was working as they were clearly very interested but hauled them off and then watched from a distance as it uncoiled itself and slunk off into the bushes - shan't be weeding that particular corner for a while ... Who needs Brisbane Zoo??

Hi girls, I think you are in Hervey Bay around now, enjoying the Barrier reef (one of the world's WONDERS,and I WONDER what you think of it all as you WANDER around) - sorry! It is going to be 25 degrees in London on Thurs, but it is cold in Oxford today, in school without heating. Hope you are managing to snorkel and can you send some pics from Iain and Cheryl's computer? Miss you heaps ...LOL mum x x x PS Note to Nick - would be happy to see you on your return - looking for big strong men that can dismantle kitchens, bathrooms etc and can paint walls ( not naked, doesn't involve jumping etc). Jo and Charlotte and you can compete between bruised and burnt bum stories when you all meet up in the summer Hope to c u soon, luv Irene.

Just a quick official announcement from Brill - Spring is here (the cattle went out yesterday)! Not sure I fancy stroking crocodiles, koalas would be fine. Noosa sounds very exotic (is it?). Have a wonderful time anyway. Your father and I are just off to lunch at 'Le Manoir' (had to get that in, to show that you're not the only ones having treats!) - my late special birthday treat from Granny and Grampy. lol xxxxxxxxx

Greetings from Quebec, Canada! Nice to meet you Claire... I met Jo and Charlotte on the Malysian tour... You three seems to have lots of fun... reading your updates is a real treat... Makes me want to travel again in Australia!!! Take care, and Happy trails! Claudinexxx

Hi everyone, Bet you are having a great time in the sunshine coast. Noosa is gorgeous, from my memory. Lots of lovely sounding aborigine names up there too, like Malloolabah, or something. You can now correct my spelling....I am feeling very virtuous today. Just got back last night from 2 days in Derbyshire dales, with superfit Marianne and her friend Julie, who takes kids on D of Edinburgh outings! Needless to say, I am now in total agony and walking like I am 95 (which is around the number of miles that I think we walked). Actually it was about 30 miles in reality, but I swear most of it was uphill. Chris at national 10's rugby thing in Rugby and dad going to watch. I am going for facial with back massage. Only wish they did legs too.. OOh, eeh, aagh..Lots of love mum x x x. P.S. Have a lovely time with Iain and Cheryl - at least staying with a nutritionist will mean that Cheryl will take all the dietary needs in her stride.

Hi girls, you sound to be having a great time and the zoo sounded wonderful. Feeling very jealous of your weather, even though it has warmed up here a bit today, although I still had to put my coat on! Ed is with us for the weekend - he and I went shopping yesterday and Mike and I had a walk round the village earlier today with a stop-off at the King's Head on the way home. Enjoy Noosa and we look forward to reading your next journal entry. lots of love, Mike and Sally xx