Yeah, it's hit us hard here! £5 a pint!!!! We're in a funny little room on Vancouver Island now. It's so small Chris can't actually fit on the bed because of the sloping ceiling!

We fly to New york tomorrow and can't wait! I'm so excited! And we have free accommodation at the Yale Club (courtesy of an ampleforth friend) so we will have a few more pennies/cents to see some sites.

It's strange that a.sheila will be in a new house when i'm back-is it nice? Sounds like sal had a great holiday with you guys

lots of love xxxxxxxxxxxx

We fly 2 weeks tomorrow xxxxxxxxxxxx

Hiya sweetie

volcanic ash is not a problem to us at all as we were not trying to fly anywhere at the moment. We keep getting told it is there but we have been unable to see it.

Went to help Aunty Sheila move her pots from the garden to her new house yesterday. Boy has she got alot!

Apart from that we had a pretty quiet weekend really. It looks as if Matthew and Charlie have decided that they are unable to fund a trip to South America so Im not sure what they are thinking of doing now. Its a shame you cant do much in Vancouver as you never know if you ll get back there again. Still I guess that you are just biding your time now till you get back to wonderful sunny nunny! And it is sunny at the moment so its true!

See you 2 weeks on wednesday at Heathrow airport Love mum xxxxxxxxxxx

Hey there! We're in vancouver, and not really up to much as our budget is severely suffering in north america! So hows the volcanic ash suiting you? Noticed a significant difference in the shades of grey?!

Just 18days to go now-how crazy is that!!

lots of love xxxxxxxxxxx

'squiffy'???? does that mean drunk mother?? I hadn't even started I'll have you know, can't a girl just be excited!! hahaha

Lucy, I had bought you a camera case so you didn't need your sock anymore but alas no camera!!! doh. funny how we still go through the same things on different sides of the world!!!

Get some measurements to me dear - read emails xxxxx

Hey

waterfalls sound really good right now although the amount of rain coming down at the moment probably constitutes a waterfall anyway!

Im glad that you are not just lolling around on beaches and are updating your education while you are out there. Ive just failed on a computer task so they will probably throw me out of here now! Not really.

Easter was really quiet without you guys around especially as it was birthday time aswell so I am really looking forward to having you home soon.

Dads interview is with a new company so fingers crossed on that one. I hope you can call tomorrow as it seems to have been ages.

Love to you both mum xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hey mum, good luck to dad for the interview-is it with a different company? Hope it goes well anyhow.

I hear things are going well on the college front for you student?! I have my fingers crossed for your volunteer work to become paid.

Gutted about the camera, as i had a couple of days worth of great pictures. And unfortunately chris's camera broke! His sister, beth, is still with us and is kindly leaving her camera when she leaves for our last 3 weeks.

We're loving mexico. Went to some natural water holes that were so beautiful, you would've loved it! Heading to some mayan ruins in the jungle tomorrow called palenque, so getting our fill of mexican history too.

Will try and call tomorrow, i think you're 5 hours ahead, so maybe around 6pm for you, but will text .

Love you and miss you, and excited that it's not too long til we will meet again!!!xxxxxxxxxxxx

You and Debbie make a fine pair! Both of you losing your cameras so near to the end is really sad. I guess that at least you still have Chris's photos that you can borrow.

Dad has an interview for another job on Friday so fingers crossed for that one. Otherwise he is thinking of backpacking round the world!

We went to Shugborough House yesterday which was beautiful. Although it is owned by the National Trust it is run by Staffordshire Council so they have put alot of effort into making you spend more money! It is definitely one to go and visit though as you would really enjoy it.

Spoke to Debbie on Skype aswell yesterday. She is still having an amazing time. I think she was a little squiffy when we spoke to her but then it was her birthday.

Im glad you are enjoying Mexico again. Is Chris's sister still with you or has she had to rejoin the real world again?

Looking forward to seeing you now as it is only 4 weeks tomorrow so it seems to be really close now. Have a good rest of your time in mexico and hopefully skype you soon love mum xxxxxxxxxxxxx

hey mum, just a mini disaster in cuba, my bag got stolen on the last night :-( bit gutted but only lost my camera. It was a good, interesting trip, but not really what we expected.

We're not doing anything for easter, so it's even stranger here! I would love to have an easter egg and a lovely roast! i can't complain though, we are loving mexico, and heading to some mayan ruins on the beach this afternoon.

Dad-i'm sorry to hear about your job, that was terrible news. I hope you're ok, and not too worried, you'll find something better anyway!

HAPPY EASTER!

Lots of love xxxxxxxx

hIya Lucy

Hope you are enjoying Cuba. We havent heard of any disasters happening there as yet so hopefully you are both okay.

It is strangley very quiet here considering that it is birthday/easter time. Im sure that will change though when Sally arrives on Tuesday.

Ben arrived on his birthday on Friday and we went to wing wahs which was really nice. Chelsea has bought him a very nice carrying case for his warhammer figures.

Well I had better go and give the boys their Easter Eggs and go and wash my hair, the excitement is almost killing me!

Cant wait to have you home love mum xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hey hey, just to let you know that I'm off to cuba tonight and there probably won't be any internet opportunities for the next 10 days, so don't worry.

Speak soon, lots of love xxxxxxx

Hey mum, I'm so glad that the volunteering is good. It's great that you're enjoying it. Hopefully when you finish there you'll be able to find a job that you like as well. Did you have a nice mothers day? Have you had the postcard? Did you go to sals scan? All ok? Many questions!!!

How was dads interview? I need to call you guys, I didn't know he had one! I really hope it went ok, when will he find out? I'm sending him a good luck hug!

We're in mexico now, with chris's sister (Beth). Mexico city is an interesting place, but we have to get going, and head north tomorrow. It's crazy how quickly the time is going now. It's 7 weeks today that we get home!

Had a great time in texas (when we finally got there). it was only 4 nights but we thought the girls would be going to school, when they actually have spring break this week. It was still lovely to see them all

I think we're 6 hours behind now, which is a little tricky but i'll try and call on friday(will send a text).

Love you loads xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hiya Lucy

Glad that you made it to the Byers house eventually. The pictures look as if you had a really good time with Nicky and Katy. I loved your shooting stance Lucy, Lara Croft eat your heart out! How long did you stay at Jos it can only have been for a couple of days? Sally and I are hoping to visit in the Autumn if all goes to plan.

I have actually started volunteering now and am really enjoying it so im glad I have been given the opportunity to do it. We have been playing table tennis again this afternoon so I can hardly move now that my back has stiffened up but it was good fun.

Have you met up with Chris s sister yet? I can t believe how quickly time is going now and that you will be back in the uk in about 7 weeks. Debbies friend Vickie flys home tomorrow so she is carrying on in Cambodia alone for a while. I think that she is hoping to catch up with some fellow travellers that she met in Laos.

Dad has his interview tomorrow for his job so he is pretty stressed at the moment, understanderbly so. We are just hoping that it goes well but if not we ll have to work out another plan!

Hope to hear from you soon lots of love mum xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx