Cooeee again from 23 degrees Queensland, feels like it's gonna be a cold Winter here ...not. Your photos are fabulous, thanks David for sharing them, I love your artistic capability.

Life here remains on the up and up. Business is thriving, a little too thriving at times. We leave on Saturday for a week of speaking engagements in Pattaya, Thailand. Then home for 4 sleeps and off to hot 'lanta and Baltimore and perhaps a week in Costa Rica. Sadly I see no "Treks in Toulouse" for me but by proxy I am enjoying your travels.

We had our best boys, Terry and Brian from Gossie, to stay over the w/e and ventured up into the Hinterland to do wineries and "mountain" adventures. We fell into a gaggle of gliders - their colourful parachutes made beaut fodder for my new Nikon. The wineries and some Brownie hunting in antique shops was great fun. The company and much laughter completed a wonderful day. Sunday we met a new group of small business sea-changers for brunch at the Surf Club. An ecclectic but welcoming crew who we will catch up with every month or so from now on.

Monday I did a day-trip to Melb and back for a 3-hr meeting, still seems bizarre to not land in Sydney on the way home from anywhere. It's a wonderful bizarre.

M&D remain unrelentless in their pursuits around the Gold Coast. I seriously thought the highlight of their week was going to be recounting the jokes aired at Graham Kennedy's televised funeral but then today saw the return of their koala so much joy all 'round. I'm hoping he stays o'night so I can click away at him tomorrow with a powerful lens or two.

Anyway mates, little else to report. We remain distressed and confused by the Indonesian "justice" system and daily we realise how lucky we are to be based where we are. Our latest Internet purchase of "tamper proof" suitcase locks will hopefully keep us in good shape as we head off on our own little Odyssey this Saturday. Do you need any sent to you?

Miss you as usual. Love Cath

Hello my friends! Sorry it has been a while since I checked in, but things have been a little busy for us. No baby news yet. Still got just over three weeks to go and it is taking forever!! I am so impatient and I just want to meet little Blip. I have an appointment on Friday at the hospital so hopefully they are going to tell me that everything is going wonderfully and it seems as though I will go early. Positive thinking I know please join me in hoping for an early delivery.

Mike is wonderful. He was away last week (Singapore), and his mum came for a visit. Kathy was great, as always!! It was such a help to have someone cook dinner and do the washing what a gem! We are hoping that she might be able to be with us for the birth. It is kind of a logistical nightmare trying to organise it around Nickys as well as ours babies are just not that cooperative! Well see how things turn out.

TJ is gorgeous and amazing as always. He had a great time with Grandma last week, it only took him one day to get the word grandma sorted. You just wont believe how much he is growing up, he can honestly have a conversation with you now. It is wonderful. We had a small accident last night, he was bouncing on the bed and kind of catapulted into the wall! Not serious enough for a trip to the hospital, but he does have another chip out of that front tooth! He recovered wonderfully as usual!

Everything else is business as usual. My painting classes are coming along wonderfully I am doing a table top at the moment! Very optimistic of me considering it is my entry into the ceramics show this year, and I am a hormonal mess at the moment!! Should be interesting to see how it turns out. My What to do before Blip arrives list is getting shorter as I complete all those silly little things that run around in my head in the middle of the night. I am feeling quite organised and very ready for Blips arrival I just want it to happen NOW!!!

It is great hearing from you, I am so glad you are having a wonderful time. We are all missing you loads. All our love, Lex, Mike and TJ

Dear Gail & David, Given photos, news etc best option for you seems to be to extend your holiday......why come back to a Sydney winter when you can sip lattes and eat wood strawberries in gorgeous surroundings.................in between forays to the Casino. Love, Margaret

Hi Gail and David,
Looks like and sounds like you are both having a great time, good for you. I don't have any gossip, I'm just leading my quiet life and keeping out of trouble.
How are you enjoying the food, lots of ham and cheese, lots of wine and chocolate. If you are going to spoil yourself on holiday, you might as well do it properly.
During your trip through the Pyreneese, did you have a go at skiing. Even though it is spring, I'm sure there was plenty of skiable snow.
Keep on having a great time. Cheers.
Alana xx

Darlings _ we have just spent the last two hours uploading new photos onto the photo album site _ we are now nackered _ will write again soon. All our love !!!

Glad you are having such a wonderful time exploring the rest of the world, and realxing. The party went well, by the reports that we have been getting back, it was one of the best Inquisitions ever held (for most people reading this, it may sound a bit strange!). Am still recovering from it, but was well worth while.
Not long now before I head off on my holiday.

Hi you nomab's
Hope your enjoying France,we have just arrived back home.We foregot to take your mobile number with us.
Have tried to contact mobil from home, you know the answer to that,will try again later. I understand you tried to contact me while we were in France.Tuff
When you arrive hear we charge £10 A NIGHT bed, and you have the pleaser of washing up

See you soon i hope

jon & Sandra

Hello all _ we have arrived back in Jonzac after doing a Mal and Mike Leyland bros expedition to the Pyrenees : Tolouse _ which was spectactular and Bordeaux. Last night we went to our first casino, Mum you would love it.Speaking of which, it is great to see Mum sending messages and also getting massages _ I am very proud of you!!!

Thanks also for the updates from Mal and Vicki _ how is Helen going _ the work one _ not the riding or mother one? Doug must be getting ready for the Inquisition _ great wishes!!!

We miss you all _ i hope that Thomas and Lola are well. We will put pictures up later _ we have just this morning discovered another lovely french person who has given us access to his computer _ but sadly the usb port is not connecting.

France remains like a dream _ the people are incredible kind and helpful. The home / mansion we live in is incredible : a couple of nights ago two deer cantered across the valley behind us. Tres spectactular !!! We also went to our first Casino last night and won 40 euro !!!

Anyway _ the morning marche calls and we must buy baguettes! Love love love to you all !!!

Hello .... Friday afternoon and about to head home to the usual chaos! Gail, had lunch with Ginny today. She is just wonderful and she asked I pass on her love and kind thoughts. She is looking spectacular and busy running her own business. She is still riding but her life is consumed with taking photos at weddings. All well on the work and home front. No major issues - boys are well and keeping out of trouble. It sounds like you are having a fab-oh time. Love Vic

Hi Gail and David, hope all is going well with your trip. Awfully jealous about your trip. We celebrated Steve's birthday by having yum cha yesterday lunchtime which was really nice. Steve and Dylan were invited to a soiree at the Victoria Barracks in recognition of the NSW Department of Health supporting the Army Reserve. Dylan was in a special dress uniform and with his sharp hair cut he was a great representative. Steve spent the night yacking with Major-General Paul Irving (ex Education and now Corrective Services), but there was no repeat of the Baxter excesses. Everything going well otherwise and getting on with things. Talk to you later. Ca va! Au revoir a bientot!

High kids,its great to hear from you when you ring!Dad charges towards the phone like a first grade football player who has had to many red ones, poor old nan has to dive for cover(2x ruby red refreshments under the belt)and thinks its the return of the chevy!We are all well and the weather is good!Had our first massage today and it was great!GLad to hear you are having a good time, miss you heaps!Lots of love Dad Mum and Nan.

High kids,its great to hear from you when you ring!Dad charges towards the phone like a first grade football player who has had to many red ones, poor old nan has to dive for cover(2x ruby red refreshments under the belt)and thinks its the return of the chevy!We are all well and the weather is good!Had our first massage today and it was great!GLad to hear you are having a good time, miss you heaps!Lots of love Dad Mum and Nan.