Alright team! Looking amazing as usual, Ruth that is, not the scenery or you four-eyes!! Just thought I should wish my best mate a happy 30th birthday for tomorrow, hope you have a great time doing whatever it is that you will do! Time is flying by and being stuck here the only thing we look forward to is you both getting home safe and sound. I am a bit concearned you may find a small retreat up a mountain in Peru or something and decide to settle there for ever. Let me know though so I can have your toilet plug ash-tray (have had the odd fag-tut, tut) and japanese beer bottle opener. Dionne would like your interior design purchases and Lilly-Jo wants the bogey green bean bag! Seriously, as you can both imagine, we can't wait to see you. We will have so much catching up to do and are already looking to organise a weekend up to St.Andrews with you both. Anyway, not really much else to tell you. Take care and have a good one. P.S. Am I included in the family phonecalls?!

Have just viewed your latest photos - absolutely amazing !! Were you wearing those hats for a bet? Looking forward to hearing all about things very soon now when you return -what a lot of tales you will have to tell. We are still in the grip of the mini-heatwave with temps around 33C. Mother, Victoria and boys are currently in Rodley so I have been home alone for almost a week now - they are all having a great time at yours but back on Sunday evening. We shall be thinking of Ed a great deal on Sunday as he reaches another mile-stone at the start of his thirties. Do have a wonderful day - sorry we can't be with you but I'm sure you'll forgive us for not being there so do have a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY Edward. As usual we send lots of love to you both ----- Mum and Dad xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Just looked again at website - stunning new set of photos! How wonderful! What an expereince you are having - it ll seems a far cry from our moans about a bit of searing heat and lack of water! Well done on reaching Mach PIchu, what an achievement - but were the hats part of some sponsorship deal?? They are never off your heads! Must say we don't even have those here on east Cleveland! Have Ed's boots lasted? Bet he's glad he decided not to walk in his trainers after all! Have a nice rest now, and enjoy Ed's brithday xxx

Hot weather again here - could be the hotest summer since you were born, and you're missing it! Can't wait for the moans next year when we have a normally wet & cold one! One day to go, looks like we'll make it. Then race to France. All quiet from you, you must be well into the mountains - aren't there any pigeons who could carry a message back? How many are going to Robbie? 16? KT wants to know so she can book taxis. Llove to you both, xx

hey up bowman. looks like things are goin ok! not long now till results day im dreadin it. well im not but i wuld like to see wot i got now instead of havin to wait, but ya know wot im like. ya bin missed too much by everyone. are you back for results day or just in september??? hope ya r then i can see ya again. i didnt know i wuldnt see alistair again untill i red that message on ya board from him. well looks like i will have to catch him in the bakery wen he comes for a sarny. i have been up to nothing much just workin. past two weeks i have earned just under £200 done about an extra 40 hours i think. i aint complaining. money in my pocket =} rite well i best be off im startin work soon. have a great time both of ya wots left of it anyway. write back please. lv carlie xxxxxxxx=} xx

hey sir looks like ur having fun i av been goin 2 gigs last nite i got chased by this huge guy i laffed at this guy i know so i side step ran it were well funni he were 2 fat 2 cathch me u wont c me at school i aint goin back your happy i know well i may visit you once. so just make sure you have plenty of fun! alastair

Ed /Ruth,
We had a curry with Dianne, Rob & Helen last night and watched a movie - Well we watched the famous Ed free fall movie. Impressive. Dont think I would ahve the bottle to do one
Regards
John Shaw

Hello Ed & Ruby! Hope this message finds you well and smiling! Loving the latest photos of all the exotic places that you have been - I was thinking of setting up a similar site for my recent week in Cromer, Norfolk but did want to steal your thunder! Had a lovely relaxing week by the sea - parents joined us for the first weekend and met up with my grandparents and visited a donkey sancturary (!) Tabitha nearly got her fingers bitten off by an over zealous pony and spent the rest of the holiday saying "naugthty pony". As you know I also turned 30(!) and had a wonderful restful day on the beach followed by a chinese takeaway - easily pleased! Me & Ricardo enjoyed our recent mounatain race in Scotland - does coming 35 out of 42 constite winning in your eyes?? Moral victory for the boys from MH! We are off again this weekend Sam, Rich, Matt and our secret weapon and member of the Polish Olympic Squad the thin footed legend that is Ewok Vidion!! Really looking forward to it - I imagine the chat and lager wil take precedent over the racing - but you never know - my training has been going well - I am down to 35 pints a week and watched 3 mountain bike videos this week! Matt has moved onto Malboro Lights and Ricardo has promised to only eat one takeaway per night! C'mon the boys! Alex is doing well - she is massive and is struggling a little bit in the unusally hot British summer but is "glowing" like pregnant women tend to (read sweating!) we are lookking forward to the new addition which is due to arrive just after you get back. Am slowly getting the new house into order my DIY has been severely challenged but I have come through with flying colours - new dimmer switches working like a well oiled machine! Work is hard work with a lot of travelling up and down to London - went out on Wednesday in Berkley Square and swooned at all the Porsches / Lambos / Astons etc. My latest project is going to make 20 people redundent - I am even more unpopular than normal! Anyway I think that is all my news. Will write again soon. Have a wonderful time and take care of each other. Sam PS Ed thanks for the Pan Pipes I will enjoy playing the hits of Simon & Garfunkel!

Greetings to you both. Sorry to have missed your telephone call the other day - we were having a rare break of 2 days walking in Derbyshire. We walked the entire perimeter of Carsington Water (almost 9 miles !!) - not bad for a pair of "oldies" in temperatures of mid-20's. Found a nice farmhouse for the night and proceeded to tackle another walk the next day, breaking off for a meal at the Druid's Inn ( where we went with you two last Feb.)Your parcel arrived today from Vietnam and Mother will take it to Rodley next week when she goes with Victoria & the boys.Looking forward to seeing some Peruvian photos soon and hope that things are still going well for you both. Thinking of you as always and send all our love. Mum & Dadxxxxxxxxxx

Hey you two, sorry for the delay in writing again, have so much to do at the mo - or not as the case may be as I've quit my job!!!!

oh yes, best decision ever made - Rheumatology really isn't for me, ok the odd joint fair enough but a ward full - no thank you. So there we go, I've given up security for 5 weeks - and am preparing to be broke by the end of August but by then will be doing O&G for 6 months so that'll keep me out of trouble and on the way to GP land.

All is well this end of the country, i'm actually going to see Mic today and to hang out with Dave & Nelly for a few days, should be good, relaxing and I'm sure it'll be very entertaining.

Saw Pirates of the Carribean 2 the other day, have to recommend it to one & all, preferred no. 1 but Senor Depp is just as beautiful! Let me know if you catch sight of any pirates while you're in those waters!

What else, just sorting stuff out at home really, become a bit green fingered in my old age but do keep forgetting to water the little blighters so i'm sure the fella at the garden centre thinks i'm stalking him!! I'm also maybe rather foolishly planning on doing a car boot sale on Sunday, will have to get up at ridiculous o'clock to stand in blustery weather on Sedgefield racecourse for 4 hours - hmmm not my ideal sunday believe me but so much junk to get rid of! If anyone's interested in an unused yoga mat - don't ask - then i'm your girl, also have an astounding collection of children's books and a veg rack going for next to nothing - this could be bigger than ebay!

Right then, am going to straighten my hair - just said that to make you jealous Roob - but i am starting to fluff!! and off to sheffield for me.

Enjoy yourselves and take care in those foreign waters

Much love and greetings to all messengers
Zoe xxx

Back in Guisborough after busy weekend doing a management conference with staff in Goathland, then to Rudston for final checkup before holidays. Got your messgae, and see you are safely in Lima. About time you hit a problem or two, it's all gone far too well! Can't imagine Ed in dreads, but if you get very auithentic, could you bring back some steel pan drums for Freebrough?!! We want to start a steel band....You are better off out there by the sounds of things, e-coli in Armley! Some butcher is at fault. Didn't win the Corus Gala float competiton, they decided not to give the prize to the best entry it seems. Must say the mens' tennis final was much better then the world cup final, but now both are over, whatever shall we do? Shortage of photos in the album, get downloading! Looking forward to seing you in person very soon, mumxx

Hey guys, well sounds like you are having a terrible time visiting all these exciting places, sipping your pina coladas and the like... im sure we could relieve you of such chores.... there are some jobs in devon and a not bad flat if you fancy the swap!!! Jealous, not at all.. Beginning to get itchy feet again as we have been back from NZ for over a year now!!! Hamish is plotting once more.... on his agenda is working for the WHO in Geneva, heading to Melbourne to carry on a career in tourmenting children or possibly trying to save lives in deepest darkest Africa... I on the other hand am avidly playing the lottery in the hope that I will be able to take early retirement... next year is the plan!!!

Ruth I am very disappointed that your purchasing acivities in that v impressive sounding market were not up to usual standards.... surely some of Eds non essentials could have been accidently misplaced in order to create space for, well lets face it far more important items!!! anyway never mind.. I am sure further shopping opportunities will arise..

Good luck with the old lingo..... maybe you get some tips from liz with her spitalian.... seem to work in barcelona. Enjoy..... love nic xxx