Good morning my dear travelling friends. Hope this blog entry finds you fit and well. And you cannot imagine the joy I feel in having my PC working again. I am no longer in the superhighway wilderness. Had to take the Pc to some nice man at Silverlaw who fixed it in under half an hour for £20. I thought that was a bargain given I have been without it for 6 weeks now, unable to do last minute Christmas shopping (the shock of actually having to venture to the shops was almost too much),blogs, tesco shops, emails, CBeebies..... it's been hell. It's just gone 7am. Ross is at work and Millie sneaked into my bed at 6.15 demanding a bottle of milk (can't get her out of the milk bottle yet -think that's her comforter), so by the time she'd settled my head was full of emailing, ironing and cooking tea, so up I got. Naturally blog work comes first (after making tea of course). Millie and I are meant to be going swimming today. She has been upgraded to the Duckling class with Alan Towers as out tutor now. As you are aware Alan is a lovely but sombre man, and I now have a child from Hell in the pool. This is simply beacause Millie wants to jump in and swim back stroke all the time, whereas we are meant to be practicing breathing technique(blowing a ball along the water - huh no chance), and our crawl (again no chance) and getting into the pool safely as opposed to dive bombing (her favourite task). We have had 2 lessons in the new group now and whilst everyone else is performing perfeclty my rebellious daughter is having a head fit and refusing to do anything. Give him his due Alan has been very generous and said you get weeks like this... Somehow I think I might be in for a whole term of it. However, am tempted to miss it today for many reasons: 1. Got hair done yesterday which cost £50 so would like a bit more wear out of it before washing. 2. Both Millie and I have cold and I am on anti-biotics for ear infection (though do have swim plugs) 3. Millie needs new shoes so may nip through to Dumfries 4. Too scared to go as all the other mothers sit and watch my efforts and I can almost read their minds (no control, spoilt child etc. etc). However, Christine is coming for sleepover tonight so thought we could all go swimming tomorrow morning whilst Pam and Fuzzy recover. As you know Christine swims like a mermaid and feel she would be excellent example to Millie- peer pressure and all that. Millie adores Christine and so do I as I have ready made Millie distractor and will have lovely relaxing evening (love Christine for many other things too though). We all had a fantastic time at Shirley's Oscar party. I for once was emminently sensible, only having 5 cocktails and going home just after midnight, so sad to say I missed the Oscar awards. Believe Jimmy 2 shoes was mentioned in the thankyou speeches, which apparently got more riotous with each award! When I left there was some fierce competitiveness building up on the karaoke so pleased I wasn't involved in that (no Hey big spender for me to sing anyway,but managed Dolly Parton 9-5). So now think am going to pinch Shirley's idea for my birthday. Was unsure what to do and was going to have aparty (as you knoow it is the big 40), but Derek Latimer beat me to it and is having one the Saturday before my birthday - and fancy dress to boot. So no point me doing one as avast majority of my chosen guests are bound to be there and can't imagine people wanting to dress up 2 weeks in a row (except obviously yours truly who would dress up every day). So I am now also having cocktail party but only for the girls - and as I always have to have a twist- mine will be a Saturday afternoon club!!!! So in theory we start about 3pm and it'll all be over by 8pm (have my doubts there too)............ Currently have 4 bottles champagne saved for cocktails. Naturally you will be keen to know what dress I am adorning for Derek's party. Am sure you could guess given time but will of course be my fave superheroine Wonder Woman. I have actually ordered a new costume yesterday as the other is somewhat shabby now (really must persuade Ross to let me try a bit of variety in our role play!!!!!!), the only thing being could only get size 14. So thats amajor incentive to stick to weight watchers, where I have now lost a whole stone (bar 2lb). So have major incentive to lose at least another 12lb before party. Have to say think the major problem will be my boobs which may have to be forced into top, but hey imagine the cleavage!!! Talking of dressing up have started provisional planning for ROM. 3 ideas so far. Naturally cannot reveal anymore as top secret at present. Will of course have the wonderful team - carpenter extrodinaire Sef and his assistant Ross, and seamstress Pam to assist. But as Mr. Rowlands will be a daddy in May early planning is indeed required this year. I am not acting as abolt hole!!! So pleased you met up with Maz, Si and Lauren. All my madness comes from Maz you know. She was a very bad influence through our nurse training and subsequent career!!!! Anyway, imagine have filled a whole page ofthe blog site with all this so will end now. Happy and safe travelling. Lots of love xxxxxxxx

Hello, And a happy new year to you. Oh the relief to get back on the blog!! I cannot believe it has been so long since my last entry. Sadly Millie-Ann has managed to stuff up the pc at home so can't access any web sites at all at present. Paulie came round last Saturday -didn't realise he worked in IT-mind you judging by his blank looks don't think he's too sure about his vocation either!!! Anyway Paulie could not help so back to the drawing board. Currently sweet talking (or biscuit and chocolate talking) the guys in IT here in the hope someone will take pity on me. So here I am into work at 7.30 am so I can blog you before I start. Was getting severe withdrawal symptoms, I can tell you.... Work extremely manically busy. My secretary got a new job and as the hosptal are in big debt they have refused to replace her. So I have had to absorb her job too (all 24 hours a week of it). I am getting a dab hand at typing letters etc and feel I will soon be able to apply for a job in the sectretarial world, which given the current state of the NHS might be a real option!!! 2 weeks before Christams I returned to weight watchers. I finally realise the ice cream consumed during pregnancy can be shifted with a little self discipline. Mum is also coming with me. Was horrified to find I weighed as much as I did at 9 months pregnant (that certainly spurred me into action) and am proud to say I have now lost 8lb in the five weeks. Only another 3 stone to go... hey ho! Christmas passed in a jolly blur of delicious food (all weight watchers recipes thanks to my mum), not too much champagne and me falling asleep at early doors. Didn't help that I have torn a ligament in my knee and am hobbling everywhere and in excrutiating pain (though to be truthful at time of writing it is feeling better). How did I do this? We went out on our works Christams do. Lovely meal at Crosby Lodge (v posh and expensive) but also incorporating free drink (10 year old wine etc.). In fact the whole thing was free c/o my consultant. Ross was driving and thus sober. To demonstrate how I was I have absolutely recollection of anything beyond the main course. And I really do mean no recollection. Then when we got home I fell down t he stairs. You can imagine the telling off I got from Ross. To be fair though, I have worked here for over 4 years now and nobody has seen me drunk and everybody said it was the best Christmas night out they'd had thanks to me (if only I could remember my witty quips etc...) New Year passed very quietly thanks to the flu. That would be from spending a week outside with Millie and her bike that Santa brought! Then Ross got flu so I had to recover quick as obviously his was man flu and indeed life threatening. Gave up being sympathetic on day 5 and made him get out of bed! Now just plodding along - 6 weeks til I am 40 and still unsure if I'm partying. Have cocktail party at Shirley's this Sat and am manically saving points (what do points make! _alcohol!!!!) HOpe you make it to Perth and do look up Maz she will make you most welcome. Must go to my clinic now. Take care and safe travelling .xxxxxxx

hi emma and fuzzy I just had to write and tell you i Have been reading your journal and it is brilliant and has really cheered me up as it is a really missirable day here in Annan,weather has been terrible wish i was where you both are lots of sun.By the look of your photos you and fuzzy have had a great christmas and new year.We have had Pauline and Michael and baby Ethan up for new year ,that made my new year the best yet.take care both of you and we wish you both all the best in the new year

Hi Emma & Fuzzy Great to read your journal and the pictures are great. Are you sure that was a real moustache that Fuzzy had ? It looks as if someone has drawn it on his face when he was drunk. I know it was for a good cause so well done Fuzzy. It was nice to talk to you on the telephone at Christmas time. We have all had a good Chrismas and a good new year but unfortunately some of us have been poorly since the new year I even visited the Doctor the first time that I have since I left the School.I have taken 3 days off on the sick never been known before so you can imagine how bad I was feeling, but thankfully getting better now. Joane has still not had her baby yet but she has been taken in to hospital she fell and hurt herself and she can`t walk very well so they have kept her in to have some rest but there is still no sign of the new baby yet will text you as soon as it arrives (hope it`s soon) Stephen goes back down to Plymouth on Sunday he has been home for nearly a Month. The weather here has been very wet but it is not cold wish we had the same heat as you. Both of you take care, Marco & Lanya.

hola! happy new year to you and all the best for 2007! cannot believe tat the festive is over and the new year has began. not been out much at all this year which would lead you to beleive that i have not drunk much- of course not! did try to call you, but as xmas day could not get through! got your message though! missed you loads. have you made any resolutions? just putting the tree down and moving the mess from one room to the other. girls just back in from the cinema and boys playing out the back! having a girls night in tonight to catch up on all the gen have not yet read the annan paper so hopefully they will be able to fill me in. anyways will try again to call you over the weekend take care of each other speak soon love you hayley xxxx

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU BOTH hope you are well .we can see that you are having a brilliant time. Take careWilma & Gordon .

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL DOWN UNDER!!!! Hope you guys had a fab time. Bit different than Annan. Bet you've missed first footing in galeforce winds & rain! Wish you all the best for 2007 guys. Miss & love you loads xxxxxxxxxxxx

Hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year!!!! We are all well and good - the much needed detox starts tomorrow so it'll be a few weeks of misery and self pity to come, wahoo! Take care x

!!Happy New Year!! I hope you are enjoying it and the fact that it's not perishing cold (How Marvellous!) What fun it all sounds. I had a relatively restrained Hogmanay at a friends and didn't even go First Footing (unusaul for me) but then I'm working later today :-( I look forward to hearing from you soon. Love to you both.xxxx Edi.

Happy New Year!! I am obviously the only saddo on the internet on New Years Day! Am just going down to work shortly, unfortunately. Watched some of the telly last night, think all the Scottish shows were cancelled due to the bad weather which was a right shame, but it did show the great fireworks/weather at Sydney! It was Joshs birthday the other day, he's now 7! Cant beieve it, am so old! Hope you are having a great time over there, and keep up the blogs x

HAPPY NEW YEAR from Auld Reekie!!! There are more Aussies over here than over there it seems but it is intermittently blowing a gale and chucking it down so don't think there's much of a comparison. Hope you have a fab time. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Happy new Year-hope you guys have a fab one. It is pouring with rain here and I am at work-tragic I know! Hope your Christmas went well. When are your friends coming to visit? Am still enjoying reading your blog, it takes my mind off work which is not a bad thing. Life here is going ok we plod onwards. Look forward to hearing more of your adventures soon love Sarah