Hello, Finally sussed out my font size and can read what I'm typing at last! Saturday night- Millie at Mums - had a bottle of wine to celebrate!! So may gibbber ona bit. ross and Sef watching lottery (how sad is that?) and no Pam as she's on her works xmas night out. Millie-Ann's party went off without any hitches (apart from Ross and I falling out in the morning over his lack of activity and when finally he activated he dithered away). and surprisingly everyone had departed by 6pm this year.That evening, as Millie ripped open all her presents, we sat in an exhausted stupor and was all tucked up in bed for 9pm (and how sad is that?). She is now talking in sentences and seems to have become very cunning(translate manipulative) in getting her own way. Amazing what she comes out with. Today was her last swimming lesson and she refused point blank to even take her coat off in the changing room. There's me in swimming cossie (not apretty sight at the best of times) whilst madam has a minor strop. SO we went out and she headed for the sweetie machine. A few minutes later a bribe of Starburst in her hand got her bag into the changong room but again no deal with taking her clothes off. Feel a con has happened!!! Lesson abandonded. Thank God it was the last lesson - she might be keen again by the time January comes round.
Have been desperatley trying to persuade Ross to get the Christmas decs out today but to no avail.Tried to tempt him into the attic with the promise of exciting baubles and the promise of sex with me as Mrs Santa only brought howls of laughter - am deeply wounded.
Next week am returning to Weight Watchers. Am working on the premise that if I get 3 weeks in before xmas the weight I lose will probably be equivalent to the weight I'd gain at xmas so therefore I won't be any fatter in the New Year when I was going to start anyway. I think thats an excellent plan to follow.And once I start I will sticl to it so by Summer hopefully be super slim and 10 years younger!!!
Just had small debate about the lottery programme. I have answered all the questions correctly so far so I'm up for £80,000 (if only).Even Sef had to concede I do have a semblance of a brain but Ross disagrees. Bloody cheek.
Christasa will soon be upon us. Amazing how quick the year has gone. Millie has an idea of Santa and will point to his picture.However, Mum took her to Hetland today to meet Santa. after queuing for 20 mins she got in ther burst into tears when she saw him grabbed her present and ran (that's my girl get the freebies first). Mum said she'd never seen anyone move so deftly to swipe something and make her escape.
Fiona. Ross's sister is back home next week for the festive season and she has not Millie yet so that will be nice (here's hoping she doesn't burst into tears then).
Ross and Sef say hello- obviuosly they have no finger s so are unable to type anything themselves!
That's about all. Sure there's more but the wine is calling!! Take care and stay safe abroad (as your not travelling now have to change my sing off a bit) xxxx

Hi Em & Fuz
haven't read your update for a while so making the most of a quiet Sat morning.
Where's the photos of your last escapade, can't wait to see them.
Can't beleive how much you 2 are managing to do - glad to see you are both really enjoying it.

Bri is away at Butlins on a stag do this weekend - DISCO INFERNO!
He's away with Col, Brownie, Denzil & the young Scullys so lord knows what they'll manage to get up to. He had me trawling round the charity shops last week looking for a suitable disco outfit.

About to put the Christmas tree up with the boys this weekend, they are both getting excited now, as they've started opening their advent calendars.

Have sent you a little pressie for Crimbo, hope you like. Started doing my pressie wrapping last night, can't beleive how organised I am this year.

Work is just grand at the moment, we're making a million mince pies for Christmas. Unfortunately I'm doing pretty well at eating my way through the whole lot. Never mind, skinny minnies are no fun - so says Bri.

Well, I'd better go & get dressed, can't stay in my jim jams all day, got 2 terrors to get organised.

Keep writing & having lots of fun.

lots of love
Kath
XXXXX

Hello guys. We need more of your travel tales! Think it's about time Fuzzy wrote one, although Em, you seem to have quite a talent there! Weather here is getting pretty cold, wet and windy now, bet you are missing it!! We are going to Gran Canaria on Monday, so it will be nice to get a weeks peace (and heat!) before the Christmas madness starts. We were at the Celitc v Man utd game last night, what a great result! I was in hospitality, sitting amongst Rod Stewart and Roy Keane, but Steven couldn't get in there and was in amongst the common lot! Ta for postcard, it was good to hear from yous. Keep us up to date, and make the most of it! Safe travelling x

Hello,
How are you's this week? All grand here and on countdown for Millie-Ann's second birthday and party (with 18 kids) this Saturday. Cannot believe she is 2! And she just gets more hilarious as the days go by. She kept saying that she wanted to die and pointing to things on the tele saying they were dying. you can imagine Ross and my alarm at this. Now I know we think she's clever but even I don't think she knows what dying is. However it turns out she actually is saying she wants to cry -at least she gives us prior warning. Bless her.
As you know it was Ross's 30th last week. He was working on his actual birthday. As you also know he was adamant he was not having any celebrations. So, I tried to abide by his rules but you know what I'm like with regard to celebrations. So last Monday night he said he thouoght he might go to Motherwell on the Saturday to watch Annan Athletic (apparently an important game which all the lads went too). Thus I see a wee window of opportunity and by Tuesday had organised a small get together at the house. May I emphasis before people get offended at not being invited it was only a SMALL get together with 14 people (of which 7 were his pals and the other 7 were us girls). So there's me all happy at my organisation and everyone had been sworn to secrecy about it because I knew he would have a fit if he knew about it (even Skeesh managed to keep quiet and he was with Ross at the footie, though he did confess it was difficult as he kept going to make references to it).
Friday the weather was bloody awful and Ross comes home saying if it was as bad the next day he wasn't going to the footie. By this time I had giant balloons blown up in my potting shed,and all the food rota sorted (that's why girls get to go to these dos), alcohol bargains hunted down etc etc. However managed to convince him to go as he hadn't been to footie for ages and it was important match etc. etc (he must have thought I was being unusually kind). So Saturday I am on tenterhooks. Came back from the swimming with Millie-Ann (she's getting promoted up a group by the way to ducklings) at 12 and he wasn't home from work. Terrential rain and wind outside and he was driving himself. Oh no!! Was convinced he wouldn't go. Emergency phone calls made to Pam and Helen to formulate back up plan..... But he phoned and said he was still going, and would be up the road imminently to get changed etc. Then 5 mins later he phoned again-his bloody car had broken down on Hallmeadow Road. On further investigation he had driven through flood water.' No problem' says me "I'll come and get you and you can take my car to football." Needless to say Ross very taken aback by this (you'd think he would have suspected something by then, or would have at least enquired if I'd had a brain transplant as normally I would be leaving him to sort out his own mess). Managed to get his car towed home in double quick time thanks to the ever reliant Newton family (Ross this time) and off he went to football.
And when he got back at 7 he came through the door to find a bunch of girls shouting "surprise" as apart from Sef and Bob everyone else was coming after the football. We were joking that we'd orgainised a girls do for him.
Anyway, he had a lovely time and did not have a clue,so I was pleased I did it.
And now I've got Millie's party to sort. I am taking a weeks holiday next week to recover from it... Well, actually I was hoping to do a bit of decoratin but Sid is coming down so that may get delayed. (Sid seems to have some sort of internal clock that tells him when I am on hol as every time he's down I am on hol and you know what he's like, by the time you've contemplated life and the universe the day is over!!!!!)
Well, was having late lunch so will go off for my 3pm appointment now. Will email next week to let you know if I've survived the party. Take care. Safe travelling xxxxxx

hia, Have finally managed to get sorted on line. Ash on it most of the time though so had to turf her off so i could write a wee message. You both are sooo busy. All very exciting!!! All the kids are fine, growing like mushrooms. All the family are coping well after last week it is a good job they are all so close!!! The flowers you sent clare were lovely, her house was like a florist shop. Gillian, stef, shirl and Laura were here last night had wee drinky. Looking after lily tommorow, all day and looking forward to it . Allan has gone back off shore, he is ok.Going to go now, take care and will be in touch again soon. lots of love kerry.x x x

i am so sorry we have not been in touch more regular, i just dont know where the time has gone. lily is going to be 5 months old on sunday.

She is great, entertaining us all the time with her babbling she a right little chatter box. we are looking forward to christmas with her around this year.

James is keeping well, and busy at work. His dad is a big miss though, but all baring up.

My maternity pay stops this month, but i am not planning on going back to work at the moment. I think i could get used to being a kept women. ha ha.

Lily has been a little traveller already, we had her away in the camper over to france for 10days, she was also at the wicker man festival with us as well, and we are still planning on going snowboarding in feb, and taking her with us. We have to get her a little sledge.

We been looking at all your photos, and reading your news. keeping having fun.

Im going round to kerrys tonight, as gillian is home, so few of us meeting up.

Take care, safe travelling

Hello,
How are you?
Am a bit out of routine as it is a Tuesday that I'm emailing you on today. Am back in the cupboard at work as my emawil at home is still miniscule and nobody seems to know how to unfix it. very inconvenient it is too. Keep thinking it's Monday as had the day off yesterday to get car serviced and MOT'd. Grand being at home. Cleaned out Millie-Anns room which took all day thanks to her assistance. we did fill 6 binliners full of clothes though and moved furniture about. Meanwhile she kept yelling at me to observe her doing naked gymnastics on our bed. Being as she can climb about anything now she tries different aerobatic/ acrobatic techniques on everything. Her birthday is a week Sat ans so far have invited 23 children to the house party. Think virtually all are coming too. I am prepared though and have already started buying goodies for the goody bags. The house will be more roomy this year due to the renovations so that will reduce the space problem (Ross looks at me as if I am clearly deluded when I say this to him). I then have a weeks holiday after it to recuperate!
Am planning some decorating though (again Ross gives me another look for this!)
Ross, as you know is 30 tomorrow and continues to insist he wants no surprises (ha,ha ha). Paul is taking him away on Friday for some adventurous play and I know of a few fab pressies he has coming. You'll have to wait to hear what I planned ........ which if Ross reads this before tomorrow is nothing!!!!!
Millie went with Ross to watch Annan Athletic play on Saturday. Ross said you would think she was an old hand as she was running up and down the terraces shouting abuse at the players (well, she was actually shouting ball but that's her in training for abuse). Then Pam and I took her to Bitts park for the fireworks where she showed no fear at all but had a big cheesy grin on all night. However the next night when pyromaniac Ross was in full form in our garden and the field at the back, she was not so keen. She didn't care for Pam and I manically waving our sparklers about (causing Sef to question who were the adults us or Millie) and didn't like the fireworks that sparkle off the ground but liked the ones that explode in the sky. Ross now planning big display in the near future to see if he can sway her further!!! Hope nobody has bought him fireworks for his birthday.
Can you believe only 6 weeks and 6 days til Christmas. Am teaching Millie to sing Jingle Bells to add to her already extensive collection. Have to say am excited this year as she is so nosey now she'll want to be in the thick of all festivities. Getting her a bike.
Nothing much to add now. I have been taking it easy on the alcohol front, only partaking in a half bottle on Friday. Friday afternoons are no longer the same and I have kinda disbanded the Frdiay Afternoon Club until Pam is out of confinement - though she does encourage me to keep the tradition going I feel like a complete traitor (plus its not as much fun, except when Pam P comes who has the right mentality for FAC!). Well better get on here. Hope you are ok and soaking up the sun!
Take care, safe travelling xxxxx

hiya!
got oyour text message today em, phone still not allowing me to send you a message. glad you got the parcel i selected those pages (from the annandale) carefully i knew you'd appreciate them!
well been back to school this week and all is well. popped in to see kat tonight she was getting the girls ready for the halloween disco think a wee wine night may be on the cards.
spoke to tracey and shirley on sunday when i went out to see claire very sad. will be thinking of them all tomorrow.
speak soon em love to fuzzy take care hayley xxxooo

hi there,
well i think we have been getting as bad as you for sending messages but better late than never. we have had a couple of virus in the computer over the past month and every time we have had them sorted out we have the computer sent back working but all in turkish!! i know i can get by with the language but im not fluent in computer jargon in english never mind another language.
well i have actually had quite a busy month doing other things than simply working for change.
we had mum and dad out staying and during their holiday i conqured my fears of the scooter(caused from falling off after only having it a week) and i am now a very confident happy scooter driver!! feel very proud zipping along the road with my little green piss pot helmet on. musti is not that impressed as i have to drive him about when they are doing traffic control due to his lack of license. he has vowed to sit his bike test next year to correct the situation.
on the driving front i also tackled driving through the city centre of marmaris in the middle of the day which is enough to get you to give up driving for good. they are all nuts on the road over here anyway but over there it really is a case of he who dares wins.
i finally got the chance to really cross the sexual eqality boundries by going wild boar hunting with dad for the night ( well ok technically we spent the night illegally poaching but thats a minor detail) i was very excited initially as i am the first woman the men have ever let go out with them, buti was really only allowed as they needed a translator. at the start of the night dad managed to impress everybody by shooting the only boar that night but after 8 cold hours having only seen that single boar and 2 hares i have decided it is definatley something they can keep as a man only hobby.
after mum and dad left i started into ramadan, which is the month of fasting. it is the third time i have done it now but this year i found it harder than normal as musti did not do it with me and he persisted to eat chocolate and drink beer in front of me at every given oppertunity. so much for me trying to support him and his culture, but at least i have scored major brownie points with the inlaws and neighbours so it was worth it in the end.
to celebrate the end of the fasting they have a four day sugar festival which is a fantastic excuse to stuff your face with lots of sweet sugary very bad for you type food. great in one respect but it also means the pounds that you loose during the fasting are not long on going back on again.
musti finished work last week as a bar man in the restaraunt, but he will start again in 2 weeks as a winter waiter so he has had to go and purchase shirts and ties much to his disgust. it has been great having a bit of time together as we have fianlly managed to get our web site up and running and while watching the boy work away at it it really hit home to both of us just how crap we are with computers! the web site address is www.dalyansunlife.com so we are expecting a message left the next time you are on line.
the icing on the cake of my achievements this month was the day on a boat i had today. i was invited along by the owner as it was the last day out of the season and i completed my first ever scuba dive!!!! i even got the certificate to prove it. ( musti is now very jealous as he chose not to come as he was playing football) emma the next time you get the chance you have to go and do it, it is just the most amazing experience. im already hoping to save up and complete the course at the start of next year. luckily they have offered me it at 50% discount which works out at 100pound so im not complaining too much. i will send you some of the photos but be warned me in a wet suite not the prettiest of sights, we have after all just had the sugar festival, well thats my excuse and i am sticking to it.
well i think that will have to do for now as im still swaying back and forward from the boat. im hoping to be flying back to the uk about the 8th/9th november so we will talk to you before then,
make sure and get some more photos updated and dont work to hard.
lots and lots of love gillian and musti XX

Hi Guys, Sorry haven't posted in ages but have been checking on your progress from time to time. You must be talking with Ozzie accents by now! Sounds like you are having great fun still. I was most impressed with the bungieing(?)and some of the sights you describe sound incredible, very impressed with the hike round Ayres Rock in the baking sun too. Keep having fun and keeping us all up to date.
Lots of love,
Edi. x x

Hi guys, glad to know I'm not the only one who's been slacking off. Just a quick mesage to let you know I'm still checking in & keeping up with what's happening. Isn't time flying in?
I've got loads of news but don't have time to leave it all at the moment. It was my 40th this week so have had an eventful time but nothing to compare with the adventures you two are enjoying.
Hear from you soon.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

we have taken the hint about not sending you messages hope you are not getting homesick because i would gladly swap places with you.I really must say full marks on your journalistic skills i have been very immpressed with your travels very Michael Palinish.One thing though Emma i knew you had to use BUSH toilet but what did fuzzy use.HA HA.So keep on your travels and your journal entries you are missing nothing here