Em Happy New Year Em! Hope you had a great Christmas and New Year and are still having a fabulous time. Are you still coming back to England in spring?? I'm off work for Christmas at the moment (trying to string it out for as long as I could before returning!!!)but am back on monday. Am 4 months through my cipd course - had to interview for the first time today, but wasn't half as bad as I was imagining! Just have a huge assignment on HR Planning to get out of the way now before I can relax for a while though!!! Hmmm, still can't avoid the old student knack of getting stuff done under last minute pressure!!! One day I'll learn... I'm a brunette now. Got my hair done couple of days before Christmas, so am now a dark chocolate colour!!! I do like it, but feel at heart that I'm a blonde although it's great having a change! Will have to try and send you a photo of new, dark me and Mr Sandy (my gorgeous boy)!!!! Take care Em, can't wait to see you xxx

Aunty Ann Hi Emma Just been reading all about your adventures. Sounds too good to miss - I'll be over next week!!!!! Just going to have a good look at your fella to see if I approve. Done my Florence Nightingale bit and been to see your mum. Look forward to seeing you when you get back .Have a lovely Christmas and New Year. Love Aunty Ann x

louise hi em, me, gill & phil have had a good look at the photos whilst taking in our weekly vodka intake!! gill likes jasons shirt! Phil says he will get u a cheap car if u need one when u get back! Me? I'll see u in february for lots of fun!! Love you loads Lou xxxxxx

Amy Ems - Lucy and Vito asked me to send you a message because they miss you so much. They both want to know when you're planning to come back to Seattle. Lucy needs to know because she wants to sit in your suitcase and lay on your head when you're sleeping. Sweet Vito wants to know because he has an itch on his back and the way Autie Emma scatches it is soooo much better than how Mom scratches it. So, when you're done galavanting the world, please get your tush back to Seattle and tend to your kittie-neice and nephew. ;-) We miss you!!!

Charlie Hi Emma.Hope all is well with you? I'm off skiing again this year-to Spain!I didn't know you could ski there either.Caz and I are no longer (I imagine you have probably heard) so trying so keep busy!Went to Thailand,Cambodia and Malaysia this summer and will go to Vietnam next summer.Love Charlie x

Jen Hey sweetie - glad to see all is going so well - the photos look amazing!! Well I'm finally a married old woman - wedding went well - honeymoon was fantastic and now back at work - will email properly soon but keep in touch and take care lots of love jen x

Dee Hi Kitten, Great to hear from you and see the update. Sounds like you are still having a lush time. Fab to see some pics of all the fab places (and people!), including fiwi who I am missing too so say hi. London life is going well. Settled into job and had a fun summer. Sarah Mac got married on August bank holiday! Have had to find a weekend lunch buddy but the place is only temporarily filled, waiting for you to take up your rightful position when you get back.(if you get back). Take care andgel and speak soon. x

Stuart Emma Glad things are going so well and that you are managing to hold down a job, God they must be gullible ! The pictures of NZ look awesome , I've got money on you staying . The job's good and Alex is having a fantastic time , he's shark , dolphin , whale and fish mad , so we're spending lots of time in/on the water .Sue is doing the expat wife bit and moaning about things like the pool man not coming on time and the cleaner not being that good : God she has it tough ! I've managed to acquire a really brilliant assistant so my PC Illiteracy remains to the fore . Missing the blue coat big time !! Take care All the very best Stuart

Bev Hi Emma. No need to ask how you're enjoying NZ - sounds and looks like you're having a great time! Last week we went to Corfu for a week of sun and relaxation which was great. We stayed up on a hillside and the views out to the ocean and surrounding countryside were amazing. It was also probably the first alcohol-free holiday I've had for many years! Unfortunately, back to reality this week. Had a "baby" week this week as I had a scan on Wednesday and saw the midwife yesterday but all is fine and I'm getting nice and fat - only 15 weeks to the big day. We've also put our house up for sale so the next few months are going to be fairly hectic. Anyway, take care and look forward to your next instalment.

Ang&Ryan I am useless at this - I always manage to send you a blank message first!!!! I had a few spare moments in my busy schedule as a 2 day office worker, and caught up on your 'adventures'. It looks fab and it must be so nice to have settled in like you have. We are off to Spain again next week and am looking forward to it, its just the three of us this time, we went a few weeks ago with my sister and her boyfriend and it was lovely as they looked after the monster for us on a few occasions so we could go out for meals just the two of us, but am looking forward to just sitting around in the sun for a week. Jane's wedding in October is still on! and am really dreading Ryan on the flight out to Barbados, its not that he will moan and groan, he just has the attention span of a flea and wants to be entertained all the time. We are still enjoying the new house and the girls will be over soon, there will be an empty lounger around the pool just for you!! Well, time to go and will catch up on your adventures in a few weeks. Shares in Ruskins have gone down considerably now Mr Miall and your good self have disappeared. Take care - love you Angx

ang

Mel Hey Emm - trust all is well with you and your adventures. We are fine and willing the term to end in 2 weeks time! I am big and tired now and fairly uncomfy most of the time - 31 wks tmrw! NCT going well and nursery almost done now - mural looking great. Hope to speak to you again soon - internet up the swanny at home at present - aim to get it fixed ASAP for summer correspondance! Take care, Mel, Joe and what must be, an enormous baby!xx

Gayle Hi,Em! Was wondering how you were getting on so thanks for the update and pix. NZ is really lovely looking (despite the lack of shoe shopping). We will be getting plenty of that in London in 2 weeks time (LK Bennett, anyone?) Looking forward to meeting up with your mum, standing in for your sweet self. Decided to pop over to Dublin from Wimslow, rather than Paris for the final stop of our journey since we've never been before. Linsday recommended some pubs and distillery tours to us there. Have fun and watch that vigorous "tramping" in the NZ wilds. Hugs from Graham & Gayle.

charlie Hi, am knackered!-just got in from work.Will write later.Hope all is cool?.Cx

Helen P Having a fab afternoon catching up on all your adventures. You are looking really well and obviously having a fantastic time. Will we ever see you again I wonder? Will probably spend the rest of the afternoon daydreaming and planning my own imaginary trip. We are all well. Naomi was in a football tournament on Saturday. Her team got to the final and lost on penalties. I don't know who was more upset, Ian or Naomi? We are looking forward to our trip to Vancouver and Seattle in July and planning to go to Cuba in October, so at least I will be seeing a little more of the world than London and Newbury. We are renting the flat in Elephant and Castle and moving to Mayfair next month so I'm looking forward to that, although increased drinking and dining combined with less walking isn't going to have a positive affect on my thighs and bum. Never mind, I just turned 37 so things are mean't to be spreading and moving south. I'm still struggling with life as a Recruitment Consultant. There has to be a point where I stop short of selling my soul to the devil. I like money, but not that much. Looking forward to the next installment of your adventures. Take care Love H X