Hi Ewan, Haven't left a message for ages cos we've been in Italy and work was manic before going away. I'm stillk grieving for my Skoda,but I'm getting used to my Fiat. No scratches or bumps yet. Italy was beautiful and very wet a lot of the time. However it was great to see everyone and we'll be meeting up for the wedding in 3 weeks. At least the sun was shining when we came back.I'm still getting ober the total (very plesant and totally unexpected) shock of now having an eternity ring!!!!!!Just when I think DG can't surprise me, he does. It's very beautiful but a bit big so has gone to be sized. The bathroom/wetroom very nearly finished so may not murder Nigel asfter all although I had hoped to come back to a complete end to the mess and guddle today, but never mind one more day should do it. Loved the photos and hearing about your latest adventures. We've been to Chaing Mai, and it sounds as if it's grown a wee bit since then. Hope you have a good time with Sam. give her our love and maybe she could phone us when she gets back to let us know how her trip ewent. Could you please sdesnd your granny some pc's of your travels . She would really love to hjear from you. Her address is Flat 2B, 8 Jamieson Street, Glasgow G42 8HA. Really missing you but glad that youre having such a fab time. All the Taylor/Gibson family + extended lots send their love and bestwishes. Love you. Be safe

Just got back from Italy to read your blog and see the photos. You're cetainly taking advantage of all the opportunities, which is great.

We had a good time. Heather and David's house is fabulous. Was our 25th anniversary on Weds, so we all went out for a meal and I had bought your mother a ring. The shock nearly killed her.

Weather was pretty miserable - was great the day we got there but rained every day after. Ate and drank too much!

Thought we might get a chance to see Italy play in the European championship while we were there, but their first match is tonight and they're losing 3-0 to Holland, so wouldn't have been a good atmosphere.

Have a new? car - 5 year old Fiat Punto and yes it has power steering.

Give our love to Sam.

Love, Dad

Hi Ewan - you must be about half way through your adventure now - just perused through your photos and feel very envious of your experience - never mind I've just joined the over 50's back pack association!! We are off to NZ on the 19/6 till the 9/7 then going to the Cook Islands - I understand from your mum you are also going to the cookies - if you want to meet up sometime during that period just e:mail me or Claire - you have her e:mail address I think and it would be good to meet up. we can send a photo to your mum and dad! Anyway, have fun be safexx

Hello Hello you

Thanks for the postcard - it has pride of place in our living room, love the formalness! Was thinking of you when watching the final, couldn't get more nail biting I'm sure, but I'm glad Giggs scored and Anelka missed, I'm sure it was worth staying up til 5 for.

As for us back home, we are finally getting round to making the pad a real home, and enjoying long evenings watching boxsets - I've even got Kay into Heroes, although she is still lacking some enthusiasm in that department. I will be making good on my promise to you not to be in the same job when you get back - tomorrow is my last day. Monday I will be moving just down the road for a long stint at the Council - joy of joys.

We will also be loking forward to the next post. All the best :P

Luce x

Thanks for latest blog. Sounds like you're having a fabulous time and your descriptions are so realistic.

We've been to Oundle, near Peterborough, for the weekend and it was a very pleasant surprise. Lovely old buildings, interesting shops (!) and good pubs with great local beer.

The sad news is that the Skoda is off to the great scrapyard in the sky - was going to cost too much to get it through its MoT. Your mum is distraught - as no doubt you will be. Priority for this week is a new, or not so new, car.

Looking forward to next post, love, Dad

Hi Ewan,

We're just back from Glasgow and Kirsty's wedding. It went really well - even got a passing mention on BBC Scotland apparently.Robert and Susan and the kids were there, and they're really looking forward to your visit.

In a couple of weeks we'll be off to Italy for the week, so looking forward to that. In the meantime the bathrooms saga continues - now have one complete bathroom, which is good. Unfortunate bit is that half of it is downstairs and half upstairs.

Love, Dad

Hi Ewan, really good to hear from you, asd for a neurotic mother 2 weeks is a long time not to hear from you. Are you felling OK now? I think that people forget that travelling in different countries, keeping your wits about you and getting the most of the travelling can be quite tiring. Sounds as if you'e had some good chillout time, whch has hopefully been a restorative experience which has left you raring to go again. I'm so excited at the thought of an enormous parcel of clothing arriving from SE Asia, even if its your!!!!!! Sounds as if it could be some time in getting here. I'm looking forward to seeing some more photos and hope that you're able to get to the technology to do that soon. I've just read a really interesting article in the Guardian about Cambodia. Chilling reading as it sounds as if people are being shoved off their land, which is being sold off to developers all over the world. Be interested to here if you pick up any evidence of this on your travels. We seem to be getting into some good weather here and its lovely to see the sun. The other good news is that we should have an upstairs bathroom with working shower by the end of the week YIPEE!! Can't wait. Shona's first exam is today and by then end of the week she'll only have another two before she's finished. The wedding is in two weeks time and I'll be travelling back down from Scotland on my birthday so probabably easier to get me on the 19th, as I'm off work. Dad is good and had a nice day off yesterday. There was a free music festival in Hertford , that he went to with John and Phillipa. Unfortunately I had just been to the out of hours service GP to be told I hafd a chest infection, and as I felt really rough, chose to stay at home and sleep. Very exciting. Hope ewe'll hear from you soon . Take carer and be safe. Love you HXXXX

Hi Ewan, how are you. I'm guessing that your more rural at present and not near a cyber cafe. Weather here contiues to be wet, cold and windy, even although it's now the 1st May.

Lucy and Kay are coming over on Saturday to have a look at our stuff in the recycling box, and there is rather a lot so they might be some time.

I was out last night with maureen, Wendy Lelly and Anne Higley who I used to work with. We went to see Kate Rusby at Broxbourne Civic Hall and it was a really good night. We're goig to Anne and Steve's for dinner on Friday, having a day off on saturday and then getting back to painting and hanging doors, O Joy. It's bank holiday on Monday so it'll probably rain but that will be a good incentive to get on. We now have a bath, no fittings but never mind and an upstairs shower tray so some progress is being made with the bathroom upstairs.

Shona has her first exam next week and is slightly panic stricken at the thought, but I'm hoping that she'll be fine. At least she has the prospect of a week in Italy to look forward to. Need to get back to he hours of computer work awaiting my attention. Hope that you're well and happy. and that you'll be in touch soon. Be safe. Love HXXX

Hi Ewan, Thanks for putting on the new pics, the countryside looks pretty amazing and it looks decidedly warmer. We'e been having some very cold miserable weather but it looks as if it might be getting a bit warmer, guess we have to keep or fingers crossed, and scarves and gloves to hand.Life in Ware goes on as usual and nothing very exciting is happening. The bathroom is a total shell at the moment but we4've lost the airing cupboard door and the toilet door, very strange. Your dad still finds himself heading upstairs to go to the loo, and can't find anything especioally cleaning stuff. Handy eh? This weekend wil see us doing more DIY and probably the next weekend as well. However we have the wedding soon and thren we've got a weekend away in Oundle (still to book, but hopefully will get that done tonight) Good old Tesco clubcard points. Shiona is now back in Sunderland and had a night out last night so I wont phone her too early this am. Everyone else is good and your dad had a better game of footie this Tuesday ie no scabby knees etc.

Hope the travelling continues to delight and enthrall. Be safe. Love HXX

Hello!

Hows it going? You all by yourself yet? I'm noticing a distinct lack of photos to make me jealous of your antics.

So Kay and I have got the keys to our new pad... very empty pad... its in Mitre Court (near Hertford East, Tescos and Powells funeral place) we are going to move in this weekend and will be saying a sad farewell to the Bung. About the only thing we do have is a TV and your PS2 and Wii - so thanks for that! There is no spare room for you, but hopefully by the time you are back there will be a sofa to kip on.

Speak soon! Lucy x

PS Helen, we would LOVE any of your cast offs to make our flat feel homely!

I don't really have much to add to your mother's extensive message, but I am really enjoying your vivid descriptions and glad that there are some things your choosing not to describe.

Your team seem to be surviving in your absence - our season effectively finished when we were beaten 2-0 by Rangers on Sunday.

Thanks for info re rock formation. As ever it prompts another set of questions, but I won't go into these.

Wet room is going to be great eventually.

Thanks for update and have a great time.

Love, Dad

Hi Ewan, I've just read your blog, and laghed alloud at the thought of the Karaoke session in the middle of no where!!! Glad your travelling with someone that you know and that your having such a great time. Thank you for putting such effort into describing the scenery/activities/culture, I really look forward to logging on and finding there's another update. Isn't modern technology wonderful? Your dad and I had a very good experience with friendly helpful friendly Malays, who helped us to find some accommodation (dire!!!!) when we went from Thailand to Malaysia. Good to here that you're also having positive experiences. Update re decorating AAAAAGGHHHHH!!!!! I've had enough and I'm going to run away until it's all done, or at least we have a toilet that works. Little bit of chaos at the moment at they're knocking down wall between the shower room and toilet.So lots of dirt and mess and no facilities upstairs EXCEPT the shower. We can't use the shower downstairs as the good old national grtid folk still haven't got off their arses and sorted out the meter being moved and until that's done we can't use the downstairs shower. Also the loo is leaking very badly as is the sink!!!! they were only fitted yesterday and not quite finished as shold have been I suspect. Hopefully today weill be the day that the wet room is cleaned up and WC and sink are in full working order. In the meeantime the shower is a little oasis in the middle of a rubble strewn and clatty area of no person's land at present. Allof this and Shon'as trying to revise (gone to the Library today_ and Ronnie is coming to visit for 2 nights. I suggested to him that B+B might be a good alternative, as long as we can all join him. The invivitation has just arrived for Eilidh and Steve's wedding and you and Shona are invited. Shona can't go either - she has a 21st birtyhday party that weekend which is obviously going to be a lot more fun!!! Don't hink thee's any other news other than Ina and Jimmy have gone off to Spain for 2 weeks,your granny Helen has been hearing voices!!!!!!!!! but has been to the Go who says hardening of the arteries and here are some pills to h elp, and she is feeling much better, and I can't wait to go to Italy YIPEE. Missing you but glad that your having such a great time. Be safe and keep in touch. LoveHXX