Yes, i hope you have all taken note of my front page? Yes helen is coming home baby!! To cut a very long story short, i went round to interior design agencys and they all told me that i dont have enough design experience, i dont want to get a temp job here as i really need to sort out my career and get some blimen experience in actual interior design rather than puting a vase on a shelf as i was doing in my placement year and designing peoples kitchens and advising which table cloth would look best. So after hours of thinking, talking to ma and pa, emailing big brov, i have to be grown up about this and realise that i have achieved what i wanted to out of travelling and that was to give me the confidence to get my butt out of portsmouth and move anywhere in the uk for an id job. Everyone goes travelling for different reasons, mine was that and also to have a wicked time for 5 months which i have also done and now i feel it is time for me come home and sort out a proper job. I feel ready to do that now and by the end of these next 6 weeks i'll be more than ready. My route home starts on thursday, when i'll be on a backpacker tour from melbourne to adelaide via the great ocean road (pic of rocks on the title page), adelaide for a day, then 14 days from adelaide to darwin right up through the outback, ayers rock, alice springs, kakadu national park and then darwin. Darwin for a week, then fly to broome and join another trip from broome to perth. Perth for a couple of days and then meet gem and rob in bunbury who are visiting gems mum and then fly home with gem and rob on sat 6th may! I'm going to smell, be burnt and biten to a crip and knackered!! I'm really excited and pleased that i'm doing the whole trip with other backpackers so i'll get to meet another load of people. In ayers rock there are really bad flies at the mo so yes, i have bought myself a head net......the pictures i'm sure will be another classic!! So thats about it, i've had my time away and i now have to return to the uk to sort out a job. I do think that if i'd stayed in oz and got some temp job i dont i would have been truly happy as my design work wouldnt be increasing and the more i'm out of the industry the harder it'll be to get back into it. Who knows maybe in the future once i have a few years under my belt i may get the opportunity to got to another country and work. Everything happens for a reason and i truly believe that as being made redundant was the best thing that could have happened to me. Anyway tonight, t and i are going to try and get into a neighbours party, karl, lyn and toadie are there but we missed out on the tickets so fingers crossed, if not i'll go tomoz night where its paul, boyd and conner...i'll let you know what happens....very, very excited!! Anyway i'll see you all in about 6 weeks!!!! Big hug and lots of kisses Helen xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I forgot to tell you that I became an aunty again last week. My brother and Christina had a baby girls, she weight 8lb 13 and they have called her Jessica. Everyone is doing fine and they are all back home now. Daniel (Jessica's big brother) wants to play with Jessica all the time and does not understand that he cant (bless him), he has already dropped a noddy book on her head by accident. He is so sweet because he call's her baby and he cant say Jessica. Right speak to you later. Love Holly xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Helena. I am so proud that you went and supported good old England at the rugby. I would of loved to of seen all those hunky men running around in little shorts. Sounds like you had a fantastic time at the neighbours set, I think it's every girls dream when growing up to be in neighbours. Well things back here are fine. Me and Julie are going to Plymouth tomorrow which I am looking forward too, I promise to mis-behave. Me and Gareth have taken the house off the market as were back together and I'm pregnant ...................................... NOT (ha ha). We are in the process of changing estate agents as our estate agent in poo. Gareth is still with Liz but refuses to speak her name !!! Things between me and C are fine. I attempted to cook him dinner (low fat chicken korma) on Wednesday night but I over did the spices and choked us, so the dinner went in the bin and we ordered pizza. The diet has not gone very well the past few months. However, my jeans are very tight now so I have had to get all my slimming books back out and start to lose weight. Right I better go, I will speak to you later hun. Love Holly Olly xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hay, well its all go here, we went to the rugby last night and of course the english beat the ozys!! It was a good set of matchs, as it was 7 aside rugby and they were 15 mins each game and we saw 4 hours worth of men running around a pitch with little shorts on, and teresa bought her binnoculars!! Well, today the best i have got for you is that i did the neighbours tour, yes, i went to see erinsbourgh high school, the studios and the street! I have pics of me outside harolds house with the ramsey street sign. An all time classic i think!!!! Did you know that erinsbourgh comes from the word neighbours! And some gos for you all, steph dies, stuart leaves, mum trimmons gets married to a cast memeber who isnt in it yet, there will be a teenage pregancy and yes everyone karl and susan get back together!!!! I went to to see the opening ceromony in central melbourne, there were big screens etc and it was a fab night and for some reason they all seemed to cheer our queen, who cracked one smile! I have some wicked pictures! Job hunt is still work in progress, dont worry i'll tell you all more next week!! Hope everyone is ok? Love and miss you all. Happy st paddys day! Love Helen xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Yo, yo, yo people! The games start in about 3 hours and i'll be in federation square to watch and solute my country! Last night i went to a street party to welcome the queens baton to melbourne. I met up with teresa and a couple of her mates and i'm afraid to say her tan is darker.....so unfair! There were bands playing inc rouge traders who's lead singer in izzy from neighbours. She has a fantastic voice live and a bit of a crazy dancer! Also they had a load of speeches from important people in oz and melbourne and one of them said "welcome to the greatest country in the commonwealth".....er i dont think so!! Dont we own them!? Ha, ha! Anyway i have a ticket for the rugby tomorrow night so we are all going to drool and hope that the nz team do the haka! I may go to another event but the neighbours set tour is my priority at the mo. I may do that on friday....really excited! Well then, jobs...er they are being hunted but i reckon by next week you'll all know my exact plans! Melbourne is so different to sydney, its really victorian and european and what they say about 4 seasons in a day is so true. Most mornings i've woken up to rain and then by the afternoon is blazing hot sunshine and the blasted sun lotion comes out again! Yes, i have been on the trams and i went on a free one today to do a tour around the city..i'm such a tourist! Ok then my aim to to try and spot an english grandstand commentator like sue barker or even better ray stubbs, and try and get a picture or stand behind them while they are reporting....so watch out for me!! I'll be the one shouting out hello mum and dad! Hope your all ok? I hope a good night was had by everyone at tiger tiger on saturday night, it was good to talk to you all especially my ming!! Ming have a good hol, please stay on the ski lift! Bye 4 now, loads of love Helen xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hey Hun, just taken about an hour to look through all the updated photos and they are fantastic as always. Your tan is getting more and more noticeable (despite wearing lotion everyday for nearly 4 months, they do say slowly but surely is the best way!). Shame your NZ travels have now come to end considering how much you were loving it there but welcome back to Oz and welcome back to verbal contact! Although you are greatly missed and we all want you home, I hope things work out for you in Melbourne so you can make the most of your tours, fingers and toes are crossed. Not really anything much to update you on from this side of the World but should something remotely interesting happen you'll be informed. Anyway, best get on with some work. Take Care, miss and love ya loads. Me.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I have arrived in Melbourne and saw some althletes on my plane going to the games! Its rainning today, which is good as i can have a day of the sun lotion...i have worn it nearly everyday since 29th nov 05! Anyway i'm back on my oz mobile number now which is 0406305426(i believe.) Love Helen xxxxxxxxxx

Hay everyone! Well I have now completely updated you all with my pictures of Nz and in a few hours i depart this fantastic country that i recommend all of you visit at least once in your life. I definatley want to come back, but it'll be in a few years time, during their winter and when i've visited all the other places i wana go to first...dare i say it but my travelling aint gona stop with just oz and nz! So, i left the Bay of islands after a nice long 5 days there where i evenutally did a island crusie and sadly clare and i departed each others company for the last time. She continues to see more of nz and then of to fiji and the usa...please clare dont bump into those annoying ones from our cape reinga day trip!! You'll all be pleased to know that i sat upright for the whole of the bus journey back to auckland unlike the one to the bay of islands and i wasnt sick in a conservation area! Yay!! But meeting up with teresa again melbourne may bring about another drunken episode! Anyway, i'm in auckland now and its been a very quiet weekend for me anyway, i went souvenir shopping today for you lucky people and they are on their way home! Up early tomoz to phone gem for her birthday call...happy 25th gem and i've got to make my own way to the airport...lets hope i get there!! Ha, ha!! Right then my little cherubs, i'll emailling you all again from AUSTRALIA!! Where fingers crossed within the next few weeks i'll be able to tell you all my exact plans with regard work and eta home! Lets hope melbourne works out if not i'll be home on 29th april! Love and hugs....a sad helen xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx p.s this country is sweet!!!!

Hi Helena, Your message has just made me laugh. I cant believe your waterproofs are not waterproof (ha ha). You will be glad to hear that Evelyn is fine, she still feels a bit dizzy at times and has a headache but is slowly getting better. I have spoken with Julie and told her that is not the way to try and kill your sister (ha ha). I am fine. I am stuck in London today and C is not talking to me, great. All I want to do is go home, get changed and go out and get very very drunk. I am trying to talk big boss man into letting me catch the train back home. They want me to stay in London as our client is down and they are going out tonight etc. I need the girls today and alcohol as I am anti-men today. I am trying to butter my boss up with tea and biscuits. Anyway, better get back to work. Speak to you soon. Love Holly xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hello you, well I haven't been upto anything as exciting as everyone else to be honest - totally boring I'm afraid. Had to take a little trip to A&E yesterday after Julie's car door and my head had words. Better get back to work love ya and miss ya loads xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hello! Cor, blimey, thanks for those updates ladies you wrote an essay each! Sweet! (a kiwi term!) I'm good, went to Cape Reinga yesterday which is the northern most tip of Nz and guess wot it only blooody rainned allday! Yes i thought i was visiting lands end in cornwall at one point because of the weather. I was drenched and i didnt even pack a spare pair of clothes...wot a plonker! And my waterproof is not waterproof! God dam it! Anyway it was a fun day out, we drove up 90 mile beach and some of us did some sand boarding i opted not to as people were coming back with loads of injuries and then we walked to cape reinga and the lighthouse. The pictures are very funny! Clare who i mewt earlier on in the south island was on the same trip and so we had a good catch up and a good laugh and the worlds most annoying americans we have ever met who we were stuck on a bus with for 9-10 hours. Oh, my god wot a bunch of t*** !! Anyway the weather today has been sunny and overcoast so i have been doing.......well, um nothing! Ha, ha!!! May do a boat cruise tomoz around the bay of islands so hopefully the weather improves. Anyhoo, hope your all ok? Love and missing you all heaps! Love Helen xxxxxxxx

Hey Hunny. Just been catching up on all your and others latest gossip. Like Holly I am very impressed with the amount of walking you've been doing - you're going to have calfs and buns of steel when you return as well as some colour - check you out! I meet the newest edition to the ever growing Kent family on Saturday - my cousin Neils baby Kayleigh - she is so adorable, made me feel very broody, can't wait for Nic and Tammy to drop. Got a meet The Fockers situation at the end of the month - Scouse's parents are coming down for a couple of days to meet my folks - oh the joys. I'll be sure to let you know how great or disasterous it is!! Scouse got his rules and regulations of the Senior Rates Mess yesterday - it mentions on there about all the balls and that, that he has to attend, which of course I can go to also - can you imagine it - me in a sophisicated long evening gown - NEGATIVE! Although they do actually sound like good fun and I'm sure I could adjust the length of the dress slightly or my bridesmaid dress might actually get some use!! Not really got a lot more to tell you as I mailed you the weekend shinanagans yesterday! When are we going to get some updated photos? I love looking at them, you've become a right little poser. Anyway, hope you enjoy the remainder of your time in NZ - I'm sure you'll make the most of every minute you have left there and have a safe trip back to Oz. Keep taking care of yourself. Miss and love ya loads, Me.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx