Well hello everyone. Only 2 more sleeps!! Just wanted to say Hello and see if the blog is coming through with pictures (we weren't able to upload any last time). So if you get this message and you can read it all, or maybe more importantly if you can't read it all, please let me know.

I've added some email addresses to our contacts so they will get updates whenever we post a new blog but if you want to check out our page at any time go to http://blogs.statravel.co.uk/jean-and-sam-down-under-2016/blog If you know of someone who would like updates, please add their email address and you can also unsubscribe if you want to

We are getting excited now as we're almost ready for our trip. We will try to keep you up to date on our travels starting when we arrive in Sydney on 8th Jan. We've got lots to look forward to including climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge at twilight, a trip to the blue mountains, a posh meal Sam booked for a surprise, then after a week in Sydney we are hiring a car and doing the great ocean road trip to Melbourne.

Then its off to NZ in time for my gorgeous grandson, Louis's birthday on 26th Jan. Then we'll head off to Christchurch and after a couple of days there, pick up the Brits Outbounder camper, our home for 4 weeks while touring South Island and looking forward to our winery tour (thanks Mike & Gill). Then back to Mike and Gills in Papamoa in time for their birthdays in March. It'll be great to see the family again and so special to be with them to celebrate their birthdays.

We hope you will all keep in touch and let us know all the news from back home too. You can also send us messages (which will only be seen by us) or comments for all to see. So we look forward to hearing from you xx xx

Jean & Sam xx