Thought you might like to know....... about 10 inches of snow and the school is closed!!!

Hi Tinkers,

Reely chuffed the adventure is going great, places n people look and sound tip top. Bikes; bloody told you so!

Lotsa messages from me? yous've 'bout had yer 2009 quota with 3, don't think i'm getting all soft like.

The wall did look grand - BUT - where's the river report ? Seemed a good gravel bed and flow in a climate zone that could support salmonoids - please include trout reports in future blogs.

Did not make it to see Gary/Dave/Mark as work has been truly beastly this week and I gotta get a grip this weekend or look more of an arse on monday - teaching is the real front line; how i long for a day back at the coal-face or a day trip to Basra.

Am actively researching the Mandarin for "Are there any native salmonoids in this river?" and will brief on your mission when de-cyphered.

All's well here, enjoy yerselves

love dad

All sounds very exciting. No sitting on beaches yet??? Love you both and looking forward to July xxxx

Hi Guys

Went to the Terracotta's yesterday but thats a whole "nother' blog story!

Lynne- I am indeed a super athlete I just didn't want to put the American's to shame!

Off to Chengdu on Monday- will give your love to the baby pandas. Flying this time as the Chinese lady at the train station so lovingly said: "no tickets... no tickets.....no tickets'

Love you all xx (except Bungle)

Well that was a graphic description! Only feeling slightly ill after eating - thanks. I can't wait to find out how good the 49 is?!

Hi guys! good to see your safe & enjoying yourselfs, thanks for the pictures, please keep them coming! where to next on your travels?

Hi guys, loved reading the blog; much better than wading through work emails. Can you get me a number 49 whilst you're out there (and some prawn crackers for Tor)?

I will leave you now, appropriately, with the lyrics to T'pau's 1987 hit 'China in Your Hand'. Incidentally, I copied and pasted the lyrics from a website, which felt the need to have the word 'fantasy' as a link to some sort of or erotic website. I have taken the trouble to get rid of this...but please let me know if you would like me to put it back in.

Keep having fun! x

It was a theme she had
On a scheme he had
Told in a foreign land

To take life on earth
To the second birth
And the man was in command

It was a flight on the wings
Of a young girls dreams
That flew too far away

Don't push too far
Your dreams are china in your hand
Don't wish too hard
Because they may come true
And you can't help them
You don't know what you might
Have set upon yourself

China in your hand

Come from greed
Never born of the seed
Took life from a barren land
Oh eyes wide
Like a child in the form of man
A prophecy for a fantasy The curse of a vivid mind

Don't push too far
Your dreams are china in your hand
Don't wish too hard
Because they may come true
And you can't help them
You don't know what you might
Have set upon yourself

Just had a look to see what you are up to - Katie - surely with all your netball activity you shouldn't have found the Wall that hard - we are after all super athletes! All sounds very exciting. We haven't played a game yet this year - all called off because of weather. At this rate you'll be back before we play again. Will dip into your travels again soon. Enjoy! Lynne

hi you 2, nice to hear from you.glad your both well and having a great time. iam fine and start work next week. take care and look after each other. lots of love mum x x x x

What fantastic pictures...Wall looks amazing and exhausting! Loving the "keeping warm" look!xx3

Hey guys. Sounds like you are having an ace time so far. Glad the Great Wall wasn't a let down. Also, isn't life more fun without the British Health and Safety laws!

Hi Guys

Thank you for the messages. They make us chuckle. Glad everyone is well. Got a text from Gerren- thats exciting news. Hope Lawrence wasn't as ugly as Gerren was when he was born!

Arrived in Xi'an about an hour ago. VERY long train journey but hostel is amazing! Will blog soon.

Lots of love xx