Great camel blog, Liz - standard just gets even better. With the miracle of train wifi I'm on the East Coast line somewhere near Dunbar (hardly Jaisalmer, I grant you), trying to suppress my chuckles in case the folks at this table wonder what's the matter with me!

Much love, Dad xx

Hi Liz,

I know I can email but thought would post on here anyway as agree with your folks that the camel blog is brilliant!!

Anyway, reason for post is entirely self motivated...if all goes well (prompt pointless crossing of fingers from now on please) then I will be a flat owner in the New Year...and it's got stairs in it!! Offer was accepted on Saturday. I'm really really pleased, it's the one I wanted and didn't think the seller was desperate enough to drop to the price I was prepared to pay! This means you have to come back, no staying in India please, you have to come and stay, it's the law!

Hope you're having a wonderful time - in case you didn't know, it's pretty much winter and we're in the world's worst recession (according to the papers if not the technicals)...they obviously didn't live in Sheffield in the 80s, not that I really remember it of course...but the shopping was rubbish as a teenager! Admittedly no great encouragement for you to come back but it gives people another topic of conversation than "I'm a celebrity get me out of here". Although...John Sargent leaving Strictly Come Dancing did make the lunchtime news today and prompted more discussion at work than the dropping FTSE, I think we've found a good balance!! :-)

Lots of love,

Helen

I'm feeling restricted. (Nothing to do with work, up before dawn to face Sheffield traffic etc). But only being able to rate the latest blog from one to five stars. The camels..definitely a 10.

Love Mum xxxxx

Hi Liz,

Thanks for the birthday wishes! I thought of you on Friday as I went to the Gurdwara for lunch and had my first proper cup of Chai. I thought I was making it "dead authentic like" from the tea bags you gave me but this was something else! I can now fully appreciate your love of it.

I was telling Thomas about your camel fair today and he said that camels are his best friends too, so you're not alone in your love apparently!

Went to London last night for drinks with some of my old workmates which was good fun. Not much else to report, same old...I'm enjoying your tales. Where are you off to next? You seem to have covered miles on the map!

Lots of love Vicky xx

Hi Liz, We've already sent a message, but we're not sure it left! Anyway, we think your blog is terrific. We love you very much and are keeping you in our thoughts. Gran had good news about her hip operation. Latest X Ray shows it has healed well. Lots of love. Gran and Grandad. XXXX

Hi Lizzy

Bonfire night! But it passed me by in a haze of jet lag! As ever your blog is terrific and I feel I can really see what you see - some of it anyway.

The excitement of the Obama victory is still with us, and there's another (smaller) victory today, that might not have made it onto the front page of the Delhi Times....Labour won a by-election last night in Scotland, by a fairly good margin. So financial chaos and looming recession has worked its magic for Gordon. Go figure, as they say in Philly.

Lots of love

Mum xxxx

Hi Liz,

Happy Diwali (for yesterday). Had a Diwali week at school last few days before half term, and was thinking of you! Also I managed to have a weekend away in Sheffield recently (on my own) and remembered when I was last there I stayed with you. You're in my thoughts all the time see!

Anyway great to see the photos of your latest places. It helps me to imagine you there when I can see you in the pictures. I particularly like your mountain ones (so what happened to Mauro, I feel like I know him too now!).

Been freezing here today and I've spent the day on a farm with my two-it was half term hell!

Speak soon

Love Vicky xxx

A message for my Aunt, Margaret!

Not sure if you read this, but wanted to wish you a Happy 60th Birthday! I hope you are having a lovely day. With lots of love, Elizabeth XXX

Well, now you have really spooked me. Spiders so big, so monsterous that Liz Doel is frightened of them? In the room? Good grief. Maybe Iceland would be a nice place for a holiday after all.

Love Mumxxx

Ok - I seem to suffer from a serious case of dizziness when it comes to my email address, which I have written out wrong AGAIN (see below).

It is [email protected] - so if you want to send photos etc, use that address as they dont get through to me on this site! :)

Hey folks

Just wanted to say again how WONDERFUL it is to hear from you all! Clare and Helen - lovely to think of you together in Norwich - hope you had a good time. Clare, ever the entrepreneur - perhaps if we stick some of your razor sharp witticisms in there too, your publishing venture might have half a chance eh? Helen, please send me latest photos of the lovely Tom! (lidoel@yahoo.co.uk)

Luke and Monika - thanks for all your comments - actually I have thought a lot about some of the conversations we had - think it was you Luke, who first hammered home to me the significance of education - its incredible (and if misused, frightening) power to shape people.

Gran and Grandad - am so chuffed you are blogging too! Thanks so much for your support (as ever) and kind words. I hope you are both doing okay - brilliant that you are driving again Gran - it gives such independence eh? Sending bug hugs.

And Ames - so glad you're on here too!! Hope these final weeks go smoothly for you - looking forward already to the photos of the latest addition to the Duck family! Thinking of you hon.

Sending love and hugs to you all XXX

Hi Lovely Lissie, Just wanted to let you know I have fathomed how to read your blog! I'm not sure what the problem was before but you know me... You write amasingly, its so lovely to hear your tales, it's like listening to you speak. The photos are fabulous too, I couldn't pick a favourite! I will be a very regular blog follower now and I'll email you again soon. I love you loads, amy x x x x