Hi,and goodbye to everyone at least for now !

Just a small thank you to you all for keeping Kate going while she's been away and also for letting me in on your messages, they have been a tremendous comfort to me when I've been feeling low. I really will miss logging on every day but I hope to see you all soon at Kate's get together very soon, Jane.

Thanks Vic for the message, glad everything's going smoothly. I'm on a computer in Singapore Airport where they offer free internet access...how cool is that?? We're at the departure gate now and we take off in 45 minutes. Am feeling very odd about it all now. Can't believe it's been 7 months and the trip of a lifetime is over, but am also very excited to get back into a routine and tell everyone all about all the stuff I've seen and done!

Guess I'll be in touch when I'm home! Thanks everyone for keeping in touch so well on this messageboard and with all the emails - they've definitely been a saving grace at times, when I've been feeling a bit homesick! Can we keep it going when I'm home?!

Speak to you all soon. xxxx

Hi Kate, you must be soooo excited now that it's your last week! Your hotel in Singapore looks absolutely amazing. You definitely deserve a treat after showering over a toilet!! What's all that about?! How awful. Hope you managed to get into the Petronas Towers and that your bargain train journey to Singapore is nice and relaxing.

All last minute wedding plans are going well. I've got my final dress fitting this saturday so that's exciting! Oh yes and you're invited to Mum and Dad's post-wedding party on Sunday 15 April at their house! Would be lovely if you can make it.

Anyway take care, enjoy the sun bathing and have a safe journey HOME! See you soon. Love, Vee xxx

That's my red mac, Jools, not yours!! Thanks mum...

Killing time in KL now before getting on the Singapore train. We've gone for a Premier Deluxe sleeper cabin...which reputedly has its own bathroom, bunk bed, TV, hairdryer and packed lunch included - all for the bargain price of 19 pound! And they get you to Singapore too! If you want to see the hotel we've booked for Singapore, go to http://www.changivillage.com.sg/

How nice does it look?? Seriously, the place we've stayed in for the last couple of nights had 1 shower (and that was over a toilet - how they come up with these plumbing creations I shall never know!) and what looked like some sort of homeless hostel next door - which may or may not have provided more upmarket accommodation than ours! So, we thought we deserved a treat...

We are at the Petronas Towers at the moment to see if we can be sneaked in after hours as we arrived after all the day's tickets had been sold, so the little man on the desk told us to come back at 6.15...we shall see. There's an amazing shopping centre here (although I've just checked my bank balance and can safely say I won't be buying anything ever again!) and mum, you will be glad to hear that they have an M&S and a Topshop.

Anyway, I'd better go. I don't know if I'll be able to drag myself away from the sunbathing long enough to put on any messages on here for the next couple of days, but keep 'em coming. I have no plans other than the wedding weekend (that I'm aware of) and I'm eager to see you all asap!

Lots of love xxx

2+3= good job I'm a maths genius!

No one is more excited than me!! Really counting the days now, fancy there being Toni and Guy in Kuala Lumpur. Forgot to say when you rang on Sunday that your large parcel has arrived safely.

Keep the dates coming everyone I'm thinking maybe mid May or early June, but heaven knows what Kate has in mind. At the moment it's difficult to look further than Saturday. Hopefully I have managed to keep her mobile going while she's been away so she should be able to contact everyone. I'm looking forward to seeing you all soon, I feel that I have got to know you all better and I'm really going to miss this Message Board. Stay very safe, loads of love as always, Mum.

PS. Why am I adding 4+1 so much more difficult than your sum Jools, also I have found your red mac so no worries.

Kuala Lumpur is lovely - we've only been here briefly, but I managed to visit Toni and Guy and have the highlights sorted (you'll all be pleased to hear!) Have just booked a lovely hotel for Singapore where we go tomorrow on the overnight train, as the place we're staying here is a sh*t hole!

Not long at all now till we're home - can't believe it! Thanks for your messages Jams and Jools...looking forward to catching up with you both properly xxx

Hello my lovely!

I can't believe you're home at the weekend - it's gone so quickly! I can't wait to see you on 14th :-)

Sorry to hear the snorkelling wasn't up to scratch - jellyfish are evil so stay well away.

I really hope you enjoy Kuala Lumpur and have a very safe journey home. Please don't worry about what you're going to do when you're back - as I said, I know something will turn up for you.

As for a meet up, that would be great. We can't do the weekends of 7th, 14th and 28th April at the moment.

Love you lots,

Jools xx

PS Why do I need to add 2+1?!

Hi Kate

The snowboards have turned up safely after their small delay.

Went to see Faithless at the MEN arena on Friday, very strange gig. Lots of 40 year old ravers which was strange not what I expected. The music was excellent but stupidly loud so that is vibrated your chest cavity!

At the moment cannot do the Easter weekend and 19th of May. Apart from that I'm free.

Hope you are making the most the most of your last week.

James

Ok, so we are on Koh Phi Phi for a couple of hours as part of our snorkelling day trip. It was really badly hit by the tsunami, but seems to be making a pretty healthy recovery - it is really touristy!! The snorkelling has been a bit rubbish really, there are loads and loads of jellyfish...which terrify me, and I feel like I am being stung the whole time by something, whether it is the jellyfish I cannot tell, but it is not very nice! I am not able to use abbreviations as some Scandanavian has been using this computer and so the apostrophe comes out as ä or Ä. Rubbish.

So yes, this time in a week I shall be like a bottle of pop as we will be getting on a plane to Dubai at 10 in the evening, followed by a plane to London 15 hours later...and getting to London 8 hours after that. Hurray! It would be so lovely if we could organise for you all to come to Newport for a bit of a bash...the full slideshow etc etc!!!

Start suggesting dates...the only one I know I cannot do - and of course Ben and Jools cannot do - is April 14th. Suggestions appreciated!

Missing you all - but not for much longer!! xxx

Hi love,

Glad to hear your tummy has settled down, have sent you an E mail that hopefully will allay your work fears (hopefully).

Anyway if we are going to get together when you get back we need some availability dates from everyone so start thinking everyone.

Thanks for the message Claire and congratulations but I don't think my ECDL is going to be life changing unlike yours.

Only 8 days to go now, hurrah hurrah!!! See what you mean about the arithmetic Claire,

Stay safe, love Mum.

We're on Koh Lanta, which is very lovely and the sun continues to shine. I am over my severe case of Delhi Belly thankfully (touch wood!) We are going to try to book a day trip to the beach where 'The Beach' was filmed, as goodness knows when I will ever get to snorkel again, and the fish and coral are meant to be amazing.

You will all be pleased to hear that the panic has set in about coming home and living on the bread line...lay in bed last night wondering what I do from here, but I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it!!

We go to Kuala Lumpur on Saturday for a few nights before heading to Singapore - our last stop! How crazy is that?? Can't believe 7 months has gone so quickly/slowly (can't decide!)

Clairey - lovely to hear from you sweets...glad to hear that the exams are all over and done with - maybe you can help me with my insolvency issues - is that how it works??

Jams - I hope the boards have found their way home!!

Anyway, better go. Lots of love to you all. 10 days!! xxx

We're on Koh Lanta, which is very lovely and the sun continues to shine. I am over my severe case of Delhi Belly thankfully (touch wood!) We are going to try to book a day trip to the beach where 'The Beach' was filmed, as goodness knows when I will ever get to snorkel again, and the fish and coral are meant to be amazing.

You will all be pleased to hear that the panic has set in about coming home and living on the bread line...lay in bed last night wondering what I do from here, but I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it!!

We go to Kuala Lumpur on Saturday for a few nights before heading to Singapore - our last stop! How crazy is that?? Can't believe 7 months has gone so quickly/slowly (can't decide!)

Clairey - lovely to hear from you sweets...glad to hear that the exams are all over and done with - maybe you can help me with my insolvency issues - is that how it works??

Jams - I hope the boards have found their way home!!

Anyway, better go. Lots of love to you all. 10 days!! xxx