Hi Kate

You lucky person I wish I could have 5 months off prefereably a year? There is so much to see and you have done loads all my life I have wanted to see as much as I can and now you youngsters have that chance and hood on you. I have booked the motor home for New Zealand next March went to a leaving doo for my old work friend who is emigrating to NZ going tommorow. They are going to live in the Bay Of Islands so if you get a chance go and have a look its supposed to be one of the nicest areas in north Island. Tom spoke to one of his customers a family who took 2 of their kiddies 5 and 8 around the world. They liked Oz, Loved South America did lots and adored the south Island in NZ said it was so beautiful. Well work is mad trying to organise an award day which is drivng me mad so busy have to look at your emails at home dont get any time. Saw Suxy the other week she is much better although her leg does swell wonder what her news is???? Went to see Robbie it was o.k we had fun but wouldnt say it was the best ever but good glad I went going to see Spamalot Saturday really looking forward to that Monty Python play in London been on broadway. In 4 months I will be going on my mini travells doing alot of OZ hope its not too much would like to do more of east coast but would have to cut our Ayres rock Ularu and Darwin and Tom wants to go there so have to compromise.  Take care Hon Mon x

Hi kate
Well it's a wet Sunday morning and sitting here in my pj's at 12 noon lazy days! So no news on NZ yet how is it going it's good that you will be catching up with fuzzy send him a big hello. well i'm painting our lounge next week as i'm now more active though i'm not climbing up any ladders though Andy would have me up there. So only a few weeks left then bloody hell still this summer has gone very slow for me i'm back to work on th 21st Nov with some news coming later can't say what till the 23rd Dec. So enjoy the last bit of your trip and at least snog one bloody guy before you get home you're a disapointment! to the female race

Hey my love!

Sorry its been so long!

Glad 2 see u having a blast!

Work is going really well, i am loving it!

Missing u lots mate!

Marie

hi sweetie,

I hope you arrived safely in Melbourne. I've e-mailed you but just wanted to say take care and have loadsa fun. I got ur e-mail and hope you liked my photos they should've been good they were from a bloody expensive state of the art digital camera!! I'll keep in touch of course,

 Love ya, Kay, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

How is toady??  He used to try and get off with all the backpackers - and succeed by all accounts!  But I think he's settled down now.  The penguins on Philip Island are soooo cute sticking out of the little holes.  You'll love it!

Hurry up and come back now. x

Hi Katie, I am really enjoying following all your adventures.  It reminds me of my brilliant time in Oz.  I really enjoyed Melbourne and have lots of great memories....Sounds as if you have met some lovely people and made some good friends.Keep posting the updates!Take careLoveSharon. 

Hey guess what? We went to Kapiti Island today (my first time in four years - and the last time I went to cover a load of politicians visiting it so didn't get to have a proper look) - it was soooo beautiful!!! I was gutted to leave, I felt such a connection to that magical place.
In other news - I become a Kiwi citizen on the same evening you go to Kapiti Island! In the evening I have to go to a ceremony in Wellington and sing the national anthem etc. Freaky or what! You have to promise not to laugh at me! 

Noella, can't believe you've left me two long messages in just a few days!!!  What's wrong with all the other 40 odd contacts I sent updates out to, out of sight out of mind it seems!!!  I reckon that I've not heard from more than half of them :o(

My route home is pretty good, I'm going to fly to Christchurch (South Island) of New Zealand on the 28th Sept and work my way up to Wellington over the space of a week and stay with my mate Tali who I haven't seen for 5 years!  Can't wait to catch up and meet her man!  Then I've got two weeks to work my way up to Auckland and there I will catch up with Jamie's old mate Simon.  I then fly to Fiji for 8 days, can't wait to have a week on the beach before I face reality and come home :o( I've got a night in Los Angeles and Grace, who I met on my tour in Oz is picking me up from the airport and kindly letting me stay with her for the night.  Unfortunately, I am not stopping in Hawaii now (and I know some of you are saying why the hell not?!), but the truth is I never really wanted to go there anyway and as it turns out, my finances really wouldn't have allowed it.  I'm due back in the UK on the 7th November, so anyone who fancies a few drinks I will be there all day and night!

I've travelled over 3,500km throughout Australia and that's not even half of the place!  Just gives you an idea of how big this country really is. 

I've not really tried many cocktails because being a traveller, I can't afford these luxuries.  The Singapore Slings at Raffles really were to die for, and as I bought a glass I've got the recipe so we can get pissed on them when I get back! I tried another cocktail in the jungle in Thailand called Jungle Juice.  Don't ask me what was in it (everything I should imagine) but it was delicious and bright pink, I took a photo!  You don't need many of these as I proved after having 2 and falling over and cutting my knee, elbow and toe (I still have the scars to prove it).

So I am coming home with a little bit more debt than I thought I'd have (due to the fact that I did another Intrepid tour but believe me, it was well worth it!) but who cares eh?!  After some of the things I've seen and done, money means nowt!  I'll just spend the next few years paying it off, but at least I can say that I've been there and done that!

I think if anyone has some spare cash they should go around the world at least once in their lifetime!  There's so much to see and do out here that it makes me go crazy that people just don't travel!!  I've got a list as long as my arm of all the new places I want to see x x x

Dear Katie

Viewed the updated photos they are great - so jealous, WHEN i win the lottery I think may whisk Colin and I off for a 6 month round the world, its so fab.

I did ask your mum last night which route you were taking back. Colin and your mum made Emily and I a Jamie Oliver special meal last night at Colins it was lush. Your Dad was at the pub having pork scratchings - bless.

Looking forward to seeing all the photos when you are back, you should have a photo gallery night in the pub with cocktails from around all the destinations you have been to.

The neighbours night sounds fun - not that I am a neighbours fan or watcher since Kylie and Jason left (oh dear showing my age now).

Not that you are going to need this but here is a stress relief tip which I heard today and found quite funny:

1. Picture yourself near a stream

2. Birds are chirping in the cool mountain air

3. No one but you knows your secret place

4. You are in total seclusion from the hectic place called "the World"

5. The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with a cascade of serenity

6. The water is crystal clear

7. You can easily make out the face of the person you're holding underwater

8. See! You're smiling already

Love Noella x     

You're right Andrea, haven't had a lot of messages lately, so thanks to you and Noella!

 I reckon I've got around 600 photos at the moment, still loads more to take!  I'm so glad I'm not in Bangkok now, was kinda regretting the other day about not doing my trip the other way around, but I guess now it was a blessing in disguise!

Sunday night I'm going to the 'Neighbours' night!  Steph, Toadie and Stingray are gonna be there, should be a laugh! x x x

Good day Sheila  the pics are super - sorry not been on here for a while, office got flooded and computer got ruint etc...... etc... but I have kept updated on all the updates and postcards and pics which are superb. 

Bet your glad you did'nt start your travels now with all the goings on in Bangkok.

Your hair cut looks super, talking of hair, alot of strange things have been going on recently ... overheard Emily and Marie chatting on the outside tables at the Castle the other night and it went like this: Marie turns to Emily and says "which do you think is further away.... Florida or the moon?" to which Emily turns and says "Helloooooo, can you see Florida????????????" 

Don't know if you heard about Col's new car he had to take it to the garage and the mechanic worked on it for abit and Colin said to the mechanic "What's the story" and the mechancic said "Just crap in the carburetor" and Colin said "How often do I have to do that?" (boy will I be in trouble for puttting that on here)

Actually I am only joking  all the name changes were instead of blonde people as I know you are one of these so as you can actually tell I have zilch news and have today only discovered the little icon things but thought I would write a few lines anyway.

All my love Noella x