Hi Kate & Laura,

You must be sad that you have to come home but we will be very happy to see you again tommorrow at Heathrow.

Glad that you have enjoyed your time in San Frncaisco and San Diego.

Lots of love.

Dad xxxxxxxxx

So Kate's text telling me you had arrived in LA safely and were getting a taxi to the hostel omitted to mention you didn't have the address....well I was reassured at the time! Look forward to hearing about San Fransisco.

Kate- dad is pretty keen to get you a Dell, and thinks it will be about the same price for a 2GB. If you buy one in the US and something goes wrong, you'd have to send it back there wouldn't you? Also, would you be able to fit one into your one piece of hand luggage?

Helen is in Kenya, for 3 weeks, it's a project organsied by the Uni, helping in an orphanage where children have lost their parents though aids- I think- A. Jean can correct this if wrong.

Lots of love to you both

Mum / Lynda xxx

Graham and Carin do not have your flight details for Sunday. We don't have the information --- please contact them. Hope you're enjoying San Francisco. Dad has emailed Graham some laptop specifications so you can do some comparisons.

Have fun in San Diego, I'm sure ryou will --- don't fall asleep in the hot tub..... Lots of love to you both. xxx

Hello people, we know we're coming home soon but please keep up the messages especially ones soaked in sarcasm and the British sense of humour just to give us a breath of fresh air from the Americans.

Thanks alot

Laura and Kate

In LA. spent the day walking down sunset blvd and Hollywood Blvd looking for a super market. Everything is so spread out it took us about 2 hrs to walk to one.

Kate bought a camera when we were in Christchurch so we have a camera, that is until it decides to breakdown!

All the best

Laura and Kate

Hi girls, hope you are not too hung over as you travel to LA to-day (well to-day here, yesterday still for you), and hope you are looking forward to your 2 weeks detox. Laura- thanks for that up-date on how Kate lost the jacket- cardigan as well, I now hear.......

Amazingly the sun returned to the UK yesterday and it's still here to-day so it's all very exciting- the gloomy weather forecasters are however saying this is the last weekend of summer- let's hope they are wrong.

Good to read the new blogs and see the photos- I'm now confused- do you have any sort of working camera between you now??

Enjoy California, keep safe, lots of love to you both from John / dad and I,

Mumxxxxx

Hello everyone sorry bout our relasp in communications. Atiu is about 50yrs behind the rest of the world in the sense of communications. There was this really funny sign at the airport in Atiu that said "Any fire arms, AK40's, hand granades, Bazookas, shotguns, semi-automatic pistols please could you give to pilot to store during flight." I kid you not! Now we're back on Rarotonga we're making the most of the internet mainly because its bucketing down outside!

The pics may take some time to be fully on the website because the photoloading software is very touchy and its driving me mad!

Thanks for all the messages and read the blogs that I've made Kate write and they are very well written indeed. Except she mentions the fact that I got very drunk in Te Anu this is true, but when I wrote the Auckland blogs I descreetly missed out the fact that kate got really really drunk, and lost a few of her personal belongings like her jacket and cardigan which she loves.

Oliver well done on your GCSE results I know you probably won't look at this website but I'd thougth I'd embarrass you anyway they were really good, you clever boy you.

Kinda not looking forward to leaving the cook Islands have so enjoyed our stay here that the hustle and bustle of LA seems daunting.

By the way we've got people on the next series of Shipwrecked (teenager will know what the programmes about) staying with us and Kates so excited even more so than when she met Legalos' horse! It's a secret so don't tell anyone!.

Love to you all

Lauraxxx

Sounds like you're having a marvellous time and packing in loads of new activities and experiences. Can't say 'wish I were with you' hearing about your sky diving, bungy jumping and travelling across rope bridges - but well done!!

I have actually started driving - Robert sat with me once, and only once!! But need a car as we are on the move, completion date set for 28th August.

Lovely to hear your news and view your pictures (but have you ever heard of health & safety)

Keep safe, lots of love.

Several people have asked if we've heard from the girls so I thought the easiest thing was to post a note here to let people know what is happening. We've not heard from the girls for the last week or so. They are currently on the Island of Atui in the Pacific - part of the Cook Islands. They initially flew from New Zealand to Raratonga, the main Cook Island but have subsequently flown on! Communictiaon is difficult and when it is available it is very expensive. They are due to leave Raratonga this weekend, I think on Saturday, and head for California. They may find time to let us know what's happening once they hit the USA there again they may have better thingds to do!!!

Hi girls. Good to hear you've arrived safely in Rarotonga. Fully understand communication is difficult but keep us posted as and when. Enjoy your island hopping. This is your last chance of full relaxation before you hit the USA so really chill -- not that you need much persuasion to chill! Looks as if you're going to have a hectic schedule in California. Don't leave it to the last minute to get in touch with Graham and Carin !!! Lots of love Mumxx

Good to hear you have successfully completed your road trip round NZ, safe and sound after trying so many new sports and experiences (not sure if sky diving and bunjy jumping are sports?), and hope your journey to Cook Islands goes smoothly.

I imagine you are ready for a bit of chill out time now, so enjoy. Amazingly the weather here has stayed sunny for now, so dad and uncle Frank are having a good time on the boat- been up days and days of locks from what I gather. Dad is home tomorrow, and sends his love to you both, as do I. Keep safe. Mum xxxxx

So pleased to hear that you've survived your tandem bungy jump!!!!

Summer has arrived in UK at last or at least in the South East so making the most of it.

Hope you have a good flight to Raratonga tomorrow at least you will get a little sun unless it's still raining! Hopefully when you're at the airport you will be able access some communications.

Much love Mumxx