Dear Kate

Been on hols on boat for two weeks. Rained for first one but lovely and sunny second week.

Saw your dad on Sat and he bravely handed over his car for me to drive me, Helen, Alison and boyfriend Neil back to Warrington. Got back in one piece and he has I hope been enjoying himself bringing boat back up through Shropshire to the Bridgewater.

Keep well

love Aunty Jean

I'm getting as bad as you with my You ---your ---- you're. Reminds me of hear here ear!!!! I should never have started texting!!!

You're recent photos are great. Not sure but I don't think your new camera takes as good a photo as your old one?? Summer has arrived here well at least for a couple of days!

Do you really have to bungy jump??Wouldn't it make more sense and save your money to spend in California at some fab veggie restaurants!!!!!!

Lots of love. Mumxxxx

The south island is so amasing. I'd like to appologise for the lack of photos but everytime we stay at a campsite and they have internet they box the terminal in so we can't plug in the camera. Finally found an internet cafe so now uploading all the pics.

Its really nice to hear from everyone.

Dad swimming is on the to do list as well as find some penguins and bungy jumping.

We're really excited because we're going skiing tomorrow! Wohoo! getting 2 beginner lessons and then going on the slopes.

Dad there might be a lack of phone contact as we're heading into the Wild South there isn't much signal about.

Great hearing from everyone.

Laura

P.S Its bloody freezing!

Hi Girls

So NZ is boringly awesome. What a drag. I'd get out of there as soon as poss if I were you.

Laura - nothing has changed much here. Grandma is going with Anne, Chris and Sam for a week in Cyprus this weekend. Your mum, Oliver and I are going to drop in to see Michael and Janette in their gite in Brittany over the August bank holiday. I suppose Oliver and I will be forced to play golf with Michael. What a shame. Still it is not as boring as wandering over mountain passes and glaciers. Have you swum in the sea off South Island yet?

Our pc at home is still down but we can still get access to Happy flip-flops through the laptop. So keep the pictures and blogs coming.

Lots of love to you both

Neil

Hi Laura,

We have been following your great adventures, hope you are well, keep safe.

Mandy and Mike

Hi Kate & Laura

NZ sounds great and the sky diving sounds amazing. Glad you told mum after the event rather than before! In half the photos Kate appears to be smiling but in the other half she looks plain terrified! On the other hand Lara looks as cool as cucumbers....

W'ever got Hannah here in your room Kate at the moment and we are using both my study and the little bedrooms as well as I'm decorating mum & I's bedroom glorious yellow. Don't know when it will eventually get finished as we are waiting for the paper to be delivered.!

Hope the driving's going well. Keep safe

Lots of love and from mum and Hannah

Dadxxxxx

Hi Laura,

Your sky diving pics are amazing, the guy with you looks like biggles in a few photos!! didn,t your mama tell you about being picked up by strange women lol, she got the best deal by the sound of it, you washing her dishes!!

Lots of love

Aunty Alice

Hi everyone!

We have just crossed over to the South Island today, have only seen it for an hour but it's really beautiful.

Thanks for all the messages, it's really good to hear from home.

We have had a mad first week in NZ, time seems to have flown by with all the driving. Our first proper road trip! Before this the furthest I (kate) have driven is to Bluewater...

Skydiving was awesome, as they constantly say here, and as soon as we got down we wanted to go again but kind of borke the bank doing it once so reckon we won't be doing it again although we do want to go horse treking we are cutting back at the moment and sleeping in our van in the freezing cold and eating lots of cheese sandwiches and veggie sausages.

Yeah it's feezing but we do have 3 duvets and a heater and lots of fleeces so we're alright.

We are heading towards Nelson, then down the West Coast. After NZ it's Rarotonga and Atui, the Cook islands where it will be white sandy beaches and nice and warm!

Thanks for the gossip and latest Spa stories keeping us sane!

Lots of love

Kate and Laura x

Hi Kate and Laura

Your skydiving photos are amazing - you are both very brave. Glad I didn't know about this beforehand! Hope the weather is being kind to you / that you've got warm enough clothes. You're certainly not missing anything in this so called summer we are having.

Take care, and lots of love xxx

Hi Kate

Just checked out your pictures, it looks like you and Laura are having an adventure!

I could never imagine jumping out of a plane so, congratulations!! Where is your next stop going to be?!

Nothing much to report back in wet and windy England, lets hope you bring back the sun!

Just seen your skydiving photos. Well done to the both of you. Kate looks as though she has frost on her chin! Were those smiles or grimaces on you faces?