Auntie Bernie Hi Lorraine, just been reading your Brisbane blog and looks like your having some crack with the two lads and been spoiled by Mike. I am just back from holidays Spain and got a lovely surprise to see the two kittens nearly all grown up after Mammy's good feeding. Your aunties met up tonight and auntie S modelled her outfit for the big occasion at Xmas. She's going to steal the show. With all the action in this house I haven't been as attentive to your blog as I would like but with the long evenings setting in this should change. I think its Monday morning now so need to get to sleep before the c*** crows. Night, night and keep up the fun and games. Regards to Shane and Michael. Auntie Bernie x

Margaret McD Hi Lorraine, You must feel very well rested by now. Very busy at work hence my absence from the blog. A quiet weekend as Claire and dave are gone to a wedding in Tipp-you know the baldy guy who was daves groomsman ? It's his wedding today and thet are not due back till Sunday afternoon. Jenny flew to San Diego today for two weeks to have a chat with Barry !!!! Costly chat ! Stuart is also at a wedding today so I am home alone and quite happy to be. I thinkI am getting a bit like Nana in my old age. no more news as I am literally going from the house to the car to work to the car to the house and so on. Not complaining though as I have no desire to retire. Talk soon Mgt

lorglynn Hey everyone, great to read all yer news! Going to have to separate the south America blogs from the oz blogs for the purpose of printing the blogs. So, to read the oz blogs, go to www.offexploring.com/lorglynnoz Should be easy to remember! These blogs arent that eventful or anything yet, but its handy to keep track or what I'm at!

Mam & Dad Reading three blogs together this morning and really enjoyed Zebedee! We are getting on fine in Roganstown. Dad golfing yesterday and I went to the shops. Went to the leisure centre in the evening. Nice and quiet. Going for a drive to Howth and surroundings today and Dad has a golf date with Jenny at six so I will be in the jacuzzi again. Might go to the zoo tomorrow if weather permitting. We'll see.

Margaret McD Hi Lorraine, There is definitely no need for us to be worrying about you with all the attention that's being lavished upon you !!!Hope the throat is ok. Back at work and very very busy for the first few days. Just when I was getting ahead of myself I was informed I am having a VSSU audit on the 1st of October on 2011/2012 year. Lots of late nights to come making sure everything is checked and in order. It's a part of the job that I hate. Give me a gang of unruly teenagers any day and I can manage them but this stuff drives me mad. Jenny came home on Friday night as she had planned to come for the golf with your dad yesterday morning which of course didn't happen. Herself and Aiden played anyway. She hopes she might get to olay 9 holes with your dad on Tuesday evening after work as she works in Swords. Claire was at a ball in the Fairways last night. Her place of work was celebrating a 25th anniversary. Can't imagine what she looks like or feels like this morning !! Hope Galway deliver today ! Talk soon

MARY C Sorry, Lorraine! I ran out of space in the last message. I have no further news anyway, I think. Pat Hosty had a hip done last Thursday, so we'll have to link up with him during the week. Apparently, he was in real pain for a few weeks before he had it done. Nana's anniversary Mass is next Thursday eve, so I'm sure we'll be all meeting and no doubt, you and your travels will be discussed. Talk to you soon again

MARY C Hi Lorraine! Sunday morning here at 11.50am and I am just having the coffee. Spoke to Mam earlier to see if she had hit the road for the hols but she was putting final touches to the bag! No doubt, she is on route by now! I hope they have a mighty time. I don't know who will turn up today to watch the match so I have the leg of lamb in to feed the masses! A big match here means I will be catering! Its raining here at the moment so hopefully, it won't hit Croke Park until after the game. Are n't you the spoilt lady having the boys looking after you- it sounds like you are having a great time and you deserve it after all the trucking in those rugged places you visited. Tom and I went to the Roisin Dubh on Friday night. Enda Scahill together with 2 of his former students-Howley's from Ardrahan- were launching a new album: 'We Banjo Three' they are called and Fergal has now joined them. It was a mighty night - plenty of modern/bluegrassy Trad- and a big crowd from Corofin. Cepta Byrne was also there and Enda thanked her for the music she taught him and also thanked his very first music teacher who started him out in music with the tin whistle- Teresa Conway!. We were in their company together with Marie Scahill and another crowd of Golden Oldies. I know you would have really enjoyed it if you were there!. Eimhin has an oral irish exam on the 13th. October so he is gone to Dingle with one of his male friends , who is a real gaelgoir to immerse himself in the language for the w/end: at least, that's what he told me! Muireann is flat out getting ready for the WSE- bags and boxes arriving in the post: I don't know where she is going to put it all!.

Margaret McD Isn't it amazing how life has changed for us ladies? Imagine having different lads to cook your meals since you arrived ! That's what I call real progress. You must be really enjoying all the leisure time because no matter how exciting trave is, it's no blooming joke carrying a rucksack around with you. Enjoy it while it lasts. Talk soon

Mam You are well away with the boys minding you. Its great that you can have a relaxing week after all the travelling. Everyone here getting excited about the hurling on Sunday. Wouldn't it be just brill if they could manage it. I suppose the focus there will be on the lads game first. Wish them luck from us!

Mam Hope you had the good sleep. Brisbane sounds like a nice spot. It will be grand to take it easy for a week or two. The aunties and Eileen were here tonight cos Mary wasn't at home on Sunday. They were all in good form and we had a good laugh. The time difference is awkward for skype. Hopefully when I,m off tomorrow we will manage it. I,m off to bed now. Nite.

Margaret McD Great to know that you finally have someone to talk to !! Enjoy taking it easy for the next while now !!

Margaret McD When you start singing/talking/laughing to yourself perhaps it really is time to move on and link up with some folks from home so the timing is all good !! It will be great to be able to have a conversation with english speaking people for a change. You should feel very proud of yourself- I would never have been brave enough to do something like that on my own. You have certainly widened your horizons and I bet you already feel much more confident travelling. Have a great time with the lads and keep in touch please !

Mam & Dad Well done Lady! You are some tulip to conquer that trip on you own. Great courage. Looking at the map there is a lot more of South America to see. So if we win that lotto we could all go! We are delighted that all your pick-ups, hostels, tours and flights worked out for you. All the hours of homework for the trip was well worth it. Maybe you got that from your mother. I like to research a trip in case I'd miss anything except my trips are three days in Donegal or Dublin or somewhere a lot less exciting than that big adventure you had. Safe travelling! Give Shane and Mike a big hug from us. They won,t want it but tell them they have to take it! Australia get ready she's on theway!

lorglynn Sounds awfully sad Margaret. Hope that family get through somehow. Best of luck with going back to school!

Margaret McD Undoubtedly Lorraine you will be fit for Carrantouhill on your return. You should really consider mountain climbing if you ever come back to us. Shell called on her way home from school yesterday. God love her she is wrecked but sayus she will be fine once she gets the routine going. I was supposed to be back today but had to go to a funeral in Co. Monaghan instead. The wife of the co-ordinator in Monaghan died on Wednesday morning while her 11 year old daughter was with her-very very sad. Life really sucks sometimes. The temperature has really dropped in the past few days which really suits me-I hate the heat.!! People think I am such a weirdo when I say things like that. No more news for now. Enjoy your last few days travelling alone. Chat soon again