It certainly was an epic but what a great read.Must have taken you ages to write it all up - no wonder you had to keep changing authors!!

Its great reading the blogs though and very educational. I look some things up on the internet when you have spoken about them. I now know what the Borat style swim suit looks like, who was in Bridge over the River Kwai, and was the referral to the jungle "Guns n roses" You are very brave Gill going over that bridge. Don't think I could do it. Mind you I suppose you would have to after walking all that way - but with Louis (or should I say Yoda) swinging it backwards and forwards I might have been tempted to give it a miss. Bit of a chicken really - Reminds me of when we went with you to Disney with Abbie and Adam, and I got conned into going on, what was it called "The Rocking Roller Coaster" and Abbie said did I like the lights inside. I said "Lights? what lights?" I had my eyes shut all the way through. Seem to remember I did the same on the Zorbing! Even more of a chicken than I thought. Wouldn't like to come face to face with that Rhinoceros Beetle and I don't think I would have even considered going to sleep with all those creepy crawlies about. A lizard falling from the ceiling, onto my pillow!!! - I don't think so. Don't think I would ever sleep again. Neither would anyone else - I would be screaming. Gosh, could you imagine Aunty Rita? Are Yoda and Hope still orang-utans or have they returned to their human form now?How did Louis react to having the orang-utan wee on him?And nowhere to wash either Well I'll get off for now or I'll be writing an epic of my own. Its just that reading the blogs I have so much I want to say. We are in awe of all you have been doing. What fabulous memories you will have of this trip and I'll bet that now you have the bug (no Mike not the ones you killed with the knock down spray) you will be having many more adventures. We can just picture your faces when we read some of the things that have happened. Not always laughing at the time I'll bet, but being able to see the funny side afterwards is always good. Stay safe and get some warm clothes if you are thinking of trekking again.Did you wear your fishermans pants?I bet if you didn't you wish you had! Miss you all LOADS- lots of love Mum XX XX XX XX

Yo had us in stitches. Good job you can laugh though! Just going to ring Gran & Gandad and read the blog to them. Dad is sorting out another computer for them as the one they have keeps crashing. So i'll get off now and I'll message you tomorrow. You are doing great. What an experience for you and the kids.

Lots of love Mum and Dad

G'day Mike, Gill an the gang

i didnt have chance to catch up with you before you left to say good luck and enjoy yourselves but it looks like your all doing fine. it all looks amazing.

Dont know if you heard but im livingin Sydney now (hence the Gday start to the blog), i thought somebody best keep an eye on Dave out here. ive been here for a week now and still quite believe ive done it. having a laugh though and already enjoyed several drunken nights out.

i hear that you are planning to drop in to Oz on your travels and it would be great to catch up.

anyways im off to look for somewhere to live.....

take care, see you soon

Mark

Hello All just got round to seeing your latest photos they are fantastic but my stomach turns every time i read your bloggs you have got me a bag of nerves lions an now crocodiles and elephants Auntie margaret said you cant tame a crocodile sounds like your having a ball miss you loads though give kids kisses from me love you xxxx

Hi All

Glad to see you arrived at you next destination safely. Love reading your blog makes me smile. I've just realised you have videos, great to see the kids running around, can't beleive Louis saved that shot!!

Gill that smelly room must have reminded you of nan's place. (she's OK by the way). Glad you moved on.

Take care x

Hello everyoneOn reading the last blog I thought oh good no "Kerfuffl" this time but there it was a few lines further on. I think you are getting to enjoy them now!!Gill I presume the 15 pairs of shoes are mainly Daisys Louis and Mike as I know you are very careful not to overpack!!??Hope Louis has put his scary experience behind him and can see the funny side now, but I'm not sure about him offering you for a human sacrifice Gill.

Gina & M sound lovely. How nice to have met such a couple. Maybe they will be visiting you in NZ some day.

You sound like you are having so much fun - bet you are wondering why you didn't go earlier. Mind you its good that you can laugh when things go wrong. Your dad would have been purple if we would have had to repack the case at the check in. Did you think it was funny at the time or was it just afterwards?

Glad to see Dave is staying in touch. You will have lots of stories to share when you meet up.

Look forward to seeing/hearing from you soon - Photos + blog great again

Lots of love + hugs xxx xxx xxx xxx

Hi Gill, Mike, Louis and Daisy

What an adventure you are having.

We got back from our hols on Friday but our internet has been down, so its the first chance I've had to catch up on your blogs.

Our holiday wasn't as adventurous as your travels. Nice and relaxing though, just what I needed, once we'd got our suitcases! Yes I lived my biggest fear on this holiday, arriving with no suitcases. Muppets at Manchester Airport obviously can't do their job properly when something goes wrong!!! Luckily we did get them the following day so it didn't spoil anything.

I'll email some photos to you in the next day or two, along with ones of Ellas first day at school (which is tomorrow!!!!).

Mike, your lizard is nothing on the one I spotted in our room. It was all of about 2 inches long and John squealed like a girl when I pointed it out to him. He claims it was because he thought he was going to stand on it. Yeah right! He actually chased it out the room with Ellas bucket and spade.

Anyway I must go and sort Ellas uniform. Will email pics to you soon. Let us know when we'll be able to skype you. Don't leave it too long. I may have to adjust the webcam or even stand in the garden so that you can see all of me!

Love and hugs to you all. Big kisses to the kids.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

hi to u all was lovely to see u on web cam pictures and stories r great love reading them all looks like your all having so much fun take care xxxxxx

I've big smiles while reading your message. Look likes a comedy book on hand...Ahh, I've already kept the Wright's concrete at my gardening by office. I have been reminded how I get happiest during your stayings. I can imagine how you got busy with your overloaded luggage. Be assure that we will keep in touch. Take care, xxxxx

Mother, will you ever get your head around technology...

Pulps Mile end Mike, quality tune... one of the Czech girls I lived with was going to move there... until I played that song for her. Gill, I totally agree with you about that weight of cases thing - Gay. I'd have been tempted to just stay at the check in desk and put all 7kg's of clothes on - Including comedy fishing pants - see what the Singapore Airlines bird had to say about that...

Hiya, it has been great reading about what you're up to, you do make me smile!! Sounds like such fun, you two manage to see the funny side of things that would no doubt leave me needing talking down from a ledge! We just did a week in a caravan in scarborough and the fact that the indoor heated pool didn't have a plug for my hairdryer was a traumatic enough experience, this staying in places that smell of wee and sharing my bathroom with a lizard...hmm!! All the places sound fantastic, especially if they could be seen through the window of a five star hotel me thinks! Take care, sue.

hi - just read over my message - sorry about the spelling - I am sure there must be a way I can read what I have written before it is sent - but that will be a task for tomorrow. Tonight I am going to have a glass of wine and pretend I am in some exotic place in the sunshine xx