Hi Again

We know all about the heat waves as the news is full of it but here it is the exact opposite with the hardest winter in 18 years and it just goes on and on. Hope you picked up some tips on tennis technique after watching Nadal etc but you will need to lose that weight you hve been putting on! And lose that accent!!!

You may find you lose a lot of weight in India if they let you in!!!

Hi Neil and Gwen,

You are obviously "hevving an or-some toime in Orstrya" . I don't know how you have coped with the heat. We have been having 30 degree days here which is a bit unusual.

Went to Gisborne for 10 days of wine and fabilous beaches. Yoy would have enjoyed the vineyards. Did a few tastings.

Now back at work. Was good to see the colleagues again.Classes start on Monday, so have some prep to do.

Was great to see you again Neil and to meet Gwen. Thanks again for dinner but Woody Allen was crap wasn't it.

Look after yourselves and see you again soon.

Simon

hello, good to see your pics of Melbourne- I'm very jealous! And did I spot you having a coffee in cervo?! 40+ degrees sounds horrible, its freezing here and we had some great snow on monday. Will send you a proper email soon, love laura x

Hi Dad and Gwen,

Good to hear that you have survived the heat! We're having the opposite problem with severe snow which has obviosly brought the UK to a standstill (unfortunately LRT buses struggle on so I have to go to work!). Haven't been on blog for a while so busy catching up but you're packing lots in! I've been offered a job in A&E in a Sydney hospital from August so just contemplating that- you'll have to give me the Sydney low down. Also recovering from a broke wrist after I lost in a Kate vs Snowboarder collision while skiing last week in France.

Will message board soon, lots of love xxx

Hi Neil and Gwen enjoying your blog ,will avoid any foot masages in Cairns . We passed a road sign near Bowen which said "MIDGE POINT "obviously named by early Scottish Explorers like yoirselves.

Regars and best wishes

Goron and Angela

That is a really scary concept having your photo taken with a guy who has been dead for 2 years (Steve Irwin) Do they dig him up specially? Is he mumified. Gory details please.

Hi

Late Janauary now. Glad to see you're still happily on the move in the New World. Nothing much happening in and around Edinburgh to report but thought I'd just say hello. Tis Burn's celebration weekend, though, so drink a dram somewhere to the old bard.

Onward with you travels.

Roger

Hi Gwen and Neil,

Happy New Year to you both. Enjoying reading about your recent travels in Aus and it all sounds such a great adventure just don't know how you will settle down to real life when you return to UK in April?!

Love Anne and Bill

Hi Neil and Gwen,

I am enjoying reading your blog and looking at your photos. Mention of the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb reminds me that when I did it 2 years ago our group was delayed in reaching the top when a guy in the group in front proposed marriage to his girlfriend. As the alternative appeared to be to jump off, she said yes! I take it you and Gwen did not follow suit...........

Looking forward to joining you soon in Melbourne to see some tennis. Let me know if I need to bring a haggis for Burns Night.

Happy New Year to you both.

Just think, the new term has started and we are all exhausted already (two days in) Bet you really wish you were here!

Hope your weather is better in OZ - I have heard NZ is a pretty wet place which is why I will probably never go (especially now the bottom has fallen out of the Pound). At least you saw Mt Cook - a lot of people never do due to the storms it attracts.. Amazing that you bump into Sam (even if it was planned) half way round the world.

Cold but still and not bad weather here but everyone has the flu or the cold! Anne Fraser is back from Nepal and is planning to stay there most of 2009. I think we may go there in autumn as it souinds FANTASTIC!! . dont know it is on your itinerary but perhaps it should be.

Got your text! Happy new year

Donald

Cordoba was not the city where Archie scored against Holland,it was Mendoza,Cordoba was where Scotland lost to Peru and drew with Iran!