Hello to you all and thank you for all the well-wishes we have already received and those that will come petering in over the festive season. I am sorry this letter will be a bit late this year. It has been difficult stepping back into normality and routine after our wonderful trip away. I hardly recall the first couple of months prior to our April 10 departure. They were a blur of stress and panic as we tried to tie up loose ends and pre-empt any unforseen payments or problems that may arise during our absence. We were so lucky to have friends living in our house while we were away; this was a huge weight off our mind. They even brought a new little boy into the world while living here, lovely to have another baby in the house and to know I did not have to give birth to it! Thank you to Brad and Sanu for looking after our sanctuary while we were away. At times before we left I wondered: "Why aren't we just going up the coast for a couple of weeks; that would be so much less stressful to organise!!" It is challenging and exciting to go outside your comfort zone and I am ever so grateful now that we did. Our children completed the first term of the year: Dylan in Queensland's inaugural Prep year and Macayle in grade 2. During the Easter break, we flew out to Istanbul where David had an I.F.A.T.C.A. conference and handed over the reigns of TPSec to Stuart from South Africa. I won't recap our adventures as it is lengthy though exciting and worth a read. If you have access to the internet look up www.travelblog.com/members/guru. David & Macayle woke early every morning on the holiday and explored while Dylan & I slept in. David says his saddest day ever was leaving for an early shift after returning home and seeing Macayle sadly waving from the deck. Tears all round but at least we had that time together OS. The guitar we bought in Croatia arrives next week. Call us if you want info on motorhomes!! We did have our usual Chinese New Year party & that was a hoot. People are getting used to blocking it into their diary & attendances increase each year, we love it (esp. the chilli-sauce comp)!! Returning after such a long dreamt of and successful holiday can be hard. I think maybe I have found it the hardest to slot back in. A mother's role is all-encompassing and the ins and outs of juggling the children and their endeavours, to fit in with the ever-changing roster of daddy can be exasperating. I am well aware many of you do this and work, I applaud you, I just found it hard to come back and find the rhythm we had before. My biggest hurdle was I missed our little unit of 4 that went everywhere together and did everything together. It was such invaluable time together as a family so no matter what the cost we will always do something every couple of years; even if it is on a less grand scale. We encourage everyone to do now what you figure you will do "one day". Leave "one day" for more adventures and more challenges, but don't put off the important breaks. The children slotted back into the last term of the year perfectly, they enjoyed being back with their friends (& toys). Macayle will repeat year 2. This was always the intention & will suit her well. She was able to perform in her end of year concert at the Dance Academy in Jazz & Tap and loved it. Next year she will do Ballet & Tap. She loves to sing & dance and perform & we often have impromptu concerts from both kids. She is a happy & well-liked little girl; we are blessed. Dylan is our little font of knowledge and growing into a lovely sociable little lad. He will start circus school next year and is keen to learn the "hat tricks" he saw his cousin Sam perform at the same school this year. We are all well and happy and fully enriched from a fabulous year of family and fun. We wish you a wonderful and adventurous new year. All of our love, David, Camilla, Macayle (7) and Dylan (5) XOXOX