Hi both

Hannah - however and wherever you choose to celebrate your birthday, we send you lots of love and hope you have a fabulous day with fun, surprises and things to make you giggle. Well, let's face it, most things do that!

Paul, Michael and Anna

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Hi guys, I was so excited to open your mail and see 'Cambodia' - always wanted to go there. Hannah - happy birthday for Tuesday, hope you have a great day, and even though you don't have lots of cards and presents to open, here's a virtual one (its a singing card, the Stevie Wonder song): "Happy birthday to ya, happy birthday to ya, happy birthday. Happy birthday to ya, happy birthday to ya, happy birthday...". Tom you will have to sing it to Hannah in my absence. Thanks. Nothing much to report here. My stepdad was ill so I was in Wiltshire for a bit, he's OK now. I got worried when they found MRSA in the ward, but he seems to have avoided it. You are probably safer in the wilds of Cambodia than he was in hospital. Love ya, have fun. J xxx

Hey guys,

Thanks for writing, we love getting messages and hearing about all the goings on at home. The leg is on the mend, reckon i'm gonna have a pretty ugly scar but luckily hasn't got infected, been very good at cleaning it.

G+T: Havn't heard about the scuba escapades? What happened? We think we're gonna go on a live aboard dive trip off the Cambodian coast over my birthday so very much looking forward to that. Hope the weather improves for you...

Julia: I'll see you anywhere, the world is our oyster, as they say.. xx

Anyway lots of love to all xxx

We are so pleased to hear that your leg has healed without complications, Hannah. Tom continues to write well about your experiences and together with a great sequence of photos his notes help us to feel much closer to you than we reallyare!
And global warming seems to be much kinder to you than it is to us. In Provence it is damp/wet to freezing cold - so much for the 'warming' bit.
This morning, the Gavrons are coming down for lunch and to watch the Test match and Tennis and the Derby on TV. I have lit a fire in the sitting room. A log fire, on the 8th. of June in Provence is just ridiculous. Granma is up to her elbows preparing a delicious lunch of Osso Bucco followed by cheese and salad and a new concoction called an apple-and-almond-and-zest of lemon tart.
We are not hearing much from your brother and cousins who (we are assured by their protective parents) are immersed in revision and exams. Is it possible for you to imagine an intensive exam time back in the UK whilst you are living such care-free lives?
We expect that you pick up world news from time to time and will have followed the stories of the scuba diving escapades off Australia and Bali. Take care!!
You are probably receiving e-mails separate from your msg board so you will know that Sara's leg is improving but she is still not able to drive her car. Charlie is revelling in the new life his driving licence is giving him. He is using the family people-car to take his gear and friends to gigs and is even volunteering to do the shopping.
Hannah, you will find it strange not to visit Churt again but no doubt you are relieved that you didn't have to help with the packing up!
Your Mum is very sad to leave the cats behind, of course.
Lotte has just anounced that she can see the sun a little through the clouds and is still hoping we shall be able to have lunch outside. The only person using our pool (21 degrees) is the robot cleaner. We have had strong winds from the South East carrying red sand from the Sahara. This settles at the bottom of the pool and when sucked up becomes red mud. It is boring to keep on blaming Chinese coalmines and Indian cooking stoves and petrol fumes from 4X4's. They all seem a long way from our garden in Menerbes.
Please keep on keeping us informed with good news.
Much love and big hugs.

G and T

Hi Guys, As I am still living vicariously through you, I insist you keep travelling forever ... and ever. You must go around the world at least a dozen times, partying, diving, trecking. Airport lounges will be your sitting rooms. Beaches will be your beds, and rocks, your pillows. I write to you on a grey Sunday afternoon. Believe me, there aint much goin on here. Lily has started working for a fashion distribution company in Whitechapel- she gets lots of free clothes! So where shall we meet? Singapore, Shanghi, Sydney? You just let me know. Love you, and take care. J xxx

Tom... thankyou for your great blog on your solo trip.. it sounded wonderful and what a great idea to do it with a local guide and to stay with people in the community as you went along.. you must have felt much more in touch with real mountain life.

I hope you have enjoyed Thailand as much as Hannah. Also congratulations on getting your diving certificate. Its a shame that the two of you can't get on with diving together but it's best to wait until the wound is well healed before putting Her body into action again.

Enjoy your rest and keep in touch as best you can......................................with love....Charlotte...xxxxxxxx

Hi both

We (Michael, Anna and I) arrived at La Cerisaie yesterday evening and I'm finally getting round to writing to you. So sorry it's taken so long. We missed you at Pippa's but the photos are fantastic.

Hannah, we were all so sorry to hear about your gruesome accident. It's a good job the pool wasn't shark infested. We just had a call from your Dad saying your leg has got quite painful - which is understandable but must be horrid. The main thing, as I'm sure you know, is to watch for infection. When you change the dressing, check if the skin around the wound is hot/red/sore, and whether the wound itself is oozing. Yuch, sorry! Are you up to date with your Tetanus jabs? In the meantime, i hope you are getting lots of pampering.

Tom, your journey in Nepal sounds identical to one I made back in the 80s and brought back many splendid memories! I expect Kathmandhu has changed a lot in that time. The moiuntains, on the other hand, are eternally awesome and inspiring. I remember Tatopani, and the absence of locals. I think the prospect of bathing after a swarm of sweaty Westrners is not their cup of tea

When Michaal takes a break from his swotting, we're planning a local climbing trip. There's some good, bolted routes near Cavaillon which demand our attention.

Much love to you both and wishes for a speedy recuperation.

Paul, Michael and Anna xxx

Tom, full marks for the account of your trek. We felt exhausted just reading it. You must be exceptionally fit but have earned a week or two of swimming and lolling about looking after Hannah.

Hannah, Mum has kept us up to date with your progress after your accident. What rotten luck. If that had happened in America you could retire on the damages you could claim! The shock must have been horrid and next few minutes must have been dramatic. But you are right to look on the bright side - the accident could have been much worse. Be as patient as you can. Think of the hundreds of happy experiences you have had; there are plenty more to come.

Paul and Michael and Anna have just arrived for a few days. They were bumped off their early morning flight but were rewarded with £200 each and invited to eat and snooze in the Executive Lounge until their new flight left. I suspect they will think they wouldn't mind doing that again! Michael has to swot. We hope you are thinking of your poor cousins who are biting their nails until the exams are over and the results known - whilst you are sunning yourself and being pampered.

Much love from G and T. Big hugs.

Hi Hannah and the girlie gang and goodbye Tom!- have just caught up on your blogs and photos- what an amazing time u r all having! The trek looked and sounded amazing- what a fantastic experience and achievement! and now on to the beautiful beaches, seas and sights of Thailand. Loved the underwater shots of the marine life on your diving and snorkelling adventures but particularly impressed with Sams massive bite!! Watch out for those pesky mosis but surely you must be immune by now! So glad to hear you are well (most of the time!) and obviously having the time of your life. Looking forward to Simons 18th this weekend but will miss you- take care and lots of love - S,A,B+Bxxx

Hi - I am so jealous! And the underwater shots ... they look so professional, and pretty. Glad you are continuing to have fun. As I am living vicariously through you, the more fun you have, the better - consider it a duty! Love you, J xx

I'm typing this during a thunder and hail storm - in Provence in June!!
Your xperiences in Thailand sound a bit decadent compared to the sanctity of your architectural tour of India and nepal. Have fun but be careful. G. and I go to London this weekend for Pippa's birthday. It is also a Toti Bear day with only you missing. As you don't have him with you you can nominate a deputy keeper who may or may not remember to bring him on the day, but who can collect your fee. much love......

Hi campers, The picture of the Nepal plane (and Tom reading the map) merged in my mind, to this memory: I was on a 6-seater plane in Papua New Guinea, so small the pilot was in the same area, flying through the pointed mountains, going in and out of cloud (inches from the next mountain) when the Australian pilot, holding a large paper map, turned the map upside down, and did a sharp U-turn. Even the chickens waked from their slumber and looked out of the window! EEk, mountain within reach! This taught me something ... Australians are WAY TOO relaxed! Love the Yakdonalds - genius! Love you too, take care. XX