Fit Like loon and quinie, you Travelling Dangleberrys

Stopped sulking about losing my last two epistles down an IT black hole so here I go again. Just in from watching Scotland crash out of the rugby world cup. The Argies are now laying claim to Falkland Palace.

Still footy has been exciting this week with the Huns, Sellik and the sheep admirers going through and Scotland still in with a chance in European championships.

Off to Nerja on Wednesday so will be fun watching Georgia and Ukraine games plus an Old Firm Derby in my shorts and knotted hinky on my napper. So thats me off for three glorious weeks. My pal Dan Dan the Paisley Camper Van Man is also on his travels around the Greek Islands in his van and its giving me ideas of doing something similar when I retire.

New Michael Palin series travelling through the newer European countries like Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia etc is essential viewing for me at the moment.

Appropriately I am listening to the Travelling Wilburys as I type, as I am topping up my iPod for the hols. Yes I eventually got one Eric and I have rediscovered so many of my old albums---- Pilot, ELO, Dire Straits, Supertramp, Rubettes and String Driven Thing.

I am sure a techno chap like you can listen in to Radio Scotland on the pewtah. Check out Desperate Fishwives an Eberdeen team of comedians. Best Doric humour since Scotland the What.....Hilarious!!!

Sorry I missed your call a few weeks back but do try again. Best time to guarantee I am in are Saturdays or Sundays up to tea time then I usually head to the rubadubdub to listen to bands and meet up with pals.

I must be mellowing in my twilight years as I found myself cheering on those darn Hibees yesterday when they beat Ranger 1-0. There agin I was right behind the Huns when they were playing Lyons. Lots of Scots now playing for them. But none called Eric.

Christine sends her love tho I havenet seen her in many a month. Still leave messages on eachothers voicemail.

Heard last night that my local junior side Pollok have drawn Montrose at Links Park in the cup so I am thinking about going up for that later this month when I return from Espagne. See got the lingo already. Might see you there Messrs Broon and Moseley. Sorry cannae speel

Right wont tempt fate and will send this off before it self destructs and I throw my pewtah ootrawindae in frustration.

Happy Trails and take care. Any idea when you will darken these shores again?

By the way Dennis is off to cycle throught the jungles of India on his tod next month. Told him a bike would be better than a tod but you know him ......he disnae listen. Last time he was on a bike was 12 years ago and he fell off.

I nagged him to buy an exercise bike to toughen up his butt and get a decent level of fitness. According to the leaflet he showed me this holiday is for regular cyclists. You just know it will end in tears and a very sore dowp. But thats Dennis for you.

Been to a 21st, a 4oth, 65th, a wedding in the past few weeks and have met and had my photie taken with some of my idols Ian Rankin, Rick Stein and Roy Hattersley who have all appeared at our wee theatre in Eastwood Park. ( I promote the theatre events) Well Roy was a star of Spitting Images after all. Lovely and interesting man but took played safe by donning a rather fetching and matching sowester, kaghoul and welly boot ensemble.

G-Day!!

Hi Eric & Margaret

Great to read about and view all your continuing exploits - these long life batteries are lasting well.

Sorry we have not writen for a while but have been pretty busy late summer.

We had a week in the Cote d'Azur with 'all the other really wealthy people'. - quite an education. We had Sarah and Doug with us -so it was more like the Costa Fortune.

All my mother's estate has now been settled, so not likely to see so much of God's Country (Montrose that is) in the future. Was however there at the weekend and the geese were arriving - what a racket, but a lasting memory of the place. All ex Montrosians will know what I mean.

This was on route to a 32 year reunion of our graduation class, held in Aberdeen for a change . Great time - nobody really changes just the wrapping gets a bit battered and mis-shapen!

Have to say tho', you two are both looking fit and dammed attractive in all these photos. I bet its all filmed at a secret location in Brechin.

You've been rumbled Scotty!

Keep on enjoying yourselves (where ever you are) and we are looking forward to seeing you on your return.

Cheers for now

Love Ken & Jan

Hello there. Just back yesterday from our fab trip to france with everyone. Hannah loved every minute, especially the pool(she was the only one who got in without making a fuss about how cold it was). Weather was really lovely, warm and sunny just what the doctor ordered. Rob and I enjoyed the time away too. It was nice for me getting the rest. Cant believe how quickly this pregnancy is going. 24 weeks now and getting very big!!! Had my last scan just before we left for France and all is well with the babe. I really really promise to sent photos soon. I know you are desperate to see the house and recent pics of Hannah and I will do by the end of the week. I Promise.

Hope all is well with you both.

Lots of Love

Julie, Rob & Hannah

xxx

Nice to hear from you on the phone. Andrew is now into his second week in India. We have had 2 e-mails and he is thoroughly enjoying himself. They had left Delhi to travel north but one of his companions was a bit careless with his small rucksack and it got stolen. In it was his passport, bank card & NZ visa. They have had to travel back to Delhi to get them replaced, so their travels north are a bit roundabout. Claire has just come in the door from the Isle of Wight festival, or Bestival I think it was called. I think it might be an early night for her ! If Andrew and yourselves are in NZ at the same time then hope you can meet. Jim Bird is in France for the Rugby world cup. He keeps pestering me about meeting you in Buenos Aires but as I said on the phone I would rather save for a trip to Oz and NZ. I'll keep drinking the Antipodean wine to remind me of sunshine.

Guys thats the second time in two weeks I have written a lengthy email to you and quite witty they were too. But they have disappeared into the IT black hole out there so dont think I will send anymore as it is so bloody frustrating. Was quite chuffed with my last correspondence which was one of my most creative but it took me a whole hour and a bottle of lovely Oz chardonnay to compose it only to see it not appear on your msg board. Does that make sense???

Tried to send an email to Jean who kindly appreciated my messages amd just to tell her how you and I met up Erid but unfortunately it would not go and hence I lost the message.

Yaboosucks

Hi Eric and Margaret

Cases are packed, windows all locked, car all checked out so it's off to France early tomorrow morning. We are all looking forward to the holiday none more so than Hannah who the past week has daily been asking "Is this the day we go to France?" I think she has about driven Rob and Julie round the bend.

More news when we get back by which time there will have been more updates from yourselves.

Love Pam and Jim xx

It was good to catch up this morning and have a chat as you were winding your way out of Alice. It prompted me to sit down with a cuppa and catch up with your blog, update on Uncle Bill and view the slide shows. A very pleasant time I had too. Also had a chuckle reading Mr Buchan's messages especially the unfortunate incident in the toilet. Friend of yours Eric??

Keep travelling well and haste ye back to Sydney. xx

HAPPY FIRST ANNIVERSARY. It doesn't seem like one year since we helped you lug your heavy rucksacks up to Kings Cross and waved you goodbye on the start of your world travels .

What interesting things you have seen and done since then....but just how many sunsets are there in twelve months!!!. It seems as if we have seen them all with you.

Enjoy the rest of your travels and keep the stoties and pictures coming.

Bon Voyage

Love Jima nd Pam

bok Erik i Margaret, kako ste, sve zvuci odlicno i da se super zabavljate. jeste li upoznali neke Hrvate u Australiji - ima ih vise nego Skota :-) !!! puno pozdrava od mene, Tomislava i Natalie

PS - although I do not feel obliged to translate the above to Eric or Jim (sorry Pam) or Jim B. and other funny creatures with with big eyebrows and funny beards speaking language I first thought was of a Russian trying to speak English and which I never understood a world of, and all of whom I've met over the past 25 years via Eric and Margaret, here it goes : WHEN WILL YOU SCOTTS GET YOUR OWN COUNTRY LIKE WE DID ?! MAYBE WHAT YOU ARE MISSING IS NOT REALIZING THAT WINE AND NOT BEER IS THE DRINK OF GODS ! :-) CIAO BAMBINI ...

PS2 (no, not the Playstation) - lots of love and regards to everyone from Mladen and family !

Mr and Mrs Wilbury Just took a look at your recent pix and I am most impressed. Was amazed at the lovely sunsets but you know I'm a sucker for them. Wonderful pictures and you should ber Vewwwy Pwoud ....vewwwy pwoud of them. Bet your glad I persuaded you to buy a top quality camera for your trip of a lifetime when we sat outside that bar near Tower Bridge. Great investment!!!

Will send you a more detailed message when time allows.

JB

Couldn't decide who was the cuddliest...Eric or the crocs. From the profile, however, I'd say a dentist is badly needed and make it snappy!

We're just back from a few days at Dunblane Hydro. Did all the touristy things we have never got round to doing before - the Falkirk Wheel, Blair Drummond, Stirling Old Jailhouse, Bannockburn, open-top bus rides round Stirling, generally over-eating and having a great time.

I see from your pix that the harsh winter weather in Oz is 20 times better than here in Scotland where we are having a wonderful summer of long, cold, wet, wet, wet, windy days. Roll on winter.

We have a weekend at Arbroath coming up for the BIG SLEEPOVER with Craig, Cameron and Jessica at Jay and Bett's. That should be fairly quiet - not! Then we are off to Coylumbridge at the end of September. Pretty tame compared with you guys.

Love Ron and Dot