Hi guys! I have been meaning to post a message for ages & ages, and have finally got round to it!

I am SUPER jealous of all the beautiful paces you have been.

The canada photos made me nostalgic, as we went to most of the places you went when we went to visit Becky. She lived in Jasper for a year on a placement from Uni in 1999/2000. She worked at Jasper Park Lodge next to Lac Beauvert. We went to the ice fields, kamloops, vancouver, victoria, maligne canyon - Dad & Rose went to Banff & Lake Louise, but I stayed with Becks & had a few days with her on my own. We went at Easter, so there was still snow, but gorgeous sunshine too & all there bears were just coming out of hibernation - very scary. Did you encounter any elk? Becks is still terrified of them, they lived outside her cabin & she got charged at a lot! Canada is definitely somewhere I'd go back to, its so beautiful.

Not really any news from exotic Leeds. I have got a new job, I am going to be General Manager of Cafe Rouge in Harrogate (Charles in Charge at last!) I start on 21st August - all a bit scary really, but exciting! Lots of new bars in Leeds, which is cool.

Going to see Snow Patrol tonight in Millenium Square, which should be good. Went to see Chilli Peppers at Don Valley in Sheffield last week - they we ace, but not as good as TAKE THAT! They were the best - better than 10 years ago - I cried 3 times! 8 of us went & we had t-shirts printed spelling T-A-K-E-T-H-A-T, we stood in a row & looked pretty dam good! Went to see Embrace in June too, but the weren't amazing. Going to see Robbie in Roundhay Park in September, that will be the best!

Going to Dad & Rose's house in France in August, they've had it for 2 years, but this will be the first time I've been. Looking forward to the relaxed french way of life, bread van delivering fresh croissants every morning & a good bottle of wine from the local vinyard! Nothing compared to your exciting travels!

I enjoy looking at all your photos & reading what you're up to, its a wicked idea to do this website. I will write again when I have any news.

Take care,
lots of love
Catherine B xxx

PS Woody B & Emily - Good luck with new bambino! x

Hello you two.

The pictures are fab. I liked the look of your camper van it must be great just to be able to travel round like a snail with your home attached.

Loved the dolphins and the scenery is fantastic.
I went out to dinner with Nicola last Monday and she looks really well. They should be back in New Zealand within the next week so she sais that you should call in on them. Apparently they have bought a convent which needs loads of work doing on it. She has bought herself into a business which teaches pre school children art. Zander is 6 foot 2 inches (yoidge).

I am also going to majorca in September and am really looking forward to it.

Jenny has gone into control mode for going down to your house in a couple of weeks and wants to know everything and has even started packing and mithering on about Jane and me having to be planned. I have said that because the car is small they can only take a medium sized suitcase each we are in negotiations about whether it is acceptable to take a dressing gown in a carrier bag or should it have to fit into the case.

I haven't even thought about it, but I have put time in my diary to do so 2.30 next wednesday.

Take Care

Marianan

forgot to answer question bout hols!!!

we are going to magaluf in first week in sept (i think) been buying spencer an all in one wet suit with matching hat! Think will need to take him to the air port to see the areoplanes a couple of weeks before hand....

will be nice to get away in the sun, and to see spencers face on the plane (remember the first time we went on a areoplane couldnt stop smiling) will take a pic and send it to you.

xx

Hi u's

Looked at ice bar pics, fab eh! very cold tho... and we all know " i dont do cold"

I will be sending you latest pics of spencer in the garden, he looks like stig in the dump!! he had a spoon and was eating the ash out of the chimeneir, had to give him a slice of garlic bread to stop....

orrrrr and a pic of my tattoo, its lursh! The pain was well worth it, cant stop looking at it...

dont think walt is going to take the job cos just the same money as on now and he would have to travel to Newcastle every nite. Its a new pub next to the universities called "The Play House" had a massive makeover and the owner used to work with walt. e is going to go back to him and ask for more money if he says no then he wont take it. Walt is talking about doing a plumber course!! (stop laughin Jim, i think he is serious about it) haha.

Sue has had her op on her back, (tail bone removed) going to see her tonight, apparently she is in a lot of pain bless her. sent her some flowers from the wild bunch.

well i think thats it for now. apart from every one is sooooo jel of me little brown bag, they all ask where i got it and how comes it is different from the rest. I said thats because its this season hahahaha

take care x

You hardly told me any of your last message when I was on the phone to your last night.....

Whats the update on Walts job????

Take Spence to Jessops for the pic, they do it all the time for babies.

How comes you are going on holiday to Mallorca???

Sim and Jim

Hi Sim & Jim

the pics of the sunsets are like from a magazine, i am well impressed!!!

Spencer has been very good at nursery (think it is because he got a taste of his own when another toddler chinned him!) haha
His room just needs the stickers on his walls then its finished, it looks very nice, didnt realise how big the buks beds were, they are huge!!! And think i may of made a mistake getting him a cream carpet (DOH) live and learn tho eh!

My carpet should be going down this week then its finished, Living room just needs a few touch ups on the paint and then the floor laying, dining room floor has been sanded just needs the edges doing then i can get the paint of the walls. so it is all coming together.

i am getting a tattoo today(finally) decided to get Spencers name on my foot. All my team have been calling me Butch McGuinness!! hahah

We are going to Magaluf in early sept. just need to get Spencer a pass port, think am gona struggle to get a pic of him tho...

Walt is looking at leaving his job, got another offer, he is going today to see about it, will keep you updated.

will let you know if i have had to get the air ambulance after my tattoo to bring me back to work hahah (i know drama queen!)

take care x

Just discovered all the new photos, so I'll let you off. this will keep me busy for a while. Did you stay in Furnace Creek?

Just returned from Portsmouth eager to see what you are doing now and notice that very little has happened on this site, since I last followed your adventure. I have stayed with dad a couple of nights and he meanwhile is working thirteen hour days, just by way of enjoyment. We are getting excited here for the arrival, first of baby bean and then Sally, a week later. Gran installed back in Hereford and doing well. I imagine you are enthralled with the scenery of NZ or fallen in a geyser, but hope you are having a super time.

Hi There! Are you actually on holiday or do you just update this website!! Its quite obvious to see your having such a great time, I think Las Vegas looked the sort of place I could enjoy! I bet NZ is totally different, but in a good way.
I'm still decorating here (as always) but nearly finished now. I have to be by July 19th as that is when baby bean is going to arrive!! Caesarean booked we're third in the queue. Souds quite strange eh?
Emily only has one more day at work which is good, she is getting pretty fed up being pregnant but is worried as we still aren't very organised.
Zack is now sleeping in his 'Big Bed' which is a new experience for him. The option to get out and mess around is being well and truly utilised!! Apart from a couple of nights he doesn't settle for at least an hour or two!! His talking is still really improving though he can say 'Goal!' with his arms in the air and 'cup of tea'.
The world cup is now in the business end of the tournament and I must agree jimbob that I think eng will beat portugal on sat. I think we owe them from last time and surely we must improve!!!
Argentina and Brazil still seem the strongest but Italy have an easy draw and even zidane was rolling back the years the other night.
Take care N,E & Z xxx

Great to hear you today Jim. It feels very different with you being in New Zealand, more relaxed I should think. Sorry to hear you were frying in Hawaii but at least you could dip your toes in the sea. Dad got entangled with some hula girls there I remember, did you see any Jim? or are you keeping an eye on him Simone? Think of me as you set off in your camper van! I am back in Bath now Dad in Portsmouth so feels familiar. I have just discovered how to send you an e mail.

Mam - Thanks for the email. Yes we finally got our luggage, it decided not to travel with us to New Zealand so we had to go a day without it - It had a nice time in Sydney though!!!

I have text you the number for the hotel if you want to give us a ring at some point.

Not in the camper van yet - we pick it up on Thursday - currently in Auckland. Not as hot as Hawaii.....

S and J