Julie Dear Sarah, Hope you are okay and that you are still enjoying your travels. Have not heard anything from you for a while so wanted to check how you are doing? Are you due to come home soon. It will be so lovely to see you and hear your traveller's tales. Hope to see Michael and your Mum too. Must contact him. I have been a bit under the weather with an inner ear infection - made me feel sick and very dizzy. Much better now though not quite up to speed. Managed to take my Mum out to the theatre and for lunch to celebrate her birthday and the boys were in a concert last Sunday playing drums and trumpet and that was just fab! Take care and hope all going well for you. love Julie xxx

michael hi there good to see your blog when i got back from sunny times in the lakes...did not have to take my waterproofs out of the backpack once ...I expecct all the rain is waiting to pour down at the end of June to welcome you back I saw Ealeanor and John and did loads of walks and thought of Peter a lot. Julie and Angela both sent flowers on the anniversary . I foned them and we decided we should have a party when you get back if you are not too busy with all the frinds and parties and ting Lian sent me a card for my birthday on which he wrote: "Love from all at 43 the crescent2 which i though was quite funny bare ricolas you probably know news more than I do what with the skyping and dat all kind of ting wat u do. I spoke to Supang and she had a great time in Paris and she has an important update thing next week for the phd but she doesn't seem to be too stressed about that the moment last time John was in Oadby he tried to interrogate Anis about his girlfriend, but I don't think he got much out of him. At lunch he suddenly said... "now come on you guys, when are you going to provide your Mum with grandchildren?" or words to that effect hope you continue to enjoy ...western Oz is sposed to be the best bit look forward to seeing al the pics and s*** have fun love Michael

Julie Norton Dear Sarah, Really good to read your news again and to know you are enjoying yourself. Hope you have recovered from the cold. Have been thinking of you and your family, remembering your Dad at this time of year and missing him, as I'm sure you all will have been doing. I got a lovely postcard from Michael of the Lakes - glad he could escape there again and hope your Mum is doing well. We have just been away to Suffolk for a week. We stayed in a cabin with its own little swimming pool so the kids loved it. We went swimming every morning and quite often at tea-time too and then headed to the seaside in the afternoon. We visited Sutton Hoo and Framlingham Castle too. It was really good to get away from work and spend some time as a family. Before that I had a few days in Brighton at a conference - interesting and a good chance to catch up with my best friend, Heather. We realised at the conference that we have been friends for forty years which we celebrated! Hope you enjoy the next bit of your trip will look forward to reading about it. Hope to see Michael in Leciester soon - I owe him lunch! Take care, Love Julie xxx

michael hiya good to hear from you I have had a bad week because I had a tooth out and it caused ne a lot of pain...in fact still in pain today however I am going to London tomorrow to see a couple of things and hope to see Supang. Last weekend she was in Oadby for mother's day and we met up the three of us and had a meal and a chat mainly about LP...wish I could go bcak there...it is so natural and how lovely were the two aunties, Supang and Rosmie...we were talking about getting them to visit UK anyhow weather is better now here thank goodness and when you get back we are taking you to climb Hellvelyn..Lian's plan...after Kinabalu it will be a bit of a doddle. Of course you keep in touch with the guys through face book and skype and ting and they sometimes pass on what you are up to. hope you continue to have a jolly time of it and look forward to seeing you soon xxxx

Angela Hello Sarah Wow you are brave. That is quite a birthday present. Happy belated birthday by the way. You sound like you had a good time. We are just back from Chicago from a conference that I often used to go to with Peter. On one of the panels I was on an academic referenced Peter's work and I was glad to hear his name mentioned. He was a wonderful academic. Most of all though he was a wonderful friend and I miss him at those conferences. Goodness knows what he would have made of your jump! I guess both proud but also very nervous until you were back safe and sound on the ground! It was so cold in Chicago - I can see why it's called the windy city. We left England where it was 15 C and arrived in Chicago at -5C. Apart from work, I am busy organising my Mum's 80th birthday party - it should be fun. love Angelax

Julie Dear Sarah, Belated birthday wishes! I was thinking of you on the day and even reminded Angela that it was your birthday and then the kids arrived home, it was a bit chaotic and I never sent you a message. So sorry. Hope you had a wonderful day. It is great to finally catch up with your posts. reading about your time in Bangkok brought back memories for me. You sound to be having an amazing time and to be making the most of every single opportunity. I am sure it'll change how you look on life and these times will stay with you for ever. Lecturers are on strike today for pension and conditions. Jess is jumping for Japan to raise money tomorrow and Joe has got a trumpet exam. I am getting ready for a conference in Brighton. It was great to see Michael - I love the restaurant he took me to - will have to all go when you get back! Take care and have lots of fun! Thinking of you! Julie xxx

michael great to hear about the skydive sounds really good New Zealand sounds like an awesome place goping to look at your fotos on face book at least the weather in better here beware: you are gonna find England very dull after all your adventures have fun xxxxxx

michael lovely to read your blog hope you have a very happy birthday thinking of you xxx

michael Hi Sarah glad you are enjoying Sydney had lunch with Julie yesterday and we talked about you and she sends her love like your fotos we should try and get some of them printed and put in a book when you get back wish spring would come take care and continue to enjoy xxxxx waether still cold

michael hello I just looked at your fotos on face book..really good...will take another look later. Supang and I went to Melati yesterday and I got to meet Will. He is a nice guy and we had a great time London was rainy and here todsy in Luffers it is not much better...winter is stil not over..so enjoy the sunshine while you are in the land down under. When are you flying to Kiwiland have fun thinking of you love M xxxxx

michael Oz seems so laid back and cool after SE ASIA but also hot. I really envy you the beaches and the snorkelling and alll the relaxifications, but not sure about all those long journeys by bus and ting. Hope to see Supang on sunday in London. She has the girls visiting so she is a busy and she just had an article published in a mag and when they emailed about it they wrote.... Dear Doctor Martin which amused her as she thinks she is struggling with her Phd. I am going to Sheffield next week to stay with friends and do walking in the peaks so I will be sure to say hello to Hallam and to ask it if it is ready for you and Lizzie to come and live there. everyone misses you, but tis not long till you get back ..you must enjoy the rest of your time in Oz and then you will be seeing loads of friends in Kiwiland. keep having adventures love M XXXXXXX

Angela Creese Hi Sarah Snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef - lucky you! I am off to Glasgow where it is snowing. Sounds you are making some great friends. My sister turned 50 on Saturday and we all went to party. I saw my old school friend and we had such fun. I guess you are not thinking of reunions at the moment! love Angela x

LAYTON i miss talking to you loads and thought as i can't bbm you i would write on facebook and here just so i'm sure you're feeling the love!! got carnage on monday barbie vs action man! ha won't be the same without you and me making us dresses haha!! i hate you not being at uni but me and Canns have become much closer this year so tis good =D. you are one best friend to be proud of, i honestly think i could never be as brave as you - though if i eventually have the possibility of working for an international firm i could have to take a 6 month seat abroad although that's incredibly unlikely!! you sound like you're having an amazing time, and i won't be so selfish as to wish that you're back already. make sure you where sun lotion even with your malay skin you'll need it in oz!! love you lots smartieb glad to see you're playing SAFE (haha see what i did there?) miss yaaa <3 xxxxxxxx

michael it was really good to get your fone call.yesterday...pity the reception was so bad. Cairns sounds like fun and I hope you enjoy the barrier reef and snorkulaution,. I will be strsnge to be without your bloods, but hopefully you will make some new friends or travelling companions along the way. It is set to get cold again next week when peeps are onhalf term...thay are saying ther will be bare snow, but after a couple of weeks it will be spring like weather we hope have good adventures in the land down under love michael XXXXX

michael good morning we were at Oadby yesterday and Lian got a text from you saying you were in Chiang Mai. John tried to write you a message on Lian's ipad, but got frustrated and gave up. He sends his love anyway. He bought a meal for your mum, Anis and me at the library and I had a walk along the crescent and looked in charity shops but did not buy aniting. IF you are still in Chiang mAI , IT IS WORTH GOING UP .Doi Suthep which is a big Buddha on top of a hill...great views. Hope you enjoy it there. hardly saw Supang unfortunately...she and Lian were fling when we got there and then she went shopping to buy a valentine gift for Will and Sofia and Sam were coming round to cook chicken jerk and your mum is well and happy though her laptop has a virus at the moment. have fun thinking of you #love M XXX