Hi Claire and Steven. It has taken me a little time to catch up on your travels I have viewed the photos and read your stories and I have to say I think I could also live in Thailand it just looks so beautiful but the Amalfi coast of Italy was also amazing. Granny and I returned safely after our holiday to this beautiful part of Italy. I did not realise that the Amalfi has been dedicated a world heritage sight and no new buildings are allowed, the houses cannot be painted unless special permission is granted. This is ok but some of the houses could really do with a coat of dulux but somehow it just adds to the charm of the place, in some areas houses have been built so far out of the cliffs they look as if they will fall into the sea. Driving around the 1,600 bends of the coast is not for the faint hearted and hiring a car is not advisable, the coach drivers make it look so easy, but the damage to the cars can be seen everywhere, must worse in the hight of summer according to our rep as rich Americans hire cars thinking they are still on the freeways back home and then find themselves driving on narrow roads facing loads of traffic. Our rep said the best time to visit was spring and September when the weather is warmer and the tourist season is not in full swing. We were lucky with the weather it was warm to hot, we both have red noses and suntan marks and that was from just walking around. We visited all the little villages like Positana and Ravello also the Isle of Capri, we saw Gracie Fields villa which sold last year for 15 million euros, yes property here is very expensive. Granny got locked in a toilet in a restaurant when we were on an organised trip with our rep, they had to get an Italian man to climb over the door to rescue her, she was a bit upset everyone was comforting her I had to walk away as hysteria set in due to the chaos it caused as everyone was waiting to use this one loo. But luck was on my side, this big Italian mamma signalled for me to follow her which I did, and I ended up in her bedroom which had an on suite so it saved the day for me !!! Granny thought she might sign herself into an old folk's home but she soon forgot about it after a few baileys in the hotel bar after dinner. She ate sword fish, olives and pasta on holiday I don't think she realised but she seemed to enjoy. I ate everything that the hotel had on the menu for the night and drunk lots of the local wine mmmh lovely. Not keen on the local drink called lemoncello but it was very nice in ice cream form. Lynsey and granny have gone to the Grand Theatre tonight to see Seven Brides for Seven Brothers we bought tickets for her birthday so she is really excited about it and is going to sing her heart out. If Andrew can send a few photos of our holiday to you I will pick the best ones ( not me in my bikini of course ) by the time I get to Australia I will be a size 10 in my dreams. After Italy I am now back on track with my diet after gaining just a few pounds, but it was worth it. Love to you both, take care. Mum xxxxxxxxx

Hello again, we are back from our 2nd dive trip which was yet again excellent - some real characters on board this time as well as those in the ocean! Steve is now a qualified rescue diver so if anyone is ever in distress whilst swimming he can officially save you. We have definitely got the diving bug and have booked to go again tomorrow for another 4 days so our postcard page is very behind and will not be updated today as I have a hangover from hell and just typing this message is painful enough! We will definitely leave Khao Lak after the next dive trip to see some other parts of Thailand. Either that or we could just live here and become dive instructors.......what a nice idea!!! xxxxxx

Hiya both, hope you have enjoyed your latest diving experiences. Look forward to the photos. I am packing bags at the moment as William is off to Cornwall on a Rugby tour with his dad on Friday morning until Monday night and I am getting ready to go to Blue Anchor with Chris, Lisa and the kids from Friday to Monday. Its been a glorious spring day here today, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will remain fine for the weekend. It'll be a nice break for us all, but the last one I am likely to get before August as I am saving all my time off to come over the NZ. I've got some really snazzy ski wear for Will and me. William chose my suit - its brown and PINK! (never worn pink in my life before!) I must be ill! I had a smashing lunch with a fella that Chris vetted for me from his work on Saturday. We got on really well and have arranged to go to a Pink Floyd tribute band concert at the Wyvern in a couple of weeks. I think he will be a nice friend to see now and then in the future. Don't worry Steve, I'm NOT GOING TO MARRY HIM! Love you both very much. Mum and Will xxxxx

Yo dudes and a very HAPPY 7TH BIRTHDAY TO WILLIAM! We arrived back in Khao Lak last night after 4 days of diving in the Similan and Surin Islands. It was absolutely amazing and we saw some fantastic marine life including turtles, sharks, huge fish, eels, a whale and best of all giant manta rays which was completely mind blowing! It was so good in fact that we are going again tonight for another 4 days.....our budget has gone completely out of the window this month but we are still chasing the whale shark dream! Steve is going to do some serious studying on board the boat as he is doing his rescue diver qualification; I meanwhile will be diving, sunning myself and eating pineapple! Anyway we will update our diary and post our photos when we get back - hope all is well with everyone, bye for now xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

thank you thankyou thank you for making me smile on a very wet and dreary day. the thought of claire bobbing around singing head shoulders knees and toes to a stunned audiance will keep me giggling all day. have to agree with anna on the men women and any form of shared resbonsibility in any type of vehicle, its a very dodgy area.
love to you both ceri xxx

I don't think men and women are designed to be in a car or a kayak together (even if it does start blissfully) !!!!! Love lots A XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hi. Steve has finally completed his epic account of our kayaking trip in Laos. You can find this in the postcard section under Luang Prabang although you may need to set some time aside in your diary to read it! We are off on a live aboard dive boat later so will be out of reach of a computer for 4 whole days....oh no!!! Just a few things then before we go - Happy Birthday to Chris who has reached the ripe old age of 32 but is training his socks off for the London Marathon in April. If anyone would like to sponsor him in aid of a children's school charity then let us know. Also to mum and Granny (Wales) have a fantastic time in Italy - we will send the sunshine over for you. To everyone else, hope you are all well. xxxxx

Hello you two,
Hope you are both OK. Its Mothers Day today. Nadim cooked a fantastic meal and Tariq played an important role in slicing the parsnips as a Mothers Day prezzy. It was lovely and we are just mucking around with a computer so thought we would say hello.
Miss you but hope you are having a great time.
Love Lynne xxx

Another Bird Flu Joke from Paul:-
President Bush has announced that he has come up with a way to cure the world of Bird Flu. Bomb the Canaries !!
Cheers both

Hya Claire and Steve
eventually managed to catch up on your adventure I am amazed at your fantastic travels and incredibly jealous. You look as though you are having a wonderful time and really enjoying yourselves. Your pictures are fantastic . I hope you continue to enjoy yourselves. I have eventually managed to make one of my dreams come true and bought my Mazda MX5, I will attempt to send you a pic via email, I love driving it around more and more each day and have hidden the spare key from the kids just in case they get any ideas!!. I am living without a proper kitchen at the mo as the builders have been in to knock out doors and walls and replace with windows so it is all happening even if a bit dusty. Sarena says hya she has exchanged contracts with the house she is buying in gowerton and is busy dreaming of what she is going to buy to put in it now and we are making our way round all the housey shops,,,gggg. She goes back on the ships at the beg of April till the summer when the house should be finsihed.
Keep the pics coming in they are lovely to see and good luck for the next stage of your journey,, oh and a very belated Happy birthday xxxx luv Liz and gang

Doh!! Bit too keen on the message below!! Happy Birthday Silks, have a great day - we miss not sharing it with you, but it's raining and miserable here and it's probably not raining or miserable where you are!! Don't have toooooo much fun without us :o) lot of love and big sloppy kisses Jac, Ben, Murdoch and Dandelion xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx