Hello all

I thought I had better put a blog up and give Tam a little break! I must be honest I am quite lazy to sit in front of a computer (other than to get the Baggie results), and thanks for letting me know the results, suzanne and sarah. You will be pleased to hear that we both have recovered from the mountains/cold/bloody tablets that were given by an Indian style chemist! I must quickly mention our journey from McCloud to Manali. A 10 hour journey via mountain roads with a mini-bus driver who must have been on cocain. By god his driving was hell raisingly scarey. Tam was travel sick first, then me three times. The driver thought it was funny, and retrospectively it probably was. The journey was during the night and as everyone finally got some sort of sleep, the driver pulled over to the side of the road and b*****ed off for two hours to sleep, right until someone had to shout, hoot and make him carry on with the journey. On arrival the driver wanted more money to drop us off in the old town we all refused escalating to arguments with the local taxi drivers, who all refused to take us 4km to the old town. So slung our bags on and started to walk.. luckily a taxi down the road took us there. We were dropped outside a 'German Bakery' which made fantastic cheese and tomato sandwiches.

Anyway, once we arrived in Manali we embarked on some mountain climbing. The sumit was some 2000 meters (I think) and as we approached the sumit the fog decended. We were about 200 meters from success but we were forced down. There was also another influence, that being Tam needed a crap and refused to go in a bush (women!). This meant that we had walked 4 hours to get up and then 3 hours back down. Knackered!!!! The mountains were fantastic and fulfilled one of my ambitions to see the himalayan range.

Now we are in Kerela. I have never seen so many coconut trees, as well as food containing them. I will let Tam tell you about the house boat, which was magnificent. The Back waters were amazing. Following this we have come to a 'home stay' in a fishing village. The secret beach and hospitality from the family are second to none. Our only gripe is the amount of food that we are given. I had to laugh as the lady comes to check if we have eaten everything and says "just one more spoonful" It reminded me of Tam's mum!!! We had beef curry for breakfast followed by fried banana. Lunch was dhal, vegatables, fish and banana. Dinner is prawn curry tonight. If the photos illude to Tam being pregnant - she isnt, it's just the amount of coconut (we have just been given tea and batter fried bananas for afternoon tea!

We are here for a few days and establishing a routine. Breakfast at 8 followed by wak on the beach, lunch and read, snooze and laze around. Its bliss! I finally feel more relaxed. Cant think of anything more to say at this point other than still missing pork (I did salavate reading Heather and Paul's description of a fry up).

Sorry Ian for not being there for your forthcoming move. Hope all goes well and I'm sure Sob will account for my contribution. Also I hope Lynsey and Rachel are well with their pregnancies. Glad to here that Tommy will be with us soon.

Up the Baggies from the two growing coconut's xx