Have really enjoyed seeing the latest photos - you capture all the right bits, a mixture of the quotidien & the historical - fab! Also thought Ben's birthday video was hilarious - the boy has a future as a TV presenter (or at the very least selling stuff on QVC!!!) Looking forward to hearing how Japan works for you all. Love to you all.xx C

hi all

steve and i have just caught up with all the photos and blogs, all seems amazing you have seen so much and lots more to come lots of love from us all xxx

What fantastic photos of China! Clare, you are obviously taking it easy after the trek - being cycled along, not to mention the wonderful backview picture of you on the boat - like something out of a Merchant Ivory film, only the parasol was missing! Loved the turquoise wellies on the rural China scene - I want some like that! Talk about spectacular scenery! Great to talk on Monday, and to wish Ben Happy Birthday. Love from us all, Al, Pete, Hannah and Matthew

Hi chaps, Happy Birthday for yesterday, Ben! just got back from the Gandruk trek that you did. There were quite a lot of steps, weren't there? If only I'd worn my fat-busting-anti-cellulite sandals i would look like Kate Moss after that. Instead I wore trekking boots and ate lots of mars bars, so sadly not the case. Grace now has chicken pox - we managed to squeeze the trek in between Rose's pox and Graces! Tell us about China... Clare xxx

hi all happy birthday ben xxx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY TO BE-EN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!

Hope you've had the best birthday ever, and did spend the whole day counting all the terracotta warriors to check they were all present & correct!! It's a lovely sunny Easter Bank Holiday Monday - we are going to garden & try to make inroads into the mountains of chocolate from yesterday! Have loved looking at all the China photos - very evocative. Love to you all, but special love to Ben on his birthday. xxx Godmother Cassia

To Ben,
HAPPY BITHDAY!!!
From Joe
P.S. Where are you???

Happy 10th birthday, Ben! Enjoy the terracotta army! Lots of love from Grandmum and Grandpa.

Happy Easter to you all.

Iam really enjoying this virtual world tour. You capture the atmosphere of the different places so well in your blog, and the photos are brilliant. That trek looked a real challenge and so satisfying! The photo of Tom's mountain taxi disappearing into the distance gave ME a moment of panic!

Love from all the Willises

Happy Easter, and Happy Birthday to Ben for Monday! Somewhere there should be an envelope with a present for you, Ben. We are loving reading the blog and seeing all the pics - WOW! Those mountains! Love from us all, Al, Pete, Hannah and Matthew

Sure there are lots of people away enjoying the holidays but even so...Happy Easter to everyone too.
One of the highlights of our trip has been reading the Message Board - keeps us in touch and grounded. Long time to go but sooooo looking forward to seeing you all. L,C,B,T XXX

Happy Easter to you all! and A Happy Birthday for Monday Ben. WHat a way to spend your birthday. We are about to go off to family etc for the Easter break so thought I would send this before we went.
Loved the latest photos and I love the new haircuts! You look like real adventurers boys! Lance didn't feel tempted to have the same cut?! Really enjoying reading about all your travels. LOL Sez and family xxxxx