hey dad,
No way, I can't believe we lost one to Fulham. There's absolutely no way of finding out about the footy results over here and apparently its even more basic in Fiji. It is pretty much paradise. The others are finding it quite boring coz it rains a lot and we have to stay inside, but I've just fallen in love with the lifestyle-so hot and humid but i like having nothing else to think about. The boys we're staying with have recommended we do the Kiwi experience when we get to new Zealand coz its the best way of getting around and meeting people which I might have to do a lot more of coz Miranda isnt very happy here and is talking about changing all her trip details. Pretty confident about travelling with other people that I've met though. Will try and keep in touch over the next few days. Love you all xxx

Hi Al how's Paradise?
Sounds great. A bit like 'Shipwrecked' Is it all palm trees and blue skies?
A business colleague of mine, Charlotte ( a kiwi) knows a very good friend called Libby in New Zealand who would be only too pleased to help you in any way when you get there. Her details are: Libby Wilson tel: 0064 9 963 3299
work: 0064 9 978 7892. She woulld be expecting your call.
Now the bad news. We lost to Fulham 1-0. We played badly and Gallas got sent off. The world was delighted (sad bstds)
Next up the Geordies in the FA cup at the Bridge Weds night? lets hope for a better result.
I suppose you won't upload any new pics until you get to a broadband connection.... can't wait to see the palm trees.
Lots of love Dad... stay safe xxxxxxxx

hello from the cook islands!

Arrived here at about 9am on saturaday morning after a 10 hour flight, a brief stop over in tahiti and another 2 hour flight to Raraotonga. Got picked up from the airport and taken to a market which was so hot and swetty-its like 30C over here!
Went swimming on the first day for literally 10 minutes and all got burned, its that hot! The island isnt quite in the 21st century, no air conditioning or proper shops etc but its really beautiful. Staying up in the hills with a great view about 4 minutes from the beach. Its pretty much paradise-although I don't think paradise is this humid. Had lots of rain yesterday like a monsoon but got some great people in our dorm so we spent the day talking and played cards into the night which was a laugh. Really difficult to get near computers and even when we do they are so so slow-no broadband in the cook islands so I probably wont be in touch for a little while. Leave for fiji on saturday although we loose a day and its really gonna be strange-have a rip a page out of my journal????
Anyway, having an awesome time and trying to get brown coz we are literally luminous against everyone else.

Miss you all, speak to you soon xxx

hey al. hows the cook islands? u know u've gained quite the fan base over here in england... u'd better keep us entertained with updates or else! hope ure having fun with ure tan and such. just wondering what sarah's number is so i can take her up on the offer of that night out. ha! got to go. having far too much fun as a bachelor once again. have a good time on the date line! jack x

hey lou,
Glad your having a wicked time in new York, there's a woman from there in our dorm who moved there from london coz she was sick of the rat race too, but now she's sick of New York aswell and is moving over to the west coast. How crazy do the americans go over st patricks day-there are banners and t-shirts and stuff everywhere here. Anyway, we've gotta check out of our hostel soon so we have the whole day to lug our backpacks around until our flight. Then 10 hours on a plane, change, and another 2 hours to get to the cook islands. At least its 30C over there though and we can get a bit of a tan. Enjoy the rest of your trip, keep me informed xxx

hey sarah,
Can't believe your using this board to arrange fun nights out with my brother. The cheek of it! Don't let uni get you down too much, it'll be over before you know it. This must be nearly your last assignment then we can jet off somewhere fancy for a holiday. Missing you too, love al xxx

Hey Al and co,
can't believe its St Patricks day and what am i doing...staying in to work on my assignment, I take it u guys will be celebrating somewhere? Hey Jack u back for the easter hols? if so wud be good to see u on a thurs nite out if you fancy it? i know i could do with a change of scenery so looking fwd to going home! Altho won't be the same without you Alice, we won't party too hard without u!! Anyway the library is getting me down so think im off home before i turn into a nerd! Again I'd just like to tell u how jealous I am of u guys!!! Uni has lost its novelty... need to get saving to go travelling again!!!
lots of love dude x x x

hey al,
glad you enjoyed the pictures, i totally thought you had seen them before you left and taken them out to save a milli-gram on weight! in new york and having such a good time, many many meetings but we are getting a lot done so its good. staying on park ave in same hotel as the zutons which jack may/may not appreciate. havent seen the funny girl with the saxophone yet though....someone tells me beyonce and john travolta live 3 floors above bloombergs offices (not together)so thats kinda wierd, am looking out for them. really dont want to go back to london now, everything here is better. its st patricks day today and they are serving green bagels everywhere. ew. love u lots, loo

hey al,
glad you enjoyed the pictures, i totally thought you had seen them before you left and taken them out to save a milli-gram on weight! in new york and having such a good time, many many meetings but we are getting a lot done so its good. staying on park ave in same hotel as the zutons which jack may/may not appreciate. havent seen the funny girl with the saxophone yet though....someone tells me beyonce and john travolta live 3 floors above bloombergs offices (not together)so thats kinda wierd, am looking out for them. really dont want to go back to london now, everything here is better. its st patricks day today and they are serving green bagels everywhere. ew. love u lots, loo

hey jacko,
To answer your question, yes I did take your itunes with me but the gay man music came aswell and Tom Petty kept me entertained on the bus ride to LA. Jenny is also loving maximo park so we've listened to a lot of that too-quite a mix! Found the photos lucy put in my bag today and really made me smile. There's one of you and me on a plane and one of her and you on holiday-we both look ridiculously young but they're definately funny so they've gone in my journal. When I upload my LA photos, pay special attention to the one of me standing with Mickey Mouse in Hollywood-I thought it was like a novelty tourist thing so I had a photo with this guy in a suit but as I was posing he whispered "this service usually requires a tip mam" and I swear he had the voice of Micheal Jackson, it was the creepiest thing ever so I gave him a dollar and walked away fast. Wanted a photo with hagrid from harry potter but he was standing in between homer simpson and shrek which was really out of context and weird (I'm sure you'll understand how horrified that made me).

Anyhoo, hope uni is going well, missing you too xxx

hey ali. just to let u know how much i miss you and our pizza hut buffets. Good to hear you're not in a bad hostle (like that one you went to in france lol) and hope you are having a laugh. Just wondering if you took my itunes with u or if u switched back to the gay guy's collection. Oh and one more thing - whatever you do, however desperate you get for cash by the end of the trip, stay away from the clear heals. that is all bungle

hey sel,
Thanks for looking me up mate. Glad I'm inspiring you, I tell you its totally worth all the saving, not working for 6 months and just doing fun stuff every day-what more could you want. Was a shame I didnt have a proper going away do but it just came round so quickly. Will definately keep in touch as we go but keep checking my site coz i'll add photos as often as I can. Love you loads xxx