Hi guys - thanks for the emails - have been slack at replying sorry. Great blog - sounds fantastic and everyone enjoying themselves??!! Gelato, pizza, beer!! All good here. Had huge weekend (two 3o'clockers!!). Aidens 21st in HB which was great. Abz had her school ball so wasn't able to join us (took Ebs instead!!) She's still very funny and up to mischief at any opportunity! Off to visit Waikato Uni Thursday week (8th) then up onto the boat for a few nights - Abz will bus home as shes not keen!! Look forward to the next blog! Love Nic, Chis, Abbey, Ben, Annie and Ebz

Al read about the parking tickets and is deeply concerned - he said for Steve to ask Italian Police for "full disclosure". If no satisfaction get Italian Police to ring Al.

Big storms here but all well with our neighbours' property! Possums in abundance - where's the guy with the trap I ask???

Keep it up - lovin' the ongoing adventure diary.

So interesting to read your travel stories- especially so as we followed a similar trail. remember the road trip to Rome with three kids in the back seat, almost direct from southern france overnight. We dragged the kids around Rome, but the second day only I went while Ashley and kids stayed at the campsite and swam in the pool all day. Think Ashley and I stayed in the same campsite in Florence in the 70's and seem to remember similar problems with our van wedged in tight places! Did have a nice view over Florence though. What an experience for you all- have never regretted carting our lot over to Europe. You do forget the grizzles, the heat, the scraps, etc when you look back on it all! Lots of love Jenny

Hi Guys, it's so lovely to get your news all the time - really feel like we are travelling with you. It's still cold and wet here in the Waikato so enjoy the sun while you can! Take care and keep having fun. Linda & Craig xx

Just minutes away until the kick off with the ABs in town - shame you're not here to cheer them on! It's very very wet here - big floods up the coromandel last night with major slips on both sides of Kuaotunu.

We are on count down to Melbourne next Saturday - a week over there - weather will be the same but no work (that's what some of us do Mon - Fri!!) and hopefully some time to relax and explore with the kids - if I don't eat them alive before then!! I think it's the weather - everyone trapped inside - fighting appears to be a winter sport for my girls!

Was interested in your comments about the sistene chapel - we thought exactly the same - huge effort to get in and then standing shoulder to shoulder with everyone else staring at the ceiling - not that much of a highlight....I do chuckle over the driving stories - keep em coming! GO the ABS!!

So awesome to hear an actual tale of Kiwis being in Italy cheering our boys on. They are mad for it over there. The All Whites have def done themselves proud as well as us. Haven't forwarded Maceys messages to Libs, (sorry Libby)it basically said camp was muddy and she wished Libby was there, all very sweet. Its the coldest day today, lucky you guys having to wear even the funniest attire i wouldn't care just to be in the sun swimming would be fab. All of us are off to cheer the AB's on this weekend. I thought the same thing about the Vatican, gr8 as it was. School discos tonight :-) Love the photos till next time ka kite ano

dear family

what a nice trip

we enjoy it with you ,although we do not have the same long time to visit countries as you have

when we see all the diashows we feel like on a holiday

enjoy the rest of the trip

seeing you in holland?

greetings

wim & gerda

are you there yet

We are blown away with your blogs guys. It can't be eay to keep updating as often as you do but know that we are hanging on every one! Every morning when I open up the emails I can't wait for the next update to see where you are now.

Where you gonna be for the Friday Cup match guys?

hi guys

We thought of you watching the soccer in rome. What an experience. Tim, henry and I got up to watch at 2am. At the end - those last long 4 minutes - we all yelled so much that anna woke up. The Italians looked pretty subdue.
The All Blacks trained at HBHS on Monday. After their closed training they were in a class 2 up from mine. I had no idea and walked in with most of them with their shirts off!!!! Not bad. They train again here tommorrow. the Welsh were here yesterday and agin today.
Henry and I went to breakfast with the bulls at LIC last week. Very interesting! I didn't know that the teasers were steers and not cows! We are on the countdown to Rarotonga. Low 20 High 27 - yahoo. Take care. xx

What a great place to be for the soccer. We are the talk of the world with our 4 amateurs and only 4 full professionals. Enjo the sunshine - its snowing here!!

You can see how big the church (catholic) was when you review the pictures, bigger than governments, no wonder they ruled. See you soon

Checked the bach and all is okay