Hi guys

unfortunately we didn´t stay in Lima long enough to see Paddington - don´t know what he sees in the place?! Do bears like traffic and marmalade sandwiches?!

Hows Grandma doin? Can´t believe you´ve actually seen her wash her hair!

Glad to hear the boys are behaving - i´m a little annoyed that you´ve put one of them in my room tho! HOW DARE YOU!

How did the birthdays go? What are the plans for the big 60 then?!?! I feel i can mention that while i´ve got an entire Ocean between father and i! YES ERIC WILL BE 60 ON MAY 13TH!!!!! I think - i´m in trouble if it´s not!!!!!!!

NICK YOU SHOULD DEFINATELY DEFINATELY DEFINATELY STAY IN HUACACHINA FOR A FEW DAYS! IT´S BLOODY BRILLIANT!

You b*****s! Barcelona?! NOT FAIR! I EXPECT EQUAL CELEBRATORY EXTRAVAGANCE ON MY RETURN!

Well done on the series win kate - not suprising really tho is it?!  Wolf fur boots sound amazing - how am i gonna top that holiday souvenir?! (is that how you spell it?! That English degree worked wonders)

Mother i admire your attempt to find us an easter egg for our return! Please keep up the hunt cos it would be soooo worth it! We actually managed to track down some Cadbury´s on our way to Lima a few days ago - delicious!  Plans have changed abit since we booked that flight from Lima, so we´ve cancelled it and are gonna make our way to Cusco from Arequipa - don´t really want to stay in Lima as it didn´nt seem that appealing - particualrly when we might be able to do one of the alternative Inca trails before we do the real thing!  Or maybe go bungee jumping/white water rafting etc. at the nearby extreme adventure park! WOOHOO! Didn´t think i´d be up for crazy stuff, but got a real buzz after chucking myself headfirst down a 50m sand dune last night on a waxed up sand board that i´m up for anything!!!!!!!  It´s all fun - and yes the insurance does cover it!!!!

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Sorry I have not written sooner - some of us have work you know!! Fantastic photos! The colours in the lakes looked so unreal - such brilliant turquoise and blues. Looked up the journey from Huaraz to Pisco on the map and it did indeed look one hell of a distance. Never mind you can now relax and enjoy the sun and sea for a while. I agree with Mum G, it really did look like you'd landed in Blackpool or Fleetwood (ie the pier), although the fishermen and the boats were a bit different from the ones usually seen in Fleetwood! Will you visit Lima before flying from there to Cuzco on 25th? If you do you may see Paddington's Aunt Lucy as she lives in the Home for Retired Bears in Lima. Sue K said she had enjoyed your blog. I thought she said she'd left a message but maybe she's not yet mastered that art. I should talk. This is my third attempt at sending this message. The others I managed to send into oblivion! When I eventually make contact with your Aunt Rose (she's too busy enjoying herself in Vietnam and Perth), I'll check that she has your blog details. She'll love looking at the photo's which will no doubt remind her of her back-packing days in South America. Ian has just informed me that Cambridge won the Boat Race today. Apparently it was a good race. Spurs lost to Chelsea 1-0 at Chelsea. Ian a bit disapointed. The weather has been warm and sunny for the past two days. The garden is tidied, the lawn cut, the patio power-cleaned and the garden furniture retrived from the shed and cleaned. Lets now hope that tomorrow (Easter Sunday) is warm enough for us all to sit outside. Happy Easter to you both. Don't they really celebrate Easter big time in South America - lots of fireworks, etc? Still trying to find you both an Easter egg with an eat by date more than June'07.Keep safe and stay happy. Lots of love to you both Mum W xx.

Hiya,

Sounds like you are havin a ball, sorry I've not been online for a bit- its crazy at the moment. Rick got back from skiing on sat, complete with beer gut and tales of drunken adventures, which concluded in him buying a gold garden knome making a rude gesture and a pair of wolf fur boots for me- hmmmmm. Managed to palm the knome off on Stephen for his birthday but the boots are still howling at me from the corner of my bedroom.

Mum has booked my hen do- 3 days in Barcelona at a gorgeous modern hotel just off the ramblas- 6th July weekend- cant wait! There are 12 of us going, such a shame that you couldn't be there elf, but we will have a night out when you return too.

Finished filming the series last night and I won- 4-2! thank god for that, my parting shot was a faaaaabulous £12 primark dress, which beat susannas £550 frock, i love it!

Anyway, I have a tub of vanilla ben and jerrys calling me, oh and a buttons easter egg that may have to make an early appearance.

Keep me updated!

K.xxxxxxxxxxx

 

Andy is watching football - i can´t believe it.  This is your fault Mr Parkinson.

Well you are obviously having the time of your lives and it's fantastic to be able to follow you both on this travelogue. You will remember all the good bits and the bad for the rest of your lives, so long as you don't tell your Mum about any of the later and save those for when you come back.

Can you take any video with your camera as some of the panoramas look stunning.

To get back to our reality we did go to Bredbury Hall and it was like being on 'Life on Mars'. The original 'disco' bit has been extended with a hotel and restaurant. When we got there we were welcomed by many bouncers I was followed in and asked/instructed to return to the cloakroom as I was wearing my leather tailored jacket as 'leathers are not allowed in the restaurant'. I know they don't ask Ricky Hatton to do the same when he goes there. I am not sure what sort of people they get in there but in the bar area and restaurant the average age must have been about mid forties and people were generally obese. The band must have been averaging 60 and played lounge lizard music.

Consistent with the theme of the setting the food was plastic, although the Faustino wine was good- difficult to mess that up though. We didn't stay for the late night disco, karaoke and the bacon baps at 4.00am. Doug and Helen did and seemed to have enjoyed themselves. They had booked a room there aswell.

When I saw your horses in Equador I thouht that I couldn't ever complain about Charm again. She seems like a thoroughbred. Andy must be toughening up his bum by now and honing his riding technique. Well I am due to do a dressage test soon with Gerry. If I don't get a rosette I shal be very upset. With the light evenings Joe will be starting up his late ride through Tatton. I shall look forward to going on a few.

The lads skiing holiday was great in Zermatt with loads of snow. Prince Will was staying literally opposite us and we shared the slopes with us, Kate and his other oiks were ther together with some more discreet, short haired, members of his party. I was really surprised that Mark didn't go up to him and start chatting, mind you if he did he would probably been taken out by a sniper.

Well the veg chilli bekons so take care and look forward to hearing about your forthcoming exploits

 

love

Ian

 

Hi guys, Thank you for the happy birthday message . When do you see Machu Picchu, I can't wait to see those pics! I didn't know you went to see the sun pyramid too, and that was one cool looking dog. 

 

Now we know - your really at Blackpool!! we saw a glimpse of the pier!!! Where's the arcades and fun fair????

Great to hear from you both, how blue was that lake I know a certain Topsy who'd be in that in a flash - probably freeze in the process though.  Talking of our 4 legged friend, she is a the moment curled up (in the sunshine I might add) on the mound that is Nick's tent!!! He and Emma had a practise tent putting up session last night ready for their trip to Portsmouth next week!!!

The garden is wrecked at this time, dad's done 6 tip trips with rubble (and everyone else's rubbish) from the back of the shed.  The dogwoods are no more and neither is that stupid pebble pool, which we thought was so good for the first day!!!!

Grandma is still doing well, had her first shower today AND WASHED HER HAIR. I've at last seen my mother with wet hair after ALL these years!!!

So far peace reigns in the household while C & S are in separate rooms (sorry Andrew your room is a mess!!!!!!)  However the fish are still surviving although we are going to clean them out later - your 3 weeks has slipped to 4 sorry!!!

Better go and show willing and do some gardening!!! Natter later.  Tons of love to you both, what are you exploring today? take care Mum G

PS Founf Paddington yet????

Forgot to say when I actually read it, but how great was your trek/jungle/zip line advaneture!!! Looks fantastic!

Hi guys, how's things? Been emailing but it's not working too well at the moment, and as I spend every waking minute WORKING I haven't sorted it! Lovin' the blog, it makes Richard and I laugh on an almost nightly basis! Glad Colin is keeping well. All is fine in riding school world, Emma and I working our asses off while Sarah's away. Missing you for Pony Club Soph!!! Will attempt to email again later, but keep having a good time. I would have died by now with all that walking! Then again, that's coz I'm stuffing my face with Mini Eggs this week!!!!!!

 Ta ta

x x x 

Good morning you two!! Only going to be a quick one as I'm sat at home and ned to be in work in 18 minutes....not going to happen. The pictures of the horse ride through the forest look incredible and the cabin with the hammock etc - wow! Handy banana plant too I have to say - do frogs like bananas? anyway.......will look through more pictures later when I get to work. Am I an evil person for laughing about Andy's rope burns!? Wel I know he'd laugh at me if it were the other way around!! :)

May post again later if I get chance.

Alan

Hi Guys,

Sorry about the blank message, I hit the return key by accident!  Please can I have a hairless dog to match my hairless head.

I'm writing this in the classroom at Aquinas and I have an audience.  Everyone likes your photos, especially on the roof of the train.  It looked pretty cold up there, not warm as I imagined Equador to be.

Peru doesn't appear to be the best place in the world, I hope you find some interesting places to visit.

Got to go, the little dears are demanding my attention.

Take care and have a great Easter. I'll eat lots of eggs for you!!

Dad G