Ruth Hi!  Your dad's b'day party was fun, it was nice to see folk I haven't seen for years!  Everyone was looking really well!  It was so odd seeing Ben drinking beer, he was just a wee boy when I saw him before and now he's all grown up, makes me feel ancient!Anyhoo, hope Fiji was fun (lucky cow!) and that you are still lovin life down under.  I've bought a flat up here in El'Gin so I guess I'll be here a wee while yet. Take care doll, Ruth xx

Rhone Hi Bella,  Saw lots of people who were asking for you last weekend.  I told them to check your website!  Maggie was very amused.  Speak to you tomorrow.  LOL  GM xxxxx

Aunt Hi Bella, seems everyone has realised just how good you are keeping us up to date. Hopefully Ani can do some photos for you to put on the site and perhaps help write a message. Will be in touch via your other email as I am in charge of you and Ben for the next 2 weeks. LOL GM xxxxxxxx

Maxine Hi Babs ! Great to hear you are doing well. Hazel has filled me in on what you are up to. I haven't had a chance to listen to the CD you did yet but I've been told its fab. The job sounds great. Just the kind of job I would love to do some day. It's been a long time since I have seen you but I'm doing fine. I'm living in Grandad's house with my boyfriend Neil and we've been staying there for just over a year now. It's great to be living there and its full of fond memories of a great man. We all miss him tons but I know he would be very proud of you. Anyway, I've got to go now because there is a huge pile of ironing with my name on it (god help me) so take care and good luck with the new band ! Love Maxine :) x

Ruth Hi Well Dublin was wet! But Take That rocked. I know I will prob get a bit of a slagging for saying so but I don't care, I had the best time, they put on an amazing show. I wasn't a fan 10yrs ago but I would risk saying that I am now. Beverley Knight was supporting and she was very good - amazing set of lungs on her, though she does sometimes kick the arse out of a note just cos she can! But then I reckon I would too if I could. Back at work planning my next escape. Can't see out my fringe again so maybe a trip to the hairdresser in Aberdeen might be in order, pop in and pester your mum while I'm there. Almost lunchtime - off to M&S for salad and then more coffee and a gawk at the waiter, at least the sun is shining and I can look exotic in my massive sun glasses. Take care hun, hope all is still well xxx

Pammy-Sue Hello Miss Babsie, Aha, so Melbourne is getting a tad chilly?? Yes, it does a bit, in winter. It'll be OK again by September. It's cool in Sydney too - we've got the electric blanket on our bed - sad or what?? Good to read your news. Glad you love the job(s). And I hope you've got a good social life sorted .... We're off to the Middle East (Dubai and Bahrain - might bump into your Uncle George - small world) be back mid June ... if you decide to move back to (slightly) warmer climes and need a place to rest your heeed. Keep out of trouble! Love, P-S in Syd. x x x x x

Rhone Hi Bella, Hope your first gig goes well and the dancing steps are to your liking. we had a fab weekend away with friends in a very remote spot called Ardnamurchan. John caught a fish and we had it for dinner on Sunday night very tasty. Hamish ate a fish that Greg caught as it was hanging a net-big fight with the mutt to get the trout back. Surprised it was not Nev who did that. Steven is home this weekend so it is the Broon family BBQ, hopefully not last too long. I will get a burger each and some limp lettuce, should see them on their way. The garden decking is done looks great John worked really hard. I will go now and fight with the next person on my list. Done the school nurses! Speak to you soon I will text first to see if you are free. Enjoy your singing hope they are paying you well! Your CD is with Jan and was really impressed with your voice. Will play it at the BBQ for the broons. LOL GM xxxxxxxx

Hi Babsie Nice to get a message from Ruth now and then - I think she is better at adding to the message board than the person it was meant for!! Mumxxx

Ruth Hey hunny bunny, glad you are enjoying your work, it sounds really fab - I spend my days at my desk wishing for a fun exciting job like that, maybe I am in the wrong place (Elgin is freezing today - and raining!!!!). Off to Dublin tomorrow to see (sshh don't tell anyone cos it's embarrassing) Take That. Was supposed to be a cheap wknd away but has wound up quite expensive but never mind, I am sure it will be fun, drinking Guinness and Tia Maria in the same glass - I could get used to that! Sorry to hear about Nick but I am sure if it is meant to be, it will be. He needs to figure our where he wants to be and it sounds like he has plenty of good options so hopefully he will find a way to be happy. Maybe if you stay there long enough for me to save up any money, I may come see you (I know I keep saying that but one day...) I am heading out to the Post Office for Euros and then meeting my friend for a coffee, there is a cute waiter I like to get a look at at least once a day - brighten up the afternoon a wee bit. Mum has her last chemo today (Friday) and then that is her able to just get better which is nice, no date yet for her 'boob job' but her hair should come back pretty quick, she hopes she will look like Kylie but I reckon she might be a bit too optimistic! Any way doll, take care and keep smiling, post some more news more often! Lots of Love, Ruth xx

Hi Babsie Lovely to hear from you, the job and the singing sounds too good to be true. No doubt Irene will want you to audition for the Australian Pop Idol she was on about. It would be a bit of fun. Glad the job is keeping you busy - once Nick leaves you will need lots to do to keep you going but hopefully once he decides what he wants then all will be well. When does he leave? Are you going to Adelaide to Naomi's birthday party? I am sure Auntie Ally would love to see you but you may not have enough time with the singing as well. We are looking forward to coming to Australia to see you in December. Maybe we will go to Sydney too, I would love to see the sights there as well as Melbourne and Adelaide. It will be such a wonderful trip. I got a map of the great southern road between Melbourne and Adelaide with all the places of interest along the way so it will be well studied before we come over so we can see the best bits. Sophie sends her love, she has a Grade 5 Ballet exam on Tuesday and got an A for her last dancing exam so she is doing well so far. Ben has exam fever at the moment but by Monday it will all be over for a little while anyway. He will be job hunting for the summer after that - no rest for the wicked. Give our love to Nick and wish him well on the trip to the Bahamas - how come he chooses all the best places? Let us know how the singing gets on - I am still enjoying your cd and listen to it in the car - it makes you seem closer. Take care LOL Mum, Dad Sophie and Amber xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

GM Hi Bella, Got your text message so went on line. Shock horror a big message. I have cpoied it off for Granster and Papsnap. they are about to go to Italy for a wee holiday. Papa has a cough and is on antibiotics but he is much better now. Sophie did well in her singing the grandparents went to support her and saw benny as well. Hope you 2 are ok and you are right- if it is for you both you will be together later. Give our love to Nick and tell him to keep in touch I have his email address. Going away this weekend then will have to work hard finishing the garden for the Broon party- Steven is away to Afganistan soon so we are havin a BBQ on Saturday!!!!!!!!!!! Also having one for the big 50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very sad. Hope the rehersals go well. it is nice and sunny here Liz is melting in the office. LOL Your fav Auntie xxxxx

Babsie Hello Everyone!! I thought it was bout time I popped something up on here. My good aunt will be chuffed!! I've been very busy with my new job. I'm sure mum will have filled you all in by now, but I am no longer in the call centre - thank the lord! I am now the PA and Marketing Assistant to the CEO of the same company. It so busy but I love it so far. Everyday is different and they have me doing so many different things and I'm involved in everything from looking after Will's (boss) dry cleaning, to helping organising fashion shows and store openings, to trying to land million dollar deals! Its really fun and all the people I work with are great so also a bonus!! Also, I have got a singing job. Its with a Motown group - the songs are fab! I start rehearsing with them tonight and can't wait to be singing regularly again! I'm missing it so this should keep me going for a while! They are working towards recording an album and things and they do gigs all over the place so hopefully it'll go somewhere exciting! Nick and I have decided to have a wee break for now. He's not enjoying his swimming as mush anymore and feels that he can do so much more with his skills- I've been telling him this for quite some time! So he's decided to move to the Bahamas and I'm going to stay here. I'm sure we'll end up together again at some stage but for now, we want different things. That old chestnut! So we'll just see how it goes. No body panic, I'm ok! I had a few tears but I'm a tough cookie! So, what else... I'm not sure. The weather is not so great now. More like home than the Australian heat that I was hoping to become accustomed to! Still the odd warm day, but getting noticeably cold - I might be back in Sydney yet Pammy!! And I'm looking for a house again. It's such a pain in the but!! I would've had to do that anyway though - our land lord is quite mean and doesn't fix things, The toilet seat is broken and I almost fell off the bloody toilet last night and cut my hand on the loo roll holder! It was just great. Add to this the fact that the shower leaks and the water gathers around the base of the toilet and makes it really slippery so you can imagine you have to be quite precise with the positioning of the feet and the gentleness with which you place your butt cheeks on the seat! Any way... enough of that!! (Sorry mum) There's a wee update for you! I can never think of much to write. I know I've been doing something exciting - well, just being here is pretty exciting in itself! Lots of love to everyone, Babsie xxxxxxxxxx

Pammy-Sue Hello Miss Barbra, I hope Melbourne is being kind to you. It's a lovely city but their winters can be a bit nippy ... mid winter will be like Aberdeen in July. Sydney is still warm and dry. The last rain was when you were here! Trust the job is going OK. And the flat. And the love-life. ENJOY! Love, P.

Rhone Back now from our great holiday logged on to read your update! Pam has been trying to get you she must have the wrong address so I will send it to her again. LOL Rhone xxxxx

Rhone Hi Bella, we are away on our hols now to sunny west scotland> have packed the factor 2 and swimsuits. Going to Islay where there are no campsites so we will need to go to the swimming pool for a wash! Wild camp on the beach - I will pretend it is Bondi! Will speak to you soon or at least text you. LOL GM xxxxx