Hi Gus,

We hope the weather has picked up and you have recovered from all the cooking-it certainly looked impressive!

Things here are calming a little-Dad is back at work and I have had a lazy day. gramp came across for lunch yesterday and Barb, Kev and Chris came in the afternoon-we took Jacko out for a birthday walk. We are out to a party tomorrow evening and then it will nearly be New Years Eve-we are going to the golf club this year, so it should be quite fun.

We will ring Harriet shortly to see if she can take Jack shooting tomorrow-there wasn't a shoot on Boxing day but he did have a long walk with his girl friends and Jackson and Josh.

I hope you are enjoying yourself at the Dive shop-and hope you are able to meet up with Alex shortly. Lots of love-take care Mum and Jenxxxxx

Hi Ben, it was such a lovely suprise to hear from you christmas day,it was so king of you to send to boys pressies, they have been using their cups and are now very excitied by the landrover, cococdile/aligator (I don't know the difference!) and frog on them.  I haven't yet grown our own aligator but I will take a picture for you when I do - the boys will love it.  Xmas is nearly gone now and just think you will be back of the next one, and you will probably spend it thinking of what you are doing now, so make sure you are enjoying it. Take care and have a great time. Jo and boys

Hi B, Lovely to hear you on the phone today. We had a fantatstic lunch aswell. Then we took Jack on a walk. Just about to have tea (the eating never ends, Great!) Aunty Mary is watching Emerdale, so things never change. We look forward to speaking to you soon. Merry Christmas. With lots of love from us all xxxxx

Happy christmas  I love you all you have helped me so much the cards and the pressies are just great and i feel that i am with you all. i am having  a great day i cooked a fantastic roast  even if i do say so myself! but am missing you all. i have updated photos  and will put a better message on soon love you all see you soon and merry christmas

 

Ben

We break up, we break down, we don't care if school falls down....... Yes thats right we have broken up for Christmas! Weather has got quite a bit colder and has even been frosty. Today we are going to give Jack his Christmas bath and then we are going to do our last bit of food shopping, then the house will be filled to the brim! How are your Christmas preparations going? Hoping to get in touch with Joan today so that we can 'chew the cud' regarding having children in Oz-and look at some of the summer pictures-bound to bring back happy memories.

 Pleased that Alex has made contact-I hope you manage to meet up -I'm sure you will have a laugh. Dad and I are meeting up with Sue and d*** tonight for a drink. We haven't seem them for years so i am really looking forward to that. I also managed to make contact with Liz the other day-Lovely to see her message. 

I am going to meet up with Joe tonight as he finishes work for Christmas and I am going to see his new car which he is very excited about (a black audi a3) I finished work yesterday so I am now officially unemployed!

Speak to you soon

Loads of Love Jen and Mum xxxx

Hiya Ben,

Lovely to see the new photos. Can't believe Christmas is getting so close. Have bought the tree but it may not get decorated until tomorrow as things sre a bit hectic at the moment. The extension is ....finished!! difficult to believe I know but we'll have room for everybody to sit on a soft chair after Christmas Lunch. Carpet went in today just hope the sofas arrive in time!

We all took Zak for his first proper walk in Westonbirt on Saturday and then Bob and Lindsey took him down to Torquay for the day yesterday. It seems he just didn't want to go out for a walk at all today! Lindsey is discovering that labradors can be very stubborn!!! We're hoping to introduce Zak to Jack on Christmas Day!

 Ian took Chris down to Gerry's ninjitsu last night. They both really enjoyed it. Ian doesn't have many weeks left now before he leaves though.......

Anyway it's lovely to see you looking so well. Congratulations on your qualifications!! You are a Star (Golden Boy)

Lots of love as always. xxxxx 

 

Hello i have put up some more Photos of the road trip to pick up Christianas car.

Her Car broke down 140kms short of Melbourne so Michael and I had to do a 1500km round trip to pick it up.

We had fun though drove through some very nicy countryside slept in a swag on the back of the trailer which was great, as we did't have a clue where we were parking up as it was pitch black but it turned out to be a loverley place.

Hope that your all well teh postman has been very busy i have not opened anything but i recognise the wrighting!

Love Ben

Ben!

 Looks like you're having a fine old time from the photos. Don't know if your Mum or Jen has mentioned, but I'll be out there too soon. Looking at your photos is making me look forward to it even more - Christmas in the sun sounds bloomin' marvellous to me! Drop me a line on my e-mail and we can sort out meeting up; I've been tipped off by your sis to come equiped with Marmite!

 Al.

Hello Liz  how are you? I hope the children liked the photos I risked life and limb to get them(well thats what i tell people).Yes Its going to be strange all around its getting hot out here and father christmas is standing on the side of the road. I also went for christmas drinks the other night wearing shorts it was very strange.

Hope that your all we and will show you the rest of the photos soon.

Hi Christmas greetings from Loughborough I have been keeping up with all your news on your message board, it sounds wonderful. I have been showing my children at school your fabulous shark pictures. I hope you have a very happy Christmas I know your Mum will really miss you. Things are very hectic at school as you can imagine but it is all good fun. It is going to be a very strange Christmas for me this year but I must keep going. With love and hope to see you soon. Love Liz, Emily, Andrew and Richard.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sorry - forgot to type my name!

Hi Ben - good to hear your news, good luck with the master course. Well we are into the christmas preparations now ( hope you've bought an advent calendar!) but feels strange as the weather is still so mild. Bought Dan and Ollie a calendar each and they are just getting the idea, although they were distraught the first day when they could only open one door. Its Matthews first birthday on Friday - he is on the move now and wont be long before he is walking. Chris and I off to Lille on Eurostar for the weekend - so glad we are not going on the ferry as the winds have been awful. Played crib with Gramp and Aunty Mary at the weekend - Aunty m had the all the luck - consecutive hands of 15,18 and even a 21! You wont need me to tell you how pleased she was especially as she was partnering Chris and Gramp was stuck with me! Life goes on pretty much as usual so keep the photos coming - looking forward to seeing you eating turkey in the sunshine!