Hello everybody, i am back in Cairns had a mad couple of weeks the diving was fantastic saw so many sharks it was un true,along with a manta ray and a minky whale. but the work was very long and tiring 6am till 9.30-10.00pm constantly working and most of the time for idiots!

I hope that your all well i will leave a better message soon.

Save our swing!!!!!!

hey Ben,

Yeh we'll be there for your party, no worries about that. Whats the local widlife like?! Theres going to be four of us coming over. Reading our dive books at the mo, its taking for ever, and just read the bit that says 'if you've run out of air, with no buddy around and your under 12-15 metres, just look up, blow out and go for it' sounds to me if you find yourself in that situation, your pretty screwed either way.

Ohhh yeh, and for all you family members out there reading this i would also like to back the 'SAVE THE SWING' campaign, thats almost worth flying home for...almost

Hello all no luck  with a camera what a pain. I am in Cairns now and am just going to meet the boat so i am not sure when i will next leave a message. I had a briefing on the boat yesterday it sounds amazing so i willn let you know.

Speak to you all soon love ben

                                                 SAVE THE SWING

Hi Ben,

 Just reading the previous message and wondering about setting up a 'Save the swing' campaign! Any luck with the camera yet? Contrary to your Aunty's advice I think that your Dad is helpless-the timescale is just too short to get anything over to you, but if you can find a replacement it could be an early birthday gift!!!! Let us know.

Jenny has sent a text from France. her first verdict is that the place is a bit 'IFFY' so I don't know what she means by that-hopefully she will have better weather than here. Your Nan received her card on Saturday and rang up in great excitement- it's odd that they both arrived the same day after such a long gap.

I must get on with some work now-have a safe trip to Cairns-lots of love Mum xxxx

Hi Ben, bad news about the camera, hope you can work something out - borrow one or ring Dad or something!!  (the latter sounds a good idea to me). You look so well in your photos, so glad you're still enjoying life.Has been pretty hectic here. I have just come home from my third trip to Kinsale this year. Lovely place to go I know but finding it all a little draining. Came home on Saturday to find Chris and Steve helping Gramp to take down his garden shed and the summerhouse. Both have rotted out and need replacing. But guess what? They've taken up the swing! I'm sure it will be re-erected for the next generation but not in its usual place!  The things that change when you're away!  Looking forward to seeing you soon. Take care.

Sorry to hear about your camera Ben - that really is a pain. Hope you enjoy the diving anyway though. It's tipped down with rain all day here and yesterday wasn't much better. I spent both days doing my kayaking course and now I've got a badge to sew on so i'm feeling happy!

A Mary got your postcard on Saturday I think - It's strange how some took longer than others. Obviously she was very pleased to hear from you. Am pretty much exhausted now I'm afraid so I'll finish with lots of love and speak again when I can actually get my fingers and brain to coordinate! Take Care See You soon! XXXXXX 

Hello everyone hope that you all well went out on friday to watch Cronulla sharks play football(rugby league!) Its the local team and they a also towards the top of the leaque it was a good game and even better as they won. We all then went into the members clubfor a few drinks and to see the players.

Was a very good night apart from a dropped my camera so now have the underwater housing no camera and going to do the best diving australia has to offer on wednesday. I am Gutted.

 Hi Ben  your mum was over the moon with your card well done you have now got lots of brownie points. We all had a wonderful day last week for Jennys graduation she looked very professional and a great credit to herself ,all of us ,and Norland college .( the girl did well) even the weather was kind to us and we took loads of photos some much better than others you will have to give me some tips, sounds like your Grampy Glos would be proud of you.I'am also off next weekend to Marbella with Essilor all work!!!!!!!     Not long now see you soon Dad    ps.  I've just been told by the girls to send you love from E@K

Hello everyone i have just been on nick and nicks offexploring looking at the photos from when we were all in cairns. It was great

Hi Ben, I feel really out of touch with your site-it is ages since I looked-after losing my message a couple of times I decided to send email-anyway I am trying to catch up now. The last photos are very good and you are obviously having great fun but what is it about-is there something significant about all your heads together or are you just larking about? Like Jen says it is quite nice to see a batch of photos without a fish in sight!

I want to thank you very much for the Mother's day card I really appreciated it and the message was super (I can just hear Jenny making those nasty wretching noises) up to his ears it will be!

Since returning from Lourdes I have struggled with a sore throat and tiredness so everything has been rather an effort but today I am feeling much better and hopefully am now over it. As the others have said it has been a very busy time -the day out on Sunday was super (little boys were especially fun) and Jenny's diploma day was lovely (not sure what Jen meant about the wine!) you would have been very proud of her. We had Sue and Chris around for supper on Saturday evening- it was good to catch up -also Sue G who sends you her love and some cajan spice for your return.

I am so pleased that you and Ian are going to catch up -it seems like he is also having a great time. You have been invited to the Shepherds on the first Saturday you return to celebrate Fred's 21st, Andrea's 50th and Alice's 18th -I have accepted on your behalf so I hope that is OK. I think it will be a busy time catching up with family and friends and it seems amazing that it is only next month!

Anyway I am going to get some supper and look at my card again- lots of love -take care in Cairns -Mumxxxxx

Hey Ben? Hows it going? Went for a free tester dive in a pool t'otha day, not the most hardcore thing in the world, but loved it. So we're looking into doing the course locally, apparently its pretty cheap NZ$450, gives us something to do during our days as theres no more work, and Jimmy's got plans to do a couple of dives out here first .Yeh, would be awesome if you could take us for a dive when we get to Oz, that'd be really good. Can't wait to get out there now. Hows the diving going? Congratulations for that award your lot won, sounds damn impressive