Wow Ben, that sounds really exciting - you lucky boy! I like the thought of exploring a wreck but not the reality of being so far under the water! I think I could do the tropical island bit though!

A lovely sunny day here so I've been digging the garden - I'm putting spuds in the flower beds because they are so full of weeds and next year I'll start again with them from scratch. Karin went back to Munich this morning so we're getting back to normal and making the most of the peace and quiet.

Can't remember whether I told you that Darren and Co aren't selling the R&C after all. He seems quite happy about it and I think it's good news for the village. We don't like change around these here parts you know.....!!

Anyway have a lovely trip and take care !! Lots of love from us xxxx

PS looking forward to seeing you in a couple of months!!!! (or so) 

 

Hello everyboby hope that your all well i have just finished packing as we are off to Vanuatu for two weeks. Sun sea and tropical Island diving and also the largest wreck that you can dive in the world,10 meters smaller than the titanic, going from about 25m down to 70m. Carl and i are going to the bottom so we have been busy with all the extra things that we have to take, twin tanks etc. Looking forward to showing you all the photos as long as the camera survives the trip!

 will speak to you all soon ben

Hi B, I hope that you are ok and that you are having a good time? What have you been up to? I have been very busy at work etc. I am now trying to get everything up together for going to Lourdes it is coming up really quickly! Have you got any hot cross buns? take care. Love Jen xx 

hi Ben had a great time in  New York  all one mad rush but good fun.Took a walk down to ground zero on sunday all very strange and quite. Had a heilcopter trip around Manhatten, which is one of the things every body should do, breathtaking!! Hows life with you ?Whats all this about an earthquake in Vanuatu,( is it about  time you came home to little safe Amberley)  England can,t score nil- nil against Israel  and last night 3 -0 against Andorra (part timers)all scored in the 2nd half  total rubbish bring back Beckham at least he can cross the ball .Better stop there befor I get angry!!!!  speak soon Dad

Hi Ben, a long overdue message. Good to speak to you this morning. I have had a quiet weekend with your dad away-just me and Jacko. We have just had a lovely work down the woods. The clocks went forward last night, which always throws me to start with-its 6.00 pm and the sun is shining!

Jenny has had a busy weekend-I spoke to her earlier and she told me the exciting news that Jack(Joe's brother) has been picked to play in the Hong Kong 7s -he leaves today. He will also be playing in Oz so you will have to listen out for him, other than that she has just been working.

Barb and Kev dropped in with Karin on Friday evening-it was good to see them. Yesterday I did some 'catch up' jobs in the house and met up with Joan, then Nympsfield for mass. A Mary seemed to be quite good but didn't get time to speak to her really. I have two weeks left at school so nearly there. We have parent's evenings this week and a football tournament so there will be three late nights-poor Jacko!

Christina rang and was delighted to receive your card-she said it had made her day. Hope you have a wonderful time on the island-just take care and don't worry about contacting us if it is difficult-'no news is good news'. Hope your 'toad in the hole' is successful and enjoyed by all-lots of love Mum xxxxxx

That sounds lovely Ben! So glad you're having such a great time. Has been quite snowy here but nothing settled so no sledging. Just flurries and bitter cold.... you're not missing anything!

Went to your Mum's school today and had a fab time - literacy is such fun! We went to Amberley on Sunday afternoon and caught up with Jenny which was lovely. Unfortunately we missed seeing the baby but your Dad had taken some photos. There seemed to be chocolates everywhere!!

Auntie Mary is recovering well from her fall and seems to have her finger on the pulse again!!!

My german friend Karin is coming over with the Stroud High exchange and will stay with us for ten days so we're looking forward to that as it will involve lots of eating and drinking!

Chris is taking part in a Kinex challenge in Bishops Cleeve tomorrow representing St Joseph's. It should be fun and he's quite imaginative in his designs so fingers crossed - I would love him to win.

Was talking to Mary at the Top Crown yesterday and she says she has two shoots that go in there but they drink coffee - how strange is that????

Not much else to report - Kevin still snowed under at work. He took his car for its MOT and service yesterday which cost a huge amount of money so i'm planning to find him a second job What with my trip to the dentist it's been a very costly month - oh for the simple (cheap) life!!! Make the most of it and take care. Lots of love as always xxxx

PS the crocodile is currently residing in a plastic ketchup bottle filled with water - no chance it'll eascape from there!! 

Hello everyone hope that your all well things have been busy here with lots of diving so thats good. Today we are going to a place called Kangaroo valley where we are going canoeing and camping so this should be great fun.

i will let you all know how it goes

Don't know what your on about!

 

Hello everyone just got back from a place called south west rocks where we had some mad dives. the dive was a cave dive and ther was a lot of gray nurse sharks and wobbegong sharks.

 

Tomorrow we are doing another deep wreck dive its called the tugra  and its at 48 meters so have to be up early in the morning.

Hope that your all well love ben

Hi Ben - hear you have been partying hard over there. A little bird sent me a message from Mike's leaving party - 'tell Ben Smith's Auntie he's snogging!!' Don't think that just because you're hundreds of miles away we won't know what you're up to!! Maybe you should pass on some gossip as well.  Have fun! Love from us allXX

hey ben its al! your mum and dad gave methis address and just been looking at your pictures.. so so so lush but the great white shark bit not so lush. glad your having such a great time in oz. missed you skiing as had no one to take out on the aglenoir.. shame perhaps next year. now dont get attacked or bitten by any of these crazy animals you seem to regularly encounter and shall see you when you return when ever it may be! all the shepherds from chalford, sheffield and london send their love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Ben.  Just looked at your latest photos - they are very good and it seems as if you are still enjoying your Oz experience! Keep it going, but take care.  See you in the Summer I expect. Love J & B xxx

Hello Ben, Thank you for the new pictures-your eyes look a bit scary when you are down so deep-please be careful-I wouldn't want them to stop like that! Joking apart it looks like you are continuing to have great fun. We are looking forward to catching up with Michael later in the week-you will miss him.

Things here are very busy with lots going on -mostly meetings and initiatives with a deadline of yesterday-anyway we are managing to hang in there. Rhian is doing well and getting quite expert on the zimmer frame. Barb came into school on Monday to work with some of the older children and she popped in for the staff meeting tonight-she is very well. Dad has been at home today and we have had a new radiator put into the bathroom. Jacko is busy taking the stuffing out of the pineapple -for the second time!

Take care of yourself and safe journey for Michael-loads of love Mum and Dad xxx