Tell about it being hard to keep the news in. Originally we weren t going to be allowed to discuss it until January. I think I may have burst by then!

Yes we are all at Sallys for Christmas so I ll text you her landline number as that is probably your best bet for reaching us.

Went to see aunty Sheila last night and went out to a thai restaurant which was nice. Alfies christening is on the 17th January so if you ve nothing better to do that day you know where to come?

I hope that you and your parcel get united soon and that the contents don t disappoint too much after all the build up in your head.

Speak to you on skype at the weekend i hope. Sally and Toby coming to stay on Saturday Night. Love you lots mum xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I'm so so excited about being an aunty, it's going to be so fun having a little one around, imagine how wonderful christmas will be next year mum!!! i can't believe you had to hold that piece of news in when we spoke-how long have you known?

I'm struggling to feel at all christmassy in argentina, as it's very hot here. Nice though! Heading to BA on saturday now, so i'll definitely be able to skype on the weekend, or monday, i'll text to find out when's best. Are you at sallys christmas day then? Will ben be there? If she still can't get skype then i can call her landline if you can please send me it (lost my note book with it in!)as it's still very cheap.

Looking forward to painting again, and chris said he can help too if he's needed. He's excited about trying out kids furniture on baby!

miss you too, and keeping track of my parcel, lots of love and hugs xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hiya,

It was lovely to talk to you on Friday even though it was only brief as we were going out. The worst part of it was we told it the entertainment started at 7.30 and it didn t start till 8.30 so that was naff.

Hope you are gearing yourself up to be an Aunty in the summer. I so wanted to tell you all about it when we spoke but I had been sworn to secrecy at the time. Sally is very excited as you may well imagine and so am I!

Karen at Masqueraders would love to help out with the scenery in May and John and Mary are looking forward to your visit in March. But most of all I am looking forward to seeing you back home now as it seems a real long time since you left! Christmas is going to be very quiet this time around but im sure we will make as much noise as possible and have a lovely time at Sals.

Hope you are able to get on skype again soon and that your parcel reaches you in Buenos Aries. Love you lots and still missing you mum xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ah deb i know what you mean about christmas-it's going to be a strange one this year! We're going to be in a hostel in buenos aires with people we don't know...hope they're nice!

Had some wonderful news today mum, my parcels have arrived in lima!!! So we're getting them sent over to argentina, and they should be there soon yay!!

Its very rainy in rio now, so it's not so much fun here. Hoping it will improve so we can get up to christ the redeemer!xxxxxxxx

Yes ladies, gents, if you need style advice just talk to the debstar and you'll be right you lil rippers!!! hahaha My bedhair gets complemented now too - ace!

Miss you guys loads and loads, had a christmas party with the girls last night, was brilliant and now have christmas plans for after work on christmas day so all is good. will still be strange and sad that not with family but better prospects than before.

Hours have picked up so relying on the next couple of weeks to make me lots of monies!!!

lots of love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Chris needs me to very much reassure you that he would not under any circumstances of abandoned me!!! He may of had no choice but to meet me at the airport, but it didn't come to that so it's all good.

He's a poorly boy at the moment, so it's my turn to try and look after him as he's a bit crippled from extreme body boarding. It means that we have to spend longer in rio...how terrible!!!! (we like it here!)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Oooh Yes Lucy

our Debbie definitely has style now. Not that she didn t before of course. We all think she looks like Danni Minogue but I don t suppose that you have seen a picture of her with short hair.

I have started learning about spreadsheets on the computer now so you had better watch out as I may insert the odd pie chart or something. We made sand jars today over in Coventry which was fun. Mine is very pretty so I have put it on the mantlepiece.

Im glad you got your ticket for the flight sorted out as this travelling alone business is fairly scary. Would Chris really of abandoned you? Shame on him.

Well I hope you are getting the rest you needed in Brazil now and are building yourselves up for the next leg of your journey.

Love you lots mum xxxxxxxxxxxx

Oh yes it was exhausting, but amazing, and (apart from the food poisoning day) not as hard as I'd imagined.

I've had a traumatic day as my flight to brazil appeared to be cancelled! But it turned out to be a silly airline issue, with too many people making changes to my ticket and not informing all parties of the new confirmation number! believe me, i was not excited about the prospect of making my way through one of the biggest cities in the world (sao paulo) on my own!! But it's all ok

Wait til you all see the sardine bites, they're bad! I got pics to prove it!

Dad, sal was entertaining, and so was mum, but there was no dr who toy fun so of course the conversation wasn't quite complete!! Did you have a good london trip though? See ben ??

Mum, i've been in touch with south american explorers, the post office, and a kind hostel owner in the hope of getting the parcel forwarded. I'm feeling positive that someone will come through for me, as i was desperately sorry not to get it yesterday :-(

Lots of love to everyone xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ooh, love Debbies hair-that girl has style now eh!!!

Wow!! What a fantastic site - never realised what an amazing site it is.

Must have been breathtaking - not least of all the climb up there !!!

Glad you are both Ok - despite (I hear) encounters with little scorpion type creatures & fish !!!

Was in london last nite so missed the skype session - was Sally as funny as I usually am ???

Look forward to next seires of pics - keep fit & well

Love to you both

Daddy xxx

Your new photos look amazing. I sympathize with those steps Lucy they look very daunting but you did it!

It was lovely to speak to last night and catch up on some of your adventures. Cant believe that your parcel didnt arrive Im pretty sad about that but never mind maybe it will catch up with you in Buenes Aries (is that right?)

Have just received the photo of Debbie with short hair. We think she looks really nice and looks like Danni Minogue. That probably doesnt mean alot to you as you probably havent seen the pictures of Danni minogue with short hair. HaHa.

Hope you have a good journey to Brazil and enjoy a few days of comparable luxury. Hopefully you will find plenty of good food and maybe a beach to lie on for a few days.

Love you and miss you mum xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

OH MY GOODNESS!

Your entry may not of gone up first time Lucy but mine is there FIVE times! Dont worry I wont be cross with you for not reading it five times.

Love mum xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Good Blog once again. Where are the pictures of the chocolate wrap though Lucy. I know they exist as I saw them on Sallys face book. Don t be shy.

Had a Parcel delivered today from Chris s mum and dad. It was very exciting to open but there was nothing for Ben is that right?

I will indeed forward Miss Debbies little package to Oz for you.

Horse riding is fun I don't know why you had so much trouble with it. Ok so you may get a little sore after many hours if you haven t done it for a while but I feel a little too much fuss was made!(hehe)

Will pay cheque into Natwest for you my dear and I will also remind dad to send pills.

Just let me know if there is anything else won t you? Love you and miss you lots mum xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx