iris and bill Hi, Norma and Derek We have been following your blog, of your entire trip and it sounded fabulous, hope you enjoy langkawi, have a pleasant and safe trip home, hope to see you on the 24th at the Carvary with your final instalment

kathy and ian Hi to you both, by now you will be back in london, lucky you are not in queenstown to-day only 8, we had 20 and very windy. Enjoy your homecoming love kathy and ian

sandra Hi you two....this is so sad that your wonderful holiday of life-changing experiences and wondrous exploits is coming to an end! I just feel that I now am 8 weeks older than when you left(which isn't a good thing....)but how you have filled your time from us all in such an amazing way supported by your family over in New Zealand. I guess you have been helped along the way by them all and you will be indebted to them for a long time to come. Heaven knows when you get back hom I am sure I will be on first name terms by the time you have related your visits with them and I have sat through tons of pictures of them! I suppose Booths are polishing up the fruit and veg section for your return Derek and lining up a question and answer form for your customers cos I'm sure you will test them on anything native to Australia and New Zealand from now on re origin, type of soil, transportation etc., You will probably be put in charge of the "exotic fruit" section...now that would be something....Now you are almost on the way home I can tell you that Antony and Heather would like to invite you to Freddie's Christening on Sunday 15th March. They know you will be weary travellers and will have travelled half way around the world but Nicola knows the detaills and I will leave it at that for now. Enjoy the rest of your time in New Zealand and look forward to your journey home knowing your bed is awaiting you with the pillows fluffed up and the kettle on.....can't beat that arrival at the airport and knowing your hom..... lots of love to you both and have a safe journey back to Howick. See you soon.....Sandra xxxx

kathy and Ian Hi to you both thanks for the lovely flowers, nice to hear you are having a good rest after your worldwin holiday down under, all fine hear sunshine around 23 to-day. Enjoy your last days. love Kathy and Ian ps next time keep you shoes close to your chest.

jane corrin Hi Norma and Derek, the beach looks beautiful in Malaysia a nice relaxing end to your non-stop sightseeing tour, can't wait to see all your photos it's been great to follow your travels and imagine the warmth instead of the gales we have here now. See you soon Jane

Nicola and Martin Hi guys, well its your last few days of your great adventure, and mine at that. Dad i cant believe you had your shoes nicked, you can take that man out of liverpool but you cant take liverpool outta the man eh!! flippin scouce!!! Anyways you will all be glad to know that the house is still in one piece, and i havent managed to scare martin away. well not that i know of anyway. spoken to auntie reenie a few times, she keeps ringing to check that im ok. Karen next door popped round, her washing machine broke so she did some washing here, so please knock a few units off for that please dad, haha. And she picked the day where there was loads off washing thrown on the floor (in piles) that needed doing. Marting says hello. Anyways hope you enjoy the last few days of your holiday, looking forward to seeing you, but im warning you if you come home to MY house and make a mess your out!! and that is not a joke!!! i have sheltered accomodation on stand by.oh and by the way dad hope that you havent spent all your money, im ready to fly the nest, so you have to buy me a nice house!! bbye see you soon. lots of love from us both x x x x

Hazel Wow cant belive your nearly in Langkawi. Its sounds like you have both had lots of fun. Cant wait to see some pictures. Enjoying your regular updates. Andrew says hi as do a few from work. Anyway got to dash. Enjoy Langkawi. Take care Hazel x

Steph (Surrogate Daughter) OMG, just laughed out loud (sorry) to hear of you walking around bare foot, i am sure it wasnt a pleasant experience, but at the same time funny for the rest of us to read. hahaha hope you found a pair of sandles that matched the comfort of your 60quid ones. Bed testers i think would be an amazing idea, especially if these beds are in all the amazing places you 2 have been visiting, where do i apply? By the way i think when you get back you should have a mini party and have a slide show of all your piks, altho i prob dont have a few days to spare to look at them ALL but fill us all in and stuff! sound good? Saty Safe Steph xx

linds Hi Kathy some tipster i turned out to be hope you didnt back it but Spin Around 56 to 1 outsider what a result for his connections Have to say i did slightly fancy Mr Tipsy on form buti would still have backed 6oclock news apparently last seen pulling a cart and doing the milk round in Hamilton, bet it seems quiet without the old folks but glad you had a good time I see Melvin left a message the sun must have been shining in Southport and encouraged him out of hibernation Take care all Linds x

linds Hi Kathy Thanks for looking after the old folks for us i think it fair to say they have had a reet good do my tip would be 6oclocknews for the Melbourne cup let me know how he runs take care regards Lindsxx

kathy and ian Hi linds yea they did catch the fish for dinner and the fisheries officers are after them for under sized fish. the auckland cup on to-morrow want a bet placed, not going this year but i sure a bet will be placed. the boys are off to golf tomorrow and norma and I will tiki tour around our area. take care all K&I

jane corrin Dear Norma and Derek, Mum is here visiting and we have just been looking through all your blog entries of the countries visited so far with the experiences - we are very envious and like the sound of 81 degrees rather than the frosty weather we had here this morning. Jane and Betty

Kevin & Karen Hello, Glad to see you have arrived safely back with Ian & Kathy - hello to everyone. Derek if you catch any fish freeze and fetch back for the barbie over here !! Agree with Linds re the doughnut - you have to give them a go - great fun although Derek will need to wear his water wings for when you get ducked!! Nicola, Martin & Chloe have been for dinner today - good to see them all again - Nicola looks well - this living alone seems to be working for her. Karen is broody after meeting Chloe - but mum don't get too excited you are still going to have to rely on the girls for the grandchildren ! Only 10 days to Cheltenham - which isn't good news for you guys as you will be back when I get home. Anyway thats all for now - enjoy your remaining time with Ian & Kathy. K&K

mel and the gang glad you are having a good time,i hear there is a skip up your drive full of empty beer cans etc,don't listen to your surrogate daughter or nicola,hi to ian and kathy. mel and the gangx

linds Hi say hello to Kathy and little bro from me sounds like all is going according to plan pleased to know you had a bit of naff weather just to keep you in touch with your own country but get this we are due MORE SNOW on tuesday fantastic!! will have a word with big G and see if he can make it last untill you get back Well you might now know that the 90 mile beach is a tad shorter than you were lead to believe in fact only55 miles long , apparently when the missionaries travelled along the beach on horseback it took 3 days they knew the horses could travel 30 miles in a day = 90 miles what they didnt take into consideration was a good horse was only capable of 18 miles a day in the soft sand (TRUE)apparently!!!!!!!!!!! How was the fishing do we now have to call you Issac Walton (the complete angler 1886) hope not too many boring stories of the one that got away on your return, photographic evidence will be required of any whoppers and may feature on the front cover of next months angling mail Have you arranged the doughnut yet? hope your not going to let me down on this one!! Went hunting yesterday fell off twice didnt catch any foxes but frightened one or two, am very sore this morning, the hot bath and large whiskies dont sem to work any more Amlooking forward to Cheltenham Festival and Kevin coming we always have a great time (Derby day in Auckland on Boxing day i will never forget with Ian Kathy Melinda and Daniel Danny boy played a blinder and backed the winner in the big race with cut the cake fantastic) hope you enjoy the rest of your time inNZ Bay of Islands is a great place to spend some time did you take the jet boat to the hole in the rock well worth the time not at all scary and you might well see some pods of dolphins they have their babies with them now so unfortunately no swimming with them but amazing to see take care love to all L