Hi

Your Christmas postcard arrived today, thank you.

The big question is, "Did you win any money?" Expect there was enough tinsel in LV to cover hundreds of Christmas trees. All good fun. Have they sent a representative to cover the climate change conference in Copenhagen? Perhaps they could give some tips on energy saving lightbulbs!!!!

See you soon.

Lots of love, Us xx

Hello

Everything looks fantastic once more on your latest photographs of the south island. Only a week left now before you leave for the USA and then home for Christmas. Can't believe the time has gone so quickly.

Did you receive the emails we sent? I have had a terrible cough and cold all week - don't think it's swine flu! Dad has escaped it so far and hopefully we will both be OK for the 7th December when we go on holiday. Should be better weather than we are having at the moment - raining heavily again today and we had our first snow here yesterday morning but thankfully it didn't last for long.

Trying to get organised for Christmas before we go away but without much success at the moment.

That's all for now.

Love Ma & Pa XX

Hello

We're back from Carmarthenshire/Penbrokshire after having had a lovely, relaxing time even though there were gales and rain but you know us, we still got out and about and the sun did shine now and again. The coastline is great and the high winds made it more atmospheric. Some hardy soles were even surfing! There was snow on the hills on the way back so expect there may well be in Yorkshire. Your stay in New York should help you get you ready for the drop in temperature. Brrr.

Knew you'd like the south island, it was our favourite, especially Queenstown where, being the sensible folk we are, took the option of a walk instead of the adventure sports. Think the name of the mountains (The Remarkables) sums them up. It was fun watching people bungie jump though but didn't envy them when they hit the water!

How does the saying go? A bad workman always ....................! No doubt we'll be able to see the result of the photos at Christmas - if there will be time, of course, to get through them all. Do you have a printer and plenty of paper ready and waiting?

Bye for now. You'll know doubt be getting ready for your trip to the US and hoping to win some money in Las Vagas to fund the rest of your trip - we won £2 on a scratch card last week, so there is hope!

Love Us xx

Hi Damien and Kate,

Glad to hear you're enjoying New Zealand loved it when I was there a few years back and agree kaikora is a beautiful place. Did the dolphins swim along the bow of the boat?

Try and get to see the Foxes Glasier if you can as the veiw is spectacular on the top of it covered in snow.

When are you guys back as Damien you are more than welcome to join us Paper lot in the pub on Xmas eve eve as is the tradition, plus it looks like someone has taken the lease on the Nelson as we walked passed it today!!

Anyway keep enjoying yourselves and look forward to the next blog.

Martin

Only me.

When Andy says I make him watch Strictly, he fails to mention that when he watches it he comments on the dances and there is definately one contestant he doesn't think is any good. When I get home from work he can also be found watching Claudia. So read into that what you will

Anyway, it sounds like you've seen some sights in New Zealand. In fact you've seen and done so much in such a short space of time and you haven't even been to America yet.

We're off to Portugal this weekend with Caroline and one of our other friends, Ollie (he was at the wedding) Ollie's birthday. I won't be anything like your adventures but I'm looking forward to getting away.

I'm booking our appointments for our vaccinations for Africa soon. Will you need any for South Africa or will you just need them for Tanzania?

Take care and have fun x

Hi Mr and Mrs Dunkley, Y5 here. We've enjoyed catching up on your blog, and had a Geography lesson to locate Fiji, (it took a while!)

Look forward to hearing from you again soon,

Lots of love xxx

Lo you pair. As you're now in New Zealand I have a specific Christmas pressie request!

My eczema has gone mental as it often does in autumn/ winter and I've been reading about a supposed wonder treatment - 'Manuka honey'. It's native to New Zealand and as such it's a tad expensive to buy in blighty. It has to be the 'active' variety and be '10+' or above, whatever that means. No worries if you can't get any, but just a thought.

Ta for now

Dan

Hi Kate & Big Dave

Bad news about having to use a back packers toilet facilties. I went back packing once and someone stole my Spiderman underpants, but I would surely sacrifice my entire Superhero underwear collection for a free bar tab. Fair play!

Wow, the photos of Fiji look amazing. What a place to visit, I'm so envious. I've decided I've got to go. I've put Beth and my Superhero underwear collection on ebay, should at least cover the airport taxes.

I'm really enjoying reading your blog and glad you're both having such an amazing time. Make the most of it, it's cold, windy and wet here and Liverpool seem unable to beat even Arsenal's reserves.

Keep up the good work!

Andy

P.S. Beth makes me watch Strictly!

K & D

Wow, looks like you guys are having a really tough time of it out there! Are you sure you don't want to come back to blightey for some cold, wet weather and let the rest of us take on your travel burdens?

Looks like you have been having a fantastic time. Definately adding Fiji to the list of must visit places. Seeing the photo's of Sydney really makes me want to pack a couple of bags and jump on a plane. Not sure Ollie would be much fun on a 12 hour flight though! The little man is walking now and starting to talk so next time you see him you probably won't recognise him.

Gary & I went on a session in Tadcaster at the weekend; when I say session I mean a few pints and a curry! Looks like the Cowlers have landed on their feet. House is fab and beer in Tadcaster is crazily cheap (2 pints of good ale for £2.36 - it's like being in a time warp back to the 1980's).

Keep posting the great blog's and pictures so we can all live vicariously! Have a fab time in NZ. Hope we'll get to see you at Christmas.

Have fun,

Cheers

J, B & O

Hello,

Seems a while since my last message. Have been waiting for your latest blog from Fiji. Must say it looks and sounds fantastic despite the hiccup with your booking but as you say good result with the bar bill etc!!!! Very envious as is everyone else.

The weather here has taken a turn for the worst and we had a leak through the lounge ceiling during last Saturday night - waiting for the builder to come and sort things out weather permitting. Never rains but it pours as the saying goes!

The panda postcards eventually arrived just before my last message - slow boat from China!

Visited the apartment as we said we would and everything was fine. Dad checked on the car and no problems. It started first time. Will call again tomorrow as we are taking Aunty M to Dan and Soo's for Sunday lunch. She had to vet the menu first as she didn't want any of that "foreign food" which quote "they always seem to be cooking". Typical Aunty M.

Everything went as planned with the completion on Grandad's house so that is one thing less thing for us to worry about thank goodness.

By now you should have started your travels around New Zealand - hope everything is going according to plan and living up to your expectations once more.

Lots of love to you both

Ma and Pa

Lo you pair.

Just seen some of your latest pics - looks like the wee Canon is serving you well!

Fiji looks ace. Even though I like the cold weather I'm a tad jealous, horizontal bands of rain are sweeping past the window as I type here in non sunny Walsden.

Was one of those pics a witchety(sp?) grub by the way, did you eat one?

Anyway, keep up the good work (and I'm still recording all of Strictly for you bruv, you sad get).

Dan

Hi Kate and Damian

Well, I must say it all looks and sounds amazing and you both look really well. Glad you are having such a great time. You certainly aren't missing much here. Let me know when you're back at Christmas. Unfortunately our Xmas do is on 11th Dec, which I think is too early for you Kate. But, we'll definitely get together the week after, maybe for a nice lunch again. Time will fly, so see you soon.

Love Catherine XXX