Ed
Happy Birthday mate!
See you're having fun judging by the chics in the candlelit jumbo hot tub!
As dad said, once in a lifetime chance coming up to play at Augusta in 5 weeks time.
Suggest we play for the Clanwilliam Cup this Summer - it has been collecting dust on Dad's mantlepiece for too long!!!!!!!!
Love from all here at Garden Cottage
Best
Uncle P

Happy Birthday Darling!!! You will still be asleep as I write this but hope you get it on the right day. Your latest pictures are wonderful. The Indian ladies are so colourful aren't they. And the condors - how exciting to see them. . I hope the high altitude will not affect you too much, but take it easy. It will give you an idea for what you are in for on the Trail. We had a sort of birthday dinner for you last night - roast chicken with trimmings followed by sticky toffee pud. Pat and Jim and Ros and Bex joined us. Sadly Rich was working. Susanna is coming to stay tonight before flying home tomorrow for a week. Does everyone know it's your birthday - hope so . Maybe they will treat you to something. We do miss you but you are so obviously enjoying yourself. Its cold here - sunny but a beastly wind. Lambing is very busy now and most of the inbyes are through. It's up to the hills next. becky is coming to stay on Wednesday for 10 days so Jim will have his team to help him. Nearly time to go to church now -Palm Sunday. Where will you be over Easter. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be heading for Machu Pichu. Lots of love from us all Mumxxxxx

Masters has begun, VJ Singh in the lead at five under, only five other players scored under par, Tiger Woods shot a 72 last year he shot a 74, always slow to start. Paddy rang last night to say that he is playing at Augusta next month. Look forward to your next message.

All love Dad

You must soon be on Lake Titicaca and finding your sea legs on the islands. Aren't they amazing. Like being on a raft, a soft one at that!! The greenhouse is full to bursting now with everything convered to stop the mouse eating everything. I found a stash of broad beans in one corner yesterday - obviously the little rotter's larder. Muffin found and brought in a pipistral bat yesterday. Fortunately it was still alive so I put it in a box in the boiler house with some shavings. It has now gone so I hope all is well. I can't imagine where she found it in broad daylight. Charlotte has now broken up. One of here ewes, Lucy, had the blackest lamb you could imagine a couple of nights ago and in the morning there was a sparkling white one there too. Ros got confused in the night when he found a coupe of ewes had escaped their pens with lambs and was not sure if it is hers or someone elses but she seems to have taken to it. Jim is certain it is hers. Millie is about to produce. Emma has come up to help with everything. Invalids still have not recovered fully. Bex is home but not right, Pat looks very tired but breaks up today, Jim just takes the medicinal whiskey to ward off the ailments!! Write when you can - I'm going to ask Rich to download your pictures onto a disc to keep them safe. Lots of love Mum

Lovely to hear your news and follow your journey with all the photos. Masters Preview today before it all starts in earnest on Thursday. Ros and Johnny back on track though poor Sarah is still suffering. Lambing shed on full stream, Jim and David on top of it all, quite a chill outside today. Richard gets back today since he is back at the Tankerville for the next four days. He managed to get into the rowers enclosure to congratulate Tom and saw Sam and parents. James Wrinch spent a night after visiting a farm near Kelso. Do you want me to put some money into the Ingram sweepstake for the Grand National on Saturday? Look forward to hearing more of your news.

Love as always Dad xxx

You are having the most wonderful time it seems. Your photos are lovely to see - even better when you label them! Did you take pictures of the lines? That must have been amazing to see. I went to Arequpa but cannot remember much about it. what happens after that.

Health is beginning to return to the valley at last. Its a slow progress though. Granny has been usffering but is now onthe mend thank goodness. Elisabeth flew home yesterday - we are trying to persuade her to come up again in the summer. I think she will. I am sending addresses on you email so hope you can check that easily and get them printed off.

I am waging war on mice in the greenhouse - caught two already but something is still eating the broad beans and lillies. Little rotters!

You write marvellous messages - keep up with them we enjoy them.

Lots of love and big hugs

Mum

Do you need me to do anything about Edinburgh or not.

Mum

You may not get this until you return to the hotel but just in case...Lambing is now in earnest with a motley crew dealing with them as the regulars slowly recover from their ailments. Charlotte is suffering but going on at the moment, Dad has a sore throat, Granny is coughing and sneezing - not just to remind us of you! - and my throat is threatening.

The boat race was v exciting - Tom Parker rowing in third seat - and Oxford won by a couple of lengths. Conditions were pretty awful once they got round the Surry bend - choppy and wet. Cambridge took in quite a bit of water so sturggled with extra weight. Poor things, they were so dejected at the end. I'm not sure where Rich was standing but I hope he got a good view.

Just done a wander round the garden with Elisabeth. Asparagus is beginning to sprout and daffs about to flower. Lots to do in the next few weeks. James Wrinch is coming to see us tomorrow night. Perdy is missing you - it was her birthday yesterday and you did not send her a card!! Muffin is trying to deplete the robin population single handed - two at the last count are no longer with us. Oh dear! She just brings them to the door and leaves them for us to view. Charlotte sends her love, of course - she is right beside me as I write this message. Family service went well with 9 in the congregation. So, life goes on....

Have a wonderful time with your companions - I'm sure they will be good fun or they would not be on such a trip. They are probably thrilled that you bring the average age down somewhat!!!

Keep safe an have fun. Lots of love

Mum

More pictures and news - lovely. thank you. You should by now have met with some of your group - hope they are agreeable!! I think you have done brilliantly on your own with all you have seen. the pictures you sent back make us feel we are with you. Much appreciated by all.

Susanna is here tonight after a day of research on glasshouses. She is very tired poor girl so we have sent her to bed. The invalides are all slowly recovering - but Charlotte and Sophie and succumbing. I think Dad is too and I am fighting something in the throat. Ah well - family service tomorrow which we have to take and I suspect I might be playing the organ with one hand.

My wrist if feeling a little less strange and a bit more flexibel. Been in the greenhouse this afternoon planting more things and marvelling at the number of broad been seeds the mice have eaten!! Bed time now - will send addressed tomorrow matbe on you email so check that if you have a chance. We miss you but are glad to know you are experience new cultures and exciting things.

Big hugs

Mum

Really lovely to get your message and pictures. I think you have done awfully well - we will make sure we copy them on to a disc just in case - I'll get Rich on to the case. Had my plaster off this afternoon. what a relief but it is rather sore from stiffness.. I have lots of excercises to do. Charlotte is back in the yard now, much neded. Ross is in bed and on antibiotice, Johnny is lake an old man and on anitbiotics, Sarah is a little better. Frank is going to drive the tractor tomorrow and feed the cows. Becs might come hoe on Monday but they have not finished all the tests yet. They think she has Chrones disease, which is an inflammation in the gut and needs a special diet to keep it under control. Shw is looking much better. Grandfaterh Shell is now out of hospital. Granny is suffering too with a sore throat.

Rich goes to London tomorrow for the Boat Race - he is wtaying with Cameron Duncan. He will have fun even though he is tired.

Your photos are great. We now look forward to hearing about your travelling companions some of whom must have arrived by now. Keep up the good work Big hugs and lots of love Mum

Alright mate, I agree with mother, your spelling was somewhat dispandent. About to go off to work, bloody exhausted....stayed up 'till 5 this morn keeping Ross company, very little sleep and been to Bamburgh and the Apple Inn for well deserved scoff. Take as many photos as poss. and send straight away.....you may be days without an internet connection!! Don't want to take up too much space on that mem. card.

Anyhoo, off to work. Have an awesome time, will be in touch soon!!Take care

P.S. Haggis' phone wasn't working in Spain, he is deeply apologetic.

Lovely to get your message - go to the bottom of the class for spelling and grammer!! I'm glad the flight was OK and that the taxi was there to meet you.

It's pouring with rain today which rather puts the lid on a trip to the beach so we will have to think of something else. Both Johnny and Sarah are suffering so Jim is in charge - Ross is calving as well as lambing. It's all go. Have a fun day and keep writing.

Lots of love Mum

PS Did you get round to sending whatever to Edinburgh? Do I need to do anything?