Convict Hey Darls, How are you both? Thank you for all your wonderful stories and pics! It became part of my morning routine before getting on with work! I will miss it! Hope you are settling in ok and found some work. I will have to make the effort and come and see you guys soon! take care and lots of love! f and b xoxo

Neesie a.k.a. Denise back at the office! Girlies!  Fab pictures around Oz.  In Decembr I went to see my daughter in Sydney as she was on the final run of her 12 month working visa and she's home now - not happy.  She plans to work long enough to save for a world ticket and set off again state side round to NZ so I'll make sure she has a good read of all your stories and pics.  Hoping I might do S America in December but Inca Trail is a must.  Amazing how quickly her year went and she just stayed in Oz - you've done an amazing trip - are you travel weary now?  Went to Eve's wedding party on Friday night - she was a bit worse for wear and kept telling everyone she was sooooo excited and sooooo happy ..... louder and louder.  It was great to see her so relaxed and having a ball on what was a great day for them both.  Not long now and then maybe we can all meet up at the pub .... get the real story!! xxx

Gem hey all, having some trouble getting the photos up and been kicked out of one internet place into another so if you have a look in an hour or so all should be well... they are worth it i promise! x x

Roy So you saw real live crocs and have lived to tell the tale - congratulations! As for snakes, ugh! Obviously the last week will be eventful and memorable. You say that the wildlife in the Northern terittory is bigger and scarier - but presumably you will come through that experience equally unscathed. I sincerely hope so, because your parents will want to see you on May 28 in one piece! That brings me to my last remarks on this messageboard. For your information I would mention that Beethoven wrote a piano sonata with the subtitle (in French) "Les Adieux, L'Absence et Le Retour". Well, "Les Adieux" can be applied to your farewell to these shores just over a year ago and "L'Absence" to your great experiences in the long period since then - and so much has happened. "Le Retour" is the final episode in the saga, i.e. your welcome home next weekend. In the sonata Beethoven interprets "Le Retour" joyously with plenty of pianistic "fireworks" and I am sure that likewise your reunion with your families at Heathrow on May 28 will be an emotional and extremely happy occasion. Make the most of that moment when it comes as it will be a suitable ending to your journeyings. In the meantime I hope that your actual flight home on Whitsunday is comfortable and enjoyable. There will be no more messages from me. Next time I communicate with you it will be via normal e-mail once you have had chance to settle down here again. Goodbye and good luck.

Hema Hi Gem/Lisa At last I have got around to posting a message to you.  I hope you are enjoying your last few weeks of your adventure.  I have really enjoyed reading your blog and seeing your photos.  You had better come and visit me and everyone at Windsor when you arrive home. I am expecting a thousand hugs from you, I need them. Take care.  Lots of Love.  Hema xxx

Michele Hi darlings Brilliant blog as usual - can't believe its been a year already and you'll be home soon.Looking forward to seeing you both.....  Royals finished 8th and one goal short of playing in Europe next year, so we were well happy! The first pint's on me when you get back. Love you lots Michele.xxx.

Gem Yes Australia is having a nasty drought. As for us, everywhere we go it rains - even in the outback!!!

Roy What a marvellous time you are having on this final stage of your once-in-a-lifetime tour. Make the most of your experiences in the time that remains. I have read in the British press that Australia is experiencing its worst drought in living memory, with rivers drying up in certain areas. I am wondering if you are facing any such problems in the places you are visiting. Is there enough water for the kangaroos? So Man. U have clinched the Premiership title at last, making at least one person happy. Let us hope that Sir Alex and his fighters achieve the "Double" on May 19, but of course Jose Mourinho will have other ideas! Your time in the Whitsunday Islands seems to have been most interesting, as the photos clearly show. I found myself thinking what a pity it was that you could not have been there on the day that gave the islands their name, but you no doubt realise that Whitsunday this year falls on May 27, the day that you make your homeward journey to a happy and emotional reunion with your parents - and obviously you cannot be in two places at once! You will get one further message from me before your homecoming. In the meantime be happy and keep active. Goodbye for now. I hope you get this message. I have had three earlier attempts - but the sum at the foot of the screen seems to have been causing problems!

Dale Hey Girls! Glad you had a good time visiting my parents and house...  They enjoyed having you both... Like the photos - just hope you didn't find anything too embarrassing from my childhood in my room...

M & M Hi guys - great to hear your news, sounds as though you are having an absolute ball.  Can't believe you have been travelling for almost a year now - where did that go?  When are you reckoning on coming back to the UK?  Weather not been too bad over here for a couple of weeks or so now, but obviously still quite cold compared to Oz.  You'll be pro surfers when you get back here - you'll have to make do with the English surfers paradise (ie Newquay).  Take care and continue to enjoy!!!!   M & M

Gem Hey all, hope you like the latest edition, if any of you are still reading! I messed the photos up earlier but they seem to be alright now. We'll be updating more often for the next month before coming home, so stick with us, it does get more interesting I promise! Looking forward to seeing you all when we return, Gem and LisaPS> Roy, we hear you're on holiday too - make sure you update us on that one!

Roy I have been looking through the recent photographs and, as with all stages of your travels, it is a real Geography lesson, with far more interest than one would get in the average classroom. It is difficult to believe that it is now 11 months since you left our shores, and since then much has happened, not least our humiliating exit from the World Cup and Man. U's rise to the top of the Premiership. They need to achieve five wins from their last seven games to win the Premiership trophy. Will they succeed? - I hope so, but of course Chelsea will have other ideas! You are now very much literally in the "home straight" , and I hope that this final stage of your once-in-a-lifetime expedition is proving happy and enjoyable. In the meantime I wish you both a happy Easter - a festival that to us here in Britain heralds the coming of Spring and the lighter days, whereas in Australia it signifies the approach of Autumn. Kindest regards to both of you.

Alipants Hi Ladies Wow Karl Kennedy, it doesn't get much better than that!! Very impressed by campervan too, think I would have run away from that thing... Have fun! Ali x

Katie Hi Gemima,Have been watching your travels, but only now have I felt compelled to leave you a message.  OH MY GOD -Ramsay Street, Harold Bishop, Karl Kennedy......... I am soooo jealous.Have fun,  Katie x

Sarah Hi Guys Glad to hear you are still having a great time - some real adventures in the last few countries - sounds like the trip of a liftetime.     Life here is so busy don't have time to think - this is a really quick catch up so will have to go - but keep the blogs and photos coming.   lol Sarah