Jun Xia Hi Jacks Hope you are keeping well! I'm back from maternity leave and just got this address from Tracy. How lovely to see these pictures. We miss you loads, but glad to know you are enjoying yourself. Take care. Jun xx

Frederik Hi Jacks. Fantastic blog here. Tells a lot bwt the Sri Lankan culture. I am going there this x-mas on boxing day. Looking so much forward. Best greetings

Lynne Farr Hi there Jacks, I have been enjoying following your adventures but only just noticed the message section, so apologies that no messages before this. the photos look great especially liked the ones of the elephants. You seem to be having fun so I hope you are happy and enjoying the experience overall. Nothing very exciting to report from here - working hard as usual and survived another academic year! Terrible weather so you're not missing much there. Lots of love, Lynne x

Sue Hi, Just read your latest entry. Pleased to hear it's going well. We (except Rob still on 9-5) are enjoying the summer holidays despite the usual unsettled English weather. Fiona and I are setting off on a trip for 2 to Hanover on Tuesday, to give her an idea of the country before she starts German at school.Take care (especially on the bike). Will try skype again soon. Hoping to get technical support to set up an account on the bigger and better computer so we can talk faster.Sue x

Sue N Happy birthday to you! Hope all is going well. Keep us posted. Sue x

Amy Hi there Jacks, Where's the photo of the curried donut - we need visual proof that such a disgusting item exists love Amyx

Linda Schumacher Hi Jacks at long last worked out how to use the site amazing pictures hope youi are well and ok.I f this message works I will be in touch soon Love Linda +Tony

Sue Naylor Hi, it was great to get the skype technology working, although I seem to have got out of sync and am reading your blog entry later: what a mixture of experiences! Hope your foot is OK now. Just about to get logged off at the library. Will be in touch. Sue x

Jacqui Hi thinking of you loads and hope that bites and injections are all finished and cleared up. I'm afraid I can't get onto my orange e mail account but can get on the internet! So will use this message board hope that is OK. All is good here and we are having the most amazing weather, it's sooo hot. Of course everyone is wandering around with hardly any clothes on and there are some dreadfully burnt bodies about, typical English! Anyway hope to be back on line soon and will catch up then. Take care xxx

Amy Yippee - we finally have some proper hot weather and I'm off to the beach at Saltburn tomorrow with Cath, Lucy, Dylan and Olivia. Here's to buckets and spades! Finally flung off the fleeces!xxA

Amy I think I'll try Alexis' curry recipe - looks delicious! I love the photos of Vesak - it looks beautiful and the elephants are gorgeous. Thinking of you in these uncertain times in SL, hugs, Amyx

Sue Naylor Hi, have been looking at your lovely photos. The pictures of Colombo seem much as I remember it, except someone has put up a few tower blocks. Those sunsets are stunning. Hope to catch you on skype before long - Sue.

Alexis Hill Hey Jaks, Just catching up with all your gossip, it sounds like such an interesting experience, and I hope your having an awesome time ( apart from the spiders etc, how ghastly) My veg curry is chilli (fresh) garlic and ginger all chopped fried with an onion with some cumin seeds, cinamon, chilli powder and stalks of corriander ( you pick the leaves off and add later) plus plently of seasoning. I add veg ( whatever you want like peppers courgette etc then add passata or chopped tomatoes plus some stock.Add a little sugar to balance out the tomatoes but not too much I add chick peas or lentils or potatoes then too. Let it boil away merrily for about half an hour etc you can add cardimon pods (about 3 or 4 too) when your adding the other stuff. Taste and check seasoning then add chopped corriander for a few minutes then serve with whatever ya fancy. Not the most exciting reciepe but its a start! Yoghurt is good with it if its a bit too spicy, you can add cocnut milk instead of stock or instead of the tomatoes if you want a creamy curry, Things are fine here, the plants remain alive which is a miracle and fingers crossed for some good old sun this summer. I can offer know help with the cricket sorry , but girls aloud are doing very well. Take Care, Alexis

Julie Gallagher Hi Jacks, Been keeping an eye on your escapades. Sounds beautiful. Hope you're well and still enjoying things.

Jacqui Goff Hi love all your news and photos, it's really good to hear from you. A belated Happy New Year to you, it sounds an amazing celebration. I don't have a veg curry recipe, I just throw everything in a big pan, with water and curry powder, chilli and garam masala, and seasoning.Sorry! Steve says that you werent affected by the sun, Kevin and Andrew are playing for them! Keep your news coming. Love Jacqui xxx