Hi Ian et al - sorry have been silent for so long, don't know what happened to May. To tell truth I kept looking at the site and starting to leave a message and then realised that I didn't know what to put - nothing happening in my life obviously. Certainly nobody doing the Haka in MY sitting-room recently!! How scary - good thing they're on your team.
Bet you're all excited about setting off on your travels properly - hope you'll have a fantastic time and find a way to keep us all updated, you know how nosy we are! And don't forget that Jill will be checking for new Speedo photos on a regular basis - Ian, don't disappoint your Nana!!
Can't remember whether I thanked you for the Art-Deco photos of Napier, so I'll do it now just in case - thank you so much for the photos, much appreciated, dear boy. It looks fantastic.
Not sure I like the sound of what Ben has planned for you all - don't you let him throw you in with any nasty old sharks - hope you'll have a great time meeting up with him. Plans are afoot for a Ben-coming-home party I believe. The paddling pool is being checked for punctures as I speak, but I suspect that diving in it will seem a little tame after his adventures in the ocean the other side of the world. Maybe if we find a really nasty creepy-crawly to put at the bottom of it he may not notice the difference...
Can't believe how quickly your time in NZ has gone - hope you've enjoyed it all, even the apple-picking (it's character-building, you know, as my old boss used to say whenever he gave me a particularly boring job).
We are in the middle of the monsoon season here, it has been raining since Saturday and if it doesn't stop soon we shall all be sitting on our rooftops waving white flags, or rowing down the street in old bathtubs. We are stocktaking outside at work today, which is just great! Somehow, the rain seems to know the instant you pick up the product list and head for the door and it immediately starts hurling itself down in torrents, and as soon as your bum hits the chair again the sun comes out and pokes its tongue out at you.
Highlight of my day so far: managed to drop the sugar container into my mug of tea this morning while on the tea run (I have no idea how, it's no good asking me!) and threw hot tea and sugar all over myself and half the kitchen - am still damp and sticky! Not burned, fortunately (possibly because I got half-way through making the tea and then got side-tracked and forgot about it for 5 minutes...). Could have done with a change of clothes though - I thought it was only toddlers who had to take a change of clothes to playschool with them, but obviously not!
Better go now, lots to do - lots of love to you, looking forward to hearing about the Further Adventures of Roly Pom and his chums.... GM xxxx
Jill & Barry
Hi Ian Just to wish you all a safe journey when you depart for Fiji later in the week. Another new experience for you! The time you have been in NZ has gone very fast - at least it seems so to us. How did the rugby fare at the weekend? Hope you won. It would be good to go out on a high! We watched England Saxons beat Scotland A on Sunday by 15-6 but it was an uninspiring game! The County Championship between Devon and Lancashire was much more exciting. Devon won comfortably by 27-9. Had lots of fun with your Dad and Chris playing Internet Backgammon! The resultant win for them was a foregone conclusion as I had no idea what I was doing, never having played before! But, hey, what does that matter - we had fun and it was lovely to hear Chris chuckling on the other end of the line! Safe journey to you all and we look forward to hearing all about your new adventures.Much love, dear. N & P xxx
Mrswillsmum
Hi there, Boys. Great photos ~ good to see the expression on your faces as the cold begins to creep up those 'nether regions' even when protected by wet suits.......The experience of diving sounds yet another one of those amazing things to add to your list, up with the Haka performed in your sitting room I should think. Going to miss being able to chat to you when you start off on your travels again in 10 days time, so don't forget to keep everybody posted and up to date as often as you can on here. Please confirm that you are landing back in Blighty 09.45 Friday July 20th....a small family disagreement going on. I think we are just your taxi service to get you from NZ/Aus/Figii back to the night life (immediately on arrival) in Stroud? Of course, it goes without saying, NOTHING could compare with our local metropolis experience.......and I'm not hurt that you don't want to spend your first evening tucked up with your loving family....but then, the fridge will need re filling, there'll be a little washing to do, so I expect I won't be bored while you're out...Perhaps we Mummies and Daddies should also go out in Stroud for the night of July 20th? We might find out what's REALLY going on out there.... Hope the matches went well today. Missinyouloadsasever. Mxxx
Ian
Hey everybody,
Just had our second day of dive training, and we have all passed our open water theory exam. We're off to lake taupo tomorrow to do some real open water diving for the day which'll be sweet. Colts have got a semi final game this weekend, which we can definately win so we'll have to see how that goes. Not much else to report, had our mates down from auckland at the weekend and it was really good to see them again. Only a week and a half left in the house, but it'll be good to get travelling properly and start doing some fun stuff.
Hope all are well x x
Chris
forgot to type in the n in thinking
Chris
hi guys
mum+dad dont know i am writing this,they will be confused when they see this anyway we just had gramp,aunt mag(with jacko) round for a lasange thinkig of you when i was eating it,your favourite ian!!!! got to go and watch the recording of doctor who
chris
Ben
Hey Ian hows things just a quick one keep saturday the 23rd free wen you in sydney as we have my leaving do to go to and its going to be mad.
How many of you are coming to oz then?
Brinky
hello friends, i was studying the pictures and i was just wondering what happened to foggy`s head as he has a mahusive plaster stuck to his face.
lots of love brinky
Hayley
Hi my boys hope all is well miss you ! Just a bit of news tracey has had her baby 10 weeks early its a boy hes in intensive care shes fine . just though you might want to know. I hope your having the time of your life. must go take care love ya hayley (H)
Mel
Hey guys, hope your all ok. i finally arrived in Virginia after 30 odd hours travelling and i didnt get lost once which i bet url suprised about. New York is such a shocking place thought i was going to get killed its so busy. when u where there were did you visit ? cause im guna spend a week there. speak to u soon x
Mum, Dad And Chris
Hiya, good to speak last night. Have just had a closer look at the latest photos and am glad that these lads are your friends and not the opposition - some of them look very scary! It certainly looks as if you're having a great time but some of those concoctions...... Good job you've all got strong constitutions! Good luck with the studying. Lots of love. xxxx
Ian
Hey everyone,
Both teams lost at the weekend, so not a great result, but some good rugby was played. Ended up having some guys back to our place on Saturday night, was a pretty good get together. We had a nz u19's rugby international at our house which was pretty cool haha, tipped as one of the top 5 most promising players in the country.
Haven't actually started diving properly yet, got given a text book yesterday haha, its like being back at school! But at least this stuff is fun and useful, it'll actually save your life! So yeh we've got a week to learn this book then we start diving properly next monday, but i can't wait, this diving lark is great. anyway best get back to the book, got a lot to get through today, first gym,then a medical and then we're off 2 watch hawkes bay play.