We got on the Tranzalpine train across to the west coast of the south island today...very beautiful, but unfortunately for some reason I felt like death - think it may have something to do with getting up at 6.15am. Yuck. Moving on from here tomorrow, but have met some nice people who are travelling with the same company as us, so it's all good. Think tomorrow we may do a glacier walk! Hmm. xxx

Mum...guess what we did tonight?! We saw Guys and Dolls!! It was really good, a professional production and only 15 quid!

No time have to go, I'll be in touch xxx

Hi darling,
So you've finally arrived in NZ. Fear not, most of the Welsh wish they'd missed the rugby. Rose and I spent the evening in the Cameo Club witha mad rep by the name of Duncan. Chris had a ticket for the game and as it was a late kick- off we didn't see him afterwards. We drank far too much wine and ended up in the "Robin Hood" pub of Charlotte Church's Mum we're still not sure how we found our way back to the city centre but as the alcihol had kicked in big time Paul very kindly came to pick us up (thereby hangs another tale"). Anyway today I have had to endure the hangover from hell and the dress rehearsal from the same place. Rose and I are never drinking to excess again we've decided we are both too old. I found a lovely dress by the way so I finally managed to spend my birthday present.
Your journal is just fab, and I miss you more every time I read it often through cloudy eyes these days as I am getting more and more emotional in my old age(and it has nothing at all to do with alcohol). I can't pretend to be looking forward to Xmas without you but I know you'll be having an amazing time, just be careful and look after one another, looking forward to the next installment and it's nice to hear from Jules and James, keep up the good work guys, loads of love, your old and very emotional Mum.

You''re right, Phil, we are now in New Zealand. Am knackered today...yesterday afternoon we went to check in on our 7.30pm flight to Christchurch only to discover that it didn't exist! Apparently the direct flight is something they're considering introducing, but haven't got round to it yet...always knew I was ahead of my time!! Anyway, they rebooked us on a flight at 3am to Auckland and we had to connect from there to Christchurch. We ended up sitting back at our hotel/hostel with an Irish guy who'd lost his passport, who made us feel a bit better...at least we weren't just sat waiting for Monday morning so that the Fijian Irish Embassy opened! Fijians and Irish - not exactly the most efficient embassy I''m guessing! Anyway, we got to NZ about 11 hours after we'd originally expected to (missing the rugby entirely!) and had zero hours sleep, so ended up being awake for about 30 hours straight. Fun. The hostel here is lovely. But it's raining...boo hiss! Miss you all. x

PS According to the BBC sports website, although we lost we put up a good fight!

Hi Kate,

Don't know whether you're on line yet but at least we know where you are. It is New Zealand isn't it? (Another day nother continent etc etc)
Had a night in Cardiff yesterday, it was a good one and we ended up in Tiger Tiger which we like. Lots of entertainment on the the last train home. So I wonder when you'll see the big game,it's on in just over an hour and we're going to the village in search of free half time curry!
Did Jane tell you that we have to remove the bus from the depot by Christmas? "Don't panic captain Mainwaring". Anyway we're currently negotiating with a guy who owns one like mine except he and it are in the Czech Republic. He's arranging something local for us, so hopefully it'll save the day.
Five days then France, I'm looking forward to it and I hope that your Mum and Rose are going to chill out a bit. I can smell the mulled wine already.
Anyway Kate, I've got to go, (where'smy brolley?)

Have fun
Philip

Sunburnt - chance would be a fine thing! I have spent most of my time in an office by the time I leave it is dark :-(

Flying back home tonight a true whistle stop tour. I am afraid no sites to recommend in Thailand as I haven't seen any myself!

I tell you one thing it is cheap out here - even when you are trying to take the piss on expenses. The beers I was drinking last night cost 93p each :-)

James

Hello everyone!

Am still in Fiji, but am now back on the mainland, where they have a (very hot and sweaty) Internet cafe. For the last week we've been island hopping...the Fijian islands really are paradise! The water is bright turquoise and completely clear, the sand is soft and the people are lovely. I could quite happily come and live out here - no stress at all! I'll leave all the details til I complete my journal entry, but suffice to say I'm having an amazing time ('amazing' has become my favourite word by the way!)

I'm missing you all - really wish you could all be here. Keep in touch it's great to hear from you all.

Jools - you have to tell Ben that I made friends with a lovely German couple. His name was Hermann! Hermann the German!!

Jams - Thailand, eh? I can think of worse places to go with work...don't get too sunburnt!

Mum - I spoke to you last night so you know everything's fine.

I'm going to try and finish off the USA journal entries, so keep reading!

Love you all xxx

Hi Jane (and everyone!)

Hope you all had good weekends. Thanks for letting us know Katie is safe - I suspected that Fiji might not be as Internet-savvy as America. When Ben and I were in Bali there was only one terminal in our resort and that didn't really work properly!

Looking forward to when the journal is back up and running again, but still very jealous of Kate's travels. It's nice to 'speak' on this board to remind me I'm not the only one living a normal life :-)

Lots of love

xx

To everyone who might be wondering what has happened to Kate's journal. They are in Fiji which really is as deserted as it gets. I have had one call via Emily's Mum just to say they are ok but sadly lacking in Internet Cafes so the Journal has gone out of the window for the time being.
They leave for civilisation in the form of NZ on Saturday so things will improve. Please keep the messages coming, I miss them !!! Hope you are all well and enjoying the Welsh/ English/ Scottish winter. Hope we'll all be back on line soon, Mum.

Hi Kate,

Sorry for being a slacker on the e-mail front - between work and house buying I don't seem to have a spare minute.

At this rate I doubt we will have moved into the house by the time you get back in April.

I am off to Thailand tomorrow for a week for work - got to try and appease some Thai people I am sure it will be fun. If I see anything worth visiting I will drop you a mail.

Keep the journal entries coming!

James

Hi darling,
Just spent the last hour reading your latest updates and as usual went back through lots of it again.
You really are having the time of your life, I knew you would but reading it all just makes me realise what a fantastic life changing experience this is going to be. Never worry about the emotional 'phone calls by the way it's sort of comforting to know that I am still of some use. The time is flying by so make the most of every moment.
Had a life changing experience myself this week- Harry's nursing home Bonfire Night. I took a couple of photos of him but have decided not to send them to you as he was completely distracted not by the bangs and bright lights but by the hot dogs and soup, no change there then. He really is well at the moment.
Rose and Phil and me are off to France on the 1 December, no match for anything you're doing but a welcome and much needed break.
Did you see any of the rugby I thought maybe as you're in the Pacific Islands you might have found a TV showing it. A complete walkover by Wales really but NZ will be a different story.
Stay safe love really really missing you and everything that comes with you. Thanks so much for Saturday's call it's always good to hear your voice and your journal is fab,(still think a book deal should be on its way Julia), be careful and have fun, loads of love Mum.

Just to say have a safe flight to Fiji - I am more jealous than you can imagine! And congratulations on getting this far on your trip :-)

Lots of love xx

PS Am just waiting for people to confirm they're coming to the hen do then will probably book that place Emily recommended! I'll keep you posted.