Well I was supposed to leave Thailand on Friday but I am having to stay till next Friday because nothing works - but it isn't my fault! So at last I have something interesting to say about Bangkok as I went sight seeing today. Went to the Grand Palace which included seeing the Emerald Budda. I had to put on some stylish trousers which they lend you as you aren't aloud to wear shorts - this disrespects the king somehow. Also went to see the massive reclining budda which is well worth a visit - long trousers not needed here! Also took a tuk-tuk taxi ride which has to be experienced - they really don't handle corners too well. Then found my favourite means of transport to be the river taxi, really cheap and there are no traffic jams. Also had some of the most random offers to see things coming out of places they really shouldn't (I will leave it to your imagination). Last night went to a Thai karaoke bar which was hilarious listening to Thai people trying to sing English songs I had never even heard. Australia is sounding good the flying through the jungle canopy sounded cool. Take care, James

Today I went snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef and somehow found myself persuaded to do an introductory scuba dive...we saw a shark on the ocean floor!!! Yesterday I did Jungle Surfing, which is like zip line/flying foxes in the canopy of the trees, 25 metres up (much scarier than the skydive!) and then a night time rainforest walk where we saw all manner of creepy crawlies!! Wicked. Have met a few nice people and bumped into Emily a couple of times. In Cape Tribulation now til Sunday and then back down to Cairns. Miss you all xxx

Hi Love, You'll never guess where I've been this evening. Your little brother cooked for me and it wasn't spag bol, it was something really tasty involving fresh herbs and bombay potatoes. It was out of Jamie Oliver's cook book, he's obviously very happy and he's a lot tidier than you!!! It was lovely to see him so settled he's looking forward to showing you all his many DIY talents when you get back. I also passed another ECDL today (for anyone not familiar with ECDL see earlier messages), only one more to do now!! Went to rehearsal last night for the first time in my role as asupporting actress and everyone seems genuinely happy that I got the part. I'm actually looking forward to it. Pleased that you have arrived in Cairns in one piece I'm sure it'll all be as good as Melbourne. Really missing you and looking forward to us spending some time together soon, be careful love and take extra special care, Loads of love, Mum. PS.Thanks to everyone for their messages they really cheer me up. PPS.Phil Chris and I watched the DVD of the sky dive, please promise you'll never ever do anything like that again EVER!!!!

In Cairns safe and sound, although getting up at 4.45am wasn't fun after my farewell drinks last night! What about this? There were people there from Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, NZ, China and Korea - how multicultural am I!? It was fun, but I haven't really felt up to much today, and so far from what I can tell Cairns is full of people pretending to be normal, but when you take a second look at them are slightly odd. Magic.

 The flight in (for the bit when I was awake!) was amazing - we came in over the ocean and you could see the coral and the rainforest, which comes right slapbang down onto the beach! The hostel I'm staying in tonight is really nice, and it's 31 degrees but stupidly humid (Melbourne was forecast to be 39 degrees today so think I made a sensible escape!) Tomorrow I'm going up to a place called Port Douglas where you can go to the rainforest and stuff. Looking forward to it. Saw Emily on the flight and she seems to be getting on fine too, so it's all good.

Keep in touch...it's lovely to hear your news. Sorry to hear about the house Jams - it doesn't surprise me in the slightest, I used to have to tell people stuff like that all the time! Jools - drunk again...what will we do with you, eh? I thought you'd settle down now you're a married woman!!

Miss you all heaps xxx

Hi Krate! Sounds like you didn't miss much at the Neighbours thing - I haven't watched the Soapstar thing, but had heard he was on it. Errr...trying to relaunch his career or what?! So glad you've met loads of lovely people and the weather sounds amazing. It's pretty dismal here, though yesterday was one of those lovely sunny, crisp days. We had a busy weekend - went to Babble in London for my sister's 30th with all her friends. Was a bit drunken to say the least. Then Ben and I got up at 9 yesterday (!) and met my friend Sarah and her hubby for brunch as it was her birthday. It was really lovely but I was shattered when we got back! Nothing much going on this week - have the dentist to look forward to tomorrow. He's still drilling to find the infection in my tooth, so that will be fun...not! I'm still very jealous of all you're up to and had a dream last night that you can home all tanned...very annoying :-) Take care my love and have a safe flight to Cairns. Loads of love Jools xx

Australia sounds pretty cool. You are correct Dr Karl is over here making an attempt at singing really badly. I think some bloke from Coronation St. won it in the end (I would like to point out I have not been watching it!). House news is that it now won't be ready until the end of May - god damn builders. Oh well you will be back in time for the house warming! I am flying off to Thailand again tonight. A real flying visit suppose to be coming back on Friday if all goes well. At the speed this project is going I might still be there when you get there in March. No more exciting news that I can think of from up north. Take Care, James

Hello everyone

Melbourne's been really cool - I've met loads of people as a result of travelling by myself. And on average it's been about 36 degrees while I've been here. I fly to Cairns tomorrow, from where I'll go to Cape Tribulation and do the rainforest thing and the Great Barrier Reef...can't wait! I get to snorkel again!!

Didn't get to go to the Neighbours night, but Emily went and it sounds like I really didn't miss much. Dr Karl wasn't there as he's doing Soapstar Superstar on the telly over with you guys?! I could've met Toadie, Steph and some bloke called Dylan though (think I'll cope having missed out...) Did go to see the penguins though, which were amazing, and got to feed kangaroos, have a cheesy photo taken with a koala and stroke a baby wombat (the cutest thing ever!) Did I tell you I went to see some of the qualifiers for the Australia Open which starts this week too? It was free - and free is always good.

Leso - I think you should attach a photo of Iz into an email so I can have a laugh at her in her ladybird suit!

Jools - glad to hear Kylie was good. Sounds like you were lucky to see her. Hasn't she been sick again??

Anyway, have managed to update the journal slightly. Have a read. I'll do it again asap.

Miss you all loads. xxx

Hey Churks! Happy New year to you (even though it's al over now!) glad you had a fab time in Sydney watching the fireworks! I agree with you about the flies in Melbourne, especially at the Apostles, we spent most of our time waving and it's a con at they say there are 12 Apostles and there are only 8 now and yes it took us hours to get there too! Still, you have to say that you've been! Seems that you are making lots of friends over there and typical...you meet up with a Welsh boy! We had a lovely little party for Issy at Sals and like Mum said, she was very impressed with Barney, I have a few photos and a video but you will have to wait until you get home to see them as my talents do not go as far as putting photos on the net! Don't have the patience! You will be amazed at how much Issy has grown and how much she talks!!!! Anyway, must get going, still not dressed and have to go out and buy some new clothes as we are off to a Casino in Cardiff tonight - don't worry about the gambling bug, I have Wayne with me (my financial advisor!). Take care you and have fun but be safe!

Hello Katie! Sorry I've been quiet of late, but I've been manic...and then got ill with my tummy thing which slowed things down a bit. Thanks so much for our Sydney postcard - I love receiving them and you're so sweet thinking of us all when you're having such adventures. I showed Mum your pics of skydiving and she was very impressed! Anyway, it's so lovely to hear all your news - I am more jealous than you can imagine and I'm so pleased to hear that you're getting on okay on your own. I always knew you would and it's great that you're meeting so many people. The Neighbours trivia night sounds like a laugh - Harold Bishop must be about 70 by now?! But I'm more jealous of your 'urban' night and wish that I had been there with you. Mum and Dad saw penguins in Oz I think...or it could have been NZ. I'm not sure. Anyway, looking forward to seeing the pics when you have some. All is good here. We had a lovely weekend as it was Victoria's 30th on Friday and Tony took us all to Gordon Ramsay at Claridges for dinner! It was a surprise for her and we all had such a fab time. The food was amazing and the staff were lovely. We even went in the kitchen afterwards and met the chef! Cool, eh? Kylie was absolutely brilliant! The atmosphere was a bit weird as it was in an arena (we saw Robbie outdoors and it was very different), but she was amazing. I can't believe she can be on stage for 2 hours after being so ill. There were SO many gay men there all dancing in the aisles - hilarious! We really enjoyed it and I'd definitely go again. Not much else to report, but am going to drinks at a TV producer's tomorrow night (a friend of a friend of an author), which should be interesting, and then we're in London on Saturday night for Vee's 30th celebration with friends. We'll miss you there and I'll definitely miss my dancing buddy! All the hen do plans are going well, but I might have to pick your brain and Nat's about places to eat. Nat - I hope Iz and you and Si are all well. I'd love to see a pic of her in the ladybird outfit! Jane - sounds like you're keeping your chin up and everyone's rallying around to entertain you while Kate's away! Katie - take care hon and keep enjoying yourself. It's lovely to hear all your news and not a day goes past without thinking of what you're up to. Loads of love Jools xx

We're online at the same time!! Except that it's the morning over here. Last night we went to the night market which was cool, and when we got back to the hostel I spent a couple of hours talking to quite an attractive Italian man...offering my services as a speaker of the Queen's English comes in handy!!! :) Today I'm going to go to the stadium and see if I can see any famous tennis players practising for the Australian Open which starts next week. And tomorrow I'm going to see penguins...in Australia! Who knew?? This travelling malarkey rocks. Missing you all so much...is great to have you back Clairey, and thanks for the message Mum - I'm missing Iz so much, make sure you get lots of photos of her for me!! Keep in touch xxx

Clare, you're back!!!! What a relief, you had us worried there for a while! We must all get together when Kate returns, if nothing else (and believe me there has been a lot of else!) Kate's trip has taught me that time really does fly and we mustn't waste a moment. Everything is fine here Kate, very, very wet but ok. Yet another parcel arrived today, the postman beats a path to the shed in the pouring rain most days now as I'm never in when he tries to deliver them. I'm sure he'll be happier when you return you are making his job very difficult at the moment. I went to funky Bri's and Auntie Sal's for birthday cake on Monday and I have to say that Iz made the cutest ladybird ever I went straight from work and didn't have my camera but I'm hoping to get a photo to send you before the novelty wears off. As for Barney well that was the best. "Barney, I love you " she said as she spotted him in the wrapping paper. (Les fimed it so I'm sure you'll get to see the moment that Auntie Katy scored the biggest hit )and Nat tells me that Barney went to bed with her that night. She really is a delight and Nat definitely is enjoying every exhausting moment, but she'll be so glad to have you back to share some more adult moments. It's late as you can see but as usual I've been to the gym and fallen asleep on the settee for half the evening so there's no point in me going to bed yet. I've been atempting to do clever things with my camera on the computer but no ECDL course can give me the confidence to do it on my own so I'll wait until Chris is around. I'm going to go now still be careful Kate, especially as you are on your own. Speak soon, stay safe loads of love, Mum.

Whoops....I see on reading it is Kolin rather than Kevin! What a mistaka to maka! Me x