Hai Sai!!

I am enjoying checking where you guys are!! I am enjoying to see so many different types of scenery. Thank you for putting up lovely beautiful picutres. I can not wait for clicking new photos. They reminds me, you(Lindsay) were always carrying your camera to take some photos in Okinawa. It seems like just right before...

You know what!? Over 4,500 uchinanchu(Okinawans) has been coming back all over the world, of course from Peru, and get togher have Uchinanchu-Festival on this weekend. Spending with them, I would like to go out from the small island like you!!

It must be exciting to see you somewhere out during the journey!?
Enjoy and take great care!!

Shizukaxxx

Hi There,
Marldon is now alive and kicking!!! Will send you email with new addresses.
Hope all is well with Juan and his donkeys! Is the weather good?
Colin passed his Skipper course and now has his full certificate. He can't wait to get on the water, I'm happy to wait till the summer and go somewhere warm!
Will go now, have to give Nanny and Grandad another IT training session! This could be a long job!!!
Lots of love and kisses, can't wait to hear from you again.
M, P, N and G xxxxxxxxxxxx

Hey guys!

Thanks for your lusciously long email of last week - thought I'd reply on your message board as I was here. The photos are fab - between my sis and you I almost feel like I'm in South America myself (I said almost!) She and Aki are in Peru as we speak, up to their usual all sorts (involving light aircraft and dune buggies or something) and about to start their trek up to M.P.

I, on the other hand, have just returned from an IFP pre-programme meeting and YOU WEREN'T THERE! It felt distictly odd, I'll have you know, m'lady! On a brighter note, K.C. wasn't there as he has officially handed over the reins to Christoph..and we were done in about 30mins. Bodes well, methinks!

Mmmm..what else....oh, yes! Saw Gemma at Lindsay's birthday party last Sat. and really enjoyed the 3 hour mother's meeting that ensued..tee, hee, hee! Oh, and Paul was in his element being bartender supremo, mixing up dangerous looking cocktails behind a wonderfully kitsch '70's bar, rescued from a skip by Lindsay's brother's girlfirend (and she looked like such a quiet girl..) Lindsay looked stupendous and feels that she really must have more parties because the presents are so good!

As for us Dowdens, well, I'm feeling ENORMOUS - boobs have definitely grown (see Jonathan smile). Scan next week so I'll let you know what it reveals. Jonathan does the Great North Run on Sunday (Lordy!) and Isabella is REALLY well - phew! Oh, and my sis has her op on 16th Oct. Get that over with and maybe we can all settle down a bit.

Well, best love my friends,

Donna xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hello, How are you and where are you?

Guess what Jackie brought me for my birthday?
"ONE ACRE OF THREATENED TROPICAL FOREST IN BRAZIL" !!
How cool is that?

The money goes to purchase and protect forest land for the World Land Trust REGUA Brazillian Atlantic Rainforest Project to create reserves for the plants and animals that depend on them.

I can even go and visit it!

Well perhaps by now you are trekking? Would be good to hear at what stage you are at.

Thinking about you all the time,
Lots of Love
Mum xxxx and Pop

Hello there travellers!!!

Sorry havn't written for a while but you know me!!! Thank you for the lovely postcard, it came last week! Not sure if you have heard about Granny Joyce but will let mum tell you all about that in an email. Anyway now in Peru! Look out for Paddington!! Your night entry into the place sounds a bit James Bond!!! Especially the speed boat bit!! Very spy worthy!! The map now looks like it has chicken pox!! Can't belive you have been to so many places, it seems like you only left a week ago!! Simon hope you are ok now and still taking the tablets as mum as usuall has investigated them on the internet and they won't make you ill. Linds i hope you are ok and that your bites are all ok!! It was mums birthday on Monday! So am going to do somthing for her when i get paid tomorow! May take her out to dinner! Anyway doing this while waiting to get a lift to the train station so had better go!!!
Look after yourselves and big love and hugs to you both!
Love Sarah xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Haaalow!
Is that how they say it in Peru? Sounds good.....what a journey!
I think there will be a few other people following your route once they've read your journal....
Going to see Sienna and Laura tomorrow at Hessay....can't wait to see them.
Grandad's fine.Don't seem to have seen him for a while but he sounds okay and his back is healing up.
Not ready for the Gt North run on !st October....decided to go up for the day.
Been to Doncaster Dome today with kids and going to watch
'Casualty' in a minute....Don't you just yearn to be home!!?
Simon, what's your tele no in Pinchbeck ...and I'll give your Mum & Colin a ring...
Love to you bothxxx

Hi there Jungle Jane and Indiana,

Well, what a way to complete the first country on your travels. You will have so many lovely memories. And of course hundreds and hundreds of photos! The discs arrived and are now in the safe.

We all love looking for your messages and photos every day and are looking forward to the Peru experieince.

Hope you are feeling better Simon, keep taking the tablets!

Take care, love you both lots,
Mum
xxxxxxxxxx

Hi you guys,

This is your brother Linds! I am lovin looking at your photos, all fantastic particularly the ones in Salvador.. brought back so many memories, Mamabahias, the square, all good stuff. School is chaotic as ever and I am already looking forward to half term. Keep all the stories coming.

Love you both very much

Graeme, Laura and Sienna

I have my laptop back and working at long last. I was going to say....and back in circulation, except for the fact I've got a cast on my leg.
I've really enjoyed catching up with what you've ben doing....so many memories already and you're only 6 weeks into your year. Keep the journal going.
Simon, you've had 4 letters from the LD Mountain centre, all with exactly the same flyers inside. I could'nt understand until I read the names on the envelopes more carefully...all different. Simon Beasley, Simon Beastley (my favourite), Simon Boasley and Simon Boastley. Do I take it that you were a little drunk perhaps on at least three of the occasions when you registered with them?
Bye for now.

Hi Linds and Simon!
Sunset over the Amazon was the best! Grandad keeps coming over to look at the photos. He still can't quite make it out how you can be in South America and we can see the photos in Lowdham the same day!! Presume you'll run out of internet cafes further up the Amazon? You look to be having a great time.
Ames moving down to Robbies in Devises till Nov when she goes off to Courchavel over the winter. She'll be popping back here at weekends to finish her sailing course thro'out Sept. Me and Di off to Greece for the week next Sunday but won't be setting up a STA Travel website!! I'll just have to upload the DVD for you!!
Look after each other and enjoy the rest of your short break!
God bless
Rog and Di xx

Hey you two!!!!! Just thought I would log on and see how you guys are going - fantastic by the sounds of it! Sounds great altogether. Am really interested to hear how things go in the Amazon - can't believe how quickly time is going too.

All good here in Dubai - college started last week so I've been getting to know my new contingent of "ladies" - actually they seem like nice groups this year - hopefully fun teaching in store!

Linds I thought of you while at a Japanese karaoke bar last night - I belted out "Dreams" and was wondering when you were going to pop up and do "Where the streets have no name" !!!!!- och well will just have to do a sesh together when you and Si are finished your big trip!

Court's on his way back from the Uk tonite - can't wait 2 c him - I know he would say hello if he was here, so
Love to you both and keep njoying it all -
from us both! Mwah!!
Ash and Court xxxxxxxxxxxx

You were dead right to get the cabin, although the hammocks are colourful, they are also very communal !!! Dolphins ..... well that's something I didn't associate with the Amazon, I am learning something new every day through your trip. Jackie and I spend a bit of time most days researching and surfing the web on the places you have been and seen in real life.

We are wondering if you are going to smuggle home a young person or two, they look so appealing and obviously take a shine to you both.

Hope the hours of talking are not driving you to distraction too much, still you'll both be expert Yahtzee'ers when you get home!

Looking forward to seeing yet more photo's and hearing more stories. It's amazing that in the middle of the Amazon you can find an internet connection.... fantastic world.

If the chicken and rice diet gets too much, it looks like bananas are in plentiful supply! It's homemade lasagne for us tonight, maybe with some garlic bread and a fresh green salad ......... still you can't have everything, the view here is just not the same!!!!!

Looking forward to the next issue ....
Love you both lots
Mum and Pop
xxxxx