Ann Dean Hi Alex Happy Birthday!! What a way to be celebrating your 22nd birthday. I can't believe its almost a year since your 21st birthday tea party in the garden at Cudworth Corner. What a lot you have achieved in that time. Have a wonderful birthday - enjoy yourself !! love from Chris, Ann & Sam xxxxx

Amanda and Tash Sat morning just looking through your pictures, you both look like you are having the best time and it brought a wee tear to my eye to see you having so much fun.We are all off skiing in a couple of weeks, not Grandma of course! Heard you had a lovely time with Shizuko and John. Wishing you all a belated Happy New Year and just keep on having fun, you lucky things you!! love from Amanda and Tash xx

Emma wack yr pics up luce! just doing some revision...grrr when will the exams end???! hope your have a rave xxxxx

sarah happy new year lucy lot of love sarah

Jo Clarke Hi Lucy! Happy New Year from Down Under. Hope you saw the fireworks over the Sydney Harbour Bridge! I hear they were even more spectacular than usual (if that is possible!). Looking forward to seeing you both at the end of February in Auckland. If you are here on the 24th have some spare tickets for a vineyard concert. Jo xx

Ann Dean Hi Alex Its Christmas Eve and we all wanted to wish you a very merry Christmas. No doubt it's all a little different from Newdigate! I've had a look at your photos etc., and it all looks so wonderful, but most importantly you are obviously having so much fun too!! Chris and I spent a lovely evening with Mum, Dad and George on Saturday - fish & chips all round - the first evening of socialising with Dad since his problem. He was on good form and looking so much better. Mum as always looked after us all so well. They are coming here on the Friday after Christmas; the usual Dean/Dinsdale family get-together although this time without either you or Sam (and possibly not George either) so just the oldies, but still we'll just spend the evening talking enviously about your wonderful experiences and planning the over-50s gap year. Have an amazing Christmas and we send all our love and best wishes. Happy new year too. with love Ann, Chris & Sam xxxx

Wendy, Richard, Jemma and Sarah Carried on from message below.... Sarah and Co have been practising their Christmas play called "Fish talent" possibly introducing Freya the dog! Hope you have a good day.Love the Boons xxxx

Wendy, Richard, Jemma and Sarah Hey Lucy!Just wishing a very happy Christmas in Australia you lucky thing! Off skating tomorrow( Christmas Eve) at Somerset House and all the fam at Redgarth Christmas day! You will be missed! Sarah and Co

ali, alison, kate and harry looks like you are having a lot of fun!! just took your mother for a 12 mile walk today - she didn't look so happy, especially when we lost your father for 20 mins! luckily he smelt the beer and found us in the pub. happy christmas and have a riotous new year

David Gabe Just taking a break from preparing for a job interview and looking at my 6 esssays and 2 exams for chritstmas (apparently santa didn't think i behaved this year), and i have a look at your photo's lucy - how depressed and jealous am i right now!! Look like ur having an awesome time, glad you went to the full moon in"hat rin" (it's haad rin!), hope u lasted till daybreak at least! Christmas in sydney as well.....nothing more to add to that. I don't need to say keep on enjoying because i know you will!

Chris, Claire, Ben and Rachel Really enjoyed looking at the blog and pictures! What a fab time you are all having! Have a fantastic Christmas and New Year in Oz! Hoping to see more piccies. PS. We are now a family of 5 - yellow Lab puppy 'Freya' eating everything and everybody!!

sammy hey girlies!! looking at all your pictures there awesome! you look like your having an awesome time!! i'm so jealous! xx

MINIGABE lovin the pics sis! lovely you look very attactive in that bikini and slim! wohoo :) very jealous of the sun you must be seeing. the gap year student camilla lives in sydney and she says that xmas is so ot you'll just spend it all on the beach=social occasion :) much love xxxxxxxxxx

Richard OMG Lucy your life sounds amazing compared to the day in day out routine of working in the big city. Cant wait to see you when you come back. Better start fake tanning now so you dont completely put me to shame upon your return. Miss ya babs. Love Rich x

richard nancy Sohie Tasha Hi Lucy Sounds fantastic you lucky lucky thing! nancyx you are so lucky have a merry xmas tashxx i hope you're having a great time (on the beach!) miss you loads at xmas. sophiexxx Are you having xmas dinner on Bondi beach (Sydney) (Manly and other Sydney beaches further north are nicer?!). Simon knows youre coming. Happy christmas Richard