Hey we're having a nice time up the east coast apart from the rain is keeping us tent/car bound!

We're in coffs harbour tonight but keen to head further north tomorrow to byrons bay in search of warmer weather. We have been to a koala hospital and the best pie shop so we're finding ways to entertain ourselves!

Sounds like you had a lovely bank holiday mum. Got your last email, but it was a bit too short for my liking!!

Lots of love, deb and luc xxxxxxxxxx

HI you guys havent written for a couple of days so i thought you would be missing me. Just had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend starting off on Saturday at Ben & Chelseas house.

We went to Trentham gardens in the afternoon to the Monkey Forest where we communed with the monkeys! After which we went round the retail outlets which were very nice and we managed to spend quite a bit of money. Later on in the evening we went for a very nice tapas meal in Newcastle which was followed by a game of canasta.

Sunday saw us visit the pie shop for lunch and another wander round the retail centre where we managed to spend even more money! A lovely weekend spent by all.

On Monday we met up with Sally and her aching limbs at a National Trust property. We had never visited Brockhampton Estate before so it was pretty interesting as it was a 14th century farmhouse.

Avisit to wing wahs in the evening left Sally feeling much better and daddy was happy too as Torquay have made it to wembly for the playoffs.

Hope your trip is going well and without too many hitches although having a tent with no poles must have been interesting!

Glad you ve finally taken up a sport although i didnt think netball would be your game. Love to you both love mum xxxxxxxxxxxx

oh and you'll never believe what we were recruited for yesterday sally dear...... NETBALL!!! Yep Lucy Debbie Naomi Louise and Mat made up half the netball team and lost 32 - 8 !!!! hahaha was really really fun though we might set up our own team!! You'd have been proud I'm sure

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sally, cannot believe you let toby convince you to enter into that kind of torture!!!! we have just been laughing quite heartily with the aussies we're staying with at your expense!!!!

our own trauma though was in the blue mountains in winter in a tent with summer sleeping bags!!!! the coldest night ever, think the most sleep anyone got was an hour if that. Added to that, the car hire gave us a tent without poles or pegs so we had to find a camping shop to get a new tent!! doh. Funny now though.

We were looking at internal flights as need to go cairns - melbourne and it's more expensive than we thought and looks like we have to change in Brisbane so not as easy as we thought but gotta be done. You have to get to Melbourne for Lucy's birthday as it'll be the first one in years where you'll be celebrating with us so we're very excited by that - Luc especially obviously.

Can't wait for you guys to get here and Mum too, crazy stuff!!!!

Hopefully will speak to you soon.... what nights are you in?

lots of love

The shiniest star and the most glorious angel

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Hey lovely ladies,

The photos look like a lot of fun is being had! Lucy - good effort on the "crack" photo! Laughing out loud on my own moment! And Deb, good to see you are continuing in your quest to be as geeky as your big sis by watching museum videos...there's a reason no-one else is sitting in those chairs...museum videos are the ultimate in geekness!

So, me and Toby thinking of just getting a flight o Sydney and seeing what happens really. Are internal flights easy to book a couple of days before or do we need to put some more thought into this? Thinking 2 weeks on the East coast while you two are working then heading to you guys. However, like i said, we're going to leave it pretty open we think, so may join you sooner andtake some time in the snowy mountains.

Toby took me on a "gentle undulating bike ride through the black mountains" yesterday. After 20 miles of carrying my mountain bike up rocky steps and walking down tracks which were steep and about 6 inches wide, one set of tears and a lot of bumps and bruises, i sat in the pub while he fetched the car (which was still 10 miles UP HILL away!)!!! Another fine effort by Mrs D on the bike riding front!!!

Anyway, stay in touch my lovelies - oh, meant to tell you Nick CLayson and Charlottle got engaged! Yey! So off up to Leeds to see them next week. Blood Brothers is this Friday followed by Leicester v Bath rugby again. Turning into a regular little day out! Fun Fun Fun!

Love you both xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

My dear siblings you all must learn than none can be brighter or shinier than thou!!!!

Mum, the dolphin photographer got on the other boat - we were confused by that aswell and we were in the water - not the best place for the camera so no pics unfortunately.

Ben, Can't believe you've finished already and I think you are completely justified in questioning the exam board on the need for a 2 week exam period for them not to use it!!!!

Has Blood brothers happened yet? Love that musical so much!!! Naomi and Louise got tempted by the Nutcracker at the opera house (we saw them rehearsing!!!) but as you can imagine it's fairly expensive.

We're going out for food later with harri and ash to say bye as we head off tomorrow - woooooooooooo

Lots of love

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Yay more photos at last but where were the dolphins? It doesnt look as if it has taken Louise and Naomi long to settle in. Must admit your choice of picnic spot does look amazing. Where was ash on all your night out photos or was she just swamped by all the boys? I think we are going to Aunty shielas tonight so that dad can do a bit of drilling for her and go out for a meal. Aunty Sue meanwhile is currently out in Spain furnishing the appartment. All good fun then.

Lots of love mum xxxxxxxxx

Just thought I would say hi guys as i havent been keeping up to date with your adventures... I think I will have a good read of all your things tomorrow when.... I WILL HAVE FINISHED UNIVERSITY!!! thats right! the baby of the family will have finished! how scary is that! My first two exams and essay I feel fairly good about. So I might be able to clinch that all important 2:1 if im lucky.... we will have to wait and see though...

Anyway back to the books! got to keep going for my next exam! (how much of a b**** was my exam timetable?! essay due monday 27th by noon, first exam 27th 1-3, 2nd exam 9.30-11.30 28th, final exam 9.30-11.30 wednesday... you have to wonder why they bother having a two week exam period?!)

anyway really am off guys

x

Hello hello!

We've had a lovely couple of weekends so thought i'd stop by and tell you about them. Last weekend we walked up Pen-y-fan, a mountain in the Brecon Beacons close to here and this weekend we've been to the Peak District to do some climbing - much much fun.

All you trips sound very exciting. Very jealous that you did diving with dolphins. How amazing is that?! Still looking forward to planning our trip. Hopefully Toby will have some idea of what's happening in the near future.

Had another inspection last week. Got a "Very Good" lesson - winner! Better than the last time with my delightful year 11s. This time was pond-dipping with good year 7s! I also have my own yr7 form now which is fun fun fun.

Next weekend is bank holiday and we're considering hitting the peaks again. Really was fab. Week after is Blood brothers which we're really looking forward to, then a Bath Vs Tigers rugby game on the Saturday (Mum - if you read this before i speak to you do you fancy watching the rigby again? Sat 9th at 3pm).

Anyway, tis late and got to be at school bright and early. Love you both lots xxxxxxxxx

Swimming with dolphins sounds amazing.Did you have long in the water with them or was it a fairly brief experience? Glad u liked the sound of he beach house its a shame it is soooo expensive. You didnt say whether or not you had picked up the email i sent. Please let me know as i have further stuff arrived for you but don t think you want me to put details on this message board!

That sounds really good doesn t it. It will have people wondering. Dads off to London today so I think i may go and get a guide book to plan my trip.

Have a good time with your next adventures and I look forward to hearing all about them. Drive carefully in this car and take your time!

Love mum xxxxxx

Hey mum, that beach house sounds amazing! Can't wait!

I love blood brothers, you're going to enjoy it so much. Tell dad to take the tissues though as it's weepy!

We're having a lovely time in sydney. naomi and louise have settled right into hostel living, and yesterday we booked our car yay! We have also booked our trips to the whitsundays (3 days sailing), fraser island and noosa so we can't wait to get going again!

Todays it's anzac day so we're going to celebrate aussie style xxxxx

Its not an hotel you nitwit it was a beach house which has 3 double bedrooms, underground parking and its own gym. O yes it has 3 bathrooms too so if i did book it i think that there would be room for you too!

I have sent you an e.mail but im not sure whether or not you have picked it up. Please let me know as there were banking things for lucy.

Dad and i have signed back up to the National Trust so you can guess what we ll be doing at the weekends again. O well not much to tell you really as it is pretty quiet here. Going to see Blood Brothers on the 8th May so thats my next night out and then off to Budapest on the 14th which is exciting!

Look forward to your next update and I hope Louise and Naomi had a good flight over Love you lots mum xxxxxxx