Hi Mazzer

Just had an update on your fabulous adventures...you should be writing for a travel guide girl!

haven't written for ages as don't have internet at home so have to steal a few minutes from work tut tut! What's new... well I fell down the stairs at work a few weeks ago and ended up with a chipped ankle and a week on the sofa. Still managed to go to Barcelona over half term though and hobbled around for 3 days. Just about managed to get by on my non-existant Spanish ole.

Well adios amiga (?) looking forward to the next installement. Love and hugs Mags

Hi there traveller,

Glad to hear you're having such a fab time and really jealous of your adventures. I am at Malcolm's today (bet you miss that)!!! Wish I had some interesting news for you but it is same old same old. Take care of yourself and keep safe. Love Di x

Hi Marie

Just been catching up with your travel news and it all sounds truly wonderful, a world apart from us here in Manchester. Hope you are enjoying the whole experience. I can just imagine the kick you gave the school children with you musical renditions, keep your dance moves to yourself!! Have fun and keep up the journal its fun to read. Love Tricia

Just to let you know, we're going to see Carmen at the Opera House in December and then in Feb, we're going to see Strictly Come Dancing at the M.E.N. Arena in Feb 08. Good Luck England on Saturday against the green wall they call South Africa. What a task! Dad says, hi hope you're having a nice time. He's having a well earned rest from doing all the jobs, but now Dan's enlisting his help on his house. No rest for the wicked!! Love you loads. Keep safe, but enjoy your time. Mum & Dad. x x x

Marie, Dot has phoned me this morning 19.10.07 from one mother to another, and asked how you were and if I had heard from you. She hasn't got the internet, so I asked if she wanted me to send a message on her behalf. I think she's missing you. She wanted to say hello and hopes that you're o.k. She celebrated her 65th birthday last week, and was overwhelmed by the gifts she was given and the cards too. Tom and Rodney bought her a beautiful boquet of flowers, she said she got all choked up! During our little conversation, I found out she knows Anne Honeybourne and Roy from our old Selcar morris dancing days. She said "it's a small world Irene isn't it?" Aww. I thought it was lovely that she rang out of the blue because she was thinking of you and probably misses you! Lots of love anyway from Dot. Lot's of love from me too - mum x x

Hi Marie Well you are certainly having an adventure of a lifetime, one that you will reminisce (hope thats spelt right) about forever and ever, can't wait to see the pics along the vivid commentary. It is amazing how you can just watch wildlife for hour upon hour, day upon day without getting bored, that I would love, but you can keep the skydiving and canoeing, not my bag. Enjoy & take care x

Wow, what a show stopper. I was just about to go and check to see if you had any post, and I just thought, I'll have a look at Marie's blog just in case, and what do I behold a beautiful description of wildlife looking through your eyes, it's almost like I'm there with you and your whispering in my ear about what you're observing. It sounds absolutely fantastic and I'm so glad that you're taking in so much and enjoying yourself. But I'm going to tell you something that you will be jealous of enven though you wouldn't want to swap places, is that me and your dad are off to see Al Murray, The Pub Landlord at the Opera House, so there! On you last paragraph Marie, regarding the dancing bit, don't forget your morris dancing years! Maybe you can get hold of some bells and put them in your pumps ha ha. Yes Marie, you know mum, always has to give the old morris dancing a mention. Take care my darling daughter and look forward to blogging with you next time. Dad says hi he'll blog you soon. Luv 'n Stuff. Yer ma. x x x xx

Hi there Marie, Mavis here. Did you take your bucket and spade with you to the desert? ha ha. If you're throwing yourself out of the plane, you'll probably be swinging with the monkeys next!! Just called into the garage your mum's printed off your blog, she's keeping a record of your trips and updating me on what's been going on. Just off to Alans now to see the kids. Bill says Hello. Stay safe but have a good time. Lots of love. Mavis and Bill

I am so so jerlous now!!! look forward to our Chinese trip!

I cant believe they edited Dickie's name!!

Greetings Fanny. I hope this message finds you well my dear. We are sat here thinking about you as we sip our afternoon Earl Grey and eat our cucumber sandwiches(i.e.snickers bar!). Off to take a nap soon. Bertie Gertie and d*** send there love. Enjoy your travels darling.

Bunty x x x x

Kean to Riley...Kean to Riley...do you receive me or are you still in a red wine fug somewhere in the vinyards of South Africa? What is Cape Town like? Please post some do's and don't's!

Now that you're gone, who am I going to get advice from on my very important life problems? I have been pondering this and came up with a great solution. I will post my problems on here :-0 an get not only your words of wisdom but everyone else's too!

So, to the problem of the day: smelly neighbour

My neighbour has 4 dogs that don't go out but instead do their business outside their back door - which also happens to be outside my back door. While the number two's are disposed of, the yard is never scrubbed and consequently is rather stinky. Neighbour is nice man with a lot on his plate (self employed, single parent) so I don't want to 'create a fuss' when he has bigger fish to fry. To avoid embarassment when guests visit, I have taken to throwing buckets of soapy, disinfectanted water over the fence, which addresses the problem short term but creates a mystery for neighbour when he walks out of his house into a bubble bath. I have been lying low to avoid discussion but realise I should maybe come 'clean' (ha ha). Question: should I tackle this head on or continue to do my secret swilling until neighbour raises the issue?

Answers on a post card please!

Yours,

Guilty, Swinton