Hi!

Well Orla does look just like her dad and she's absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately in other respects she is just like you were as a baby - she does not sleep and cries lots and lots. The midwife told me it was because you were going to be clever, ...

Dad's new bike arrives on Monday - he's quite excited abut it. Lara and I were wondering about calling it Bob but we haven't quite found the perfect name yet.

Glad Hanoi is so good,

Keep safe

love

Mum xxx

If Orla's like I was as a baby that means she'll grow up to be as awesome as I am now, so she'll be fine, and why do you seem so doubtful of my cleverness? I survived SGHS didn't I?

How about Bobby instead of just Bob? Bobby and Bonny has a bit more of a ring to it...

Basically its just that he has ridden it lots in bad weather. Yorkshire, apparently, is very hard on bikes. He was having it serviced for JOGLE but it needs new wheels, new brakes, new cables, new gearing, a new bracket and so on. Anyway it was nearly as much to fix Bertie as it was to buy a new one. so the newone arrives on Monday - we need to give it a name. Any thoughts?

I'm actually glad that he'll have the new one because it would be awful to start JOGLE and not be able to finish it! I'll certainly give him a hug and then I'll strangle him for being in Ireland leaving me to make all the difficult decisions!!!

How's Hanoi?

lots of love

Mum xxx

PS Lara loves you!

Bad news! Bertie is very poorly - Dad is distraught and we'll have to get him a new bike for the ride across Britain. Not easy as he's off to Scotland on Thursday.

love

Mum xxx

Forgot to tell you we're off to Sheffield on Saturday to see Orla - dad is cycling there and back as practice for next week.

Also - big news - Mo and Tom have bought 2 puppies. They are West Highland Whites and they will be picking them up this weekend. They were thinking of getting them on Sunday but I think John wants to see them so they'll be picking them before then.

love

Mum

Good for Mo and Tom, maybe Clare will stop bothering with Bothie and Buzz and just steal those ones lol, wish Lara luck on expedition and say hi to Orla for me

Hi

Lara goes to Morocco on 3rd July - she has most of the stuff she needs but we're going to Leeds soon to buy her a hat, a camel back some really good sunglasses and a couple of other things she needs.

She is currently in the middle of the DofE expedition - the weather was awful yesterday but it is much better today.

I'm just making myself a pirate costume for school on Monday!

love

Mum

How were the trousers you had made? I forgot to ask

I think you are getting very fussy the pictures of Ninh Binh that I have just looked at on the internet looked amazing - especially the caves.

love

Mum xxx

How were the trousers you had made? I forgot to ask

I think you are getting very fussy the pictures of Ninh Binh that I have just looked at on the internet looked amazing - especially the caves.

love

Mum xxx

You slept on a junk a very long time ago - in Hong Kong, so you won't remember it.

Shame about the phone and lack of music. Lara now has the complete set of Glee CDs - she's in musical heaven!

Aunty Clare is coming to stay on Friday - imagine that - Lara and Hannah are going to share your room although I still haven't finished tidying it.

Lara's off on her DofE expedition tomorrow and her passport has finally arrived so she's definitely going to Morroco. The nurse who gave you all your jabs asked how you were doing as she jabbed Lara -she thinks you are both adventurous.

Going to have lunch with Pippa Raynor's mum tomorrow

love

Mum

Hangover? What is a hangover? Your dad sometimes drinks bad beer but he has never suffered from a hangover. Remember our new leader David Cameron wants us all to be responsible!!!!!

I so want to go to Halong Bay - what an amazing adventure you are having.

Thanks for emailing Class 2 they will be thrilled to get your reply. Apparently there has been a rush on asian artefacts in the local charity shops - the children want to have things that you might have.

No news really except Dad is off to Ireland next week on business.

lots of love

Mum

where are all the photos you promised me?

So you reply to your favourite auntie but not to your mum! Even though that saint is still tidying your bedroom.

the emails should reach you this week - but you only have to reply to one - send it to my email address and I'll show it to the class

love

Mum

I would reply to you but you're not making ridiculous demands like that idiot sister of yours- are you sure she wasn't dropped on the head as a child???

I'm having some trousers made in Hoi An today, which is exciting, they should be ready this evening

I tidied my room before I left, you must have OCD too, it's a wonder I ever managed to grow up as a normal functioning human being :P

Good and bad news - I was taking to your Mum who is less keen on the idea of south america due to a kidnap situation which obviously is bad news - good news I have been in touch with the kidnappers and they are more than happy to take you on a tour with them! Sorted. I must admit I am disappointed that you have failed to find a koala so far in your travels you lack imagination and effort. I hear that Orla looks like John which is bad enough for a girl but much better than looking like Auntie Jackie - don't you think?

How is the hair? Perhaps you could find my koala a little ipod to keep it entertained on its onward journey? The shops sound fab are you filling your rucksack?

Be good x

I'm always good, unlike some people I copuld mention...

Thanks for organising a tour of south america for me, though I'm not sure about the people you booked it with... I would ideally like not to get kidnapped, if it's all the same to you

Don't you start being mean to my new cousin- but doubtless once she can speak she'll be able to outwit you :P

I refuse to get you a koala, you're too mean, and so far I haven't really seen anything that's particularly caught my fancy, so my backpack is still half empty

PS, my hair is awesome, and you're just jealous