Brill news! John and Angela's baby finally arrived today - May 11th!

She is called Orla Caitlin (could be Kaitlin) and apparently she is gorgeous. Prro Angela has been in hospital since Saturday night so I should think she is exhausted.

So you share Angela's birthday and I share Orla's.

No other news

love

Mum

Lara wasn't that keen on coming back to school - but she does go on exam leave on Friday, so it's not too bad.

Any day now expect 20 messages from my class asking about weather and general touristy things. But you only have to reply to me and I'll show all the children your reply.

Apparently most of the parents now know what you're up to because class 2 are always telling them about you and registration in class 2 is now in Swahili! Perhaps I should learn the Vietnamese for Hello next.

lots of love

Mum

Nice to hear from you again after all this time! I am so jealous - I think I'm going to have a gap year soon.

Ailis really enjoyed her Holy communion and so did Eamonn and Brendan. We nearly got stuck in Ireland because of the Icelandic Volcano - our first plane was delayed because of bad weather, then it broke down and then we had to be transferred to another plane and depart before the midnight no-flights out time slot!

Shrek, you will be glad to hear, looks great and has even sent you a present!

Dad has got his new gadget for the bike - his punctureproof tyres. They arrived about 7 Tuesdat morning and if he realised how straightforward they would be to put on he'd have done so before work. He loves them -they are a gadget and they are bright red - you certainly notice them. He's had his photo done for the village shop. The new owner (Sandra) is going to chart their progress on a map as they cycle across the country.

lots of love

Mum

So how is Thailand? Hope its all peaceful. They could make a lovely dress for my koala whilst you are there - the silk is cheap and child labour almost cheaper. Aunty Fi has arrived unlike John's baby which is refusing to budge - 8 days late now. Thomas still wants the white dog cos he can run faster but i like the brown one best. I am saving up to extend your trip as the peace here is marvellous when life is so stressful, where do you want to go?

be good

Im actually in Cambodia now, Thailand was a bit too touristy, as discussed earlier, none of the countries I'm going to have koalas, soall you'd have is a koala-sized dress, which would just be wierd. As for the dogs, they're mine, and Dad won't let you steal them while I'm gone, he's fairly attached to them.

PS. South America sounds awesome ;)

Nice to hear your voice again - I was glad you phoned!

I think you fell very lucky with your hotel - I want a bed covered in rose petals in an exotic place!

Do take care in Thailand and move on when you can.

lots of love

Mum

hey there darling, hope you're okay and keeping yourself out of trouble :) i LOVE you xxx

So the Tai people heard you were coming and became restless - who would have guessed? What are you going to do instead - we still have Icelandic cloud so no planes are likely to land in England for some time - Australia sounds nice?! Hannah is loving her new stables and Thomas even managed (ish) a rising trot. Hope you are well and the interruption is getting sorted. Be good x

For starters clare, SHUT UP! :P Then learn to spell, it's tHai, not tai, And I'm glad Iceland has screwed up the rest of europe for a while, Australia sounds a bit boring tbh, but I could definitely live with NZ

Hi there

Class 2 loved the things you sent home. Some of the children looked a lot better with the mask on!

They will be emailing you shortly with some questions.

love Mum

okay, so the presents may mean that i might not get you as much as before but still you're not my best friend any more :)

Lots of love from

Lara xx

Thanks for the presents - they arrived this morning. I like the mask thing and all the pictures. I am wearing the earrings and dad will be grinding himself some coffee later on.

I liked all the stamps - they were very pretty and they amused the postman too!

Going to town to find some nice picture frames

love

Mum xxx

Lara liked the ring and she says thanks too

if you keep on deleting my messages i will personally GET YOU!

love from lara

xx

LOSER! I'll carry on deleting them and theres absolutely nothing you can do about it :P

Dear Naddie

You must stop deleting Lara's messages. It is naughty to annoy your sister - especially when you are so far away!!!!

I'm glad to see that you have learnt how to wash clothes. I wonder if you know how to iron. I am seriously considering employing a laundry maid with no sense of smell to go through your wardrobe washing and ironing all your things!

It's nearly the end of the Easter holidays and I still haven't finished tidying your room

love

Mum