Gay Dear Sonia, I was pleased to hear that you are OK and I hope that your friends are safe too. It has been so unbelievable and hard to imagine such devastation. Alison has phoned me this afternoon to ask if I had heard how you were but Robert has been on the internet so I will phone Alison tomorrow. Our prayers and thoughts are with you. Love Gay.

margaret Hi Sonia, Well I'm a bit late with the "Have a happy Christmas" but I hope you did, and now I'll get in early for "Have a Happy New Year". I will be going out to Poolburn Dam on Tuesday for about 10 days to blob out and do some fishing , if the weather ever settles down, although we can't complain the last 2 days. I spent Christmas Day lunch with all our family at Mum and Dads place , then I caught with the Ross clan at night.Your Christmas would certainly be a different one this year and no doubt you will be in for more of a New Year experience living in a different culture.I'll be interested to hear about your vounteer work in India from your next postcard,take care, Love Margaret

Gay MERRY CHRISTMAS Sonia! :) I have just arrived back from Dunedin this evening with Robert and Aroha. Travelled down yesterday and it has just rained, and rained and rained. There was obviously some raain in Alexandra too but it is fine at the moment. I will be interested to find out how you like India. My sister in law Heather loves India and has been on many trips there. Robert just loves Indian cooking and he makes a mean Masala and Rogan Josh and not to mention his favourite Butter Chicken. Thinking of you often and sending warm vibes your way. God Bless.Gay.

Carina Merry Christmas Sonia! Let's hope we don't get a white Christmas here, although it seems likely in some parts!! I'm heading down to Dunedin tomorrow and am hoping to actually see the sun...not sure how likely that is anywhere in New Zealand at the moment!! :-) Have a great week!

alison-joyhunter dear sonia, i've just so enjoyed reading all mail and postcards.amazing journey you are on!!my computer died last friday so have been starved of news etc.i'm doing well. just spoke to graham and margaret in ashbirton thought i'd suprize them at xmas they were as always delightful!!they are doing aussie trip next year plus nelson nz in jan but i told them that they must pay us a brief visit sometime soon.we miss you and love you and are always praying for your safe journenying and return to us in due course.its so wonderfyl to be seeing the world thru your wise and loverly eyes!!i just think you are so amazing and what beautiful teeth as well!!!!!!!!!!!!well enough madness won't bore you with my woes too close to celebrating xmas for that kind of timewasting!!!!the weather is hidieous worse than the winter we need you back here to take control of it again!!!!!!l love and adore you so good to read your great adventures take every care god bless and keep you close as you are in all our hearts and prayers.much love alison-joy. ********happy xmas to you !!!!!

Margaret Hi Sonia, It's a while since I have caught up on your travels and you have certainly covered some kms since my last note to you.We had our Carol Service at Clyde today and we were all pleased with our effort, lets hope it's as good at St Enochs on the 19th.The last meeting of P.C. on Wed.so things are drawing to a close very quickly. You are certainly having a fantastic look around, and certainly different from the ordinary Tourist route and great meeting up with so many of your friends. School finishes next week and Geraldine and I are going to watch Clyde Schools Pntomime, the Principles adaptation of Cinderella. Well you take care,safe travels. Margaret.

Richard McK Nice pages Sonia. I'm trying to convince my son Hamish to do the same thing on his travels next year. Have fun. Xmas party Wednesday. Any incriminating photos welcome.

Carina Elephant rides! How cool is that :) I'm pleased your time in Thailand went well. I liked the story about the solar panels too, amazing that the government didn't think to ask people what they used the wood for..or even think about it for a moment themselves! I hope you're having a great time in Sri Lanka and that the heat isn't too much to bear. I think we may have found summer again, or perhaps spring, after our very winter-like past week....

Gay Hello to you Sonia! Goodness it is the 2nd December already and you would think we were in the Northern Hemisphere not the Southern. As Margaret told you there was snow right down to the road on my way to Dunedin last Friday and it looked like a real blizzard on the Old Man Range. It was so impressive I stopped off and took a photograph. I have another friend over in Europe at the moment and she is working in Romania and manages to tour around neighbouring countries quite often. Last year she wrote about the same places that you have visited so it is interesting to compare the experiences. She is going to do a tour of Scandinavia next year doing some overland ski trip. Look forward to hearing all about your further travelling experiences. Take care. Love Gay.

Margaret Hi Sonia,Just read your last letter,and dispite the weather you are still getting to see plenty of places. We have woken to snow to the foot of the Old Man Range and very fresh, back to winter woollies!! I have a Sleep Over with the GirlsBrigade tonight in the Church Lounge I don't know about the sleep part but no doubt we'll catch a few hours between us all!Christmas Choir Music is coming along but we are repeating some already known, so that helps.Geraldine ,Joy and I have our lunch out today and we will solve all the worlds problems again!! haven't decided where we'll go we do that at 1pm . The final night for Womens Group was held at Dawn Beckers at Fraser Domain and it was a Coffee and Dessert night and everyone took a gift to the value of $5 There was a good crowd of us and all thoroughtly enjoyed each others company and of course the Dessert!! Well that's my lot for just now, and I'll look forward to reading your next update, Love Margaret

Carina Hi again Sonia. Good to know that your time in Germany is going well...Miniture World sounded great! As for Peter, Paul and Mary, I'm sure Mum and Dad would be impressed!! I will write more later...I really should be testing my code before we upload stuff tomorrow...

Gay Hello Sonia, Have enjoyed reading about your travels and Margaret and I enjoy talking about where you have been even though I havn't been there myself you explain the country and its people so well. It is good that you have family to visit and to share the good and the not so good. I read the notice in the newspaper that your Grandma had died so please accept my Deepest Sympathy and pass those sentiments on to the rest of your family. It is an overcast day today quite a change from the very warm temperatures we have been experiencing. The rain we received earlier in the week was very welcome and made my vegie garden romp away with growth. I also have a good crop of fruit on all my trees and would love to be able to share some with you. Have finished the latest Bill Bryson book "The short history of just about Everything". I am sure you would enjoy it. I based our last sermon on it and was asked for a copy of it. Wonders will never cease. Enjoy the rest of your trip and keep well. Love Gay.

Rob Hey Sonia, Great to read your travel musings. I'd especially like to visit Edinburgh some day. Sorry I missed sending you a note on your birthday, so Happy Belated Birthday!!! I'm off to New Plymouth next week for a cousin's wedding, I'm still working here at Lincoln Uni which is going well, and living out at Selwyn Huts, enjoying the spring weather and out on the river kayaking and splashing around with the eels! On Wednesday my step mum is shouting me and Dad out on the Christchurch Tram for dinner- should be fun... love and God Bless rob

Joan Hi Sonia We've just had a lovely visit from your Mum & Dad and they showed us your postcards - what a great look around you are having. I'm rather envious of the Proms concert - something I'd love to do some day. Happy travelling Joan (Wright)

Bec Hi Sonia, Just a quick note to let you know I'm thinking of ya! Sounds like things are all going well over there. Nothing much changes here at Lauder, though its now getting pretty warm! It was a gorgeous day today for the church fair today, and when Hisako and I went through around lunchtime they seemed to have sold nearly everything! Look after yourself - good news on getting the visa... miriam is still waiting! Lots of love, Bec