mike just so everyone knows if you havnt heard from us in a bit. we all managed the nevis bungi jump and survived to tell the tale. videos are too big to put onto facebook but we will do our best to get them online somehow. we are now back in christchuch about to make our way to the north island to see what fun we can have up there. hope everyone is well back home, we will be seeing you all in about a months time

Jon After the recent news about the bush fires (yes, I know, Oz is a big place...) glad you're on the move to NZ, although I'll be amazed if you find anyone there other than other Brits, as I seem to meet is a Kiwi!

Mum Webb Hi boys Good to read you latest blog although we have been keeping up with you on facebook! Glad to hear you are still managing to enjoy yourselves - all sounds amazing.If you see any promotions for Backpacking for Retirees let us know. Belated Happy Birthday Chris, no doubt you celebrated in style.We are looking forward to snow next week, just hope it's enough to close school Enjoy Melbourne & looking forward to seeing some mopre pics. lol Mum xx

Mum Franklin HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS from everyone back home in sunny uk.

Sammy Davies Hi Boys Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2 u all!!!!!Hope you all are well and hope to see you soon.. Can't wait till you come back martin coussy. HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON! Bi bi love ya Sammy

miek we all survived the new year celbrations and greated the new year watching fireworks off the top of one of the bars overlooking the sea, pretty cool. i hope everyone had a good christmas and a happy new year. i hope 2009 is a good year for everyone. x

Jon Hi Chaps, Glad to hear that you've survived Christmas, only New Year to go! Not sure which of you was in the picture on your latest blog, all I can say is it is clearly true what they say about exposure to the sun. Your not missing much back here, all the news is filled with horror stories of the past year, coupled with promises that next year will be even worse! Well at least the news providers will stay happy. Well done them. I know the feeling about arriving in a place and the locals taking pity. Same thing happened to us in Lawton, Oklahoma. As soon as I arrived in Washington and the locals realised where I was heading they started to feel sorry for me. Having said that, we had a great time, and if it's any consolation you'll have stories different to those who have just followed the 'Australia on Tour' package. If anyone asks, just say you wanted to see some real Oz.....warts and all. Hopefully not literally speaking. Happy New Year to you all, stay safe, but have a great time! Jon

Mum (Webb) Hi Happy day after Boxing day to you 3. Christmas hols has given us a chance to catch up with your news and photos which Grandma has enjoyed also! It has been great chatting to you, hope you are enjoying Darwin. Dad is taking Grandma, Grandad & Auntie Lil back today, Laura has hit the sales & we are all meeting up later @ Gary & Jo's for a quiet night! Bach 2morrow to catch up with the Thomas' (including the Cornwall branch )for another quiet night!! Speak soon Love Mum xx

mike happy christmas from all of us over in darwin. hope everyone has a good christmas and a good new year. missing family right now and hope all is well. mike

pedro Hi Everyone! ive been getting alot of people ask me what we are actually doing on this trip because they have only see us drink! whilst that has been a factor, i can confirm we have done alot more than this! the trip around the islands of phi phi was amazing, we got to see dolphins and the snorkelling was fantastic! we are off to singapore zoo tommorrow where we are going to do the night safari so as long as non of us get killed the photos should be up soon!! much love x x

mike the photos will keep on flowing and dont worry jem and jon, no speedos will be deployed, boardies are the way forward. jon the people over here find any reason to have a beach party...usually involving the moon, full moon parties are the biggest but then they have black moon, half moon, no moon etc..

Jon ...by the way, 'black moon party'? Is it safe to ask what the hell that is?!

Jon Nice to see that you're enjoying yourselves! Don't worry too much about us back here in the cold........ I'll bet that sentry you had your picture taken next to was killing himself with laughter! You'll have definitely brightened his day! Hope you're having as good a time as it looks, and the pictures are ensuring a healthy level of envy down here in 'sunny' Portsmouth. Please, for the love of God, if there are 'speedos' deployed over the trip, do not, I repeat do not capture it on film. It'll only come back to haunt you at some later point in life, and we'll all have to take our on eyes out. Not good at this time of the year. Have a very large beer for me, Jon

Jez So you're enjoying yourselves then? Good We've got a new cat - Rescued another one from someone who was leaving the UK for good. One year old bruiser called Felix. Just had him castrated and jabbed. He really doesn't like me much at the moment. Plus three weeks of forced confinement means cat boxes everywhere! Martha is just getting over a second bout of flu, Fi has had a rasping cough for the last three weeks and its coming up to Christmas madness over here! Sometimes feel like we should abuse the credit card and come out and see you. Sun and white beaches would be great! The weather is as you would expect it here. Frosty mornings with ice scrapers at the ready. Cold winds expected over the next few days and the possibility of snow! Yippee! Must try and find an indoors office job! (Dear Diary......) We'll toast you guys once or twice over the next few weeks during our Office Christmas Do's and look forward to all your updates! Don't need to tell you to enjoy yourselves! You are obviously doing that. Just one thing - Mikey get infront of the camera once or twice! PLEASE! Pops wants to know what is it with shorts that should be trousers? What happpened to Speedo's? Ha ha! Jem

Mum Franklin Glad you have got to where ever you are now! safe.. Did you ever come out of the bars or did you only remember to take your camera there!!!! So glad your having a good time. We are all missing you keep going to buy your christmas pressies, never mind i will have to spend it on myself instead . Carry on enjoying yourdelves and take care....Mum x x