grandma Hi Rach Just been looking for an updated journal, not found one yet, are you to busy, or are you still feeling under the weather! Found a holiday with Page & Moy visiting the land of the inkas. Sounds as if some of the trips are the places that you have recently visited. Thought that we all may go and you could show us around town, then I read the price, oops, wished I had never seen it, we shall have to win the lottery to consider that one. Saw Jez this morning and was telling him that you are hoping to go diving with the whales etc. He has done a lot and says it is fantastic, he sends his best wishes. H is taking Jo (his wife) to India for her 40th Birthday, they are staying for 3 nights in Dubai, stayong at the only 7* hotel in the world, apparently you go to your room by boat and there are also 39 restuarants in the hotel. When they get to India they are going on a train journey which is the equivalent of our Orient Express, wait until you are 40 and see what Tom reats you to. Enjoy your last week in Galapagos and take care. See you soon. Lots of love Grandma xxxxx

mum hi rach just to ask if you got the picture of addie! the first month went really fast but now every day seems to drag. am really missing you. it's half term AND IKEA has opened - grandma and I are going to have a look this week. It sounds like you're having a good time. love you loads, mum,dad addie ans sammy xxxxxxxxxxx

rhys hi rachel its rhys here just seeing how you are getting on over there

Grandma Hi Rachel, Hope you enjoyed your weekend in Banos, read about it on the internet and it sounds as if it rather busy on Saturdays and Sundays. We have just been watching a programme on the Galapagos Islands. When you get there you will have to look for Lonesome George, He is the only Pinta tortoise left, they are not sure whether he is gay or not as they have tried to get him to mate with two female espanola tortortises, but he will not have anything to do with them, so they think that he could be gay!! Will leave you now and read your latest long journal which I have just printed off. Take care and don't work too hard. Lots of Love Grandma & Grandad xxxxxxxxxxxx

Grandma Hi Rach, We were so relieved when we heard that you had arrived at your destination. Everyone was thinking how brave you were travelling on your own, Vera from St. Annes rang twice to ask had we heard, Aunty Margaret rang to see if you had arrived, oh dear me, grey hairs arriving fast in Glossop, in fact we may all be white by the time you arrive home. I expect you had to be up and start work this morning at 7.0a.m. to receive all your new instructions, Steve Kimber from Rotary has left a message asking for your new e-mail address. Hope you enjoy your new expriences and that the animals are tame and do not bite!! Do take care of yourself and don't be too brave with the monkeys in your care. Look forward to your next journal which I know will be full of interesting news. Lots of Love from Grandma and Grandad.xxxxxxx

vicky Hi Rach, its Vicky from the bottom of your garden! Just been looking at all your piccys and news. It all sound facinating and a world away from here. Spoke to your mum last night, I am sure she will be more relaxed when you arrive at your destination. Is this experience changing your career outlook yet?! Hope you carry on enjoying your trip and work out there. Lots of love from Vicky and the other fairies in the garden ! xxxxxxxx

mum hi Rach, just waiting to hear that you've arrived in Quito - then our next worry will be that you're at the animal sanctuary. Once we know you're there, we'll be fine, but at the moment our stomachs are churning. Hope you remembered to get your stuff out of the safe!! when you're in the taxi, just pretend you're talking on the phone - even if you've no signal!! We're so proud of you and are very envious of the experience - apart from the large creatures of course - knowing my aversion to spiders and other hairy insects!! love you lots and lots and lots, mum, dad,Addie and Sammyxxxxxx

lynda mcavoy Hi Rachel I am still reading your Messages and I continue to be fascinated by your adventures and photographs. The white water rafting sounded amazing.I don't think I would have fancied eating the fish head!!! Whatever are cuba Libres? I think I'd rather have a pint of Stella-still I don't suppose there is much of that where you are.Hope your bites are healing. I don't much like the sound of the tarantula crawling around.I expect you will be able to cope with any form of insect when you come home-wasps and bees and spiders will be nothing to you!!!!Look after yourself and keep writing. TAKE CARE WITH THE BUGS!!!!! Don't drink too much of the cuba libres-whatever they are!!!!

grandma Hi Rach Just arrived back from holiday, we had a lovely time and the hotel was excellent, even got Grandad to have a meal in the Thai restuarant, he didn't bother to try to eat his soup with his chopsticks!! I asked the waiter to bring me some wool and I would endeavour to knit him a jumper before I left using my chopsticks as needles. Lots of washing and ironing now to face that's the worst of holidays. Just caught up with all your new photos and the 26/9 journal they are excellent. Just printed details of the cloudforest retreat, enjoy your weekend. I did have problems in Menorca using the internet, could only bring the instructions up in Spanish and by the time I had got my head round the spanish my money had run out, that the explains the short message, I did also send you an e-mail, hope you received it. Take care and hope to hear of your next experiences soon. Lots of love Grandma. xxxxxx

Grandma Hi Rach, Trying once again to get off your bloggs, not succesfu

Joey hi Rachel it's me just checkin to see how u r. i've seen some pictures of u in the jungle, it looks fun, i wish i was there because year nine makes me think to much. Sara says hi, shes going to be doing a 1 year teaching course, teaching year 1's and 2's(lets hope they don't drive her crazy). My mum also says hi, and she thinks what you are doingis realy good so keep it up!xxx see you soon

esther n eilish hi rachel your trip sounds reli fun we both want to be there. we think it would be a good idea if you take some people from school but miss armer said it would too much lol.well when we are older we want to the same thing you are doin.well hope you are do well love esther n eilish xxxx

Grandma Hi Rach Guess who! yes Grandma ^ Grandad in Menorca, enjoying our holiday, although it is very windy, and no we have not changed rooms yet!! surprised. Spoke to Mum and Dad last night, they said that you were going white water rafting, hope yopu enjoyed it. You will soon be moving on, afe any of your new friends moving with you, Will leave you now not much money left. ake care. Lots of love Grandma and Grandad. xxxxxxxx

mum Hello rachel, Mum here - hope you enjoyed the river rafting and are still in one piece. it was open evening last night and quite a lot of people looked at your blogs and were very interested. You've had a great experience, and have lots more to come!! there were more than 200 families at the open evening and there's only places for about 97 children!! Anyway, please write and let us know how you went on!! oh, by the way, the german exchange students are here again and Mari-Elene -the teacher from last year, sends her love, best wishes and says she's jealous!! She remembers how last year, both of you were talking nostalgically about student life!!

lynda Hi Rachel I am really enjoying reading about your adventures. Your writing is really showing us how lucky we are here in England. I had written an assembly to tell them all about what you are showing us about life in Equador but as ever there was a problem when the kids did not get the message about assembly and I only had 3 minutes left to speak so I will have to do the assembly next week. I want all those who helped to fund raise to realise how important your work is out there. I would also like you to think about a charity we could adopt when you get home. It would be great to use a real contact to raise money for the community where you are working . You seem to be coping great !! I would be terrified of flying things and cockroaches but you seem to be coping-don't bring any back with you in your suitcase-your mum is hopeless with spiders never mind the bigger species.i'll write again soon -keep us informed about your fascinating work. Love Lynda