HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

We had a really good night / and day yesterday.  We set of at 8.30am yesterday to meet up with James, cross the harbour and get a good spot with awesome views of both the Opera House and Harbour Brigdge. It was kind of crazy as we claimed our patch of grass with nearly 14 hours to go... but the day was very sociable (met all of Jame's Kiwi Bus friends) and passed pretty quickly...plus they put on some taster fireworks at 9pm to keep us going!  It was all quite a spectacle, not just with the fireworks and the city all lit up, but also all the boats were decorated.  After the final display we decided to walk back over the Harbour Bridge rather than get the ferry, which was great fun, we were right up next to the diamond and coathanger as the boats filtered out of the harbour!  Eventually getting to bed about 3am!

Hope your New Years went well and the bad weather didnt stop the parties....  we had a great time but really missed you all!  No matter how amazing the location is i dont think you can beat a New Year with family and friends :-)

Tomorrow Richard starts his surf tour and i am off to the Blue Mountains for a bit of horse riding before meeting up again in Byron Bay on Friday.

Lots of love Sarah x

ps, i will update journal soon (its my turn!) i promise!

Hi there,

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOUUUUUU

It's half past 11 and we're watching Jools Holland and waiting to bring in the new year. Hope you're enjoying your new years day or are you still recovering?  We've just eaten a humungous take away and watched a really scary film.... Becky's choice!!!!!  I think I shall be starting the new year as an overfed wreck!

I really envy you your lovely weather.  2006 is going out with a roar.  We've got gales and lashing rain and most of the cities celebrations have had to be cancelled.  When I last heard Edinburgh was  hoping to go ahead but the suggestion was sensible footwear and waterproofs!

 All our love M, Dand B   XXXXXXXXXXXXX

It is New Years Eve and here we are wondering what you are doing on your New Years Day. We have had a lovely day so far, as we have been to A Jean's for lunch and a lazy afternoon ............(Oh I just ran to the TV to see the fireworks in Sydney they looked fantastic ) Keith and Laura came with us to Hareden but Thomas had already set off to spend New Year in Leeds with Pat, Tommy. and Jeff. Keith and Laura have just set off over the hill to spend the evening in Waddington, and we are going to the village party which has now sold out of tickets. The weather is very wild as the wind is really strong and weather warnings are out for later this evening. In fact Christine's big trampoline blew out of their back garden and landed in the sheep pens, A Jean, Laura, and Simon had quite a surprise to see it fly by  !!!!   Uncle John Alpe is here and says Happy New Year to you both, as do we all.

 love to you both.  xx

McGUIVER!!!!!????? Didn't see that one coming!

That's what happens when you give somebody so much stick about getting engaged! He he

Enjoy New Year everyone. Been body boarding all afternoon on Manley beach.

Ciao, RJW

 Guess who got an engagement ring in her Christmas stocking........

 McGyver!!!!!  

its payback time!!!

Have a wonderful time in Australia!! Just incase you have been missing out on wonderful christmas cracker jokes, here's one for you...

What do you call a cat on the beach at christmas............  Sandy Claws!!!! 

Hi Sarah, Uncle Kevin here. Great photos, lovely to hear of your adventures. Christmas in summer I'm sure is very different. Sounds as though you are having a fantastic time - NZ mountains, glaciers, sky-diving photos are v. impressive. Well, happy Christmas from me, and ... I am now Gran's personal secretary ...

Missing you, looking forward to all your stories when you return. The sky-diving and bungee jumping look very scary! but I'm sure you felt good afterwards. Beautiful pictures - Kevin, Ann & I have followed your journey from the start - this is our Sunday evening treat. Love you lots and lots, Grandma xxxxxx

Hey Sarah, its Jen, will send you a longer (and undoubtably boring compared to ur life) email soon but happy christmas my darling!! missing your lovely presence in our christmas festivities-just not the same without u!!! ur photos r BREATHTAKING!!! u r soooooo lucky- will hav to follow in ur footsteps and travel the world soon! am gonna stay in Edinburgh next year so ul b able to come visit ALL the time :) miss u, lots of love and penguin hugs, ur favourite cousin :) love to richard too xxxxxxxxxxx1

 Greetings and a very Merry Christmas (or Boxing Day)

Here we are at auntie anne's eating and drinking again and generally being lazy etc.  Thanks for the stunning photos what a magnificent place NZ must be, maybe we should all move over there!  Missing you both especially at Christmas, but we are already looking forward to another one in March.  Keep sending the messages and photos when you have time, lots of love.

Dadxx     

Heya! Ive not had chance to look at your pics yet but i will do when everyones written their message!Hope youre having a nice christmas...its been weird without you but its been fun to show pitt our english xmas:-) He got more presents in his sack than i did this morning!!!I got some really nice things though and me and pitt went shopping on saturday and he bought me some nice clothes!Apart from that i got some nice stocking fillers and money, which im putting together with my birthday money to save up for a holiday next year!not quite travelling the world but ill wait my turn:-)  Had a really nice day eating and drinking, been for a walk and me and pitt and tom are playing 24 on toms playstation-its sooo much fun!!  Anyway, ill love you and leave you, but im looking forward to a second xmas in march!!!I think my tummy may have deflated enough by then to take another xmas dinner!!lots of love to both of you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Becky

Merry Christmas to you Sarah and Richard,  I have just celebrated my first English christmas but they have told me that it is never quite the same without you two, so all i can do is wait until you get back and get even more stuffed then. Hope you are having a great time and enjoy your first christmas away from home, i certainly did enjoy mine:) Have a good time celebrating new year's eve in Australia, apparently it is a big thing in Sydney:) Looking forward to seeing you when you get back and have got a suitcase full of lifelong memories to share. Schei Chreschtdeeg an e scheint neit Joer......Brad (Pitt)

Hi darlings, I know your having a great time. We've been following your travels. Matchu Pitchu looked fantastic,but i can't spell it! I'm soooo looking forward to seeing you on your return in March. We'll have lots to catch up on. Keep enjoying the adventure! We are all here and your very much in our thoughts so much so I'm being asked to stop and send it! Now! Loads of luv AA. 

Had a lovely lazy day today - no cooking but lots of good grub. Lots of love, Mum xxx

Happy Christmas, love from Tommy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 

Hi there and Merry Christmas to you both from Sawley.

We have just opened our Christmas pressies and thanks so much for your little parcel from N.Z.  It has seemed really strange not being able to post anything to you but I hope you enjoyed your Christmas treat!  Santa even left some little parcels for you here but will save them for our Christmas celebrations in March. YES I had already planned a full Christmas meal when you return.

Off to Burley now for more grub.  The party here for Christmas/Becky's 21st yesterday went really well.  I opted to do a buffet as there were 16 of us.  Roy unfortunately wasn't able to come as he has a chest infection so Dorothy just popped over to collect Nana late afternoon.  Anyway had a good time.

Becky is finally ready so off we go!!

Love and hugs Mum  XXXXXXXXX 

Sorry about below, the computer got Knocked and the message sent before i had finished.

We are missing u both. But don't worry because i will eat your share of Christmas dinner!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Yo, ho, ho, how u doin?

Can't wait until tomorrow (Christmas day), the big roast turkey and all the trimings. Earned a pocket full of tips yesterday being a merry little elf carrying turkeies to peoples houses for uncle Ed. Antie Liz and John are coming for lunch. I guess u have been on the beach and will be all Christmas day soking up all of the sun while we endure the painful weather of Britain. But at the moment the log fire is my best friend.

Me and Keith went to pick a tree and it's a little bigger than we thought. It's now decorated by me and looks ausome.

Were  Mums missing u Sarah ( Female company ).   

 hey hey

hope u r ok an avin a gud time no doubt u will av a better christmas eve than we will in merry old clitheroe .... av a gud christmas miss ya Thomas!!

yo hope things are super, sounds like things are pretty action packed and i am muchos jelous - time is passing quickly. I am managing a night out with the money i saved not buying you a present. stay safe and have fun.. p.s this is keith

merry xmas from john

Yo yo yo!

hows it going? merry christmas!! edinbrough,sydney... how the hell are you gunna top that next year? Have a gooden and stay safe!

Love jeff xxxx

nowthen fella, tis cecil here, just a quick note to say hi coz there is a cold beer waitin with some gorgeous chicks hopefully. life is grand as owt back here hope all is well with you. would like to tell you how  the love life is goin but it is far to complecated and would take forever!!!!!  happy christmas and a prosperous new year to you both,                 

love cecil x