your nz photos are amazing, truly wish we were there!! you both look fantasic and obviously thriving as adrenaline junkies! and yes your tan is coming along nicely mike, not so sure about the mullet though! missed you both this crimbo but lovely to chat and catch up on your news. we are all recovering from colds just in time for work, what joy! heres wishing you a fantastic new year, carry on enjoying yourselves love you loads mum, dad and yvette xxxxx

Hi Rose and Mike

Good to chat to you on the phone on my birthday; just about alive after this flu and I should be ready for work on Monday. I have finally sorted the internet so we have had the chance to have a good look at all the amazing photos. The New Years Eve Party looked fun....unlike Mike to dress up....as a man anyway. I bet you have made some good friends out there. There seems to be more exciting things to do in NZ and Aus so you both have a good few weeks/months to look forward to. Back home it is freezing.....Chris's mum was down for Christmas and they went swimming at Saunton every day...although i think it was a bit milder over Christmas. We have bought Yvette her telly and set it up in her room...she is delighetd and looking forward to lazy saturday mornings. I must admit it is quite cosy with a TV in her room....so she might have competion. Looking forward to hearing the latest.

Lots of love Dad and Mum

Great photographs! Loved the 80's look, as well. You've made a good start to 2009 and we hope the rest of the year will be just as good and even better.

Lots of love to you both for now. xxx

Yo yo! Realised I never said Happy christmas or sorted your present. Shall do the present later! Hope you are both well! Your photees look amazing! Finally some of the two of you! Managing to trust some people! You look like you have made some mates out there as well, am sure that helped with the pain of missing us on christmas! Most of us are dying with flu - am hoping to make a miraculous recovery before new year! Anyhoo, hope you are both well, what are your plans for new year? xxx

Your photos are fabulous, and so lovely to share a little of your day! What a wonderful Christmas you've both had, and certainly a little different!! Definitely (and note the spelling of that word, PLEASE!!) one you'll remember, and one we really hope you thoroughly enjoyed. We missed having you a bit closer to home, though, and have thought about you both lots. Big hugs to you both. It was lovely of you to call on Christmas Day; a real treat, so thank you very much.

'Spanish Tangerine': sounds fabulous!! Definitely one to aim for. lol

Have fun as you move on - much love, Mum and Iain xxx

HAPPY CHRISTMAAAAAASSSSSS! Yeh!

xx

Thanks for all the messages. Happy Christmas everyone! Its xmas morning here, which is weird and santa has been and filled our stockings! Weather is warm but bit overcast, but if it stays okay, we are doing a skydive today and banana-boating!!

RE:Tan...everyone knows the tortoise wins the race, and while rose is peeling away grossing out the local maori's I'm slowly moving up the dulux magnolia colour strip...next stop "spanish tangerine".

Anyway, we'll try and do some skype calls on your xmas evening so get on it people. Speak then, happy xmas! Love rose and mike.x

Hellooo we can see u r havin a great time i only have one min left on this thing so it will be short . Mwerry christmas speak tommoz xx

Hellloooo...... hope u are having a very good time abroad. We are having a ball in Scotland. Missing you and Mike (especially his ability with the darts!). I see you guys are enjoying the sun a lot, and are looking very tanned (Well maybe u Rose, not so much Mike) Anyways have fun on the remaining part of ur journey. x

hi mike and rose, hope you guys are having a wiked time, we are all in darfabour at the moment just finished swimming. ( we didnt get to play footy this time!) just been looking through your new photos of fiji and the place looks amazing! i think your off to oz in a bit. I was there in the summer and i worked at some cool places. ill email you there names and addresses cos they paid very well and were a right laugh! good luck on the rest of the trip and have a cool ( but probably hot) christmas! x x

Hello to both of you! What fabulous photos - Sara put it very succinctly, I think, so we'll not dwell on your own rather pithy comments on some of them! lol Looks wonderful.

I'm currently loading albums onto my iPod and it's slowing my computer down so much! Very annoying. And I've only got to the first drawer - which gets me up to the 'B's'. this might take some time....

We're now getting personal visits for 'Mr Charles Murphy', presumably the Bailiffs, which is taking things a bit far! The man owes money all over the shop. Mind you, if he did live here I'm hardly going to admit it, am I! Seemed to believe me, though. Very frustrating.

Hope NZ is going well. Rose looks so well; gorgeous. You'll have to let some of the rays get to you, Mike!!

By the way, which Christmas Day are we going to speak to you on? Yours or ours!!! lol We'll have to have two Christmas Days...

Lots of love to you both for now; time for some Red Hot Chili Peppers (Yeah, I know there are no 'B's' there.... Have fun! xxxx

Hi

We are now in Aviemore - not getting much joy with the internet at the lodge as no 3G - but it is OK in town. Everyone here has been asking how you are both getting on and send their love. Don phoned and said that you had put some good photos - we will have to go to an internet cafe and look at them as this connection is very slow. Just off there now.....

Love Dad