Alison Just back from work, but had a great weekend in NQ, which was cossie and T-shirt weather despite the forecast for rain both days. Managed to have a picnic on Cai Bach and cookie got a sunburnt nose at the Beach team. Til was 157/303 after the first day of racing at the Topper Nationals, which is a definite improvement and she was 3rd 12 year old girl, with there being no 11 year old girls. Day 2 was blown out with 3 metre waves contributing to the no sailing decision. We've already had one broken mast, or was it a boom, at Pwllheli if you remember, so quite glad. Waiting to hear about today from Nick and Bono. Well done for the retrospective blog entries, very enjoyable. xxxxxx

Sam Arrived in Mexico late last night and am just getting settled in at the moment, was pretty sad to be leaving Argentina! Just posted a pretty mammoth couple of blog updates! It doesnt take me up to date but its a bit more!

Nick RIB turned out to be sick - swamped in storm last week. Dan Potter kindly has leant me his boat so can go on the water in Pwllheli. shaping up for a windy week - take a look at Abersoch on Windguru.com! Hope you're having a good time - where are you now? Love Dad

Alison Shame you have given up on the blog. Are you still alive and well, in communicado or lazy? Lots of love xxxxxxx

Nick Just enjoyed looking at your photos. As far as I can see you were the only ones at the ski resort - did they open just for you? How on earth do they make money?! Fitness campaign continues with a round trip 40 mile cycle to work today. Off to NQ tomorrow with Cooks to get the RIB to take to the Topper Nats next week. Also will allow me to get all the wet weather gear as depressions queueing up in the Atlantic to blow Lilly Allen out of the Irish Sea next week! Any more party replies?

Alison and Cookie Have just looked at your photo's together and have enjoyed seeing you having fun. You do look a bit wasted in some, I hope you are giving your iiver a rest from time to time. KT Tunstall has gone on holiday with Bella and Maisy to Devon, so Cooks has sole control of the TV remote. Went trying bikes yesterday with Nick and am planning to buy one so Nick and I can get super fit. Have just posted a best time on our running loop, now down to 23.02, previous best 24.22 but started at 30 mins including some walking! One hour 40 min cycle this morning so likely tobe i serious trouble in the morning. Lots of love.

Liz James Hi Sam. Congrats on your exam results which sound very good to me but clearly not what you wanted. Enjoy hearing of your adventures but in the dark about your foot problem. Agree about the hazards of anti-tet. I had one in Australia and resolved never to have another.Suppose you will soon be in Mexico. Take care and be careful swimming the underground rivers. Look forward to seeing you Love Grandma and Grandpa xx

Sam DJ and spoof waiters look good to me. I think I probably already have eaten my weight in beef! There are lots of names of cuts thats for sure and hardly any of the cuts are ones we have, but as for recipes there is only one: season with salt and cook with fire! Foot is fine and ironically the tetanus shot caused me a hell of a lot more pain than the nail! Arrived back in Mar del Plata today after a hell of a bus journey. 7 hours from Santiago then night rest then 18 hours from Mendoza! Got my exam results too got a 1st and 3 2.1s which I was slightly disappointed with since I worked so hard, but the 2.1 is totally safe now which is good and because I have a high average if i can somehow get 3 firsts next year then I'll get a first overall so its still doable. Still a bit annoyed though. Well done to both sisters and lots of love! Sammy

Alison and Nick Very much enjoyed the latest blogs. Just wondering if there are the same number of words and recipes for beef as there are words for snow in inuit? You might have eaten your own body weight in beef by the time you come back. Pink came 169/201, which is progress and she managed to stay out when others gave up as it was very windy. There were 2 broken masts, for example. Still party planning and have found the most awesome DJ, who is hillaroius apparently (http://www.spanner.co.uk/minty/). Angharad was 1st in the 80 metres sports day race and 2nd in the 200m and has come home proud of her medals. Hope foot mended. More pics as and when. Lots of love

Alison Pink sailing on the south coast and has been pouring and howling like winter apparently, but she stayed out even when others went in. Nick bumped into Pete Thomas' brother Richard in the clubhouse and is going sailing with him tomorrow. Tonight he is going to Jonny and Anne-Marie's house (our best man and bridesmaid), which should be fun. Cooks has worked in the shop and had her guitar lesson as usual and the big news for Lola is that we bought her a new bed. I'm on call, but so far so good and keeping fingers crossed. Went to the gym this morning to lift puny weights and despite aches planning to go tomorrow. XXXXX

Nick J-Lo now enroute to France. had a great time at the Samudas last night. Met Emma who said you had the attention span of a 6 year old which we reckoned was an overestimate. Also met Tudor who seemed great fun as well. James made a very funny speech about Charlie. Have sent you draft party invite by email for you to check over so we can start sending out! Hope you're having fun.

Alison Pink at school today (knees fine again), sailing tomorrow and then off to Normandy for a week with school, which will make the place quieter. Swine, not swan flu, is taking off here big time now and Tily's close friend's sister has it so there is every possibility they all go down with it and infect the frogs. Has been baking here with temps at 32C most of the week, which has been good for Wimbledon. Now looking forward to seeing if Murray can beat Rodd*** this afternoon, which I think he can provided he can get the serve back. We'll see. Party planning continues and we have an 8 piece band and sound mixer, including some excellent musicians according to Harry. Do you think we shoud have a DJ or sort out music ourselves? Harry will do 2 sets leading up to 12/12.30. Mine and dad's fitness campaign continues and we are difinitely making progress. Would be a bit cross if I hadn't after 1 hour cycle, 2 hour cycle and 2 30 minute runs since Saturday. Borrowed your bike for the 2 hour cycle, which was a lot easier, weighing a third of mine. Hope you don't mind. Cooks has sports day today, but has been pouring with rain so hope it stops. Very strange in the UK to have hot and wet. Much love xxxxx

Alison I agree great update. Had the same thought about photos, which would make the blog even better so we could see who everyone is. Re the Spanish don't make the mistake dad did in Belgium when he used a word he had heard regularly when out for beer only to find it was not said in polite society when a professor in the hospital told him so! Getting ready to take Cooks to a prom tonight. Meanwhile Madonna is on the sofa resting her knees having been off school for 2 days trying to get them useable again.

Nick Great update! do you have any photos to load - it would be great to see where you are! Cookie took part in a riding competition yesterday and won so she was very pleased with herself - we'll load some pics up for you to see. Off sailing again with Madonna this weekend - trying to teach her how to hike instead of simply perching on the edge!.

Nick Mum says I'm still a grumpy pig but I don't care! Just been to Cameron Diaz'z sports award evening and saw Dan Simon who starts work with PWC next door to LSE in the autumn and was very chatty. CD got 3 medals including bizarely most improved tennis player (spose as its a relative award she can still be pretty bad, just less so than before!). Have now entered CD for the Nationals and are trying to figure out how to get the RIB up there. Watched the rugby in the Penwig on Saturday which was fun though the result obvilously a bit of a shame.