Sam, Emily; I wish more people did the travel blog thing, I'm really enjoying the words and pictures. You're two of four people I know who are travelling seriously this Summer, and it's good to feel a bit part of the trip, rather than just randomly envious ...

Anyway, love to Sam and (still in anticipation of an eventual meeting) warm good wishes to Emily ... bonne continuation!

Mike

What a great read. This one gets the 10 so far but I may revise after ' La Paz and beyond ' Can't wait!

All sounds pretty amazing especially the surrealistic snapshots of what you saw on the tour. Your first glimpse of the valley sounded particularly beautiful and breathtaking - quite literally given how high up you were! Not sitting next to some random bolivian was definitely a good move but I'm also reading the affect that the shoe shining fraternity had on you a short time afterwards too. It's all in there, 'spilling onto the paper' and it's great to be able to share it all with you like this.

Sending you lots of love from us both and wishing you a peaceful, and hopefully more comfortable journey down. xx

Hi Sam and Ems, what an adventure, can't wait for next installment. Sam look at your email, you will be very pleased...

I had a great time in Scotland, hot running water, the whole works. Only joking. I did a lot of walking and a fair amount of chatting!

Take care of yourselves and I'll send you a few photos of the Scottish wild places. That reminds me, Ems is great about the writing but we want to see some more photos Sam. I know Wimbledon was exciting, but you're ignoring your fans!!

Loads of love and strong hugs, Dad and Alison xxxxxx

em your last post was just amazing to read!cant believe some of the things your having to experience.haha!!all in the name of the travelling game!

its strange isnt it but you actually feel so proud when you accomplish something so out of the norm!keep these accounts coming...absolutely love reading them. sam-your not doing your picture role very well!!!where are these photos to compliment the outstanding descriptions em writes?haha!although after watching the wimbledon final was def not something to be missed!!what a match!

love you both.keep taking care of eachother x

ps. em after all my worrying i passed!

Ems, probably not the intended response ...but laughed out loud at your account of the bus journey. Keep it coming. Love Dadx

hey! great detail in your last post, your descriptive writing made me feel like i was right there...tears came to my eyes at the thought of you tripping as you ran to catch some crazy bus in an even crazier station. did anyone crack the joke..."its going to be a bumpy ride?" from harry potter? we had a few similar chances when travelling through jamaica....though not quite your conditions, and kids in tow. can you take a sentance or two to layout your future travellings before sam leaves? trying to predict your whereabouts next month and beyond. rob told me to tell you, he'll fly you to myrtle beach then book a girls weekend for us in florida if you're interested. hope so. don't need to tell me til you're ready though...flights from down there to miami r cheap...could meet you there too. so glad to hear you are feeling better, your post tone demonstrated that. give a landline number soon n ill ring u!

love melissa

(anthony's feeding again:D soz for typing)

wow, that reception was real good! I can't believe you could call us and we could here you really well.

I'm so glad your well. I was saying to mum when I eard your voice on the phone I thought it was so different. The difference being much more mature. You sounded so intelligent, Ems.

As for you Sam, I only heard a tiny bit of a rumble as mum was over the other side of the room and therefore the phone was a liitle quiet for me to hear properly though I'm sure that your voice was just as mature as emilys. How much have you learn't now, your minds must be bursting.

Keep them full of all your thoughts and memorys and moments so when you next write a blog your head will spill onto the paper into paragraphs, sentences and words.

Love from Pheebles xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dear Phoebe, thankyou for such a lovely message...but i think your the one that is maturing right before my eyes, not me! I love you, be happy and well and keep in touch xxxxxxx

hi ems+sam love your blog site must be fantastic out there ,wish nikki and i could be there,but we are stuck here in EU,with all the worries of the world collasping on us.would rather be somewhere where people dont know what europe is.hope you 2 will have a continuesly good time and remember you go through life with up and downs,so keep it up,love u both.we were yesterdaynight in concert in palma and it was fantastic 2 hours of good music.love palmixxP.S. You should be in the land of pineapples and coconuts both perfect food for recovery..in chinese medcine pineapple is for sickness and diarrhea drink glass of fresh juice daily and coconut rich in vit c and minerals and DESTROYS intestinal bugs drink the fresh milk and eat isnt nature wonderful providing all that we need dropping at our feet....I can hear you groaning...check out cats claw called una de gato also local potion... ok am going now huge hugs and xxxxxxxxxxxxxxmum

Dear Ems & Sam,

Thinking of you and hoping that all the love and care from family and friends will help you to recover quickly.Listen to your body and take all the time you need to get well.

When God made the time he made plenty of it !!! So there is no hurry.

As for you Sam, you rock !!

Be well my friends and don't forget we are all here happy to help if you need it. Let us know how you are getting on.

Love in buckets,

Ana & the crew

Hi Ems and Sam,

Really sorry to hear you've been poorly but so pleased you are feeling better. There is nothing worse than feeling sick and traveling at the same time. it must be such a relief to feel better again. Thanks Sam for looking after her so well.

We have been really busy. Sabrina had her induction day at her new high school and was over the moon. All her friends from her primary school are going to the same school as her and she also knows quite a few friends from her swimming club and Rosie, Alison's daughter also goes there. It's an all girl school which she is pleased about, at the moment anyway!!

I went up to London last night for a work's do with your dad. It took some organising because we were not going to be able to catch the last train so we stayed in a Hotel 3 mins walk from Victoria train station, which helped alot this morning. My mum came to stay and look after the kids. It was a party thrown by Camelot and it was on a boat. We do a trip along the Thames under London Bridge where Tom ran, past the houses of Parliament. I wanted to let you know that I wore the lovely blue pashmina you gave me for Christmas with my cocktail dress and it looked great. We are going up to your Nana and Grandad's for Helen and Jim's bbq by train this time. It looks very easy and I'm pleased to have a break from driving. It's going to be quicker as well hopefully and we have a family railcard now so it's not any more expensive than than taking the car.

Eric has just been out to the states to visit Dan and says he's on good form. Eric is having a sabatical from work at the moment and he's making the most of it.

Anyway love to you both. Really enjoy reading your news and glad on the mend.

Love Sylviexxx

Hi Ems. Have just caught up with the news about your sickness from Nana. Been travelling this week and haven't seen your blog since the weekend. Very relieved to hear that you've come through all right. Unfortunately these things are pretty common when the food and water hygiene are not what your system is used to. You'll probably find you have a bit more resistance as a result - but a pretty horrible way of getting it! Hope you get your strength back quickly and get back to enjoying the adventure.

Things are really busy at work right now - I've been to Scotland , Belfast and Dublin this week and am off to New York next Saturday. I'll be seeing Melissa and Rob for dinner the night I arrive so that will be lovely. I'm only back for a week then we go off to France. Tom is coming out for a week with two of his girlfriends (sounds rather geedy of him but he tells me they are just friends who are girls!). So some pretty epic cricket games in prospect. On Thursday I'm meeting up in London with Sam, Tom and John Bell for the first day of the Test match at Lords . Really looking forward to it - just praying for some good weather. Tell Sam if he plays his cards right we might take him to one of the Ashes Tests next year !

We're off to Nana and Grandad's tomorrow and having bbq at Helen and Jim's so there's an outside chance we mighy be discussing your trip.

Think about you often. Stay safe. Love you. Dad xxx

Hiya Ems and Sam

I'm sorry your not feeling very well! But I'm so glad your better! Its so sweet how much Sam has done for you! Your so lucky to have him!

Lots of love Sabrina xxxx