Hey Guys, good to hear you're exploring New Zealand like proper little hobbitses! it looks amazing and Rich is very proud of all the extreme sports activity (only now he wants me to go to NZ and attempt ridiculously stupid things like falling out of planes and jumping off cliffs - having said that, if i can get over the whole vertigo thing that sleeping bag thing looks good!!!). So, same as ever here, although me, jaffa cake, and gregory are meeting up for a bit of a uni reunion next weekend - wont be the same without you guys but im willing to bet you wouldn't cut your trip short to come back for it! (claim to fame: they're filming The Da Vinci Code at Lincoln cathedral! although apparently more people turned up to watch a nun protesting than they did to see Tom Hanks acting!!! Typical!) So, keep up the good work and ... err... try not to kill yourselves!!
love and kisses xxx

Thanks for that Tom! I have coped more than admirably well I think! I wouldn't have had to do a U-Turn if the navigational skills were up to scratch! hee hee!! Happy birthday Eric, hope you had a good one! Sad to hear that Jack has moved out! Also sad to hear about Owen's arm, I hope it gets better soon!! New Zealand is amazing, I really love it here! Its a bit wet and cold, but it reminds me of home which is nice. Best Wishes to you all!! Anna x x x

Good Grief! Too much information to take in! 1st things first - Happy Birthday Dad! I have just got to somewhere I can contact you and it it too late at home to call you but I will write it here just so you know I remembered! I will try ringing tonight from here, (morning for you).

2nd Owen - you little terror, I imagine you worried your poor mum and dad sick when you did that, but I'm sure you've been well looked after and are now enjoying all the attention that goes with a broken arm, has your dad done any cool drawings on your cast yet?

3rd Knights - Terribly sad to hear about doglet! She was a gorgeous dog and a treasured member of the family, I will miss her too! Treasure her memory and I hope it doesn't make you all too sad to enjoy your holiday properly, which I hope you have a great time on!

The camper van is great fun, it's really cosy and very efficient, its our accomodation, transport and kitchen all in one and apart from one or two incidents involving being towed from a ditch (after Anna attempted a 3 point turn down a country lane) by a friendly Kiwi and a slight knock at the petrol station Anna has coped admirably with such a cumbersant vehicle! But we don't need to worry too much as we are fully insured!

At the moment we are in Rotoroua which is about half way down the North Island. It's great and there is lots to do, including the thermal spa we visited yesterday, basically there is volcanic activity on a small scale going on below us, and the result is that it heats the water, which is great, but the downside is the city stinks like a word I ought not to type! Literally it smells like rotten egg due to all the sulpher. Ahh well at least no one can tell if you let one go! ha ha ha!

Love to all missing you.

Tom

Hi Anna and Tom, glad to hear you are having fun travelling the world. Hope I can count on your support when I embark on my comeback tour. Bye.

Sounds like you're having a great time. I hate jealousy, but on this occasion I forgive myself. The pictures of New York brought back some great memories. Looking forward to pics of Fiji and NZ. The guys are at the studio at the moment doing..........stuff....and it's your ol'mans birthday today, so we're gonna have a curry with him at the Bengal tonight. We'll keep yours warm until you get back! I didn't know that Ray Parlours middle name was Pizza! Stay cool.

Hi guys, fortunately, i'v caught the travelling bug as well. I'v just spent six weeks in Africa, and today, i've just landed in Sydney, after 3 flights in a day, i'm royally shattered, so will get a good nights sleep and be ready for tomorrow. Keep me posted with your travels? and i'll do the same. Hope you guys are having a wicked time and take care

Been surfing your site regularly, and I've finally been press-ganged into writing a message (with heavy support). Looks like you're having the trip of a lifetime, the photos look fantastic.

Missing you lots - empty house (especially as Jack has moved out), but at least there is always pleny in the fridge. Mind you, the bog-roll seems to disappear each time he visits (Martin wrote this - Jack is now worried).

Owen broke his arm 3 weeks ago, falling off of a climbing frame. It's his left elbow. Gets more like uncle Tom evey day.

We're all crowded in Jack's (ex-)bedroom trying to think of witty things to say - but as usual, we can't think of what to say.

Steph, Owen, Isobel and Martin all say hi - up for a couple of days.

Lets see more photos of Anna (and less of you Tom) - nah, of both of you ;)

Take care, will write soon.

Love Dad

P.s. Don't forget Uncle Pete's brother in New Zealand. If you feel the need, contact Mum or Pete direct, as I'm sure he'd love to see you.

No, we really aren't jealous of you at all, at least we're trying NOT to be! Everywhere looks wonderful, and we're looking forward to hearing all about N.Z.
We're off on our hols tonight..........sailing again in the S. Ionian, really ready for a break.
One bit of sad news...poor old doglet Shona had to be put down last week. She suddenly became very poorly and lost the use of her legs. As you can imagine, we miss her loads.
Anyway enjoy your time in N.Z. Be careful with the bungee in the sleeping bag, are you both totally mad?
Lots of love, Sal, Chris, Suz and Sam xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Everyone. We arrived in New Zealand a couple of days ago (19th August). We changed our itinery slightly, so we had a few extra nights in Fiji. New Zealand is amazing! Its just like England, but with less people and cleaner air, brilliant! We are in Auckland at the moment and have just hired a camper van for the month, and organised a few activities, such as Zorbing, which is basically like a giant hamster ball which you roll down a hill in! We also booked white water rafting, and a village visit to a local Mauri village, and last but not least an extreme ride called a 'swoop', like a bungee jump, but you're in a sleeping bag! Sounds like fun eh!!? hee hee!! You will have to wait for the photos to find out! We have aquired a travelling buddy called Chris from Liverpool, that we met on Trek America, so he is also chipping in with the camper van. We are going to take it easy tonight and go and see War of The Worlds at the local cinema, and the boys will be watching the footy later, which they are VERY excited about!?! Anyway, hope to hear from you all soon. Take it easy. Tom and Anna x x x x x

Hi Tom & Anna
Have sent you a couple of emails and hope you have received them - are you having a great time in New Zealand?
I assume you are there!
Love
Mum/Deb xx

Hi you two, well we're back from sailing with Cap'n Bligh, Christian and I didn't quite set him adrift with some old weevil biscuits and a tot of rum. Had a great time in the Scillies Isles, beautiful islands, perhaps not quite on a par with Fiji! Hope your meeting up with Lucy was good. Emily says she is back home now and has met up with her. Also Emily says she has joined a gym and gone swimming - wonders will never cease. I have got some details from Gran about contacts in Melbourne - will send them forthwith. So pleased your having a wonderful time. will speak soon. Lots of love Mum

Yet again guys, a crackin' set of pics from your trek round Fiji (and for the record Thomas me old fruit, can you pass on my number to the bird on the far left of the "Our fellow travellers on Kuata Island" pic - what a fitty). Your not missing much back here bar the dodgy weather as usual. Keif has gone on a two week holiday to Spain with his now ex (he paid for it months ago and refuses to miss out) so expect some fisticuffs in a raging Bolton stylee. Jason just came back from a week's surfin in Newquay, and I've not done an awful lot to be honest! No change there then. Everyone says hi and wishes you both well. Drop me an email to let me know how you're getting on... and oh, I'll say it again - don't forget my stick of rock. xx