Hi there Anna and Tom,
Jacqui at Le Lin here. Just picked up a mail from your mum, Anna, and she passed on your website.
Boy am I envious looks as though you are having an amazing time . Take care and lots of love from
my Tom and myself.
xxxx

Hi Tom and Anna ! Greetings from Helsinki. Just a quick message to let you know that I'm flying to London tonight for 5 days for my friends wedding. And too bad you guys are not there !! It would have been so much fun to see you. But I will be thinking of you when walking the street of London. Have fun in Australia ! Minna. Ps. I contacted Charlotte after the hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana. She is ok but they will never forget this storm I think.

Hi all we have arrived safe and sound in sunny Australia!! (Sunshine and about 24 degrees C)The travel here was a bit of a nightmare having to sleep on the seats in the airport in Aukland wasn't the best and there was nothing to do, no bars etc, borrrring! But getting here is all that matters, we are staying in a decent hostel in Cairns, and the staff are very nice and have looked after us very well so far, they're being lots of help with regards to our travel plans too. Geoff and Sue; I doubt we will make it to the West Coast but that's purely down to money, but no doubt we will come back one day and do it, we've got the travel bug now. I don't know what to say about Texas... I hope it works out but what I've seen on the news doesn't look good, and it might be like spending your holiday in a warzone if you go in the aftermath etc. Good luck! However it turns out let us know. So far we have seen lots of things we want to do, we're just weighing up our options before we leave here in a couple of days. Paul, Mary, Ben and Laura; we are definatly going snorkeling on the reef but diving might be a bit beyond our budget, but we'll see, it's really nice to hear from you!

Hope everyone is well,

Lots of love

Tom and Anna
xxxx

More fabulous photos,thanks, but as you can imagine Geoff was most interested in the vintage motorbikes!! Thanks for thinking of him Tom - it kept him quiet for hours on the computer last night. We presume you will be in Australia by the time you get this. If you decide to go to Western Australia we have lots of tips, but don't know much about the Eastern side, but I'm sure you will have a marvellous time. Not sure what's happening about our trip to Texas next week as Hurricane Rita is heading straight for Houston where we are supposed to be going!! Take care and we'll speak to you soon. Sue

As always im full of surprises! my grandma and aunt live in Sydney so we went out to see them a few years back it was a bit of a family holiday though so nothing as exciting as you will be doing im sure ... more travel tips: aparently Fraser Island has to be done, and you can always earn extra cash fruit picking or alternatively offer to work a couple of nights in a hostel bar in exchange for bed and board! The glacier looked amazing guys i really want to do it; im sat in my office having the third cup of tea of the day to wake myself up and wishing i was on a beach somewhere! xxx

Forgot to say, you would be proud of me Mike that I have been watching the rugby and have learnt lots! That there are two different types of team, Union and League, a winger is someone who runs fast on the outside of the pitch and that if a player scores a try they can convert it into more points by kicking it over the posts! Pretty good eh!!?! What is your email address Mike, I keep trying to email you but it comes back rejected, if mum reads this first can you let me know. Also Gran I have emailed Janette and awaiting a reply, I think that we will be in Melbourne at about this time in October so am hoping that Janette is not busy!

We are in Christchurch at the moment, we leave for Oz tomorrow!! I can't wait, apparently it's about 30degrees in Cairns at the moment!! Some good tips from everyone, it's going to be difficult to have such an action packed time as we have here, as we have spent the majority of our money..woops!! we didn't realise that you had been to Oz Cat, you are a dark horse!! It's really strange to hear that the evenings are getting darker and colder, it's coming into summer here!! Anna was almost in tears up the glacier walk when we got stuck in a narrow crevass, very scary!! It was pretty amazing though, pictures to come..no fit guide though unfortunately!! hee hee!! Glad that you ad Jack had a good time in Mejico Amy! Hope you passed your flat inspection too..by the way whatever happened to the sink that Anna accidently smashed?!! (It was the wind, and the precariously placed mirror!!) We hope that its been sorted out!!! We will be writing from Australia next! Ahhh! x x x x x

Hey guys good to hear you made the most out of NZ... keep up the good work in OZ. If you get a chance, spend a couple of days in the Blue Mountains its definately something to be seen - absolutely gorgeous if you have a head for high hights!!! (as you know, i dont and spent the entire time completely freaked out - especially by the train that takes you back up!!! - even so the experience definately needs to be had. And if you're in Sydney head for china town - the food is AMAZING! Remember to swim inside the shark nets!
Everything here is much the same as always except its getting colder and darker earlier - i can feel christmas is on its way! take care love & kisses xxx Cat

Hi Tom and Anna...I am sorry I haven't posted a message for a while - I have been keeping up to date with the photos and it all sounds absolutely amazing. I am so jealous. Jack and I got back from Mexico on Saturday morning and today is my first day back at work. Am really struggling with the jet lag as Mexico is 6 hours behind us here. Urgh! Mexico was great, but it went so quickly. Life in Chislehurst is very much the same...you guys really aren't missing anything exciting and it is getting colder and colder...brrr!!!! Anyway bubba's, continue to take care of each other and I will make sure I get Jack to email back and I will keep in touch more regularly. Got a flat inspection tomorrow so fingers crossed I passed and I can stay on there!! argh!!! Miss you lots xxxxxxx

hey guys!!!!...anna it looks like i might be getting a job in ur old department at the uni...that place...im sure itst my destiny to end up working there! im sure u must have done ur glacier walk now..i did it on franz joesf and its awesome! it was one of the best things i did! pretty scary tho...this woman at the front of our line was so scared she was crying the whole way up!! our leader was well fit tho.......anyway hope u are both well...love ya loads and loads xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Pleased to hear that you are still enjoying the travelling. NZ sounded great - everyone we know who has been has fallen in love with it - all that outdoor stuff with loads to do and see.

Looks like you are off to Cairns soon - you must go to the GBR for some great diving (if you haven't done it yet that is the place!)

Also go north to Cape Trib - amazing rain forest. Try and take one of Prue's rainforest walks at Cooper Creek - she knows more about rainforest than anyone else.

Where are you going from there? Are you going down the East Coast? If so don't miss Mission Beach area (paradise). Laura worked near here on the banana farm and knows the area well.

Have a really great time.

Really envious - we all wish we were travelling again!

Dear Anna and Tom Just been looking at your pics. with Mum and Mary Jane - on their way from Wales.Soon off to Australia! Do get in touch with Janette. Do you want an address in Brisbane? Janette's parents live there.Lots of love from us all.