hello & goodbye Glad to hear of the safe arrival of the grandparents - what fortitude to be treking and travelling with such gusto! Also have just received txt message to announce the safe arrival in uk of Marianne and Polly. Hope the Famous Five (different characters - same scanario) continue to have a great time.
love Carrie
coooo weeyyy!! hey guys, hope your having lots of fun without us, were just bored and waiting for our 2nd flight!! but 2nd to last and were just SOOOOOOOOO NEARLY HOME!! cant wait to get there, im mega tired!! hope you all had fun at wankaplace!! missing you lots already!! xxxxxx
Hello again, Can't believe that it is time for Marianne and Polly to leave. We don't seem to have done anything remotely interesting in all that time compared to you lot.
Enjoy the rest of the trip Dave, Lauren and Marcus. Love to Gabi and Irene, glad they arrived safely in the end. Will be in touch with Marianne and Polly soon.
love
Sue and Phil
xxxxx
Hello Just read about the Inca Trail and Machu Pichu. What a pity about the rain but it doesn't sound as if it spoiled it at all. Well done on managing it on probably little sleep if there were rocks under the tents.
Enjoy your next train journey and enjoy meeting Gabi and Irene, say hello to them from us. Hope Lake Titikakka is good. Have to look up where exactly it is. Enjoy rest of time. Missed you yesterday on our flying trip to London!! love Sue and Phil
xxxxxx
Chill time is goooood Hi Mariannne - you poor thing, but on the bright side you get to rest up and have some quality lone time. You can always antedote the effects of the drugs when you get home - need me to order anything from Helios? Look after yourself. Love Helen xxx
Hello Mari, Sorry to hear that the altitude got to you, although I must say I am not surprised. Didn't you have the same when you went to Kilimanjaro? Anyway, there was a programme on Peru and the Incas on Sunday night and it showed the very train journey that you will be taking to Machu Pichu. Enjoy the bit of time to yourself. Lots of love to the others and hope that the Inca trail goes well.
Look forward to hearing about it.
love
Sue and Phil
xxxxx
Get well soon Marianne!! I am sorry to hear you're not feeling well Marianne, and send all the hugs I can over the internet to help you to feel better. I hope that a few days of relaxation help and you're feeling better very soon!
Take care of you! Love you lots!
Emma
Sorry Sorry about the 25 copies of our message! Computers eh! Mari, hope that you are recovering rapidly ready for the Inca Trail - I think we can excuse you taking drugs if this is in fact true! Enjoy your time away from the internet cafes - it must become a pain at times. Continues to sound amazing, and we have got nothing to report that can begin to interest you after what you are seeing.
Catherine has been to stay with us for a few days and left this morning, and Tom has returned to Swansea after Argentina full of interesting stories about his trip.
Take care all of you and enjoy the Inca Trail.
love to all
xxxxxx
Hello Hello everyone. I don't think you got my previous messages. Sounds like you're having an amazing time. It's great to hear all about it. You haven't missed much here. Just a few terror alerts and lots of rain in the last few days (my tomato plants are happy). Looking forward to seeing you when you get back. Work has progressed at great speed on the house and the downstairs in now "done" so you'll have to come round for some drinks on your return.
Take care and hope everything went well for you marcus with the old results.
Love Kirsten
Thanks to Sue and Phil We were very excited when we logged on a short time ago. Your message had come through 25 times - we thought we had become incredibly popular but needless to say we hadn´t. But thanks so much for message.
Hard to say if Latin America has made more of an impression on the whole family - we´ve done so many great things. I think it has on me (Dave) as it´s so different to anything I´ve ever seen before.
Now in Cusco, acclimatising getting ready to do the Inca trail. Marianne is in bed with a headache at 3,350m and we have to go to 4,200. So hope she´s going to be alright. The rest of us are thriving.
Love to you both.
Hello again Maybe this will get to you, giving up after this third attempt! Been reading about the Galapagos, sounds incredible as does the whole of your trip. Overall South America seems as if it has made more of an impression than Australasia - is this correct. Bet that seems ages ago now. Pleased to hear that Marcus and Dave got rescued even if it was by a rival company. Enjoy the rest of your time.
Been thinking of Marcus today then received your text Mari. Well done, will keep fingers croseed it is good news from Bath. Sur it will be.
lots of love to all
XXXXXXX
Hello We have just updated ourselves on your latest travels. Certainly does sound like the trip of a lifetime. You are going to find things very boring when you get back. Enjoy the rest of your time.
We leave Ireland tomorrow after four and a half weeks of excellent weather on the whole. Marianne would be proud of me as I have done quite alot of swimming - not quite addicted yet.
Looking forward to hearing more about it when you get back.
Lots of love, and glad Lauren had a great birthday
XXXXX
our arrival etc. My dear Lauren , Marcus and Polly and the aged 100 percenters
I am commanded by SWMBO to write to you in the following terms !
Dear All
2 weeks to-day we set off hoping all is OK with Iberian Airlines.
Heathrow has been chaotic 'cos of the scare. We loved the Galapogos.
On a small boat for 8 people and we could pop off - swim anywhere.
Did you do the big walk at Altidude ?
You'll love Cusco - do try to go to Larco musuem: it's special and lunch
in the courtyard is 4 star.
Good luck on the Inca trail.
We arrive La Paz at 2000 and will be taken to Hotel Rosario where we
expect you will be .
Love from G and I
i remember it well have been completely transported to the islands. I remember it so well, just as you've described. Only difference was I was in a bath tub to your luxury liner.
So glad it is still so fantastic.
Await next installment
xx
Galapagos!! The Galapagos sounds brillient!!thanks for the note! I can't wait to hear from you on the 17th!!althogh i can wait for the 17th!!I just got back from pari, which was lovely!!got on really well with joe!although he did feel ill for quite a lot of the trip so i think it could have been a bit better for him!!whent to the picasso and rodin which were both very inspiring!still havent started my art book which is a little worring!!I have my second simulator driving lesson today!!soon i will be able to start the car and pull away without stalling!!have a brillient couple of days!!Oh i got your postcard btw!!I loved the picture of 'Lake Wanaka' lol!!!a big hug to polly from me!!love beckyxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hello ... Erm ... Feel a bit ignorant as only just got the links etc to your blog site (excuse for this is I was away when you left and everthing was up in the air), everything is sounding spectacular and like my father can't believe you haven't taking in a game of rugby league. In Aus or NZ. You are now in South America I guess and on the sporting theme you should try to watch a game of football. The fans are so passionate over there and would pail anything viewed from english terrances into insignificance. Just as a quickie the weather you are missing in England is fantastic and only have about 6 days rain in the last 2 months!!! Well guess that didn't make you jealous. Will keep reading from day to day and any pictures you are sending out via copy me in anthony.atherton@ntl.com
Ant
Hi all,
So glad you're having such a great trip and that Lauren had a fab birthday..wanted to thank you for your call and message on my birthday which was great fun but positively subdued compared to Lauren's celebrations and there were no endless queues to kiss me ! Keep on having a great time, enjoying your blog , love to all Nick
of to pari!! its amazing all the stuff you are doing!!i am so jelous!!i am also really missing you so write me a note if you have the time!!how are you going to get the results btw??are you going to ring up!!v. nasty!! i got back from a lovely little hotel on the sea front near heastings tonight, which we whent to for my grandma's 85th!!hade a lovely time with swims in the sea and cream teas!!as i was sharing a room with grandma, we got the only room in the hotel which has a patio straight onto the sea!!amazing!!anyway i have to get up at about 3.00 tomoro morning to go to paris so i better go and repack seeing as its 9.30!!can't wait to see you soooooooooooooon!!!!or not??when are you getting back??!!wbxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
caught you Finally got on here (bit of a technophobe) but Janet has kept me up to date with events. Reading through the site I ccannot believe all the things you have done so far.
When you were in Aus I canot believe you have not taken in a game of RL!!! but I have got the picture from the Atherton stadium.
I will forward a mail to work( I go back tomorrow) so I can acess this site.
hope Lauren enjoyed her birthday and love to Polly. Be in touch soon.
PS at the AGM at St Pats I have been re-elected as Chairperson (How corrct is that!) and hope to oversee the building of smart new facilities in due course.
Bill
Happy Birthday Lauren from London and Berlin Hi Lauren - not sure if it's still your birthday or you are about to have your birthday but it's the 5th August here (and in Berlin) so we are sending you love and best wishes. Have just caught up with your blogs and comments - Sounds like you are having a fantastic time - munrows in Scotland are much smaller than the mountains where you've just been (and a lot wetter). Scottish highland landscape (especially Glen Coe) looks a bit like the south island in NZ according to Jan, so we sought of had a feel for what you might have seen whilst there (seems ages ago since you were in NZ). Haven't much news from London as we only got back 2 days ago but Scotland was a blast, especially the whale watching trip - no whales but seals and purpoises and loads of different sea birds. Loads of photos to show you when you get back - might have to book a long session to look at yours!!!! Keep having a great time. xxxxxx Nick, Helen and Izzy
Birthday Lauren, Just a quick message to wish you a very very happy 21st birthday. We will be thinking of you and send present when you get back. Enjoy your time in South America, will follow your progress.
lots of love to you all.
Sue and Phil xxxx
You said you wanted to know about how it was back in blighty, well up in Manchester we've actually had 2 days of almost continual rain, which I'm getting news has translated down to London as well, mum's allotment has been enjoying the drink. Apart from that everything is well, and in 2 days I'll be able to let you know how things are in Prague... see not just you jammy lot that get to go exploring places they've never been before, hehe!!! Glad to hear you're all still having a good time, still very jealous, talk soon!!
Em
Wow The flight in to Santiago sounds incredible. I can well imagine the mixed feelings at the leaving behind of the Maui, seem to remember camping holidays with my family that got cramped for personal space issues, hehe. It sounds like you're still having an amazing time of it all though, even without being able to find the life and soul of Auckland. Still very jealous, hehe!
ooooo the desert!!! Hey marcus!! the desert should be a bit crazy!!make sure you get back safe, o.k!!we are going to a seafrount hotel for my grandma's 85th, and as i'm sharing a room with her i get the amazing room and the champain welcom!!then i'm going to france with joe for a few days!!lovely little hotel in the heart of paris!!sounds romantic eh!!!everyones been taking the piss and i'm getting a little worried!!It probably would be less amusing if we wern't sharing a bed!!lol!!!it's just a mini art trip tho!!trying to capture the essence of paris and all its hidden corners on film!misssing you loads and can't remember when your getting back??if ever??write bk!!!lodes of love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxBxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I was feeling very jealous until........................ Hello all you happy travellers. I thought I would check out how the great adventure is going. A month seemed long enough for all to be nicely chilled.
I was feeling happy that Marianne had a nice cold dip. Sad that you were unable to surf on Bondi Beach and generally pretty jealous of some of the places that you have seen. Then.... I got to the bit where you picked up the motorhome and I came to the conclusion that what you really need is sympathy. How long in a confined space with three teenagers ( even given that they are your own and you love them dearly) does it take to send you crazy! It was now begining to sound like the holiday from hell! You all deserve medals for this bonding exersise which I must say is above and beyond the call of duty. Did you take a video camera ? Im sure it would make great reality T.V.
On a more serious note it all sounds wonderful and I look forward to seeing the pictures on your return ( perhaps in batches of ten with a chilled bottle of Oyster Bay! ) I love Deco buildings so I am looking forward to seeing pictures of them. I hope you took some good ones.
I hope Marianne has now forgiven Joe for suggesting that Dave bought the new Nikon and I gather Dave is getting good use out of it.
Why then are there no pictures on this blog? Im particularly interested in ones of motorhomes.
I expect you are in S.America by now. Dont forget the sunblock and avoid strange men asking you to take suitcases to their mothers.
Have fun. Happy holiday.
Love Nicky
The Aitman Family are setting out on an amazing voyage. This blog is an easy way to view how we’re getting on. We will post entries and well as a few photos whenever we get the opportunity to return to civilisation for a few minutes. Feel free to add comments, we will check them as and when we can. We will miss you all, but hopefully this will be an easy way for us to keep in touch. Have a lovely summer!... full info
Carrie
non-member comment
hello & goodbye
Glad to hear of the safe arrival of the grandparents - what fortitude to be treking and travelling with such gusto! Also have just received txt message to announce the safe arrival in uk of Marianne and Polly. Hope the Famous Five (different characters - same scanario) continue to have a great time. love Carrie