Oh Elanor! Oh Elanor, how sad you are leaving this side of the globe, but how wonderful the things you have done and the experience you have had. We will be celebrating our little one's first birthday in mid May - can you believe it? - and I know I have DEFINATELY changed with the experience of becoming a mum. I'm sure you have become a much wiser, mature person for your travels, but will still be the same sweet Elanor too! Enjoy your last few days. God bless, Rebecca
Still here! I can't believe you are only now just going! Wow! You must have done SO much in your time here and seen far more than I have in the two years I've been here (but then I have been otherwise occupied!) Yes, NZ certainly captures your heart. Hope Aussie is just as special for you. Take care and hope to hear from you again (maybe see you again??!!) soon.
Wow, looks fabulous! Wow, I can't believe how beautiful it is! My next big project in life is now to visit Australia and New Zealand. I'm sure Werner will also be able to recognize every single mountain that featured in LOTR...
Just want to add that I know what you mean with the UK being a nanny state. Every time I got back from travelling it would take me a few days to get used to being told what way to look when waiting to cross a road, to watch out when coming to the end of a travellator, to mind the closing doors of the elevator... :-)
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
gosh!!! yes gosh sweetheart,you got very lyrical in this blog, I dont think your going to be a uk girl for long when you return, however S. Africa on your way home should make you feel even the uk is free.you,ll be really curtailed over there!! Cape town with your chums [ forgot names again] will be fun Im sure,butas a whole a completly different kettle of dogs, not very safe at all!! will be thinking of you tonight as you sadly fly out, . You absolutly must wach your back with that back pack!! please be super cautious....... Also it will be much hotter ,so remain unflustered or you will be even hotter, I know these things. Be cool darling .
Wales is cold and I am flusered having said all that... cows in the garden again!!!!!!!! Love you millions , take big care xxxxxxx
Wonderful time Hi darling. I do hope your back is better now. It better not interfere with your diving! I really enjjoyed reading your blog. Very exciting time! Cicadas are amazing but not when they ater dive-bombing. I'm glad you have had time out of time. That's very special!
Lots of love xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx x
enjoying your blogs Hi Elanor, I realise you have fallen totally in love with N.Z. I think I would too. The cicadas sound absolutely revolting. I would have screamed too. At least in France they don't jump on you but just add a pleasant singing sound to a warm night.
You must be so careful about your back. Carrying a back pack isn't a good idea. Did you have an Xray to discover that you had a slipped disc?
I hope your trip to Oz will also be amazing and enjoyable. You are so courageous to be travelling alone across the globe. Anna is going off to Thailand and vietnam soon and I'm unnerved to say the least, but I think if you say prayers for someone's safety, then I guess you just have to trust God will answer the prayers and so I must stop worrying. Anna is coming down on Sunday for a fortnight as she will be working for Adam in Frome. I'm really excited about it.
We have had exceptionally mild weather and all the buds are coming out early. Spring seems to have arrived. I'll say goodbye and God bless. Love you, keep safe, Julia X X X
sheep farmers I wouldnt have had a single thought about sheep farmers and your slipped disc,, some people think such outlandish things. thank you for putting us all right though ,lets hope thats the end of all sheep farmer comments, however I must just mention that during sheep shearing season we do actually get some pretty dishy ones here in Wales!! and I have actually seen some, so lets not have any doubt that there are sheep shearers and sheep farmers some dishy , some not ., as with sheep, some are more attractive than others, I see a lot so I should know. enough on all to do with sheep.
once again the blog is woderful, fab pictures and cool places , am very concerned about your poor back though, do be careful can you put wheels on the back pack or something , I,m sure its not the best thing to cart it about with a slipped disc. love you load sweetheart xxxxxxxxx
Just to set the record straight... The slipped disc and the dairy farmer were NOT related!!!!!!!!!! Just in case anyone looking at this thinks they were. LOLOL...
i love my big sister :D hey billie, it looks so beautiful where u are, heavenly amazingly lushus, wish i was there!! sounds like your having a great time........although i do feel a bit sorry 4 this fert fart man, poor thing may have fallen in love with u and u have broken his heart lol, save the picture 2 show me when u are home! im picking u up from the airport, ive been on the motorway loads this week, i love it!! thanku 4 ur text btw, i cnt tb but i will soon, love u, miss u xxxxxx
what blog!!!!! well sweetheart, it just gets more amazing by each blog, this lot are spectacular, all those colours in the sulphur bits are just surreal , how I gasped! It must have been fab to see Vanessa and have some real conversations. We wont be able to stop for months after you get home. Am just wishing I was there, cabin fever prevails here today........ a good sign. MISS YOU , HOPE THEsouth ISLAND IS GOING TO BE FAB AS WELL. [whoops! sorry for capitols, lack of concentration as allways ] heaps of love n hugs from me and little sis who will write her bit later xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Great to hear from you El Do you think you will get to New Plymouth? Envy you, I am in Rhodes at the moment but I don't think it is as warm as NZ. Take care. BTW I have my own blog, not as detailed or newsy but accessible from www.snoxalls.com also some links to some of you rothe relatives' pages. Remember jandles are called thongs in Oz and iggs are called eggs. Also you use a pin number for ypour credit card, not a pun number.
wow! Hey Elanor, Sorry haven' emailed, think the travel blog and your email address have confused me! Your pictures look absolutely amazing and so glad you're havikng such a fabulous time. I work with a new Zealander in my office who found your comments about trundlers and jandlers hi,arious! I now remind her on a regular basis what a strange country she comes form! My xmas was cool and groovy, a good 2 week rest. Caught the severe cold that has been going round, 3 weeks in and it's still hanging on a bit. January is pants and would far rather be out in the beautiful landscapes that you're exploring but job is going well so all is generally good. Alec is well, Mum got a new kitten at xmas as we had to put one of the cats down in November. Looking forward to the next installment. Lots of love,
Sonya
Love u!! I am so happy u have been horse riding :) you sound like your having fun!! The photos are amazing, it looks so beautiful there make sure u come home tho, i cant wait 2 give u a cuddle!! love u zillions xxxx
Happy New Year! Dear Elanor - it's all looking just amazing.... glad you're still enjoying the fantastic world that most of us only get to see in books! Take care... I'm praying for your mum too - hope you get some encouraging news about her very soon. Much love, Sarah xxx
crikey wow billie, what an amazing time you are having..... your doing so much, and it all looks fantastic to me, absolutly stunning beaches and bella vistas left /right and centre. I think a mountain is a hill that hurts as you go up it (legs that is) . thats my view anyway. Just so you can feel smug, the weather here is awful ... fog, fog fog, heathrow is snarled up with millions of poor people trying to get out! flights cancelled all over. you look as tanned as bean, all that walking . steady on with the diving, sorry you got such a beast for the advanced one, throwing up under water sounds rather special though, not many of us will have done that. thinking of you all over xmas, wish we were there! love you and miss you madly, big hugs , mumsie xxxxxx
to the traveller Sounds and looks great.... we remember Kelly Tarltons - when you come back, go and see 'Happy Feet' (it's a kid's film), with cool music - it definitely makes you want to adopt a few penguins!
Take care - sounds like you're certainly making the most of it. Weather looks fantastic with you.
much love, Sarah, Geoff, Joel and Hannah xx
WOO WOO It's a wonderful blog - and delightful to read. SO glad you are having a good time - I'm taking my laptop to grandma's today so she can see the pix!!!
Love you
Dad xxxxxxxxxxx
WOW it looks absoloutly amazing, i am so jealous. If you move out there i want to come and stay with you for a very long time please!! you look so adorable in your pictures, im missing you lots. I read this in college and some of the girls read it and they think your really cool and groovy for doing this! I would love to be your diving partner aswell! i can learn in the big pool before you get home, then we can go all the time!!! love u so much your little sister alice <3 xx oo xx oo xx
Yes , I will dive Im just struck almost dumb, it sounds so fantastic. Certainly I willl be a diving buddy. BUT! I am going to have go somewhere hot to do it. Please send an application form. Gorgeous pictures, no wonder you want to stay, you look sowell and tanned , and sound sooooooo happy. Keep trucking sweetheart., love from the depths of gale torn freezing wet Wales. xxxxxxxxx
A traveller trying to escape from the humdrum...
You can view my approximate route here: http://www.travelblog.org/gmaps/map_2et.html. Interestingly, the route map looks quite like the shape of a fish, heading for home. I wonder if that is symbolic of something? ... full info
Rebecca Chitty
non-member comment
Oh Elanor!
Oh Elanor, how sad you are leaving this side of the globe, but how wonderful the things you have done and the experience you have had. We will be celebrating our little one's first birthday in mid May - can you believe it? - and I know I have DEFINATELY changed with the experience of becoming a mum. I'm sure you have become a much wiser, mature person for your travels, but will still be the same sweet Elanor too! Enjoy your last few days. God bless, Rebecca