Happy New Year! Hiya, Just been catching up on all your latest adventures, I think you should write an epic with the amount of stuff you've been up to! Sounds like you are having an amazing time, really fancy going to australia so I will look forward to reading your journals!! Just been back from Canada a few days, almost didnt get back at all with the BA flights in Heathrow (all domestic flights had been cancelled for 3 days) so werent sure we were going to get back at all. Vancouver was good, bit of a contrast through from the expensive end and 5 blocks away Chinatown which was full of tramps and druggies (not quite as it is made out to be)! Whistler itself where we went skiing was amazing, it was a little winter wonderland. You should have a trip up there and have a skiing lesson if your in the area,3hrs from Downtown vancouver and the shuttle buses are fairly cheap considering it is a 3hr ride. Didnt break any bones and can ski!!!!Yippee! Just as well we didnt book to go to Europe as they have had no snow and has been all over the news as there have been loads of cancelleations! Just got back in time for xmas and have been visiting family so Im a bit knackered, Sunderland beat Leeds 2-0 you will be pleased to know! New year in a few days then back to work for us folks back here (stop laughing!)
Hope you have a great new year, loadsa love, Gillian xxx
Skanky ear infection update So not only did Middleton fuin my social life last weekend, it appears that one of the lovely little mites gave me a cold which due to the torrential cold winds and rain I was unable to blow my nose properly and has now caused an ear infection which antibiotics isn't clearing resulting in an alcohol restriction over the festive period. Alas no Bucks Fizz, wine, vodka, "Good Elf" real ale, more Bucks Fizz, cheap sparkly stuff which the Nana gets me, sambuca, compulsory egg nogg, snowballs and Bucks Fizz.
I am sad
Wow I'm going to come out and admit it, its a good few months since I last visited your blog, I've spent an hour this morning catching up and what can I say? Sounds like you're having a fantastic time, well written too, a pleasure to read in fact. I've never been overly interested in travelling myself but you've made it sound so exciting I want to jump out of my chair and buy some plane tickets now!
Getting lost in the jungle? Monkey attacks? Diving lessons (tooth injuries :() Breaking toilets (It was like that when I got here! lol) Angkor Wat! I'm envious but really pleased for you guys.
Anyway I hope your tour of western australia is good fun and that you have a merry christmas in Perth!
-Tom S.
Flaming gallahs Just how many comments are you going to get with Alfisms??!!!!!
Just survived a week in Middleton with the kids. We had the strongest winds the woman had ever known and as a result we did no walking. The kids climbed the walls for a week and I slept for 18 hours straight when I got back.
I did entertain myself by reading the Cheveley Park entries in the diary which were very funny.
I'm getting very very excited about Christmas here in Blighty, keep buying more decorations. Am hoping to rival Mr R's decorations (well we all live in hope!)
Sounds like you are having a lovely time. I nearly bought a second hand car from a bloke who came from Perth the other day. He said you should definitly visit it and you have! However, this bloke was not very nice and rather pushy about buying this car so perhaps don't buy a car from them
seen any kangaroos yet? Lovely to see your photos and know there's sunshine somewhere. Here it has rained non-stop for a week, very heavily, and it's dark all day. This is your Christmas greeting from all of us here in Scotland, hoping you're still having a great time.
Hey! Hi Jo and James - great to hear from - got your lovely postcard from Thailand! Sorry to hear you're still dreaming about work - I hope the nightmares have stopped now... I have your postcard pinned to my wall and now and again gaze wistfully at it! I have now moved out of the livewires cupboard - couldn't really bear another winter in that freezer! Have a great time in your continuing adventure round the world - 4 course brunch in Singapore - easy! You're just wimps!!
Keep in touch and have a good Christmas in sunny oz!
love Anita x
De Bouviar for surname Hello, Very very very very jealous of your trip to Raffles. As you can see I have decided on a surname for you. Obviously your mum will be disgusted at my rubbish spelling, I'm sure there is another way!!
Nativity extrvaganza going well - everyone loving "starry night" (Thank you very much Joanna's dad!)
Speak to you soon
Sarahxx
Asia is no place for wine lovers! If only I could get a bottle of wine in a bar for less than 20 pounds I'd be so happy!Still looks like you're having a fab time, was just going to mention that my sister tested your mums eyesight but she beat me to it! Funny to think how daily life in Durham carries on with us on the other side of the world. hope the three of you continue to have a great time alexa xx
Au revoir Not adieu as i'm sure you willl get back to Asia one day. Raffles is so cute - will he get the correct diet in OZ? Hotel brunched looked amazing but surprised that James gave in first as Jo usually wimps out after 3 mouthfuls!
Had eyes tested by Alexa's sister this morning. A is settling into job and already planning next year! You lucky people will hear about Test match cricket in real time - how exciting! Off to walk Barney now. XXX
Hello! Hi guys, so glad (and so jealous!) you're having such a fab time!! Everything is grand in not so sunny Newcastle. Was at Vindolanda today and nearly froze to death!!!! Me and Marty have bought a Jack Russell puppy and he is a little terror!!! Will keep in touch and Jo - FYI - not a peep from that darn man at Pearey House!!!!! Take care! Alex x
hello out there Finally got on to your blog with lots of lovely photos, and looking forward to the NZ bit. Looking forward to catching up on all your travels so far too.
Hi James and Joanna, this is my first post but I have been keeping close eye on your blog! Glad to see you're having the time of you life! Seeing Malaysia again has inspired me to post, it feels like I was there only yesterday. Take care and enjoy the rest of your travels, James.
Greedy! Food looks lovely, but how greedy can you get- spending more on food than on your guest house.
Pleased to hear about 'the tooth' being sorted. I'll tell Peter to move his surgery to somewhere with a better outlook. Perhaps overlooking the new bridge and Sage in Newcastle???
Talking of Newcastle.... they are 2nd bottom at the moment and playing really badly, so at least something good is happening on the footy front.
Enjoy Pangkor Island and don't break any more toilets Jo.
By the way Sarah, you are too old for Klute now!!!! Sorry, I meant to say mature.
Bye XXXXXXXXX
How could you resist Subway? Just found out some devastating news from my James today.
Joanna, can you remember PC Greenfield and his whole if you got run over by some large truck speech and he would splat one hand with the other and then take a look and say eugh. Well it transpires that at Blue Coates in Newton Hall they also had the same speil. Aha me thinks you had the same policeman as us. BUT NO!! They had some other policeman. I feel let down, they obviously had some community policeman style training camps possibly with t'shirts saying trainee on the front.
Anyway rant over. Looks like more fun from your travels, did you not try to steal millions of pounds from a bank like in that film with Catherine Zeta Jones and Sean Connery? With the only way of escaping bu abseiling down the side of the tall buidings?
Would you be able to ask your dad if by any small chance he happens to have a copy of the recorder music for "It was on a starry night" I have insisted we sing it in nativity but the music we have is some sort of jazz flute version of it. Give me time and they'll be singing little donkey. It's only a matter of time before Cheveley kids take over the world
Greeting from the Stephenson Hi Jo
Just had a little read through your blog, it sounds like you are having a fab time wish i was there it is cold dark and misserable here. Everything is the same at SRM I will tell everyone tomorrow how your getting on. Enjoy. Lindsey
lost! You will have to practise walking faster - or perhaps the new trainers will do the trick. Like the beard James - keep it going! Talking of tea , will now go and brew a cup of Sri Lankan Earl Grey. Do they take milk with it? Like the Tuor scyscrapers.
Mmmmm tea and scones Tea and scones sounds lovely. Possibly because i am drinking decaf green tea in an attempt to detox the caffeine. Silly really as second week back in school "Guess I chose the wrong week to give up caffeine"!!! Most importantly, very exciting news from the weekend - I managed to smuggle myself (cunningly disguised using a large scarf and mismatched clothes) into Klute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was very excited until I was unable to get onto the dance floor to dance to reach for the sky for hordes of jolly students. I left rather dispondently after that, and cheered myself up with a subway on the way home.
Again your pictures look amazing, if you are very lucky I may include some of the exotic Castleside!!
family meet up glad it was lots of fun, sounds like it was surprisingly civilized!!! that's a shame i wanted some goss! can you send me lindsay's address so can send a postcard? thanks joanna xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bang! For andrew's infirmation ,it is spelled 'endeavour' ! Yes we had a good meet and even Gordon and Angie turned up .I was the only one taking photos. The house is huge and Dad was in his element finding things to do and teaching Jon how to paint ceilings. We had fireworks twice! Once the next door neighbourss and then last night ours and some friends of L and J came round with more. Good trip back up today,the little trailer did well to carry all the stuff down and the table looks really good in their dining room. L has bought red paint for the walls! I gets a lot of sun via the patio doors. We will probably go down there for xmas so L gets more of a rest from work as she can't tkae time off between then and New Year. Love the new page and fab pics. Going to look out window for Durham fireworks now and ring lins. love XXXXXXXX
lies, all lies I'm a reformed character, those days are behind me. If you discount falling off a window ledge onto a concrete steps the floor below obviously. Had a great time at Lindsay's, can't believe how big the place is compared to the shoe boxes you'd get in Brighton for the same money. No photos I'm afraid, the whole affair was quite civilized considering the three of us were given unlimited alcohol by the Mums. I did however see Fay's hen night pictures, not for the faint hearted or weak of stomach. Looking forward to the next installment.
Andrew x
Re: woe are we Hi Andrew, James here! Joanna's on the phone home at the moment - think she just missed you! Just thought I'd fill you in - a Starbuck's tea in Georgetown cost about 1.50 pounds! Quite steep! Malaysian tea is far better, costs about 20p and doesn't taste like shit! Look forward to meeting you, heard lots of things (take that as you will!) - James x
This is the travelblog of James Thorpe and Joanna Rowell. On 1st September 2006 we set off on a year long adventure.
Our planned itinerary is as follows:
Japan > Thailand > Cambodia > Malaysia > Singapore > Australia > New Zealand > Cook Islands > United States > Canada
Thanks for checking up on us and please add a comment or send us an e-mail we’d love to hear from you!... full info
Gillian
non-member comment
Happy New Year!
Hiya, Just been catching up on all your latest adventures, I think you should write an epic with the amount of stuff you've been up to! Sounds like you are having an amazing time, really fancy going to australia so I will look forward to reading your journals!! Just been back from Canada a few days, almost didnt get back at all with the BA flights in Heathrow (all domestic flights had been cancelled for 3 days) so werent sure we were going to get back at all. Vancouver was good, bit of a contrast through from the expensive end and 5 blocks away Chinatown which was full of tramps and druggies (not quite as it is made out to be)! Whistler itself where we went skiing was amazing, it was a little winter wonderland. You should have a trip up there and have a skiing lesson if your in the area,3hrs from Downtown vancouver and the shuttle buses are fairly cheap considering it is a 3hr ride. Didnt break any bones and can ski!!!!Yippee! Just as well we didnt book to go to Europe as they have had no snow and has been all over the news as there have been loads of cancelleations! Just got back in time for xmas and have been visiting family so Im a bit knackered, Sunderland beat Leeds 2-0 you will be pleased to know! New year in a few days then back to work for us folks back here (stop laughing!) Hope you have a great new year, loadsa love, Gillian xxx