Ding Dong.

Wow ! - How can we possibly follow that fantastic 6,000 word extravaganza with any meaningful comments which adequatey describe our reaction to your amazingly descriptive blog from the reader's perpective ?
It felt like we were there with you, every step of the way. We shared your excitement, your frustrations and your discomfort , and we endured the sights and smells of your journey from Laos into Vietnam, we laughed uncontrollably at the many amusing situations that you have described so vividly, and we shared your fear as we read of the many horrendous journeys, which included poisonous snakes residing in the air conditioning.

And to think that it was only a couple of months ago when you were kind enough to invite Mum & I to join you on this leg of the journey - What an adventure ! and one which I would've loved, but having now heard how it all turned out - I think (on balance) maybe we made the right decision to decline your offer on this occasion, cos I think it would've put Mum off any form of foreign travel for the rest of her life.

Pity about the iPod but after all it's only a piece of technology, which can be replaced, and at least you have both survived to tell the tale, and what a tale, with stories and situations which you can dine out on, for the rest of your lives. In fact - thinking about it - when you return to UK - you could earn yourselves a living as "After Dinner Speakers" for a very long time to come

The phographs too, were fantastic and they complement your story extremely well .... So - keep up the good work, as we are now eagerly awaiting the next chapter, which we know will illustrate your time in Vietnam, in descriptive words and photos - Your Blog is just like a Book which we can't put down - Well done
Love M & D xx

Dear Gramy,

Well, what can I say about your latest installment? To be perfectly honest, it sounds like you're having a pretty dull time, especially all that snake/cobra malarky. Bor-ring.

Only kidding, obviously! I've LOVED reading the 6000 word extravaganza - a fantastic bit of escapism as it's been a tricky week here. Lots of illness for us this week (although Xan seems to have avoided it all - could have something to do with the fact that he's barely been here as work is very busy) including d&v and an ear infection for me (which is v.painful) and tempertures/sickness for C&H. The moral of the story is that it's hard work looking after small children, it's harder work looking after small children who are unwell and it's even harder work looking after unwell small children when you are unwell too.

Enough of that though. I'm delighted that you're both still alive. Sounds like you're regularly risking your lives - sometimes deliberately, sometimes not! Try to keep safe please!

Must go and save Harry from Charlie.
Sxx

Hello, its us again,
Sunday evening here and we have just looked at the last 90 photos on your blog - and there are some fantastic shots of sunsets and rivers - so we are now looking forward to reading the script that goes with them.
Lots of love from M & D x x

Hello again U2, we have just spent a pleasant hour reading the latest chapter of your blog, and if only to guarantee ourselves an invitation to sample your cooking skills of the Thai Green & Red Curry we simply have to add a further contribution to let you know that we have read through your latest update.
We have also played back the 3 volumes of the latest photos and enjoyed your photographic skills together with your imaginative and amusing titles.

I can well understand your fascination with Thailand and Bangkok in particular because I was in Bangkok for less than a week but like you, I found it fascinating, and I would love to return one day.

We still believe that you should turn this blog into a book one day, so with just 6 weeks to go, before you return to the UK, take care to avoid the floods when you revisit Bangkok, then relax and enjoy Thailand's beaches, which should prepare you for the final exciting chapter of your journey in Delhi, Aggra & Jaipur

Dear Gramy,
I am meant to be sorting out some food for Charlie (as it's tea time!) but I couldn't resist saying a quick hello. Loving your latest entry (and looking forward to enjoying the results of your cooking masterclass!!). All well with us. No great excitements - life potters on! Harry is coming up for 4.5mths now (which has flown by) and together him and Charlie are keeping me out of mischief!
When are you back in the UK?
Enjoy Laos!
Lots of love to you both, Sxx
p.s. Thanks for the mention! No low crotch trouser purchases made here yet but never say never. (Although probably almost certainly not.) xx

Hi there you two intrepid travellers, Mum & I have just spent an hour or so looking at your most recent photographs and reading your blog which so colourfully describes your exploits in Sri lanka and very interesting it was too. We are even more convinced now Amy that you should become an author when you return home in December, because you could quite easily write a book about your travels.

we can see from your super photos that you have visited some very beautiful places, and the fun which you are now enjoying is clear to see from your descriptive text.

Keep up the good work, and we look forward to reading the next chapter

Hey there chief,
I'm hardly the most qualified person to make any sort of comment re style but I thought I'd give you a quick bit of feedback.
Firstly, I'm loving the commentary. You write very well and had me chuckling to myself! (That could just be to do with the fact that I am massively overtired having been dealing with 2 snotfilled children for the last 2 days who have been giving me very little sleep, bless them, but I think it's more likely that you are just genuinely funny.) Secondly, and finally (as I really must get to bed before one of my little darlings wakes me up), I am very impressed with your outfits. To the untrained/uncool eye you look VERY cool. I could not pull any of them off and it would never have occurred to me to deliberately put my head through an armpit hole - that only ever happens by mistake! And I fear I'm in the "saggy bottom" camp re your low crotch/high waist ensemble. My favourite is Day 4, followed by Day 7. I surprise myself by liking Day 2 (although struggle with the low crotch/trousers falling down!).
Must get some sleep now.
Good work, chief. Keep up the blogging. Lots of love to you both, Sxx

Graham,

Check your email. I've put IC's contact detail up. He'll be in SL on 17 September if you're around.

Oh, and stop enjoying yourselves.

RW

just read your blog again in the company of T&P where we are enjoying a relaxing break in the heart of the Cairngorms - your photos are excellent (apart from 1) but they do really need titles for us to appreciate them fully, as we are assuming that those vibrantly coloured dishes were in fact dyes rather than spices - so perhaps you will enlighten us. We were also amused to learn of your brief encounter with Jaydeep (Jags) and note that you are learning your lessons the hard way, just as we did when we were your age, never again eh Amy ?
Lokong forward now to our skype conversation tommorow, providing we can get a good connection, so until then.. Be good - Love M&D

Hi Amy, Graham
Have recently discovered your blog after talking to M&D. We are finding your travels fascinating as we are hoping to visit India in September. We are picking up lots of tips - especially on different modes of travel and toilet stops!! The commentary and photos are brilliant and we look forward to seeing and hearing more.
Take care.
T&P

I think your jeep drivers may have subscribed to Tim's spotify playlist. Flash backs to the Summer BBQ with that Blue and Black Eyed Peas line-up...
Your bday looks lovely btw and no doubt we will celebrate again when you're back.
I commend you both on the ability to have not completely compacted in the bowel area with the state and sound of some of those loos. Needs must I guess, but man alive thank god for sanitation, air freshner and andrex.
Wearing my Harems, they are a little more stretched than yours though and will continue to be but thanks so much. Will get some sweets and mags out to you asap - Heat for the Gman right?!
Loads of love and take care. Debs & Tim xx

Hi Amy & Graham,
Just read the whole of your amusing yet fascinating travelog update of 15.05.2011 and it gives a wonderful insight to your incredible journey to Darjeeling and on to Sikkim, the photographs too are a super record of the images you have seen, which will last in your memories for the rest of your lives - keep 'em coming - it is a miserable wet Spring day here in Cheshire (UK), and you have just brightened it up for me - Lots of Love Dad

Hi there Kids,

It's now the 3rd of May and we are contacting you either side of your respective birthdays ... So Happy Birthday for last week Amy - hope it was a good one, and Happy Birthday for later this week Graham - hope yours is a good one too. Just been reading through your latest blog Amy and we were splitting our sides with laughter at your accurately described predicament - although we hope you avoided the temptation to get your noses pierced and have the tatoos on your biceps.

We were also amused at your efforts to provide every child with a photograph only to find that only 4 of the girls liked the photo you had taken so much trouble to provide - I bet the boys were all Ok with theirs ??

We are now waiting with great anticipation for for your next instalment covering your 18 hour train journey and your experiences on the Andaman Islands - let us hope that you both managed to chill out and relax for a few days there.

See you soon next time you have a signal for Skype - Till then LoL M&D

Sorry not to bring banter to the page, but I did want to say Happy Birthday, Amy!!!! It's not quite Thursday here yet, but I guess it is there so it's all good. I figured it could be difficult to send a card, so I made you something instead. Halfway through making it, I did think that it COULD come across as a little mean considering your situation, but hopefully you'll read this whilst tucking into a McDonalds so it doesn't seem so harsh. This'll all make sense, honestly!! I don't think I've got your e-mail address, so go and check out my Facebook page; there's an album just for you! Hope you guys are having an amazing time on your mini-break from work. xx

So it has been pointed out to me by my trusty side kick Graham, that constenant is infact spelled 'consonant'. That was as big a suprise as when I discovered that rest bite was in fact respite. It's a big day for the Amyandgraham dictionary corner.

Apologies sir Richard for inexcusable slackness. All formatting issues have now been resolved. Was trying to come up with a witty way of changing constenant to say constipated but have drawn a blank. keep the comments coming. xx

In light of Graham's apparent recovery:

'Can I have a bowel please Carol?'

Seriously though what's going on with the formatting - beginning and end of the third picture down.

Praise for my puns from beyond the grave no less. Don't you miss the Whiteley pre-break jovial pun special on countdown? What a master. Can't do better than that.

Fantastic puns, keep up the good work.

Chaps,

keep it coming. It's entertaining. Hoep your procured some of the alcoholic stuff. You're both looking so svelte,

x

I am disappointed at the lack of response to my 'all quiet on the intestine front' pun - i thought it was a stroke of genious. Tough crowd.

I believe the UK Garage hit you are referencing was in fact the 2001 no 1 hit Do you really like it? by DJ Pied Piper. Right back atcha. Good to have you on (the) board Melissa. xx

Good to hear from you GrAmy!
Glad to hear you're loving it, loving it, loving it (the UK Garage reference probably went over your heads, oh well) Anyways, you sound like you're having the time of your lives (I'm sure that musical reference didn't), keep the updates coming in between breaks to the loo (or roadside) : P

Hi there U2

Another "wee" message from home -

We have just updated ourselves with your Blog and we are most impressed with your descriptive commentry Amy - It reads so well that we feel we are right there with you - but Oh ! what a time you have had this past few weeks - I had Delhi Belly when I was in India , and I was actually in Delhi and only there for 6 days so I do know what it is like, and you have my utmost sympathy, but hopefully once you have got through it, your body will build up some form of immunity to it , and hopefully you can now put it behind you - Sounds like you should try to have a few more days at the beach, cos having seen your photos and read your report it was clearly one of your best days so far.

I take your point about Health & Safety - and when I was in Delhi I was even more amazed to see folks hanging on the back of moving lorries and learning that they had probably travelled that way for 30 or 40 miles - at least it appears that "your kids" were all safely inside the back of the lorry - were you in the back too so as to supervise their behaviour ?

We are looking forward to learning about your planned itinerary for your travels at the end of April, No doubt you will miss the kids, but we bet you are now getting quite excited at the prospect of a few weeks away from the routine

Hoping to get another update (by Skype) soon but keep on writing as we are finding your blog most interesting - maybe you should write a book whilst you are there as it could well turn out to be a Best Seller - but Amy - get that lazy "laid back" son of ours to write a chapter as he seems to be getting off lightly

Take care & look after each other love M&D XX

who the ruddy hell are you silver fox and tartan bird? Why the football round up - you do realise this is not the BBC website?

Liverpool 3 - Manu 1 (Dirk Kuyt hat-trick) While Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson was so stunned he refused to talk to media afterwards, Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has urged Liverpool to use the momentum from this impressive win to spark a successful end to the English Premier League season.

Dirk Kuyt notched a hat-trick but Luis Suarez was the star as Liverpool dented United's title hopes on Sunday.

Kuyt struck twice in quick succession in the first half at Anfield and the Dutch forward completed his treble after the break to hand United their second defeat in the space of a week after the leaders' 2-1 loss at Chelsea last Tuesday - the first time in two years United have lost in successive league games.

Javier Hernandez reduced the deficit in stoppage time but United, who had lost only one league match this season before the start of this week, are now just three points ahead of second-placed Arsenal, having played a game more than the Gunners.

Dalglish, who turned 60 on Friday, savoured the best result of his second spell in charge at Anfield. Dalglish's side is now sixth in the table, and a late challenge for a top-four finish is not out of the question.

Keep writing, try not to get water-borne diseases and tell Graham it's rude to squeeze one out while he's getting his photo taken. The poor kids have been through enough already...x

Hi there you 2 - just updated ourselves by reading your blog, and we continue to be amused at your antics - lovely photo of Amy with the kids - not so sure about Graham - it also looks like all the ramblings are coming from Amy at present, so come on Graham - get your finger out, cos we are looking forward to seeing lots more photos and hopefully some Video very soon - Keep Well M & D

Thank God you cant do smells on web sites it sounds horific probably worse than leamington terrace faulty toilet shreding machine, that was horrible. Nice to see graham working on his smile. Have a lot of fun guys.

It sounds amazing, horrific (mainly the poo smell and dead bodies) and exhausting, all rolled into one! Looking forward to hearing more...as one of those three people reading your blog. ;o)
Lindsay xxx
p.s. We play Ireland tomorrow. I think kick-off is around about your bed time, so apologies if my shouting wakes you up.

Hi there you two adventurers, just to let you know that we are following your blog with interest - so keep on posting and we will check it once per week or so

Today a smell to rival poo river... a 40,000 chicken battery farm in 30* heat. You could bottle it and sell it as paint stripper.