From Janice
How is the head? Not long now. See you at Wellington airport and I'll have lots of hankies.
Save flight.
Love mum
xoxoxox
Response: Head is fine now thanks! See you on Sunday - I will need them (so will you)! love you too. xoxo
From Janice
Happy New Year to you too. have fun skating. Sounds like you are enjoying New York. Wish Tim a Happy Birthday from us and enjoy the skating. Enjoyed Nat's skiing video of you and Hayley. See you soon. Love mum
Response: Had lots of fun skating today - didn't fall over (Tim says 'hi gorgeous'). Happy New Year to you too! See you real soon. xoxo
From Rebecca
Nice feature page snowman photo!!
Response: Famous!
From Janice
Sorry about the South African, not as I am looking forward to you coming home.
Love Mum
Response: I didn't think you would be sad:)
From Rebecca
Do you think people might get the impression we're mad?! Oh no wait they know that already - these crazy photos just confirm it!!
Response: Is a bit of a worry the sheer amount of evidence is to confirm hat we are mad though.......we can't even attempt to discount it!
From Mum
Hi Pip,
Thanks for the update and see you soon.
Love Mum
Response: Hi mum - no prob - will put some more pics up in a few hours - see you in less than a month! Love Pip xoxo
From
Woo! I love Banksy - so cool you got to see some of his stuff in real life! Awesome to see your latest piccies, although some a little sobering, keep on getting around and about and hope to see a few more updates before you're back!!! lots and lots of love,
Mia xxx
Response: Hey Mia!
Saw more Banksy stuff this week too. I will put some more pics up this weekend - going ice skating so might try and take some photos (unless I spend too much time on my arse). Hugs and kisses - looking forward to seeing you.
Pip xoxo
From Aunty Robyn
Dear Manisi
Oh, what wonderful Egyptian photos you showed us - Gampi enjoyed them too - and now your fireworks and museum experience back in London. We saw some of those amazing oversized (and undersized too) humans in a gallery in Edinburgh. Time is marching on and it won't be too long until we see you again.
Love from us here to you there xxx
Response: Hope you are all recovered from the big birthday weekend! Not long at all and still lots to do before I come home - still museums and silly London photos to take - we took the Beatles on Abbey Road pic this week!
Lotsa love
Manisi xoxo
From Janice
Great photos thanks Pip, we certainly enjoyed them.
Love Mum
Response: Ta mum - there will be a few more up as Becca has just put hers onto her computer! Love you - P xoxo
From Janice
Hi Pip,
Egypt sounds very amazing. I hope you don't get offered too many camel or you just might stay there. Boo Hoo.
Love Mum
Response: More GOLD camels have been offered! Now that really is tempting! Nah - wouldn't stay though as you get sick of the constant hassling - good for the ego though! Never had so many blatant stares at the chest. Love you too xoxo
From Aunty Robyn
How exciting to see some news from Cairo - thank you. There will be some more "pinch me" moments for sure - enjoy. Love from all of us here.
Response: There have already been more pinch me moments today! love to the Gyles family too.
From Pete and Karen
We're really enjoying the Contiki blog. Reliving our memories exactly but we had 25 days camping. Guess you're doing it soft in cabins. Did you go to the little town with the Toture Museum? Keep the blogs going please. Thanks
Response: 25 days camping?! I did take the wimp option - I don't think I could handle shifting tents every day! Was great fun exploring Europe. Nah, didn't go anywhere that had a torture museum or I would have gone for sure!
From Mum
Hi Pip,
Thanks for the photos. Much appreciated by all.
Love Mum
PS Always a Mum - check for spelling mistakes
Response: That was very teacher-like of you - I will make more of an effort to check the spelling :)
love you too xoxo
From Gary & Jen
Thought we might have gotten details on what Ma & Pa are doing while over there, obviously you are leading them astray and you have no time to fill us in.
G&J
Response: We were sooooo busy while they were here that I didn't get a chance to do this! Very sorry!
From MIA
UPDATES PLEASE! Dying to hear what you and the parentals are getting up to!!!!
Love and hugs,
Mia xxooxx
Response: Sup Mia!
Very slow with the updates - but I have finally put some pics up.
Much lufs, Pip xoxo
From Satay man
I guess now that Ma and Pa are in residence you are - at long last - behaving yourself - remaining sober - and got out of male clothes and back into your dress and bobby sox! Hope Ma and Pa had good trip and hope they were delighted to see their Pip on arrival. Josephine coming to visit you next week. She is off to San Fran on Tuesday and if they kick her out of the States she will come and bunk down at your place. She don't like snails - but as you would guess I love them!
r&j
Response: I always behave myself - unlike you! Yup ma and pa are here and they are sooooo happy to see their favourite daughter! Both asleep on the bed at the moment as has been a busy few days in London. Off to Dublin tomorrow. Would love to see Josephine (but she is too well behaved to get forcibly removed from the US - am sure they wouldn't even let you in though!). I am not surprised you like snails - you had us eating lots of weird stuff in Singapore! Love Pip (and her sleeping parents)
From Aunty Robyn
Dear Manisi
We've just farewelled your parents as they wing their way over there. I was most impressed at how well you had been keeping us informed until hearing from here the reason for a missed bus!!! Manisi's reputation sure has taken a dive now. Enjoy the rest of your bus trip; enjoy being with your parents; and give my girl a big hug from her Mummy Dearest.
Response: Aunty Dearest - the reason for the missed bus was not as bad as you think - I was just blind drunk - nothing else!!! My parents arrived safe and sound - bit tired now though! Spent 2 days checking out London and are off to Dubbers tomorrow. I will give your big (but little) daughter a huge hug and kiss from her MD! Lotsa love
Pip
From Vonnie
Great photos fab travel log makes me want to do it again have a great time with mum and dad looking forward to hearing all ablout it. Lots of love See you when you get back
love vonnie and john
Response: Thanks Vonnie and John - I have taken SOOOOO many photos this year! Loving Italy at the moment! Can't wait to see mum and dad! Only like 10 days to go!!! Lotsa love Pip
From Auntie Ellie
Hi Pip, It has taken me all this time to catch up with your diary and pics - really enjoyed them. Lots of memories there for me. One in particular - we worked at Audley End for 3wks - not in the stately home, but in a 1/2 timbered
Elizabethan house caring for a demented Lady Scoones whose husband had been High Commissioner for NZ many years before. Each morning Duncan would walk down to the family farm to collect fresh cream for our porridge- yummy. Now sadly he too doesn't remember any of that.
Will be looking forward to & Dad with you. Love and Take Care.
Response: Hi Aunty Ellie - wow! Was that the house by the gardens? If it is I saw that too! Yeah - I can't wait to see my mum and dad - it will be great! Lovely to hear from you. You and Uncle Dunc take care too.
From Aunty Roselyn
Hello there young Pip!
Great to read your blog and catch up with what you're doing! I know Mum and Dad are getting excited about their trip now, just hope you put on some decent weather for them.......
Its great to see you're doing the whole "London thing" visiting all the obvious places like the V & A etc, I dont think my daughter has done those yet, but maybe she's waiting until I get there (and Fiona too)
Keep well and keep having a fantastic time,
Lots love Roselyn (& Geoff)
Response: Hi Aunty Rose - I am pretty excited about seeing them too - as for the weather.......I figure that when they arrive mid-August is should be nice (but we are only in London for a few days!). I have been trying to do something Londony every weekend - so this weekend was the Ritz for High Tea (lovely and soooo fancy). When are you coming over? Is that wour holiday since Geoff is doing Antarctica? I will have LOTS of photos to put up over the next 6 weeks - I just have to find a time (but also a place) to do it - trying to find cheap internet cafes while travelling - but wanting to spend time seeing the sights! Hope you are all well and don't have winter colds! Lotsa love - Pip
From Mia
I should have told you earlier - Paul's sister works for the V&A doing buying stuff. Sounds just amazing there, I'll get there one day! Lovely to see some more piccies! lotsa love, xxxxooooxxxx
Response: Well tell Paul that his sister is doing a wonderful job - the stuff is amazing! Love you too - Pip xoxoxoxo
From Uncle Gary + Auntie
Of course we are reading it. Keep doing the things that you want to do and also those that you don't, they will be some of your best memories.
Stay well.
Response: Great to hear! I will - I am building up a HUGE memory bank over here -so much to look back on and smile about! You both stay well too
From Mum
Most impressed with the latest update - 2 in 2 days. Glad you enjoyed you lonch with Peter Pan. But flood gates & insurance maybe I won't come after all.
The one who cries
Response: I thought that would impress you :) Knowing my luck - you won't cry anyway!
From Mia
I read it too!!! good to hear you're having a blast, it didn't feel like 6 pages when I read it :-)
My very unexciting weekend involved doing stuff to Nat's house and lots of washing - sooo not good compared to you!!! New job (well not so new now) is good too, it's strange that on a sunday night I'm looking forward to the morning... scary infact! Lots of love and hugs to you, and remember it'd be much easier to update a little often and you'll get fewer complaints from the parentals.
xxxxxooooo mia
Response: Hey Mia
wicked to hear from you! How very domestic of you - what a good girl you are. I haven't caught up with you new (old) job - where is it and what are you doing? How is your lovely man? Hope you are both well and happy! lots of love and hugs being sent back to you xoxoxoxoxo
From Uncle Roger
Not one word had me bored! Yes more frequent updates would be great but, hey, who cares so long as you are having a good time and having lots of different experiences, all is good. The white cliffs are definitely worth seeing.
Your Aunty is very happy to read of your travels but still has not got itchy feet.
Bet you can not wait for Mum and Dad to arrive, I reckon the pom's had better take out special flood insurance for that day! Tee hee.
Response: Hey Uncle Roger - glad to hear you weren't bored! Aunty Robyn's feet might get itchy when she gets to see photos of your next beg trip - its only 6 months away now (one of my students went to Antarctica and LOVED it - said it was the best place he has ever been to and even though he is only 16, he has done quite a bit of travel already!). Yup - about 7 weeks until I see my ma and pa - can't wait! Nah, London won't need flood insurance, but they might to open the Thames Barrier to let a bit of extra water through!