Hanging In

Dear All,

The od non-fancy, practical and quick update! Ash and I are frantically trying to get everything completed so that we can get away. Nothing new!! No matter how carefully one plans the best laid plands of mice and men oft go astray..according to Robbie Burns and echoed by John Steinbeck.
Anyway we are thinking of everyone and in case time runs out we just want to say goodbye! The reality of the trip has not really hit although the travel notes make for some serious reading. Time to pack a headscarf and long -sleeved shirt.
I have had terrible trouble with ears and sinus and so can only keep my fingers crossed that the antibiotics will work. Fourth doctor's visit today..was to be for vac for hep A and Hep B but the nurse hesitated and called my doctor in..we all agreed that due to the incident at the weekend that it would not be sensible to load the system any further. I feel happier as a result. Srilll low on energy but probably due to trying to do 2 weeks work in one this week.
glad to here Olivia is getting well. I have been thinking of you a lot. dad sounded great when I was taling to him. Hopefully Patrick is over the worst of his ordeal. Auckland sounds great..it is lovely that the boys managed to catch up with Matt. Amazing to think they live so close at present. We recieved a lovely postcard from Kate. She sounds very happy in her travels around Cambodia.
Toddy seems to be recovering from his surgery so hopefully all will be well soon...I have the guilts about putting them in the kennels now that it has turned frosty. Thank goodness for dog coats and heated kennels.
Have not heard from mum for a few days so sent her an email. She should be in Scotland at present. Her first news indicates a happy trip so far. Hopefully that is still the case. I cannot believe how far North they travel.
Today I have managed to get internals completed for monologues, despite horror issues with swapping of tapes and lack of a power cable for video camera. It has taken tonight to fix it all up. Everything has to be perfectly sequenced and cross-referenced for moderation..takes hours.
Glad to here Melbourne went well. I love that city. I would dearly love to take my form 7 classs to Miss saigon as it fits in with the themes of "A Quiet American".
Anyway too much rambling and still much to do before bedtime. The last few nights I have been up in the night working but need to stop that now hopefully. I always wake about 1 am and
feel ready for work..easier to do for a couple of hours than worry. Time for a break and to be honest I will not miss the frosts we have had the last few days. Ash seems permanently attached to his office desk at present..also trying to catch up.
Congratulations on 25 years marriage to O'C ..a big personal milestone. No doubt you will celebrate it in suitable style. Happy Birthday especially to Nick. Have a great party. We will think of you as we visit Troy that day.
Bye for now, Barbara and Ashley.