Round the World

Dear JIAGGJ,
We waved to Lahaina as we steamed past - too rough for the tenders to launch. It was disappointing because whales wre in this area. We did see some but they were a long way away.
31st Jan 07
Crossing the EQUATER ( that white line on the world puzzle we always look for Alexander)
Grandad & I were"Polllywogs" (1st timers) so had to go before King Neptunes court. We had to be punished for eating too much so we had to kiss a fish (real) & got covered in gunge(spahgetti, baked beans,eggs etc) Then into the pool one way or another which was a revolting mess - you would have loved it! Now we are "shellbacks"
So we are now cruising in the SOUTH Pacific - our 3rd day without seeing another ship.
It is very hot with warm breezes & one of us is like a lobster!
Lots of love to you all, Grandi xxxxxxxxxxxx

Dear JIAGGJ,
Again we are in an Internet room - much cheaper!
We are on the island of Oahu, Honolulu is the capitol.

It is very hot, hot hot.
We have walked Waikiki beach & had a paddle in the Pacific hunting for coral that has been washed ashore in tiny pieces.It is white. The beaches are packed with baking people and as it is Sunday a lot of families are picnicing under the shady trees. The banyan trees are enormous with roots above ground.
We have tried to find the hotel we stayed in last time but neither of us can remember the exact one!
Tomorrow another island close by called Lahaina and we will do a tour there.
Our love to all my little darlings,Grandi xxxxx

Dear JIAGGJ,
Now in an Internet cafe. We are getting around on the cable cars which are pulled by a cable in a trough in the road. Some of the roads are very steep so it is like being on the big dipper!. We are near Fisherman`s wharf where I bought that carousel horse last time. The Golden gate bridge is beatiful but it is painted orange.
It is chilly and Grandad is of course in his shorts!
Lovely to hear from you all,you all sound very busy.We do enjoy your news, you feel much closer to us.
Thinking of you all as I sit here typing.
Lots of love, hugs & kisses,
Grandi xxxxx

Dear JIAGGJ,Huge skyscrapers, traffic ugh!
Went to the coast. 1st stop- the tar pits where they have dug up the bones of dinosaurs, mammoths and a 2000 year old woman(not looking at her best!) and are still digging. Then Santa Monica beach - miles of white sand .Warm day but when we dipped toes in the sea they froze.The pier had a small fun -fair , not half as good as Brighton!
Lots of love to all, Grandi xxxxxx

Dear JIAGGJ
We are in an internet cafe in Acapulco & Grandi is "having a go!"
It is very very hot & we hear it is very stormy & cold at home. We think of you all when we are on the ship lying in the shade in a deckchair reading with a warm breeze blowing over us but we are not coming back until England has warmed up!
This morning we went to the house where "Tarzan" stayed when they were making the 1st film many years ago, I believe Cheetah stayed there too!
Then we went to a fort guarding Acapulco , it was scorching inside so when it was used many years ago it must have been dreadful for the soldiers.
Hope Georgie is enjoying trampoling with Minnie & I think Jenni will be very good at netball. Hope Jack is now 1oo% with the goats milk. Issy- I am going to try and get your web site next. On the ship it is too expensive & very slow to do more than look at the Blog so I don,t know your news. It would be great if you could give your news on the blog instead.
Here it is very cheap to use the internet so it has been along one.
Love you all, and so does Grandad,
Hugs & xxxxxxxxx
Grandi


I hope the rest of you have been reading the comments. I have found that the quickest way is to put the blog on for the children and view it which brings my site up. Then I read your lovely news and answer in the 1st comment.
Olwen

Dear JIAGGJ,
We went up a river into the jungle in a dug out canoe,(yes, Grandad did it in the end!) to the village of the Embera people.
Beautiful girls wearing a tiny skirt round their bots with lots of necklaces and flowers in their hair. Boys wear thongs with a bit of cloth dangling at the front.
Their homes are thatched huts on stilts.
Still no animals except a few chickens, two dogs and a cat!
Lots of love and hugs to my darlings,Grandi xxxxxxxx

Dear JIAGGJ,
WE went from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean through the Panama Canal. Jungle each side but too far away to spot any animals. Very exciting & very very hot!
Lots of love Grandi xxxxxx

Dear JIAGGJ,
We are in Catagena - say cart-a-hay-na.
Fasinating old walled town, fort & Monastery high on a hill. Many shops sell beautiful green emeralds which are mined here but Grandad says I am beautiful enough already!
Very, very hot.
Love you all lots & lots,
Grandi xxxxxxx

Dear JIAGGJ,
Couldn`t land, sea too rough to use the tenders & QE2 too big to dock.(Still put in a dot)
Now sailing the Carribean Seas to Cartagena in Columbia (South Amamerica) instead of Costa Rica.
Hot on deck, warm breeze & of course sea, sea & more seat
Love & hugs
Grandi xxxx

Dear JIAGGJ,
Couldn`t land, sea too rough to use the tenders & QE2 too big to dock.(Still put in a dot)
Now sailing the Carribean Seas to Cartagena in Columbia (South Amamerica) instead of Costa Rica.
Hot on deck, warm breeze & of course sea, sea & more seat
Love & hugs
Grandi xxxx

Travelled over the Everglades (slow moving water stretching miles & miles & miles with sawgrass growing through) in a airboat. This was very noisy with propeller blades at the back , so we were given toilet paper to stuff in our ears. We saw 3 alligators dozing in the sun, but they don`t attack Grandis & Grandads unless we hit them first so we were safe. Getting warmer.
Lots & lots of love & hugs,
Grandi XXXX

Dear JIAGGJ,
At last - stickers on! Make sure I can see a little of each one, Jack will need help.
New York is a city of skyscrapers. Imagine living 50 floors up and the lift breaks down and you have to walk up! Everybody is rushing.
It was wet and cold so the "sleeping bag coat" was great.
Grandad managed the tour(just!) but had to go to bed early!
Jenni , your riding sounds fun, hope you don`t get a sore bottom. Yes Issy, I miss you too - there are lots of pictures for sale on the ship, some not as good as yours.
We are now sailing down the coast of America.
Lots of love my darlings,
Grandi xxxx
Ps I`ve commented on the comments so go back. I`ll always do it like that.

Dear JIAGGJ,
Halfway to New York and all we have seen is "sea, sea, and more sea"Still bobbing up and down but getting used to hanging on!Feel safe on QE2.Have your photos on our wall so cabin feels cosy. Disappointed we can`t send photos so imagine the sea at Brighton with us out on it in a huge ship for 5 days.Grandad is in the gym, he can feel he is expanding already.
Love you ALL .
Grandi
Ps replying in comments to previous comments.

Dear Jenni, Issy, Alexander, Georgie, Graceand Jackson,
We are as snug as bugs in our cabin and are already settling in for the adventure. We are crossing the Atlantic Ocean and are going up and down quite a lot! Hope the breakfast stays where we have put it!
Love to all,Grandi and Grandad.xxxxxxxxx