Mauritius Trailer

Apparently children are welcomed with open arms and feted with gifts of everything they need for the holiday including slippers and dressing gowns toys and books... makeup for the girls and treated like little gourmets.. more to follow ezappy

Rent a bridesmaid?

the whole gang

plus lickle bro...

Some very interesting blogs

Thanks, Pete and Jan for treating us to your (windy) garden for a lovely get-together on Saturday. It was a pity that the promise of sunshine in the morning did not continue in the afternoon!

Well done Gemma. I have just been looking at Mauritius on Google Earth - it looks fabulous. The 19th May 2009 should be a smashing day.

Steve --your photos of Les Mongauloise's trip were super. Did you watch Jeremy Clarkson's trip round the Nurburgring with that lovely German speed driver. She was round the full track in 8 minutes.

Mum wants to know where Julian's other spectacle half frame went to, in his 50th year self portrait!!

Birthdays for September. Clive on 4th., Jessica on 6th, and Amy on the 9th. luv from G&G

Gem & Clive

Hi everyone,

Well a lot has happened this week. The news is that we are definitely getting married in Maurtitius next May. Clive and I have had our requested wedding date confirmed as Tuesday 19th May 2009. We know that this falls in the UK school term which means some of you wouldn't be able to come, but you will understand that the date of the 19th is special (as its my Mum's birthday). The fact that it will be low season and the weather isn't so hot means its an ideal time for us to do this. Sorry if this is upsetting for you that can't come but we feel that traditional white wedding with sit-down reception/disco just isn't us and we want to make this event a reflection of who we are.

We're looking into having a webcast of the ceremony in Mauritius so that everyone no matter where they are in the world can log on and watch the live event. We want to have a reception/party upon our return hopefully sometime in June so that our close family and friends can all meet up and celebrate. But we'll send save the date cards to let you all know.

This weekend I have spent time at the laptop building a wedding blog as our idea is for people to visit this instead of me and Clive sending round robins and any wires getting crossed. So we'll be gradually adding information on there but if there is anything that isn't answered the blog, please feel free to email us.

http://gemmaandclive.blogspot.com/

gemma.and.clive@googlemail.com

love Gem and Clive xx

And here they come!

I did email this jpg in as I received it in an email while on the road from Lukas a spectator at the Nürbergring, but here it is now. We have 18 mins of video if you can bear it. The circuit is hilly so we go down to 12 mph second gear while the BM's Porsches and Kwakkers come p*ss*ng past on the inside.
(pardon my Mongolian!)

Barbie boy

I have constructed a temporary structure on which to braai some meat this afternoon, since it looks like it may stay sunny. I reckon on the fire being lit around 3.30-4pm for a 5pm meal. Anyone who would like to throw some meat on the barbie is welcome to come along and enjoy whatever family atmosphere we can create at Forty Green. If you do come, a camp chair or two might be useful although we have the bench and a few other outside chairs....; plus don't forget to bring your own meat and something to drink - my wine collection has hit rock bottom! And if you think you'd like to come over, there's no need to phone first, but if you do let us know, we may even clean the bathroom. If no one comes, no bother...we'll be going ahead anyway and hopefully toasting a few marsh mallows to boot. If you are scared of ducks, don't fret, he has been rehomed in a farm at Bierton. So, if we see you we see you, but if we don't, enjoy the day doing whatever you're doing. Love to all.

Fwd: [Les Mongauloises] nurbergring

Thought I'd posted this photo from a spectator at the 'ring'

Premium Bond win this morning hussar! £50!

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Steve Merrow-Smith <steve.merrowsmith@gmail.com>
Date: 22 August 2008 22:09:23 BST
To: ezappy@mac.com
Subject: [Les Mongauloises] nurbergring

--
Posted By Steve Merrow-Smith to Les Mongauloises on 8/22/2008 02:08:00 PM

Time for a Blogg

Sorry I don't post much but the blogg always gives me such a headache logging in, failing to recognise this and that. Today I seem to have had some joy.

So hi to all.

Congrats for all those who have sat exams and passed. My 8 year old has a national exam today for GEP screening, that's "gifted education program", if she passes and is selected to take a further exam and passes that we'll let you know. I heard from Dad that Thomas was also sitting for exams, so I'm sure you've done well too so congratulations to Jessica and Thomas.

For all those who have had a birthday since I last wrote many moons ago, Happy Belated Birthday. 

We got no real news for anyone, so we have been sucking up the events across Mongolia and in Beijing. Congrats to Will & Steve for a Sterling effort, I didn't realise you have a time set to complete the rally so hard luck on that front but that's camaraderie for you, never abandon anyone. And look at our Brits in the cycling? I read the blogg written by Hoy I think and he was describing how he could see the opposition fold over GB's dominance in the velodrome, that's team work. We often forget how important these things are.

I've been skyping with Mum and Dad and Julian too recently. So keep it up everyone. 

And to cap it all....

It's nice to be back from Spain (Wednesday afternoon) having prepared the house for possible rental and having had an injection of costa sunshine.

Steve and Will, I was following your epic journey all the way through Kazakhstan and into Russia again before I had to leave my Google Earth behind and head off to Spain. What a fantastic achievement! Brilliant. There must have been great fun, tension, emotion and madness out there on the Steppe. Look forward to catching up with you and hearing all about it.

As for Jess and Beth, we picked up their results yesterday and its all good news. Jess has everything she deserved after compressing most of her GCSEs into the one year working late into all those nights learning syllabus changes and catching up and resubmitting the necessary coursework. In the end she got;

English Literature B
English Language A
Science B
Additional Science A
Geography A
Mathematics A
Textiles A*
RE A
Art B
Citizenship A
Spanish A*
DIDA (computing) P (Pass)
Prep. for working life Pass level 2 (that's the higher level!)

All in all, that's 3 Bs, 6 As and 2 A*s plus the other bits and pieces.

Beth, who took fast track RE and Spanish this year got an A for Spanish and a B in RE.

Phew!!! We are very relieved and very proud of our girls, and are just so pleased for Jess to have done so well. She's got more As than I got passes...and Jan says the same.

Suggestion from Steve Merrow-Smith

Hi everyone at merrow-smith.org,

Steve Merrow-Smith stopped by the Oxford Mail
website and suggested that you visit the following URL:

http://www.oxfordmail.net/search/display.var.2427324.0.rally_duo_reach_mongolia.php

Here is their message ...

we're in the paper

Well done les Mongauloises

I is very proud, I knew you could do it, Hurrah!
Sorry you missed the party, and that your fellow
travellers didn't make it all the way in their cars.

Mongauloises in Mongolia

We arrived in Ulan Bataar on Sunday morning at 4am and had an hours
nod in the car before heading in to town to the End of the Road finish
line for 6am a mere 11 hours late for the party. We lost one of our
convoy here in this photo as Colin from Team TorbayTourists hit a big
rock the size of a turtle which stopped him dead raising his Panda off
it's rear wheels smashing the gearbox bell housing. 4 hours later we
had helped him get going again by straightening out his engine mounts
only to later fail as sand was scouped up into the clutch and starter
motor and the drive shafts snapped. We left him with a lorry driver
who took him back to the airport.
We now were 2 cars with Lloyd and Simon in their 22yr old 2CV. They
after many repair stops had to quit 31 miles from home with a sheared
suspension arm at 2am on Sunday morning. Steve and Will soldiered on
alone feeling their way through the myriad crisscrossing tracks in the
dark completely exhausted but triumphant. We fly to Berlin tomorrow so
should be back in Blighty shortly after. What a fabulous adventure it
has been and we met up in UB last night with the whole gang. The 2CV
Bristol Heroes had been rescued by a passing lorry when a minibus full
of Mongols hoiked the car by hand onto the truck and brought them in
to town. Naturally many beers later we were still swapping horror
stories but we knew that our little car had stepped up to the
challenge and we too had made it. Viva Les Mongauloises!

Latest Mongol Blog

Shattered!
At 10:21 on 17-08-2008 Steve said...
Fay said

I spoke to Steve and Will a couple of hours ago, they are shattered but delighted to have reached UB. Steve was very emotional when he was telling me about having to leave Bristol Heroes stranded 30 km from UB. They needed to go on to try and get help to get BH to the finish but fortunately BH flagged down a truck and 10 Mongolians lifted their 2CV onto the back and they finished sat in the car on the back of the truck. Both teams have helped each other through some very tough times and are now going out to get proper food and have a few 'jars' together.

Bella ended the last few km's with one of the new springs flapping in the breeze and a puncture but they made it all the way. Well done and we all admire you both.

They are hoping to organise flights home for Tuesday.

They've made it at 0400 on 17th August 2008

Phone call from Steve to Gemma at 2200. Too late for the booze up at Dave's bar, but alive and tired. Whoopee!!! Now lt's time to look for somewhere to sleep. Well done my faithful travelers, love from Mum and Dad. One more gold medal!!

Almost there±

Fay says
Just spoken to Steve and Will and they have reached Arvaikheer. According to other teams its 400km to UB and mostly tarmac! They seem hopeful of joining the party later tonight! Spirits remain high and Bella is running well!

What a long way to go to sell a car!!

We are thinking non-stop about our boys and although it is 0610 on the 16th, our 'Singapore' clock says it is 1310 hours and we just hope they are still alive and nearly in U/B. Poor old Bella must have taken quite a bashing! "Keep right on to the end of the road", my beauties, as some old Scottish comedian used to sing. Love you guys Hugs from Dad and Mum.

Burning Bush

At 08:45 on 15-08-2008 Steve said...
0800. Fay said

Managed to get through to The boys just as they were driving into Bayankhongor where they need to find a welder! The additional springs have made a big difference to Bella but she has taken a knock at the front and the sump guard needs securing. Steve said this happened when they hit a boulder in one of the deep corrigated tracks! Bristol Heroes need a new shock absorber. They have been chasing one of the local buses - a large 4 x 4 - which takes 2 days to drive non stop at 45 mph from Altai to UB. At least they knew they were heading in the right direction!

They camped out in the desert last night and couldn't find any wood for a fire so set light to a bush!

They sounded very upbeat and now realise why they felt so 'odd' when we last spoke. They were beginning to wonder if they were ill but it was the effect of the high altitude.

Some teams say its 600km from Bayankhongor to UB and others say its 300km so I think there is some confusion between miles and km's! We don't really know how far they have to go but whatever it will be tough to reach UB in time for the party tomorrow night.

Repairs

At 05:53 on 14-08-2008 Steve said...
05.15. Fay said

Steve phoned at 5am (!) to say that they are having phone problems. The good news is that a mechanic who repairs the cars (that make it to UB) before they are auctioned for charity, has welded some additional springs on to Bella to give them extra clearance. Will said he didn't want to see under the wheel arches ever again! They are just waiting for Bristol Heroes to have a new bolt fitted and then they are off again.

They were travelling at 10 mph for much of yesterday so did not cover too much ground! Confidence is now high and they assure me they WILL make it.

Latest on 13th

At 16:46 on 13-08-2008 Steve said...

16.30. Fay said

I have just heard from the boys who are safe - thank goodness! They have had a nightmare ride but can see lights ahead hopefully Altai. Torbay Tourists who were in their convoy smashed their gearbox on a rock which delayed the convoy for 2 days - unfortunately TT have had to give up.

Steve and Will have been with Bristol Heroes but both have had some car problems. Bella has had another broken spring and also developed a 'clunking' noise and they have had to dump the roof rack to get rid of some weight!

They sound a little down and shattered! Hopefully the terrain may improve slightly and make the going a little easier.

Hello

Hi G&G,

Lovely to see you on Saturday and looking so well. You both looked tanned & relaxed though I hope you have more visitors soon. We got home on the train without trouble though we had to go up the line one stop to Banbury to catch the fast train back to Oxford. Surprising efficient rail timetable.

Talking of trains, the website I bought our Oxford- Brighton train tickets was from Virgin trains (www.virgintrains.co.uk). As we went weekday off-peak I bought the 'Saver' ticket type. We actually found after trying a few combinations that buying two singles was cheaper than buying a return so perhaps try that. (£62 was the total ticket price for two people).It was the cross-country route and you can reserve your seats online. I recommend sitting in the quiet zone carriage as people aren't allowed to use their mobiles and people have to wear headphones if using their ipods; so its easy for everyone else to have a little snooze. The route our train took was Oxford-Reading-Kensington (olympia)-East Croydon-Clapham Junction-Gatwick-Haywards Heath-Brighton, though I don't know if it differs depending.

Clive and I have the post-holiday blues which isn't helped by the incessant rain and our boiler troubles. Oh well the landlady is sorting out a man to come round and fix soon.

Funny sight on the way to work this morning. Walked over Magdalen Bridge as usual, and there was Jo Brand off the telly speaking into a camera. They were recording as we walked past so you may see the back of me and Clive's head on tv very soon.

Good news on the rally charity front. Clive's Auntie Ros and Uncle John donated some money so I've sent them a thank you. I think there is only another £250 odd to be raised so Dad and Will aren't far off meeting their obligation to the charity. I hope we hear from them soon but am sure no news is good news in this instance, due to mobile phone coverage or well lack of it in Outer Mongolia.

Off to see the new Batman film tomorrow as its 2 for 1 Wednesday tickets. £7.50 saved - Hurrah .

love Gem and of course Clive xx

Having a comfy rest

we're here in a gert hotel in Mongolia all is well and apologies for no signal last few days. 2 nights in car so bed time now.

Gert cha

Gert Hotel
At 17:26 on 09-08-2008 Steve said...
16.30. Fay said

Latest text: We're with others at a Gert Hotel for $20 for the two of us. Got through the border at 14.30. Took really slow third gear road! Like Donkey Lane surface but set on Mars or the moon if there were cows and grass there! Massive hill stopped us - 1 in 4 - half way up. Bella ran out of grip at the goose neck as we took avoiding action from boulders and deep ruts. Stopped and had a think as we were looking down at the peaks! A Spanish team in a fiesta were stopped at the same place. So we agreed on the best course. In first gear we went hell for leather all the way to the top. The fiesta followed and the two passengers had to walk up 2000m! A Mongolian has told us that we will be ok now for any other slopes as this is the worst. A few miles along the ridge and a perfect black tarmac road appeared (as if in a dream) which ran 30km into town! Will took over and smiled at the thought of driving in Mongolia. Scenery stunning and we're in Gert.

In Mongolia

They are in Mongolia!!!
At 14:39 on 09-08-2008 Steve said...
14.30. Fay said

Just had a message to say they have reached Olgii and that Will drove. So they obviously did get through the border late yesterday or this morning! Great news!

More news from Kazza

18.30. Fay said

Latest text from Steve says that the welded spring has been fitted and strengthened by 2 Mongolian guys. Have had tea, honey and bread at a local farm and now the vodka is coming out!! Only 10 cars got through the border.

I am unsure whether that means that they were one of the ten cars or whether they are still waiting!

p.s. I would hate to be one of the mongolian guys forming the springs!!
PPS we will meet the train in K/s, Gem g/Dad

Brighton

We sheltered from the rain today in one of our favourite hideouts 'The Cricketers'. This pub was also a favourite of Graham Greene.

It's the law that you have to take a photo from your hotel room... (Kings Hotel on Brighton front). We were near the crumbling West Pier.

A seagull making the most of this ornate 'birdbath'.



The Royal Pavilion. I managed to take a photo without a backpacker in shot.

Gem xx

Now there's a funny thing

Hello G&G,

Looking forward to coming up and seeing you both on Saturday. Think we'll catch either the 12.07 or the 12.16 from Oxford (with one change) which means we arrive in KS around 12.40, so we could go out for some lunch in KS (are the pubs in the village still serving food?).

Clive and I are fresh from our couple of days in Brighton. I took this photo of 'the cheeky chappie' when Clive and I were in Brighton this week as I know you're a fan.

Latest Mongol Blog

At 13:06 on 08-08-2008 Steve said...
11.00am Fay said

Just heard from the boys again. They are still waiting at the border - 5 cars have been let through including Teams Top Gun and Panda Hands who they convoyed with on the stretch to Prague. A Mongolian family who are in front of them are confident that they will all get through. We wait to hear!! They are hoping that if they manage to get through the Russian side today, they will wait in no man's land overnight and have been told that the Mongolian side is open tomorrow morning!

It appears that they arrived at the border with a scaffolding pole and lorry strap holding one side of the car up! Steve said everyone was very impressed with his modifications! A 'local' has welded the old spring for £5 but Steve still has to fit it back on the car. They have also been given a spare spring by an Italian team so at least they are a little prepared for more of the same or worse roads!

Steve said they absolutely STINK but they had to drive through the night to make the border, stopping only for a couple of hours sleep by the side of the road. They said that the scenery was stunning with some wonderful lakes that they wanted to jump into but were not able to make the most of it due to limited time.

They send their love to everyone.

Mongolian border

0845. Fay said

They have made it to the border but NO cars have been allowed through so it could be a long weekend!

At 16.45 Steve said

300 miles to go until the Mongolian border. Roads good so far and no trouble from the plod!

BORDER

Border
At 07:16 on 07-08-2008 Steve said...
Waiting to get into Russia. Long wait in the sun - 4 hrs so far. When we finally get through it's a 1000km drive to the Mongolian border! Steve (Dad)

Dear Family, have a great time

Steve and Will in Cemey, Cathy and family in France, Julian and Ruth in France, Pete in Spain, Nic and family in Singapore and all the rest in good ole YUKAY.
We had a lovely visit from Fay today and she took us out to lunch at the Rose & Crown in Charlton (one mile east of K/S) she will keep blogging any news of Les Mongauloise, after her phone call from Steve at 0545 this morning. G'night from Dad

Yes Dad!

I will send the photos.
Thomas and friends camped at the lake Sunday night for birthday fun, swimming in the lake(burrrr!) and cooking over a campfire, although it was apparently very cold in the night, they had a good time, and he came back ready for a day of lying on the sofa and eating chocolates and watching telly. Unfortunately we had had no electricity since, what we had thought was a power cut Sunday evening, but turned out to be a fundamental problem between out consumer unit (fuse box) and the electricity boards cable, so this involve all day with our friendly neighbourhood electrician hanging around the house waiting for the men from the board to come and disconnect us so he could fix the problem temporarily, more work to be done when he gets a new consumer unit and some other protection for us. So no cake or telly for Tom ahhhh!!!
And both John and I are a day behind and we leave for France on Thursday!!!!!!!
Love Cathy

Thank you Grandad for the euros, I look forward to spending them on holiday. It was great to see you last week love Thomas

What a rich harvest, Julian and Ruth

I am amazed at the variety of goodies in your ?small garden. Do you use square gardening or where do you find room for all those Chillies and tomatoes, capsicums and turnips. Just right for a stew.
We liked the postcards from Provence on Ruth's blog.

We have traced Steve's latest blog from Karaganda and he is almost into Mongolia. What a dull looking town with its large blocks of square apartments or flats. Keep going Bella and we hope Steve finds the reason for the warning light. Can you find another solenoid or have you got to push-start all the way to the next town? Continued good luck for you travels Steve and Will. Dad

Message to Nythfa

Cath, If those photos I took of your garden are still on the dining table, can you send them to me,please. I would like to show them off to the others who want to know what your garden looks like!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TWM BACH TOMORROW
(Twm Bach is the name of a fast little horse who won the Trotting race In LL/Brefi when Twm bach, (Little Tom) was waiting to come out of hospital, after first entering this world on 4th August 1993), Sorry Thomas for being such a daft old man. G&G

day off

Julian took a day off! We went to an unpronouncable place and had lunch and bought pottery and got burned in the mini. It was lovely. It was the first time he has stopped humming manically for months. He also saved a hedgehog.

Track the teams

Going from this map it seems that the boys are right up there near the front!

Track the teams

love Gemsie

Darling Cathy

Darling Cathy

Thanks for your blog. It was lovely being with you. Thanks for your kind words and for spoiling us, We had a great BBQ.
Glad you finally got the bath time goodies. Cannot understand my missing off bits of your post code. must be going dulally!

If you clik on the link under poppies/clouds on the blogger, that will take you to Les Mongauloise. or you can clik on to Face Book. (Thomas will show you how) I am sorry that you are having to work so hard for your holiday. Perhaps you will get some help in La Dordogne.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THOMAS ON MONDAY!!
We hope you all get there safely and have a wonderful time. Much love from M&D