In case you don’t know, the posts on our blog lag behind reality somewhat. Instead of chaining ourselves to cybercafes as we travel–in fact, Internet doesn’t even exist in many of the places we go–we upload a batch of blog posts and pictures every week or two from our laptop to the software running this Website. Rather than flood you with a load of posts straight away, the software staggers the publication of our posts to one, maybe two, a day.

Why am I telling you this? I wanted to explain to you why it takes us a long time to read and respond to your comments, e-mails and facebook messages so that you don’t get frustrated and think that because we haven’t replied to you within a couple of days, that we don’t care for your feedback. On the contrary, we read (and cherish) all of the comments that you take the time to leave!

Case in point: A little while ago, we posted the ‘What are YOU doing?‘ entry. We really want to thank you for leaving your comments and sharing with us what was going on in your sphere. If you’ve not have a chance to leave your ‘quick life update’, please do so now! We’ve had a few days of fairly rough travel–which you’ll read about in about a week’s time–and were feeling a bit homesick. Certainly missing the way that things, which we completely took for granted in the Western world, just worked. As good luck would have it, we just connected to the Internet to upload a new batch of posts and were met with eleven comments (at time of writing) from our friends and family — which has made or day, if not, week.

Sincerely, thanks very much.

@Naomi Hunt: Ha ha, glad we can provide some light relief from work, although we wouldn’t want you getting sacked on our behalf :o) Wedding ring shopping and house hunting, how exciting! You must send me pictures of your ring when you finally decide on one. Can’t wait to start some remote wedding planning with you x (Claire)

@martin: So glad you’ve finally upgraded yourself to Martian2.0 using our RSS feed now. Previously you’ve been checking back each day to see if there’s anything new and been feeling grossly disappointed if and update has not appeared? Now you know how most of our old team at CSFB must have felt in 2004 as we travelled America! :-) (daveb)

@Tadders: I trust that you three pushed-the-envelope during your touch-base to drive-forward the corporate strategy? please post pictures of your trailer so that we can compare the luxury against that of our 25 year-old VW Camper! Good luck catching fish and love to your family. Can’t remember whether it’s north AZ, or actually whether it’s in AZ at all, but Martin (above) and I really enjoyed Flagstaff town (for bars) and the nearby Meteor Crater park, which hosts a big, erm, meteor crater…! Ironic that you love being without the Wi-Fi — I’d chop-off my arm to have constant, reliable and inexpensive Internet connectivity. Funny how we mortals always want what we don’t have, isn’t it? Ear is about 96% better now, thanks. (daveb)

@Sista: Shame, we just stayed on a campsite with a limping kitten that had been run-over on the nearby road. They don’t have vets here. I nearly popped it in an airmail jiffy-bag and posted it over to you. The Bartlett cats have a great life, compared with some of the animals we’ve seen on our travels. Like the monkey on a six-inch string, tethered to a tree. :-( I suspect that having fun with Sallyanne won’t be much of a problem, rather managing partying vs. work commitments will be the issue! (daveb)

@Chloe: I’m so please that family life is working out so well for you. Gosh, is it really nine months already…?! I hear that, for the first time in a long time, there were actually Glastonbury tickets left-over at the start of the festival this year. Something to do with Jay-Z (or similar American rap artist) making an appearance and the fickle public outcrying that Glasto is supposed to be a rock festival…? (daveb)

@Naomi C: Please tell me you decided to take the ‘go home’ option. Animals organs?! And I thought the food here was bad. I’m looking forward to visiting your crazy city at some point. Hope all is well with uni and work x (Claire)

@H: [Belated] good luck for your interview! (Hope it went well?) The ‘tarot lady’ (is that her name?) mentioned that you’ll have a life-changing trip [to Cape Town]? You’ve seen the [link]budget hotels[link] over here — they’ll change your life, I promise! Next time you see the tarot lady, would you mind asking her for a list of half-decent accommodation in southern Africa please? My ear is 96.00001% better, thanks. (It’s improved 0.00001% since I wrote the reply to Tadders, above.) (daveb)

Hi H. I hope you get the promotion, you deserve it with your dedication. And you’ll get a lovely pay rise which you can spend on treating your big sis to a nice hotel in Cape Town! Just kidding, but I promise we won’t stay in our usual grot if you join us (it will be a good excuse to stay somewhere more decent). Thanks for using our site for Amazon. Look up the Garden Route too. Where was your ring by the way (Dave is being skeptical and bets that it was under the bed, where you find everything). Have emailed Sarah about accommodation in AD. (Claire)

@Scott: I’d be so interested to have an update on your home front — both house and family. Send me an e-mail, if you get a chance? Actually, I really think ‘Mini White’ is a cool name, for a girl. Yes of course we planned the coffee to arrive on your birthday! (When was your birthday?) (Happy Birthday!) Thanks to Lee for his facebook message; glad he enjoyed it too! (daveb)

@Mum N.: Hello mummy N. It’s a blooming good job that giraffe is on the mend, we still haven’t found one here. Glad to hear the most recent shipment of wood carvings arrived safely though. Dave wants to know how many lettuce you have left?! We haven’t eaten any here after the Philippines killer lettuce incident. Hope the France planning is going well.

@Bartie Family: Really hope that your holiday in our <plug>luxury rental apartment in Los Alcazares, Spain</plug> is going well? And, as a family, well done for leaving your first blog comment! Ear is nearly completely better, certainly well enough to hear the hawkers trying to sell me canvas paintings from the other side of the street! Say ‘Hi’ to Angele (lovely Dutch bar lady) from Claire and I. Highly recommend Andrew hoofs-it down to Leon and Oktay for a chicken kebab in the Urb. Oasis area. Mum & Dad need not apply — let’s just say that it’s young peoples’ food… :-) (<– Mum: That’s a smiley, indicating that I’ve just made a joke; tilt your head left.) (daveb)

And to all those who sent us birthday greetings on facebook and e-mail: Thanks very much for your messages, we miss you all! (daveb and squiffy)