It is good in many ways that people have started to cover up. Over extended protuberances caused by large amounts of lager and little exercise, are now disguised by ill fitting sports attire. Ladies have hidden their tattoos of small fading devils and swallows with shell suits embellished by Elizabeth Duke gems!

TheO is also quite shocked. His loving parents have placed him in day care two days a week (and only for the mornings) He has established himself as the youngest boy in the class with the loudest voice. We thought this quite funny initially, however he now wakes at 6am and babbles loudly till 7.30am! He then gets out of his cot and wonders around, finding all those things left undone from the night before. This is an early bird on a mission of destruction! I am convinced that he isn't really naughty, just inventive and will eventually write a Galileo like thesis on why things bounce on tiled floors. Glass, China, PlayMobil - they all have their 'bounce' qualities.



like CHiPs but with a bit more plastic!!

Have now been back for just over 2 weeks. TheO took some time adjusting himself back into the temperature and the schedule. Not sure if he has been overjoyed about being back, but the chance to swim in pools and at the seaside have compensated a little. Fortunately, the little lad has also been distracted with some friends visiting from the UK. Peppa Pig is TheO's new favourite programe, he specially enjoys the oinks/snorts during the intro theme tune. He is also still very busy playing the 'over the edge' game with mummies sunglasses being the latest casualty. Fortunatley not the Oakleys!



TheO thinks of running off with the Circus!

As luck would have it, we stumbled into a nice Jeep Cherokee that was for sale with fairly low mileage. I wasn't sure quite how we would get it on the plane, but the good lady insisted we go to the shops, with all our bags packed. It was a long trip that took 9 days. They irony is they had run out of Stella.



TheO is obviously much more 'in the picture' than I!

The car performed wonderfully and super comfortable. From France, we entered Switzerland via Basel, and tackled the Alps. This was our preferred neck of the woods with beautiful towns, fantastic food and stunning scenery. We travelled through one of the longest tunnels in the world, the St. Gotthard Tunnel. We were sorry to leave! Passing down trough Italy with a number of stops, including a brief shopping trip to Florence. The good lady insisted!



The joy of designer shops!

Anyway, it was all going TOO well. I remarked that there had been zero incidents so far. Big mistake! Apart from nearly losing a room in the Hotel, settled after much heated discussion, the little lad decided to 'play' with daddies passport. This caused some problems at Malta immigration. With much apologising and blame on TheO, we are all back safe and sound, and really without any major problems, mmmm!



TheO ponders the whereabouts of daddies important documents....

As the title suggests, the great white BMW is no more. The head gasket blew on the way to Lincoln to see a good chum! He sold me the car so it seemed only natural to try and get my money back. The little lad had no comment other than to indicate to me that I was a twat for doing a ton in it.

As plans are made to upgrade the transport and leave before the end of summer, we have managed to leave everything to the last moment. Many friends are left unseen with poor promises of 'yeah, defiantly Friday' fresh on the lips. TheO has had a great time meeting people and making new friends only for his Ma & Pa to wisk him away to some Island in the Mediterranean before he can 'borrow that toy'

Next week looks like the most probable departure date. I have made a point of obtaining a copy of National Lampoons European Vacation for the good lady to view, hopefully it will contain good advice on travel plans!



A nervous glance to confirm lolly ownership!

Time is speeding by so quickly, half the things set out to achieve lie unattended and the mission of buying a car seems to be an unattainable task. There goes the European vacation complete with small child screaming. Nevermind! We tested the little lads mettle with a trip to St Ives in Cornwall. We are now acquainted with all service stations and lay-bys available on the A303 & A30!!

We are used to the rain in St Ives having been a break location with good friends for some time. This occassion was very different. No rain, no storms, hurricanes or flooding. TheO loved the beach but looked puzzled as to why the sea was SO cold! Much of his time was spent finding shells and developing a taste for chips. The journey back was fraught with the same fun and games, however this time it was not an overheating infant, but the car that went ON the boil!!



TheO admires some Cornish stone work!

We have left behind the clear blue seas and skies and swapped all this for the swamps of the UK. Fortunately, Surrey is pretty much unscathed but in any case, TheO did have his water-wings. The moderate temperature here is a pleasant escape to the baking heat of Malta which has been in the 40's, this and I look like a school boy in shorts!

The little lad has been loving the change, although as blondes are more common here, I think he misses the attention from passers by who he normally greets with a wave and a “Ciao” He particularly enjoys his Grandma's garden which see's him racing around, picking fruit (too early) and attempting to climb trees.

We have all planned to be here for about three/ four weeks, after which we plan to drive back over Europe in a new(ish) car. This has to be the reason for bringing the water-wings!!



Somebody's been scrumping...