Happy New Year. 2006, what a year this is going to be! What a day I've had today. Jeez. AM saw me in the heart of Valletta sorting out Car Insurance. One can't really expect the seamless nature of similar business transactions in the UK, but this? It was classic. Can I get a cover note, no, not done in Malta. I have to go into the office, sit in front of some work experience trainee for two hours asking me stupid questions and replying to mine with stupid answers. 'So am I covered?' I foolishly ask…

Next call is The British High Commission in Ta Xbiex. It's not open for an hour so we go and have a coffee. Are you eating lunch? We are asked, just a snack or dessert we reply, OK we are told. Waitress comes to take our order, what no lunch, sorry, you have to have lunch, blah blah blah. We are told to leave as the table is booked for lunch, ha.

The good news. We get into the High Commission and told that the Baby will be British and have a British passport of it's own, a Maltese one if required. Lunch however may be more of a problem.

New year went well. Intoxicated by 11. Elvis seemed to be a prominent feature of my evening, strangely. He sang in New Year and then invited the entire entourage of the good ladies family to a VIP 'do' he was involved in. Excellent! I thought Elvis had died ages ago! I quickly discovered this 'do' was an open bar, dinner and dance without the dinner. This was when things went fuzzy. Elvis and myself left the building. One of us in a Limousine, the other escorted by my father in law as a taxi driver. I leave it to you to guess the arrangements!



Elvis sings in the New Year 2006, he's my last recollection of '05 & yes, he is 'that' Uncle!!

I flew into London on Friday night for a quick visit. I knew this was going to be a good trip when I arrived to find that there were no trains, no buses and walking to Guildford was not really an option. Fortunately there is always someone, in some small office, somewhere in Corydon, waiting for a chance call from some Muppet who can't get a lift. I was that Muppet, Hugo was that chancer! I found his artic snowstorm/ blizzard dandruff off-putting, but, credit to Hugo, he got me to Guildford for 40 quid at twelve o'clock at night.

The weekend was spent getting over the first opportunity to greet excess. I was like a dog of a leash. I took full advantage of my position to visit some great chums on Saturday night. Fantastic food. Really! I would be hard pressed to do better, fantastic wine, and many a laugh. Thanks you two!

All I have with me is this picture of the wife to remind me of my imminent fate. I have not had a laugh with 'Photoshop' and there are no 'special effects'. I post this image knowing that when I return in a day or two, the blog of life is going to going to need a new chapter. I have therefore decided to stay in town and meet up with a few more chums. squeek squeek


The good lady @ 35 weeks, very sorry to see me go...

I have been trying to adjust. Really I have. The first week was spent altering my time clock from sitting in traffic in Warrick Avenue to sitting in the still warm, crystal clear waters of Golden Bay. Going from £2.50 a pound to 50p a pound for fresh Tuna, farmed just off Comino. Contemplating my finances as I try to fit in work, to fund this 'typical' Mediterranean lifestyle, and come to terms with the 'I don't like work' ethic!!

Our London life arrived in a box, picked up from a warehouse south of the island. I convinced the father-in-law that my Ikea desk was in fact an Airfix kit, but with screws and wooden bits to hold it all together. He of course still believes to this moment they forgot to pack the wings. Also in this batch of cartons are some shelves. Not quite sure on the work around to get these put up, but will try to integrate with the 'missing' wings story. Other vital items with this consignment were the Bugaboo Frog, best left for assembly later,and a summer Parasol for much later as this too requires some minor effort. Finally, two very large boxes of 'stuff' arrived. Quite what I'm going to do with this I don't know as they really are not into car boot sales over here.


An IKEA aeroplane with wings!!

Jnr is now 27 weeks. At a recent scan we were told again jnr has long thigh bones. I think that means a tall baby!? Have also been attending ante-natal classes at St Lukes *(see below) I enjoyed it today as they showed a decent horror film. Lots of panting and people being opened up. I was told to pay attention.