The good lady has decided to take off for a few days. This arranged 'downtime' has left me no choice but to wear an apron, talk to the neighbours and burn everything. The offspring have been slow on the uptake in realising the departure, but I expect the world of mediocre demands to end this evening as we play 'spot the difference'! TheO, I fear, will have the biggest problem! Despite telling him we are going to have a boys week where we will sit around, watch cartoons, drink lemonade and eat doughnuts. I'm sure he will recognise an opportunity for 'expenditure' when he sees one!

Current weather is fantastic with the sun shining more often than not and temperatures in the 20's. This has not however provided an influenza free environment, so coughs and colds continue to dispel any summertime apprehensions. TheO now very much into Pokemon, possibly the most overpriced pieces of plastic available, whilst Louyn is content to play with a shoebox for hours on end. Despite his older brothers love of the Crystal Bucket, his only interest is to turn it off, continually. A mild irritation when compared to removing a spikey Carvanhar (#318) from the soft part of your foot!



Two kids for a few days? a walk in the park...ahem!

I'm now on a formal warning for my lack of posting updates. Both boys irate that friends and relations have been unable to share their progress! I for one have had better employers but hang on to the hope that these two don't call in the receivers!



TheO practices his 100 yard dash!

The passing time since entry below has seen the elder start back at school and the younger stand up (and even take a few steps, although it seems he just can't be arsed to walk) Both have visited Valencia, Spain for a short break. TheO was completely taken with animated, life-size Dinosaurs at the City of Arts and Science and the Aquarium, Sharks and all!!


TheO currently taken with The Last Airbender and Karate lessons, Louyn totally uninterested by the tube, preferring to hang onto a parent.



Louyn adopting a sitting aproach to walking!

The end of August has signalled the end of Summer. This really only means that the're less tourists, that the tourist shops moan because there are less tourists but it's easier to get a sun-lounger on the beach!

Children are still not at school for another four weeks, Summer Clubs have had their closing shows. Distraught parents look harassed and worried at the prospect of entertaining their offspring for next few weeks. The beads of toil often confused with the result of high humidity. But it takes one to know one!

TheO has had an exceptional summer! Making significant progress in his swimming, even donning a mask with an excitable squeal to investigate the sea life! The local school summer club provided us a break and TheO with lessons in Karate and cooking amongst other stuff. An excellent diversion! It does however lay a precedent that will prove a tough act to follow!



TheO pretends his head is stuck!


Louyn Now at the year and quarter mark, is on the verge of walking. Standing upright at any opportunity and taking guided steps, it seems only imminent that he'll be racing round and accessing spaces that we had relaxed about. Despite not following his early pattern of rapid growth, his expansion seems more internal than in height, becoming formidably wriggly. Containing him for a 'change' has become like holding down Geoff Capes, if of course you ever wanted to try that!



A happy, smiling baby! rwt!!

The recent visit to the UK went well. The good lady completed her run round the park, a very excitable first born visited Legoland and the recent addition caught a virus halfway through the trip and moaned a lot! I managed to show face in an office that appeared sufficiently bemused at my very brief appearance, unsure if I was real or not. Must try harder!



LouTube!

Now back on the rock and hot! TheO missing the cooler British climate and his brief flirtations with his Cousin. After visiting the Science Museum, he has decided on a career as a scientist and has demanded that we set up his bedroom as a laboratory with test tubes 'and everything' We have ruled out any possible re-animations with dead things, steer him towards a career as an Alchemist!

Louyn now at 14 months and proving to be resilient to the world of viruses! Quickly recovering from a nasty cold, he has returned with a mischievous sense of humour, although I'm not sure I see the joke when dinner hits the deck with a humorous squeal and my nose gets pulled! He enjoys a good ruff 'n tumble with his older sibling who is unsure how to react with one so small! Donning his 'Lego' armour seems to be his only protection!!



hand over yer sweets Lou!

The hot humid blast furnace that is Summer is well and truly here. It all happened quite suddenly really with only a week from 'ok, I can live with this' to the now regular 'sod work, I'm off for a dip' Not sure the bank manager understands this ethos though!

The eldest is now free from the confines of daily nursery and is spending a week in Summer school. There appears to be no difference except that he can wear his own clothes and not the fascist uniform. This I think is the only change. They also swim and play water sports, although not sure what this entails. Drench the Teacher, soak the quiet girl or something I suppose.



Leave it to the Super Hero's to walk the dog!!

Louyn is happily chugging along. An excellent infant without the demands of his sibling. No interest in TV, only building and unravelling toilet rolls when given the opportunity. He also seems to be a darling of the Gharghur Mosquito community which has invoked a huge spend on systems to eliminate their presence. So far so good.



The Homesteaders...

The whole family is looking forward to a short break in the homeland. Whilst it demanded that I attend work, the good lady has plans for a fun filled trip. TheO can't wait to build a snowman eating a pizza despite our explanation that it won't be the same as last time (winter 09) I think that I will miss the deckchair terribly though!

Now firmly entrenched in a new residence, a sleepy hilltop village, life is not relaxed. Things are not quite what we were led to believe. First there was the Milk Festival, an event that took over a weekend, involved beer and wine tents, a food court and much music and dance. This was outside the front door. Next the visit by the Archbishop of Malta. The same provissions as previous, just that the only visitors that came were Nuns. The village celebrates it 400 years of having a church and these matters don't sit quietly with the locals!



TheO surfs the net

At this stage we have all just about managed to acclimatise to the bells. They start at 5am to let everybody know, its 5am. This continues every hour, on the hour until everybody gets the point, at which stage, it's time to get up. I now understand why it's called a sleepy village.

The boys loving the new space, with TheO inviting everybody to tea. He has also been rewarded with a pet Rabbit called Pumpkin. Being the national dish in Malta, I may well have an excuse when the fun & games of 'find the rabbit' and 'what goes in, must come out' exhaust me and my sense of national culture gets the better of me. Best have some white wine and Garlic in!



Nearly a whole year old!

The little'est lad celebrates his first birthday party at the weekend (5th June) and has invited some pals along for a knee's up and his Il-Quccija. Hopefully the beer and wine tents will come too, but perhaps without the clergy!