Bohol, Philippines

Here are some snaps of an amazing time me and the kids just had in Mary's home country, and in fact Mary's home island in her home country. After a pretty tortuous trip - involving me getting kids to bed at 8 then waking them at 2230 for a flight to Manilla then Bohol, they were sleepy/grumpy etc. I ended up standing for a 4 hour flight as I held Ollie's nodding head and the other arm was wrapped round the other seat to stop Amy rolling off. Oh dear. So no sleep for one whole night for that trip.

But when we got there Mary was there to meet us at the airport, and then we're off. What a beautiful country and what wonderful people. We had such a nice time. We got the opportunity to meet with Mary's family and kids, who all got on so so well with Ollie and Amy. Lovely to see that.

We did a lovely lunch in Tagbilaran, capital of Bohol. trike rides to and from hotel (like a tuk tuk), days tours to looks at chocolate hills, smallest monkey in world, butterfly gardens (yes Yuko I did get some photos that I will send to you), dolphin spotting etc etc. Just lovely!

We all had such a nice time and I hope Mary rested and enjoyed herself too with her family.

So above are some sample snaps and videos of the fun time we had. I hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed being in them and taking them.

All our love Bri and the kids xxx

Some new pictures

So a very good freind comes to the house after I had had a bad night morning - in fact missed a client meeting, which luckily Ged was there to cover for me. He sees the huge canvass picture I just had done of the kids and we start chatting re it. I was mentioning that I was going to go to photographer but she was looking to charge $2k. It was then that Ged mentioned he dabbled in photography and that he'll book a studio and he'll take a few snaps of me and the kids, all artful like with black and white, including the clothes. So along we all pop yesterday and had a great 2 hours, we go to meet Ged's wife Susan and also another freind from work's kids. Great fun and then WOW look at the output - and Ged says he "dabbles". Crikey I think you'll agree the man is a professional!!!! I LOVE THESE PHOTOGRAPHS!!!!!!!!

Love them or Hate them?!?!?!?!?

Well love them or hate them, here is my newest addition. About 5 weeks in the making and a lot of pain, but I love the final result, my new half sleeve koi carp tattoo.

I apologise now to my Japanese family, don't worry no plans for becoming Yakuza, this is actually for sentimental reasons. Also for my Japanese family I hope you can read the writing, in fact on the wooden block is Mizuyo's hand-writing converted to a tattoo.

So for those that cannot read Japanese on the wooden block is Naoko (Ni's real name), on the bottom half in the water is Amy (she's the youngest so the lowest on the tattoo) and on the top in the water is Ollie. So I now have a life long memory of my family, including my beautiful wife, and the symbolisation of the koi swimming up stream is "love and prosperity" - what more could you wish for your family? Plus the koi and the water design is classic Japanese.

So again I have to say I love it, worth all the pain to have something with me for ever. I hope you all do too. In fact both mum's, English and Japanese, who are not avid tattoo lovers have sort of showed their appreciation - isn't that so ladies! And finally apologies to Naoko, I know you didn't want me to have one babe, but hey it is so nice, if you were here how could you not have loved it to!

6 months and still missing desperately

I've been having some terrible times lately without Nina. Just missing her like crazy. So about time I posted some thoughts of her and found this beautiful song by Seal - it says it all - "I'm still in love with you!" A really beautiful song, so please listen the lyrics it hits all my thoughts. Although I do believe this is a song about someone's current thoughts for someone alive. I only have memories to go back to.

But I am still crazy about the girl and wish at every opportunity that I could have her back - my love, my soul-mate, my best fried and the mother of my children. Naochan missing you terribly sweetheart. Need that hug and kiss you always promised me when I got back from travelling. Need it bad honey!

Because she's gorgeous

I really don't need to say much to this Blog as I think the song says it all, and I quote; "Because you're gorgeous I'll do anything for you, because you're gorgeous I know you'll get me through!" What more can I say, never a truer word said Amy Boo. Love Daddy xxxx

Here we go with  proud father moment for the wee man. Such a good boy, I promised I would do this for him. Lovely lovely Ollie - my best mate,  you make me so proud every day Ollie. Hope you all like this lovely little collage of him. Turn your head though to watch the robot dancing king! Love you mate - Daddy xxxx

Well What can I say. I go along to Ollie's final assembly in Year 2 Swallows with Amy and Mary. His teacher had said you must come, make sure you do. And whallop we get this - just an AMAZING show by Mr Kennett, he was hysterical and amazing acting skills - and then bang the whole class started this dance - it was amazing and I am delighted to share it with you all. I am so so proud of him, nearly a tear in my eye Ollie - you really made my day that day - thanks buddy. Loved every minute of it. I think also all the teachers and kids did as they have been asked to come back and do a repeat performance to the whole school - wow!

Well what a fantastic weekend. We had our very best friends from Melbourne join us last weekend and it was an amazing time. Boys, friends, kids and sun sets - beautiful beautiful times. Kath and Craig it was just so good to see you and to show you around our fair city here! I love the Amy photo Dani, who's ordering what there - you or Amy???? Amazing Mario and Lucca one week and you guys the next - just amazing! We really cannot thank you enough for coming to see us all. Let's hope we can and will return the visit favour soon. Love you guys Bri, Amy and Ollie xxxx

Now I thought Ollie was early with PC's and phones and stuff, well here comes the competition - yep they get younger and younger ha ha! Ni you would be proud - check out Amy and her older brother "helping" with lap-top etiquette, bless him.

I'm not sure if she'd get a job at IBM if she treats the lap-tops like that, but hey she's having fun.

Watch out Bill Gates, Amy is after you!!!!

And also poor little Ollie Skywalker, after a busy day battling in the Clone Wars every Jedi needs a rest. I did actually tell Oliver that Darth Vadar knew what he had for Christmas, Ollie asked how did he know - so I said "HE FELT YOUR PRESENCE!!!!" Ha Ha. Hope you like that one Ollie! Rest well Anickan!

Love Daddy