Empty house

PAUL: Well, formal 1st UK visitors have returned to the UK and left a void which will only be filled when the next bunch join us in less than 10 days. Gonna miss having to only cook for two for a while I guess!

John and Nan Giselda joined us for two fun packed and significantly boozy two weeks and they seemed to have a pretty darn fine time. We did a bit of sightseeing but not too much and lots of drinking (approximately 1 litre of Gin lasted two days - Crikey). Been to the zoo and will return with Jacob in a couple of weeks. The place has Pandas and some extremely cool looking big cats. reckon they will get on just fine when I chuck one of the cats in the pen with them (I should probably disguise them with a sack or something, what do you think).

Got something special planned for Jacob when he comes but keeping it secret until he gets here so shhhh!. Apart from that we will continue to weed out the boring sights and identify the good stuff for each subsequent visit of family and friends. The Lincoln Memorial and reflecting pool remains one of the most breathtaking sights in the area so that stays on the schedule. Alexandria is pretty so keep that one in. The air and space museum were so good we joined the club...literally. We are Smithsonian members which gives us a few benefits which again we shall investigate over the next few months.

As one group of family disappears I returned to work and have seen the schedule for return to the UK over the next year and it is fewer than I hoped for. Still if I plan them right will still see the right people enough over the few trips back.

Missing the folks back home now that we have tasted the camaraderie of having them over here. I'm sure the feeling is mutual (nudge nudge). Getting really excited by the thought of having J here though so something to look forawrd too.

Getting a real ix of weather now. We've had some blinding hot days over 23 degrees (IN MARCH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD) and now we have some thunderstorms with torrential rain...cool.

Cats are getting used to the outside world. They go out for about 30 minutes and truly disappear in to the undergrowth out back. Then they come running back with fur standing on end like they have had a meeting with a 5 foot tall squirrel. Chaos still reckons she can take it though. Shes tough as old boots that one.

Loving every minute and miss you all

talk soon me peeps