addisabdabs-the first 24 hours !

Well we arrived safely after a night flight in which Freddie threw up, Charlotte's Tv screen didn't work, so My headphones were wrapped around my neck for most of the journey. Freddie wanted a wee when his food arrived and having dealt with that my reward was missing the food cart. Having managed to acost a friendly looking trolley dolly, Charlotte wanted to sleep on my shoulder! At that point, I downed my bottle of wine in one and gave up on the food. We then slept for about 2 hours. The captain, thinking we had had quite enough sleep, whacked on the (ambient!) lights and brought a chocolate muffin for breakfast. Yum.

Having not seen my sister and family for 6 months, I figured she would be as excited as we were to see each other. Alas, this was not the case and we arrived to be met by a hoarde of taxi drivers. My darling sister finally arrived, using the traffic as an excuse. Freddie got his own back and the chocolate muffin re-appeared all over the inside of my sisters newly cleaned car. I have to say that I am impressed at the way she handles her 'tank' on the roads here. She has finally reached her potential, driving on the wrong side of the road and is quietly assertive, and only a little disgruntled at not being able to use hand gestures.

The pool, it has to be said, is a little colder than the snow we left behind in horsforth, although I can recommend this as an antedote to jet lag. I decided I really should go in when Freddie was spluttering in the middle of the pool. And I looked generally pleased to see everybody. The children were very happy to go to bed, and sis and I used the time to catch up on 6 months photos washed down by a small glass of wine and a very large packet of Lays!

The boys have grown so much, and Freddie and Archie are getting on famously - each snitching on the other at regular intervals and Charlotte and Billy pretend to be shy but actually seem very glad to see each other. Watching the children play having so much freedom is fantastic!

Today, we have been to the Heritage village and out for lunch, well you have to do something whilst the maid is cleaning at home. I would have been embarrassed to stay in. Dawn, on the otherhand, seems very comfortable leaving a list. Apparantly, however, I have just been reprimanded and informed that she has spent most of her time ironing my childrens clothes. Okaaaaaay!

The highlights of the day have been the ducks the little ones were chasing, the rather sad looking camel and it would have been the beach that I am assured was there, but was obscured by the enduring sand storm that started last night. Dawn assures me this is very rare but I am beginning to believe she has got me here under false pretences. Now, as you can appreciate, looking after the children and shopping full time for a living is pretty hard going and for our efforts we are being rewarded with a pamper session this evening which will include a manicure, pedicure and possibly threading of the brows, so I could look very surprised in the morning.

Picked Billy up from school today and promise I will never complain about the 4x4's outside school at home again! I have not seen anything smaller than a 4x4 and they just stop where ever they want to, I have to say, crazy sister has adjusted remarkably well.