Michael's first day at school plus some bonding...

Michael tries out his new uniform....he looks cool!



One of my favourite 'Michael' expressions...

He is very proud of his school gear...

Through the Gates of Hell!! Good job Mum's holding his hand...

Ordeal over....back home, it's tea-time!!

Michael climbs into his brother, Richard's, cot...

Some gentle bonding ensues...

This is Michael's 'mean hombre' look...

They've spotted something.

Rub a Dub Dub!!

What I Did on my Summer Holidays...

Bring on the Fairport!!

At the end of June, First stop...Trev Wear's place, nr Anghouleme...I hadn't seen him for 38 years, but would have recognised him in Piccadilly Circus!!

Here's the place he's working on with his partner Fran....Hope the elbow's getting better!!

And the view from his back window....No comment!!

Wonderful to see you again Trev....and to meet you Fran!! Hope to see you again soon.

Onwards to Orleans.....to see Danielle....we havn't seen each other for twenty odd years. I look twenty five years older....she looks the same!!

Her pretty house in the pretty village of Donnery....

And....here she is!!

No No No!! This is her dog, Milou.... This is Danielle...

Thanks, Danielle...and greetings to Bernard, who races Norton twins!!

And so on to Blighty....first stop, the Municipal Golf Course in Southampton....the OLD Enemy Number 1....and Paul, the Old Enemy #2....

The golf was very good this summer....long may it continue...and please Lord, let me not lose that six iron again!!

Next stop....the Beatties of Hove!!

Here we are, Lyndy, Rob and myself...

....sitting below a wonderful painting, much admired by Lea.

This is Marion their second daughter, struck down by some variant of the flu in my last week....but who waved bravely at me through the porch-light....

She was wonderful in "A Winter's Tale'....

Good times also spent with my old friend, Ray Daguerre....no photo...my camera went AWOL.

I met up with Simon Williams again, after a few years. A lot has happened in both of our lives since then....including his daughter Leah, and my two boys!! We're Dads now!!

It was wonderful to see you again, Simon....I've ordered the book from Amazon....

On to Wiltshire....Helen and Richard....a picture of each, and a picture by each....

Richard and I had a nice lunchtime drink here, in Laycock...

I hadn't seen them in 2 years....we had a lovely time. Roll on September....you'll meet my boys ( I have TWO of them!!)

A hiatus....a week back in Madrid....then off to Southend to stay with Paul...

A quick visit to my sister in Aylesbury....and meeting her friend, Salah.....an Arsenal fan (he can have no idea what that means to me, COYS!!). I also had a fine round of golf with my brother, Ray, I played well....he not so much. The tables were turned over the snooker table later. We wound each other up, as we always do...but he knows I love him.

Most of the rest of the time was spent playing golf with Paul....whose Father, Joseph, passed away after a long illness.....

....and in buying this house from Boring Doug....It's two miles from Hamble and Burlesdon....and equidistant from Portsmouth and Southampton. It's 2 miles from the M27.

Here is a local pub....

....and the local waterfront...

Well that's about it, folks....so I'll have to stop here....suffice it to say that I thank EVERYONE for their marvellous company and hospitality....and I hope to see you all again soon...

Lea misses you all....and hopes you will meet our son ,Richard Daniel, soon....Oh, and my other son (I almost forgot!!). He's called......

........ Michael.

Like a duck to water....

Michael thinks he looks the bee's knees in his neoprene wetsuit...



Seems to work OK....

The pool is warming up....so the suit won't see many days' use...

But gies a great 'before' and 'after' shot.....

And Michael smiles thesmile that makes him look a lot like his Uncle Marco...

The Blue-Eyed Boy....

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This is my blue-eyed son- in whom I'm WELL pleased!!

He is not quite as entertaining as Michael just yet....BUT....he does have blue eyes!!

Just for a change....

....A few pictures of the garden!!

The putting green...


This was the first area we planted....the palm trees...where are they now?

Not exactly 'Hadrian's Wall'....but I built it.

I've never snapped it from this side....

It is really impressive in true life!!

Ajax make a new signing....

Football is the name of the game....

Michael makes himself comfortable for the photo-shoot...

"I said no more pictures, OK!"

Michael dances his way down the right flank...

But a horrendous tackle on Dad sees Michael receive his first red card, and leaves the field of play, suitably humbled.

Oh, well....there's always a 'non-contact' sport...!!

"I wish Dad would speed up these greens....it's playing havoc with my putting stroke...."

At Ajax, they encourage youngsters to have several hobbies...