Monday 7 September

Time is flying by, we are into our last few days here. No swimming this morning but after breakfast we all went out. We went to Singapore Airlines to confirm our flights home and to book a ticket and a bassinet for Alex. The staff were so nice, really helpful. It is incredibly hot today so whilst in the airline offices we made up his bottle and actually fed him in there whilst Dennis was making the arrangements. They even do a weaning meal for him how neat is that.

After sorting all that out we went past the lake and back to Nagu, the teddy bear shop. His was ready, it is beautiful and unique. It was gift wrapped and everything. We took a gentle stroll back to the apartments where we got more supplies and then went to the Highland coffee - a bit like Starbucks, well alot like Starbucks for coffee and drinks as Master McCarthy was fast asleep.

An American guy chatted to us for a while, he had his 1 year old little girl with him. They have been here for about a month and will be here for the next 4 years. By the time they go home, his little girl will know no different. As we came back upstairs we said that this is a sign of things to come. Being talked to by other people with children for no other reason that that - a new world of friends will open up for us and him.

I made a note to myself today - I noticed that both my boys just happened to be in clothes by John Rocha whilst mum was dressed in Dunnes specials! By the way that is not going to be a regular occurrence - designer clothes I mean. Please see today's picture for the latest in Little John Rocha!

When we logged in to check emails etc. Alex had received his first email - Singapore Airlines emailed him to confirm his booking! The first of many I suppose.

Both are feeling much better, still not right though so as they napped I got a taxi to the Real Stamp Shop and collected the carved stone stamps that we had ordered and then walked to the Silk shop and collected my clothes. I strolled back to the apartments - it is too hot to do anything else. When I arrived I found 1 boy running up and down the apartment holding on to daddy's hands and the other boy with his legs crossed - desperate for a pee - he hadn't been able to leave him alone. Something else we'll have to get used to.

The rest of the evening was quite uneventful - dinner, bath and bed - room service for us and bed by 9.00.

He sleeps till around 12 then wakes for a bottle and then sleeps again till 6.00. and this seems to be the only part of his "schedule" that has remained. Everything else seems to differ almost daily.

Tuesday 8 September

Today at around 7.00ish we went swimming. There was a South African family, mum, dad and 2 boys in the pool and Alex was fascinated by all of the jumping in, splashing and hilarity of it all. One of the other dad's then joined Dennis, and I kept on doing my lengths.

His breakfast was around 8.15, Dennis showered whilst this happened and then entertained him whilst it was my turn. Alex napped while we had breakfast in the restaurant which was very decent of him! He woke at the end in time for some mashed banana. After breakfast we went to the foyer, some more people were just about to embark on their journey to Lang Son. Some families who left very recently had given us a bag of clothes that they wanted us to pass onto the orphanage, so we gave them to the two Helping Hands representatives. Playing was then the order of the morning, bit of a stroll round the pool area and a chat with one of the other families followed by his lunch. Everything was a bit later today so he had no mid morning nap. Mmmm - not such a good idea - it took ages for him to go down after lunch and he wasn't a happy chap. For the first time I was also trying to get 40 winks - maybe he knew. Mind you one hour later he was wide awake and raring to go. May be this evening we might chance the restaurant!

As I write daddy is on playtime duty, one's a builder and the other is becoming a demolition expert - I'll leave it to you to make up your own mind as to who is who.