Back in Buenos Aires for the final few days of the Royal Mother In Law Visit and it's a non-stop round of touristy treats. We went to achingly trendy Palermo, visited the recently opened Evita Museum and took in a great tango show in the basement of the famous 150 year old Café Tortoni before going back to Recoleta to visit the craft market that's held there every weekend. It's a cornucopia of old tat, delicious gorgeousness, Argentinean souvenirs and oddities, so well worth a visit. Brian trailed behind us glumly, all too aware that he was yet again missing some important game involving Tottenham as we twittered and dithered over fripperies.

I was pick-pocketed a few weeks ago and so lost all my cash and credit cards (not to mention my antique driving licence, now I'll have to get one with a photo on, darnit). Luckily Mrs. O'T brought some salvation with her in the shape of a new credit card, so I at least have the opportunity to buy gorgeous things in large stores. But, unfortunately I no longer have any access to cash, apart from hanging around Brian at the cash machine and looking pitiful, which I've noted seems to be working quite well. As a result, Brian is feeling the pinch. Not only do I not have any money his mother is reluctant to carry any either, so as chief Bag-man the last couple of weeks has been very tough on him. Sue and I sail along, regally, pointing at objects and Brian follows in our wake throwing pesos at taxis, ice-cream vendors, waiters and the like, looking more and more grief-stricken by the day. I know draconian economical measures will be introduced as soon as Sue goes home and I will have to start turning off lights and ordering the cheapest dish on the menu, just like poor people. We may even have to start sharing our bath-water and sleeping on the landing. gulp.

On Sue's last night we went to the Opera to see La Boheme, with Dolores, who we met on the estancia, and Jacqui, who works for David and is a National Treasure - not only does she speak great English she is a Champion Fixer and we would find it hard to get a lot of things done in Argentina if it wasn't for her. We sat in a box (this was before the Draconian Measures kicked in) and enjoyed behaving like toffs who know something about opera, when the truth is we only knew what we'd googled the night before.

Our front door has been playing up - it keeps sticking and Brian keeps attempting various measures to sort it out, none of which has a lasting effect. On our arrival back at the apartment from the opera, once again the door was hard to open. Sue had the solution - 'You should try putting some UB40 on that' she sagely advised. Sadly we were completely out of 1980's reggae bands who no doubt between them would have come up with a solution.

And so we sadly waved goodbye to Sue as she set off back to Ireland and Bri has padlocked his dog-eared and exhausted wallet and declared further Spanish lessons to be in order. Groan. This week, preterite and past imperfect verbs are to be learnt. Now if I only knew what they were……