Busy, Busy, Busy Bees - The week has been all over us (like a fat kid on a cupcake...) We have in fact been flat out (like lizards drinking...) Thursday 7 July was Cleaning Day... and Friday became Cleaning Day Mark 2. Once all the chores were done we headed into Langkawi Parade for a movie... but as one of the Hari Raya holidays, it turns out the movie theatre was dark and shuttered. Either that or we were just too early. So instead we went to our fave Indian joint in Kuah for a vegetarian fiesta and a sweet lassi. We were there afterall. We did a spot of souvenir shopping, headed home for a feets-up and then it was out to the airport. Our first Air BnB guest arrived late Friday afternoon and we were there with a signboard to greet him. We take our role as hosts very seriously and drove him home via the scenic route (scenic ocean, scenic jungle, scenic monkeys - 'scenic once, 'scenic 100 times... but we still enjoy it). Dinner was easy for all as the night markets have only just now restarted after 5 weeks of holidays. Our guest was super happy and hunted noodles, chicken, dessert and a drink... about A$3 for his dinner. After prepping our guest's breakfast on Saturday we took off for a drive and tried going out to lunch. Sigh... A month of Ramadhan followed by 3 days of Hari Raya holidays... and still, some things are not open... ended up home for lunch. Luckily we keep a stash of food in the freezer for just such emergencies. Sunday came round pretty quick and before we knew it we had our guest and his luggage in the car and at 4 pm it was off to the airport. May not always be such a fun experience, but we now have a new friend in Barcelona - all good stuff. Speaking of friends, James has been making friends and influencing snails out in the garden... massive, fist sized snails that could lay waste to a cabbage plantation within minutes. Fairly sure they munch on coconuts here. Luckily snail is not a particular delicacy for us - so about 5 massive snails were relocated into a suitable garden spot and don't have to live in fear of a close encounter with garlic and butter. Thankfully our guest was safely gone before the massive spider turned up hanging on the wall over the dining table. What a weekend for creepy, crawly, slithery things. Brrrrr. After farewelling our guest on Sunday, we were well and truly ready for Rest Day Monday. We stocked up on petrol for the lawnmower, explored a waterfall in our neighbourhood, took the sheets to the Dobi (laundry - 2 x king sheets, 2 x pillow slips, 4 bath towels and tea-towels... A$7 odd / €5). We love our laundry lady - all came back 24 hours later sweet, clean, dry and folded. Bless. We nipped to the night market at Ulu Melaka and caught up with our Malaysian friends sisters Ekin and Azar. And had our first 50 cent burger since the start of Ramadhan. Bliss. Trouble was no chicken satay lady... Arrgh! Tuesday saw Ekin, Azar, her 4 children and their mum come for a visit which was fun and utterly exhausting since I spent at least 3 hours straight in the pool teaching folks to swim. All good fun and by the time they left we hit the night market again and were finally rewarded with satay sticks just in time for Joan's arrival from Australia tomorrow. Before we knew it, we were up bright and early and off to the airport (this is our third airport drive in six days - becoming very easy). It was wonderful to see Joan when she arrived at 8.30 am - it's been 18 months since we saw her in Ireland for James's 50th birthday and great fun all round to see her. We took her home via the big round-the-island drive and it was exciting once we arrived home to open our imported goodies - a replacement Kindle for me, new shoes for James, assorted clothes, mail, electronics and of course, the best contraband of all, enough Vegemite until we slide into Australia again in March/April 2017. Late afternoon we picked up mangoes from a street-side stall, visited the Batik Village and eventually went for a swim at Tanjung Rhu Beach. Phew! Been a huge week all round - and so much more to see and do during Joan's stay. Not least of which we found out today we have guests arriving for the inaugural beach-house stay - 5 nights from this Friday. There you go, for those of you who think this is a lark... we do have our busy times you know!