BLOG PART 1  Wednesday 25th April   The Guerins have been away for a fortnight. At some later stage we will be writing that we only have a fortnight to go; but that is a very very long way down the Spice Road!    Istanbul has changed since we were last here a decade ago and than sans children; Turks love children to the extent that our darlings both had bruised cheeks from the loving pinches from our newfound friends - 77 million of them to be exact. When it comes to children - especially blond ones - it is a hands-on society and it took us a little while to become accustomed to it, however it certainly opened many doors and made life easier. David spent the vast majority of our dozen days in this enticing city racing to complete a busy schedule at the ATC's Federation Annual Conference; whereby Camilla raced to a different schedule, trying to avoid cabin fever by keeping the kids entertained (day tours, playgrounds, hot chocolates, elma chi -Turkish apple tea- and the tulip festival). Thanks to Block for the spare 240V adapter. We are overwhelmed by the number of offers to come and stay with our Federation friends all over Europe - including looking after people's island homes in the Mediterranean. We will try to drop in and see as many of these kind people as we can but please accept our apologies if we run out of time or our itinerary doesn't pass your home. Speaking of which, we should make an itinerary soon.   Stuttgart, in Germany, is Babel fish for motor vehicle. The Porsche and Mercedes museums are here if you want something more exhilarating - this is motorhome central! After some disappointing moments - day 1 arrived at hotel with 100kgs of bags to find the online booking from OZ was a josh and every other room in town was taken, as we were lucky to have the years events squeezed into this weekend (included his royal bobness - Mr Bob Dylan). We were well looked after though by very kind German people and had a nice place to stay prior to a late dinner. If anyone in OZ lives near the Ratestogo office could they deliver a small but firm parcel from me!!.   So we have purchased our transport/accommodation/kitchen/enterta inment package - all in one. On Friday we take delivery of a McLouis Lagan 420 Motorhome which has is a 6 berth including bunks. These are very reliable and great value for money, Italian built vehicles. Matthias, our helpful salesman, assures me that McLouis is Italian for thrifty; he had this Ben Lawrance grin as he was said it. The details: built in 2004 and has done 51000kms; size: 6.8L, 2.2W, 3.1H and 3500 kgs; chassis is a Fiat Ducato 18 with a better than exhilarating 2.3L diesel. For those gifted in get up and go technology - 81kw/110PS should leave us all with the grin from the Nissan advert back home. (Back home??? - "Ozzie , Ozzie- where the heck is Ozzie"; sung in to the chorus from 'Living next door to Alice'. It seems a long way away already!). Not only do we have a blau polsterfarbe and a vehicle in 'tip and top condition good' but we have also purchased a printer to fulfil our home education and entertainment requirements. We are buying pushbikes on the weekend followed by a keyboard for the kids music and a guitar for the parents.  So it will have everything required for 230 days together. Fortunately, Dylan and Macayle and playing together exquisitely and this is making the holiday much easier. The same can be said for us parents.