We hadn't been to Rome for a dozen years and Macayle and Dylan had never visited even after weeks in Italy in our motorhome in 07 and a few holidays from Dublin to Bergamo and Sardinia. Again, Camilla found a fantastic apartment near the train station. Great people running it and part of the bee-hive accommodation services. First day was rainy and cold so the open top bus tour was the best option. Except that it was open top. Oh well. What a city. The weather imp...

Both Macayle and Dylan put in a sterling effort to achieve blue belt status. well done again.

Young son is now 11. We had a birthday party for him the evening before and then another one today at the Brisbane Science Museum; where the staff were brilliant.

We weren't sure where to go after our time in Ireland so checked out the destinations interactive map with Aer Lingus and looked for the furthest south to pick up the warm weather. We loved Sardinia back in 2010 so Sicily was our next Italian destination. After a week of relaxing, we caught the train to Rome. The night before we left Mount Etna erupted. What a view from the double level terrace on top of the apartment that Camilla had organised.

After fifteen months, we are back in Dublin for a month on holidays around Ireland. Welcome back to the land of 'would ye not be holidaying somewhere warm', 'no bother', 'grand', 'no problem', 'sure, what could go wrong' and ' you have more chance of dying between buying your lotto ticket and lasting four hours until the draw'. (last one is a true, undeniable, fact, supposedly!) The weather before we arrived was atrocious. We were lucky to get in at EIDW airport...