And just like that, our small but mighty tour was over. We were flying home today, back to Derry, back to normality, back to Pippin. Finally, we actually managed hotel breakfast. Alexander enjoyed fruit and pain au chocolat like a tiny European toddler, while Anna and I went for some avocado and eggs with coffee and tea. Bags were packed, room checked, and we were out the door by 9am feeling unusually organised. One of the blessings of our hotel location was that Gloucester R

Happy Valentine’s Day to all who celebrate. I woke up to the most romantic surprise imaginable: Anna, not in her best state and vomiting. Nothing says enduring love like a good old vomit in a boutique hotel bathroom in South Kensington. In fairness, I’m blaming the tofu from the night before. Possibly the wine also contributed but mostly the tofu… The morning was slow. Anna and Alexander were not functioning at peak performance. While I cleaned up and got myself sorted, I als

We woke just before 7am, which in holiday terms now counts as a lie-in. Anna took over morning Wiggles duty while Sophie attempted her lie in as she was working from home today. Not sure it worked though with what can only be described as a background soundtrack of fruit salad and toddler footsteps. We said our goodbyes to Kyle and packed up our now somehow expanded backpacks. We left to meet Steven and his son Miles at the Botanic Gardens — except the Botanic Gardens didn’t

Alexander very much enjoyed the novelty of all three of us being in the same room overnight and decided that personal space was optional. At some point in the early hours he joined us in bed, diagonally, like a tiny starfish claiming territory. No complaints though, his smile made it all worth it! He was up at 5.45am. Naturally. Alexander and I enjoyed a solid couple of hours of The Wiggles before anyone else stirred. There’s something deeply calming about sitting in a quiet

Alexander’s third trip overseas where he potentially is ticking off all means of transport except for a boat. This week we’re on what can only be described as a UK tour: two days in Edinburgh, two in London, visiting friends who have never met Alexander in person! Although we now consider ourselves moderately experienced at travelling with a toddler, we still live by the motto: fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Every trip requires military-level planning disguised as “sure we