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 Road was on a...

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 also got Alexander...

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 open for another...