Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts. My Papa was buried on the Saturday before we arrived. It was a huge funeral so i am glad that we didn't try to do it on the back of jet-lag. It has been great to spend time with my mum and nana and the rest of the family. My Papa was an amazing man who was obviousy extremely well loved by the community. The comments in the book of condolences all reflect a man who was always happy and ready to help anyone with anything.

Our flights went reasonably well. Ethan was in heaven with DVDs, chocolate and Roo and Dodo (his dummy). Immy was not so happy and had a couple of really high fevers. Everything was fairly smooth until we got to the zoo that is Heathrow. Aer Lingus sent a 100 grumpy northern irish people on a wild goose chase around the airport looking for the right gate. We could see it the other side of a glass corridor but couldn't get into it. Very irritating and one step too far for ethan who was having to walk the whole way.

We have a busy schedule lined up here. We are off to Bangor this weekend to stay with my brother and see my dad. Marion and Eddie are joining us on Sunday night and staying with us at my mum's. Then they will accompany us to bristol where we have lots of things to sort out with the Bristol flat - including possibly shipping a few things that have been languishing in the vaults since we left.