Apples and Giraffes

We spent a morning at Fota and saw the giraffes, zebras, fed the ducks etc. There were lots of monkeys but none as animated as the ones we see at Supasave but the kids were happy to run around and play on the slides. Feeding the ducks were a big hit.

A neighbour of Donncha's parents kindly invited us down to her garden to collect cooking apples. Kids were very excited to do this as was Sitty. It brought me back to the orchard at my first boarding school Bedgebury where cooking apples actually tasted good!

Recovering from jetlag

After 24 hours travelling, we finally managed to arrive into Cork's spanking new Airport only to find that there we no trolleys available - Welcome to Ireland .......

Needless to say it's been a challanging couple of days with everyone coping or not coping with jetlag - worst offender so far has been Sitty !!!!

The kids have settled in well and are now very familiar with 'Rumah Grandad' and have reacquainted themselves with old friends.... hanging out with Ruari below
Ayden is enjoying the Irish Summer ......
Walking the dog ..... both Jack and Iman take turns ....

Iman appears to take a running jump at a slide

Jack is facinated with his dad's unshaven look - much like his uncles in Brunei

Day 1 and we head to see the Voyager of the Seas pulling to Cobh Harbour - impressive sight.... Iman was not impressed however as she fully expected the ship to sound it's horn !

Where we sported and played.....

Mostly packed and almost ready to go. Listening to Cork's 96fm would make you change your mind with talk of bullying etc on the streets of Cork but I much prefer to think of Cork as below.

So, it's Brunei, Dubai, London and finally Cork on Saturday morning

Two days before we fly.....

Guess I should really start packing. I'm very good at making lists before going on trips but usually leave the packing for the actual day which get's a bit confusing now that I have to pack for 5! I was just trying to upload pictures of our trip to Singapore but nothing is working for me at the moment so maybe another day.

Murphy's Law

Well, another American city, another long discussion with an immigration officer - from what he was saying, they are randomly checking newly issues passports (mine was issued late last year) and therefore I was selected randomly for further questioning.... hummm......

Surrounded by Blackberrys

So - we have a room full of executives from various parts of the world but mostly based in the US/Canada/Mexico - they all have one thing in common - each has a Blackberry that is constantly referred to for email or just out to sheer boredom (seems to me that most like to at least touch their Blackberry once every 5 minutes)

Feelling slightly technically inadequate but don't think it's something that I will take to any time soon. Not seeing much of the place so can't make too many observations regarding the city except that it's huge - probably has the population of Brunei in one square mile......

Pulled Over in LA

A new experience for the McCarthy suitcases - claiming residence in Brunei and having a visa for Saudi in your passport was probably pushing it, so sure enough, after a quick glance at my documents, I was advised that I would be required to answer a few extra questions by the US Customs. It was all pretty smooth despite them having difficulty in getting access to Brunei on their systems. There was also a confusing question re why I was using another passport from the one I used when I worked in the US back in 1998 (now that's an impressive search that was available at the gent's finger tips). Question was easily side swipped when I pointed out that my half full passport (current) was only issued in late December 2006.

No sign of Posh by the way ..........

A Day Off In Sydney

It's been a busy day in Sydney - dropped off the McCarthy suitcase at the hotel having skipped a queue of hundreds at the customs check - blame foot and mouth in the UK I was told ! Saw Sydney harbour, Opera House etc ..... muesli overlooking the ferry terminal before heading off to surprise Warwick and Janine at their shop...... Janine was there and we had coffee covering the latest news from BSB - it was lovely to see their business expanding into the arcade and we will start a petition in Brunei to move the Nail Girls on so the business can expand even futher - Sorry to have missed Warwick.....

Elmarie treated me to a whirlwind tour of Sydney - don't talk to her when she's driving as she get's lost but at least I've now driven over the Harbour Bridge...... followed by several liquid refreshments and a seafood chowder.....

Kevin Mac is looking as healthy as ever with the same response when asked 'So, what's the news' comes a standard reply of 'Not much now.....' and that after a few years on the missing list......

All that in the first 12 hours in Sydney - a place for tourists for sure but I think the McCarthy suitcases (with kids in tow) will probably head for Brisbane for more kid friendly activities should we come back.

Oh, by the way, it's a first, but I am the last of the McCarthy siblings to visit Sydney - now that says something...........

Our Little Scholar !

Potty Training hasn't really taken off for Jack as yet, but he's certainly showing that he's above his "Topsy and Tim" books