Well, we’re back, having had a great time. I really miss the early morning and late evening dips in the pool though not so much the sustained, unremitting heat blasting down from dawn to dusk. England appear to be winning the cricket, which is extraordinary.

Well, we got back last night, after a long and tedious flight, incorporating a crappy meal and two films I won’t be buying on DVD. We were glad to find Liv waiting for us with his trusty carriage to whisk us home. Seychelles was fun, and it’s a mite chilly here by comparison, but it’s good to be back. The garden looks happy and it’s sheer bliss not to have to slide into a bedful of sand in an oily body. Also the relative peace of a dogfree night is delightful. I do miss the swimming, though.

Maybe that’s the answer. Or else fly to France after that Saturday’s work, arriving just in time for the reception!

Must fly; I have to meet Mama at the bus stop.

Web access here on Praslin is limited. In a hut across the road from here is a goon charging a ridiculous sum for nothing. When I made the mistake of going there, the computer I was allocated had two downloads going on at the same time. I scarpered quickly, but he still demanded his blunt. “Here” is the Post Office, with its familiar 28 modem.

Liv, have you looked into broadband yet? I’m thinking of quitting NTL, using 18866 and others for phone calls, and having ‘always on’. Is this possible in Barnham?

We’ve discovered the severe mosquito problem at Mamie’s may be a by product of her rain water catchment tank, which she swears by for washing clothes. Mama and I had an exchange of words before I was allowed to pull the bung out and watch all the larvae drain away. I’m sure there are fewer mossies already!

Well, it’s hot and steamy here, with many irritating mosquitoes; but still pleasant enough. Mamie is well and flapping around getting herself ready for France. Mama has swollen ankles and obviously can’t hack this climate but she refuses to admit 30 degrees here is far more debilitating than 30 degrees in England, which is what it has been according to the news. Our first nights were frankly hellish, what with lying in supporating pools of sweat n’ sand. Every small shift I made for the sake of momentary comfort was followed by an hour of manic perspiration. that, compounded with an insane dog just outside out window, who started howling on the slightest pretext, made for sleepless times. We’ve just about got used to it now.

I’m back in the Otherland swing, amazed at the fecundity of the guy’s imagination. So many different strands, so many ideas. Staggering.

Cheers for the texts about n’Bob, Liv. I’m on Mahe at the moment, and for some reason I can receive texts but not send them.

I’m running out of time already. Got to go and see a Big Cheese about the land. Bye.

Mine was certainly crap, given that I misunderstood the ‘one size fits all’ catchphrase. However, I live in expectation rather than hope that ‘Nine silent ones n’ Bob’ will scoop honours elsewhere.