Well, it's that time of year again and we’re now preparing to leave 'our’ island for a couple of months. We hear that the weather has not been too kind, and we hope it’ll be better when we get there.

It’s been totally manic and hectic here the last few weeks, and dare I say, somewhat posh . Once gain we went to that ‘world famous’ competition called, "I Love My Ram", and yes, you read it quite correctly. A competition to find the most beautiful male goat! And while there, who do you think we bumped into? Yes.... none other than our illustrious Prime Minister. NO! Not David Cameron, Cleggy or Obama! No...., but the real deal, none other than Sarah Westcott-Williams. Yes. The lady that runs it all over here. And I must tell you that she’s universally very well liked as well; something not all politicians can claim to be. So as is our want... yes if you must... we’ll have our picture taken with you, but do you remember we had it taken here the same time last year as well? So now for those of you in the big smoke, (London, New York etc.) how’s this for a really cool Prime minister having her picture taken with us!... Hope you like it. And while in Gran Case, we were spotted by some film crew making a video. The main guy was someone called 'General Blanchy' (never even heard of him), but apparently he's a big Rap Star in the USA . So naturally had our picture taken with him as well.

So not to be outdone, we ended up in the actual Governors office. Yes, he’s the guy who is the Netherlands Queens personal representative. And somewhere I have miss filed the photo. But as soon as I find it will publish it.

So now we’re back in the Channel Islands, on the island of Jersey where Mum lives. In fact, we arrived just in time to see the ‘Battle of the Flowers’. In all the years we’ve been coming here, this is the first time we’ve actually seen it. So now we can actually tell you about the differences between the Carnivals around the world. There are three we’ve been to;..... Venice, St Maarten, and now Jersey, and how different they all are. The Carnival in Venice takes you back to the romantic age of those wonderful ball gowns; women coyly hiding their faces behind masks; everything so sedate; with that wonderful Vivaldi music gently wafting across St Marks Square; and everyone being taken back to the mid 18^th Century . The Carnival in St Maarten is just so totally different. Costumes being made as skimpily as possible showing masses of nubile flesh; the dancers gyrating as sexily as they can; to deafening Caribbean music you can hear coming at least four hundred yards away; with everyone knowing it’s here and it’s now!; as they parade down the narrow main street in Philipsburg the Dutch Capital.

So now on to Jersey. I think everyone has heard of the Battle of the Flowers so we had really good tickets sitting opposite the main stand. And then it all started with the military band leading it off. Let me take you back a day or so before it all starts. Volunteers get together and work to a set plan whereby they get some sort of large lorry and start decorating it ALL OVER with flowers. Actually to the extent that it’s quite impossible to see the vehicle at all. So now I’m going to let the video’s do all the talking. Please click on the pictures which turn into short videos and you’ll see exactly what I mean . Hope you like them.

There are different awards for various categories of floats. Such as best paper flowers..... most humorous float.... Smallest float and Wallace & Grommit won that one hands down. And would you believe it, the Cinderella float stopped right on front of us and Prince Charming went down on one knee offering his Cinderella a small box; and yes, it was a public proposal of marriage.... and right in front of us. Well, to say she was surprised was the understatement of the year, immediately bursting into tears of rapturous joy. Then the local radio came along to get them on so that all the island could join in their celebration. Well done to them.  

So in a few days time we’re back in London for the marriage of our son Alex to Andrea before setting off to the middle east. With what’s going on in that region, it should be exciting.... to say the least!