So here we are - back from hols now with a small mountain of photos to deal with. They will make it up soon-ish...hopefully... Basically they will arrive as I get round to it.

Been wearing my crazy shoes for a large part of the last month or so - sufficient to have a really strange tan line from them...They have been attracting some really unusual looks wherever I go and some very mixed reactions from amazing to hideous... there's no accounting for taste with some people eh? I can now go running in them - which is an amazing experience - it's like someone's attached springs to your heels to start with - but that feeling did come at a price - about 700m in my calves informed me that they weren't used to this and promptly seized solid.

Had to wend my way down to Devon last week for my grandmother's 90th - still going strong - seems once past a certain age people just keep going by sheer force of will... She's staying with us for the next week now which is all right in a no actual problem just mildly wearing kind of way. I do feel guilty about this because she really is a lovely person, it's just everything ahs to be a bit better presented, me, my language, food and while each time it isn't a problem, over two weeks it just gets a bit .. tiring you know?

Also went up to London on Wednesday - for to meet the Prince. Doing all those walks/community service paid off - got to pick up my D of E gold award from St James Palace from Prince Philip no less. I was mildly disappointed that he didn't say one of his characteristic lines - especially when it sounded like he would. He asked if anyone had done any part of their award abroad and someone else said they had done part in Madagascar and he responded " Hmm Madagascar .... very curious place..." I was so hoping for a little gem there... but it just wasn't to be...

Spent the afternoon/evening at the London HQ meet yesterday - soooo many people. Wore the crazy shoes there - not sure if some people will remember anything other than the crazy shoes but hey... they made a good start for a talking point. Genuinely amazing guys/gals so a big thanks for being there all of you and hope you all made it back to wherever you were going safely. Brilliantly I now have even more photos to sort through.. so please don't be offended if it takes me a while to get the shots of yesterday up - I will get it done ok? Also I will be adding people who I remember but if anyone thinks of anyone I might have forgotten please do comment and say!