Full board and lodging

All in all, the boys didn't do too badly in Spain. Natalia and Veronika were happy to spend time with them and were wonderfully patient and sweet and generous all the time. The boys, recognising that they were getting the 6 star, de-luxe treatment, took full advantage.

A favourite was rally riding through the eucalptus grove in the wheelbarrow. The girls took turns and the boys were ferried and bumped about to their hearts' content.

Gregor soon saw the potential of the shopping basket.

Alastair made sure he got his quiet time too and just loved being gently swung to watch the world go by.....

....Mostly, this would have been anything from an over-ripe orange falling from the tree or Rosie the dog getting up to inspect the garden's perimeter. It was that laid-back.

They were read to.

And fed.

And bathed.

And given a glimpse of Veronika's ingenious character, as she helped Gregor make a bird feeder to hang on the tree.