Tue 8 May 2007
this must be the place
Posted by bon under milestone stuff, stuff stuff
[18] Comments
home.
weary world travellers three, but home…and happy. and one of us is getting molars, which is an activity better done in the comfort of one’s own bed, methinks.
lessons learned? they are legion, i’m sure, but in my addled state i can boil them down to a simple triad: one, i could’ve packed less. Oscar would have been happy with two or three books and a couple of the ten toys we dragged all over hell’s half acre. the new environments and places to explore were excitement enough for him, and a plastic airline cup is waaaay cooler than the crap mummy had stuffed in her bag anyway. two, i should’ve stressed less. i know better. no matter how many phone calls you make or policies you read, you can never really tell when an individual airline employee is going to choose to be generous and helpful or otherwise (and you know who you are, oh ye cruel Easyjet snotbag whore, may you rot in your bad makeup). in the end, if you get there, it’s all good… and we got there. and in the process, i got to know my son a little better. that was lesson number three – that i learned what a cool kid Oscar is. so he’s not wild about being confined to laps against his will, true, but he’s sociable, and adaptable, and patient, and curious, and just plain gorgeous to explore the world with.
(i also learned – or at least finally processed – a few things about myself in the frustrating moments of the journey, now that i think about it…but i’ll save those for another post, less light and more focused than this one).
in the meantime…a photo essay of Oscar’s European tour.
first, in London, wee baby Sherlock paid a visit to 221 B Baker Street…

and played Templar of the stroller set at Temple Church

then on to Praha…but first a little wine for the flight
hanging with Daddy outside a potraviny in Prague

and downtown with the cool kids

crossing the Charles Bridge, half asleep

trying his first lemon at a sidewalk cafe

O finds a car just his size
back in London, we checked out Tower Bridge

and the ancient Roman wall
and found some fine lads to kick about with

and a lady love to picnic with at the market. i think she ovulated, there was so much cooing. Oscar is still pining.

it was a fine, fine journey, and good to lift my wings. but it is good, too, be home.
so…what’s been up with you?




May 8th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
You know, you’ve been very sensitive with your posts about your trip, keeping my envy levels in check, allowing me to tell myself that I was really WISE never to leave home for the last three years… And then you published those photos.
I WANT TO GO TO LONDON!!! Waaaaah!
May 8th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Oh. And. You are too gorgeous to even be true.
May 8th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Wow, it looks like you had a marvellous time, despite the few minor setbacks. Oscar is darling, and I must agree with bubandpie’s assessment of you too :-) Welcome back!
May 8th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Fab pictures, you are all three gorgeous, and the sunglasses one is priceless!
May 8th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
We took Monkey to Belgium when he was but 6 weeks old. You are a smartie to have brought the stroller with pneumatic wheels, my dear! I wish I’d known to do that.
I think we get to see ourselves in a totally different light when we travel. Not so much because of the difference of culture, but more because of the absence of regularity.
Welcome home :)
May 8th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Glad to see you got home safe and sound. I miss you all. OK, mostly I miss that fine young man of yours :)
The day you flew home, there was an article in the press (ok, Grazia) called “Why flashpacking is the new backpacking,” about visiting old haunts from younger days, replete with flashbacks, but with luggage not dufflebags, and with credit cards. Thought of how our younger selves would have laughed at that.
And he is, without a doubt, a gorgeous and confident little traveller, one who can darken my door anyday.
May 8th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Welcome back! The photos say it all, it looks like a wonderful trip! London is a great place and those pictures made me miss it even more! What a cutie Oscar is!
P.S. Isn’t the lesson learned everytime “PACK LESS!”, and yet…
May 8th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
OK, so bon, what’s up with you being a Geena Davis lookalike?
I’m quite jealous. As if the trip overseas weren’t enough.
Pout.
And the pictures of O. on Baker Street and by the little yellow car are AWESOME.
Welcome home.
May 8th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Looks like a great trip. Mmmmm….lemons.
May 8th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
I am glad your trip went so well. Of course, I am completely jealous.
Oscar is getting so big. Oh my god, he looks like a toddler.
May 8th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
Ooh, I love love love the pic of O at Baker St and with the little yellow mini. I so wish Swee’pea had been walking when we were in South Africa… pics with strollers just don’t have the same cuteness factor as a wee toddler seeing the sights all by his big kid self.
Welcome back!
May 9th, 2007 at 12:22 am
That pic of O and the car is priceless!
Glad you’re home…I missed you. :o)
May 9th, 2007 at 3:38 am
damn, you guys are gorgeous. wow.
and double wow. i so love travelling. glad everyone is safe and happy.
May 9th, 2007 at 7:19 am
What a lovely trip! Great pictures. We’ve been to Prague a few times and I have a fond place in my heart for the city. My parents are going there next week, after hearing our stories for so many years.
Welcome back.
May 9th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Wow great pics — you are indeed a gorgeous family. Looks like an excellent trip! Glad you are back safe and sound…
May 9th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Great Pictures! Looks like you had a good time.
Welcome back.
May 10th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Nice one Bon. Am I ever jelous! You suck. Would love some more photos if they’re on offer though, god O is such a little cutie.
May 23rd, 2007 at 3:23 am
Looks amazing.. I am scared to death of our on again off again European vacation plans next year… Have you inspired me?
(and thanks for stopping by my place this morning)