Bushey Golf Club Ladies Invitational Tournament.  Lady Captain Suzanne,  Consort John (taking the photos on the tee),  and “best grip” Malcolm (holding John’s camera bag!),  were all on duty. The twinnies teed off first  ..and then disappeared down the fairway (nice photograph John!) talking nineteen to the dozen I can imagine!Understand it was a super day, but unfortunately no trophies for the girls!

Off to Italy with Becky, James and Alexander for 5 super days of wining and dining, and meeting all James aunts, uncles and cousins (and showing off Alexander of course! Alex always available for food! and trying watermelon for the first time. Time for a nap so Nonna Martinelli works her magic!Meanwhile the girls play “thoughts & crosses” becky’s new game and the boys get a card school going! Off out for the local Saints Day celebration.Then a visit to Carlo’s sisters home .. I wonder why Becky’s looking so pleased with herself!!!Back home for a dip in the pool when the sun finally shone! Out for lunch overlooking the Tuscan hills! Alexander with a very proud Nonno Martinelli.and one final shot of Alex looking very pleased with himself at his latest “look no hands” trick.A fabulous “family” time in a beautiful part of Italy - Thanks Carlo and Caroline.

Sometimes even the most mundane objects make fun toys … like Dianne’s wash baskets!.. or even an old cardboard box. unmistakenly Megan!.. then there’s always cake-making with Mummy!.. making dens is the new game in town - so Muzzies play-house was a bit of a hit over the Bunts kitchen table!including very smart windows!and finally a quick rendition of “she’ll be coming round the mountain” with the stick horses!!… life doesn’t get much better!!

Just a few odds & bobs I found on my phone… Here’s Evie “working” and pulling her latest silly face.For really important work assignments, however, she puts on her collared shirt and turns to pen and paper…Relaxing to a favorite CD at the end of a busy day of work… Evie likes to pull up a chair and sit right in front of the CD player to really listen.Big bed, little girl.

If there’s a hammock in the house, you can count on Evie to find it. And hide in it so she doesn’t have to share…Who me, hog the hammock? Never!

Evie loves her little apron from Muzzy — especially the fact that she can fit a little book and a little Elmo in the front pocket while she cooks. Though I’m not sure what Health & Safety would say to the rest of the outfit (nappy + winter crocs + apron = ready to cook in Evie’s book).

Judith (my niece), Richard Alex & Ross over in UK for a visit from Perth, Stayed with us in Oxford for a few days  and the weather was great - well actually they thought it a bit chilly but we were sweating!  Eating outside but no prawns on the Barbie I’m afraid! A little bit of competition crept in!! The boys played cricket on our sloping lawn and neither Christian …… or I could shift Alex. (I’m sure my arm was a bit higher in my prime!)Then after dinner, lit the chiminea and on with the darts against the garage door ..Various style employed .. Richard definitely showing signs of a misspent youth Hannah looking very stylish and even my Mum joined in! The girls (Mum, Dianne, Judith, and Hannah) beat the boys (Me, Richard, Alex and Ross) on consecutive nights and the undoubted star was Judith here showing proof of an impressive 66 checkout (treble 8, single ten, double 16) PS Note the Simpsons dart board which was the only one available in Toys R Us!! Decided we needed reinforcements so called in James Martinelli next day … didn’t help! Meanwhile Megan up to mischief as usual! and the excitement was obviously all a bit much for Alexander.Next day off punting with Hannah and Chloe (Definitely a good decision not to try and take Megan along!!) Punted up to the Viccy Arms for a pint and then back again Richard seemed to get the hang of it quite quickly ..Variable success for the girls. Hannah pretty good .. Judith very calm at first .. but then just a few problems! Then a detour on the way home for a bit of go-karting … Looking very relaxed before the race, with the inevitable good looking woman getting in the picture!! Boys and their toys getting ready. and then the final pose on the podium. Fastest lap to Richard but definitely the most spectacular crashes for Alex and Ross!A really super visit, and now I’m trying to work out if there’s anyway I can justify returning the visit in time for the 3rd Ashes Test at the WACA in December!

Just another day hanging out at the beach — this time in the cabana at the Bel Air Bay Club. Evie shows off her old cowboy hat and her new Indian-style boots. She picked these out herself at Old Navy — she wouldn’t even take them off to pay for them! So Rob just had to rip off the tag and take that up to the till.

We found out today that we have to be here in L.A. for another few months, until the end of November — yes, you heard it here first: exclusive breaking news on QO! — so Evie and I decided to dig in and confirm our status as beach bunnies. Today’s trip was to the Annenberg Beach Club to meet up with the newly arrived Alicia, Jack and Sam. Not a bad day to be outside, as you can see…Evie was so excited to see Jack and Sam.The three of them entertained themselves for hours — literally! — on the beach while Alicia and I sunned ourselves.Evie would pause every now and then to point out a particularly note-worthy rock (and Jack and Sam were very patient later on when they were playing catch and she continued to show them each rock she found, causing them to pause their game):Snack time back at the pool. Tough life being the Bean…Lounging in the middle of a workday is hilarious!This is Jack and Sam waiting for Evie to finish her snack so she can come play with them again.Evie in the thick of things — and yes, moments after this photo was taken, the ball — not surprisingly — went plunging into the pool, just as everyone was all clean and dressed ready for dinner!We then drove over to Santa Monica to meet Steve & Rob — still in their suits — for dinner. Alicia’s and my verdict: So far, being WhoSay wives is a lot more fun than being Pump wives!