Jonathan Tullett

Went on a glass bottom boat and then snorkeling for a few hours. Exhausting, but lots of fun. We even had Zachary in the sea off the back of the boat at one point!

We had to snorkel in shifts – one on the boat, making sure Zachary doesn’t fall in, and the one looking at the fishes – but it worked out ok. We were taken to a protected (by the government) coral reef, and were allowed to float around looking at all sorts of pretty things.

At one point while I was out, a shoal of fish swim through where we were, and one of them came into contact with my fingers, it was great :)

Emma got very lucky while out and saw a nurse shark. Well, she think she saw it, she was looking in its general direction (according to the guide who was out with her), but as she didn’t have her glasses in, she wasn’t entirely sure…

We returned in the middle of the afternoon and headed straight out for the pool. Zachary made friends with a few of kids, and before long, all four were jumping between the poolside bar stools. At this point other adults were also helping watch the group, so we were able to do some adult chatting.

Candy and Kristen came to join us. Candy got seriously burned yesterday and her shoulders had blistered. Thankfully, the bar was in the shade, so she was a happy girlie. They’re leaving tomorrow, so after they’d taken some pictures of us all, we bade them farewell and off they went.

Within five minutes of them leaving, one of the adults who’d been playing with the kids forced a beer into my hands. It’s a tough life :)

After another meal at the Veranda restaurant, we came back to the room. Zachary was asleep by 9pm; we’ll be following shortly.

Another two full days until we head back. *sigh*

Limited drinking yesterday resulted in an easier night for us. My alarm woke me at 3am to go and set down the towels. Just as I was setting up, someone else walked past me, I think it was staff rather than another keen holiday maker.

I received a call on my mobile at around 6am, I rushed to answer it, but in just after a ring, the person hung up, I guess it was someone from the UK calling who noticed the foreign ring tone and hung up. I thought for a moment that it was Continental calling about our luggage, so after breakfast I threw £2.50 into the meter and called the baggage claim dept via the soft-phone on my laptop. They’ve still not found the luggage. I’m no longer surprised, and I’m getting to the stage where I wonder if they’ll ever find it. This is quite a depressing thought. Even though the clothes are replaceable, Emma’s jewelery isn’t. We’ll tackle this further when we return to the UK.

Another day by the pool was in order. We’d chosen a great sun hut which had a constant breeze running through it, and it was far enough away from the pool bar to not see much traffic- ideal, really.

While Zachary spent most of his time in the pool, I ventured seaward, where the winds and tides have resulted in some great waves for catching and body-surfing to shore. Some were around 2 meters in height!

Kristen and Candy, the girls we met yesterday (it’s Candy who has the 69 tattoo on her back), came and sat with us for the afternoon. We’ve still not been able to convince them to baby sit for us yet, but there’s still time.

In the middle of the afternoon, Zachary got sun cream in his eye. We’d told him loads of times not to touch the cream, but he did, and then he cried. He cried and cried until we left the pool, and then some more; for about 3 hours in total. Poor kid.

Once he’d calmed down we headed for dinner. Unfortunately, I’m ashamed to say that I totally lost my temper with Zachary just after we’d sat down. The background:

Zachary’s continually not doing as he’s told. By continually, I mean just that – anything we ask him to do, he doesn’t do. I’ve lost count of the number of times he’s ignored our calls and gone running into a road.

After a difficult day with him, where he’s run towards to pool, cried about coming to the breach, screamed and kicked when we’ve asked him to come off the beach, he ran away in the restaurant. I called him, at least 3 times (as I always do), but he continued to ignore me. I followed him as he was trying to run back into the hotel. I grabbed him by the shoulder, turned him around and told him that he’s to listen to me when I call him.

At this point he went to collapse onto the floor sobbing. I held him up and asked for him to stand. He refused. I asked again. He refused. We did that routine one last time before I screamed at him that he will do as he is told. Emma then came up and took over, while I went off. I was so very angry.

I have _never_ felt that angry towards Zachary before. It was a full on rage, and it was the first time I’ve felt like I would have smacked him if it had continued. And hard.

I don’t disagree with disciplining children that way completely, but I don’t agree with it in most instances that I see it being meted out. Today has shown me just how it’s possible for your own child to push your buttons in a way that would make you consider hurting them.

I’ve calmed down mostly now, though thinking about this incident again has made my shoulders go all tense. I really hope Zachary’s picked up on some of the emotion of this evening so we don’t have another day of trauma again.

Emma also got badly sunburned again today. Crazy English people :)

Watched the St Trinian’s remake this evening, immensely enjoyable, and fed my fetish for hot girls in school uniforms, winner all round I think.

Even earlier start to the day today – 00:49 to be exact, after the diarohea fairy paid me a visit. As soon as I had finished roughly, 45 minutes later, Emma started, though she’d been cursed by the vomiting fairy too. Two immodium instants later, and I was able to get back to sleep. I’m not sure what time Emma ventured back.

Undisturbed by the night’s events, Mr Sweetness & Light woke at 7 and helpfully opened the curtains to bathe us in glorious sunlight. We were unimpressed.

During breakfast I discovered that Emma doesn’t appreciate it being suggested that she should get less sympathy for her being sick as it was entirely self inflicted due to alcohol abuse the previous day. Mental note made.

Zachary was enthralled by the dolphins. Well, I think he was enthralled, it was hard to tell over the cries of ‘I want to get out’ (due to the water temperature – who knew dolphins liked things cold?!) We had requisite photographs taken of being kissed by the said mammal, which we were then able to purchase later, along with the video footage, for a measly £30 – I wish I could run a business like that on such a shoe string!

Upon returning to the hotel, we want for a swim. There were a couple of girls who Zachary chatted up sitting at the pool bar, and we spent a while talking to them. I was going to ask the brunette why she had ‘69′ tattooed on her back, but before I did, Emma let me know that she thought it was an astrological sign. There was me thinking that she’d taken the meaning of ‘tramp stamp’ to a whole new level!

Zachary made it to bed early tonight – 8pm, his earliest this entire holiday – so we’re going to watch some TV. It’s been a good day.

A fairly bad start to the day – up at 3am to put out the towels and the people below were having some kind of party. Two complaints to the reception later, and the music died enough for me to get to sleep.

Booked two adventures: river ride, glass bottom boat and snorkeling for Monday, and tomorrow we’re going to swim with dolphins.

Z woke at 7am, had breakfast and went to the pool.

Z did very well, jumping and swimming up to 3m, lots of going under the water. Loads of drink consumed.

Hate at the open air restaurant near the pool. Had hotdogs.

Z fell asleep in the shaded hut again for a few hours. Meanwhile, Emma read and I played in the sea.

Woke at 3am to put the towels and a few other personal belongings by the pool. Walking by the sea at that time is wonderful, you only hear the sounds of the crashing waves. I could easy fall asleep. I hold off until I get back to the room.

Amusing moment of the morning came when Emma chased Zachary out of the bathroom and he tried to run onto the balcony. Unfortunately the sliding doors were closed and he ran splat into them. Are we bad parents for laughing?

Another day by the pool. This time with t-shirts to cover our burned bits (in addition to sun cream.).

All in, Zachary spent around 6 hours swimming with one or both of us. He is getting more confident, though I notice more so when only one of us is in the pool with him.

Met an English couple, from Chingford, this afternoon, our first since leaving the UK on the 14th. It makes a nice change to hear a familiar accent.

Ate at the Veranda restaurant again, had steak. Was yum.