Danskcolin: Sunday July 27th 2025 "Say 'Hello' and 'Cheer up!' to that burrito-seller guy today, if you happen to see him!"

Did you see that story about the burrito-seller just down the road from Lois and me, here in rural, semi-leafy Liphook, Hampshire?

You must have seen it, if you live anywhere remotely-near (is that a phrase?) - [No! - Ed], if you live remotely near East Hampshire! It was literally "all over" page 94 of the local Onion News print edition this morning !!!!

Poor burrito-guy !!!! But he's staying up-beat, so a big "Kudos!", and a slap-on-the-back, to him from me and all the unsung "backroom boys" that work so hard to bring you this blog every day!

[You mean you actually get help producing this rubbish, Colin?" - Ed]

Well, airports are very much on the minds of my medium-to-hard-pressed wife Lois and me today, because in just a couple of days' time, our visitors - daughter Sarah, her husband Francis, and their adorable 12-year-old twins Lily and Jessica - will be jetting off back home to Perth, Australia, at the end of their 16-day stay with us at our home here in semi-leafy Liphook, Hampshire.

flashback to July 12th - we welcome our visitors - daughter Sarah, her husband Francis

and twins Lily and Jessica, after their 18-hour, non-stop flight from Perth, Australia

Their visit has gone so fast, and there are literally now only 2 full days left to enjoy their company. At the same time, Lois and I are pretty exhausted by it all now, so it'll be a bitter-sweet farewell on Tuesday morning, when our little "Australian" family drives off to London's Heathrow Airport for their long flight home to Australia.

Our little home here in Liphook will suddenly feel very quiet, when it's just Lois and me again, that's for sure, after we lose that constant, excited "babble" of voices that we've been enjoying so much for the last fortnight.

Lois and me having an Indian takeaway with our daughter Sarah

and family, to the accompaniment of an enjoyable

"babble of voices", which was nice!

Sarah and Francis naturally still sound the same as when they first left England for Australia in 2015 - Sarah just normal, i.e. "Standard Southern English" like Lois and me (!), and Francis with his heavy (!) "Posh Northern England General" tones.

The family has spent time in both England and Australia since 2015, and the girls are "bilingual" in British and Australian - they can do both accents fluently. And they can alternate quite easily between the two, just as if they can somehow flick a switch inside their heads, which is fun to observe.

(left) flashback to 2020 - the girls in the uniform of their private Catholic school,

in the wilds of Lower Chittering, Western Australia, and (right) in 2023,

in the uniform of their Church of England primary school, Alcester, Warwickshire, UK

I'm noticing, however, that they're sounding more Australian today, Sunday, no doubt because they're thinking more and more about going home to Perth and seeing their friends and classmates again. The giveaway is when Jessica calls to Lily - "LILLYYYYYY!!!!", using two "velarised" L-sounds, the so-called "dark" or "heavy" L-sound, as used widely in both Australia and the US.

Just saying haha !!!!!

These two days, today and tomorrow, will be precious to Lois and me, the doting grandparents, as we savour the magical presence of our little Australian family - who knows when we'll see them again, if at all - sob sob !!!!

And this Sunday morning, while their parents are busy with other things, Lois and I take the twins for a precious last trip to the nearby playground and a last walk through nearby Radford Park.

for Lois and me, the doting grandparents, a last precious visit with the twins to the local

playground and to nearby Radford Park - in 2 days' time the twins and their parents will be

jetting off from London's Heathrow Airport back home to Perth, Australia

And our Sunday evening today is further enlivened by a visit from our other daughter Alison, who lives near us in Headley, Hampshire, plus Ali's husband Edward and two of their teenage kids Rosalind (17) and Isaac (15). Rosalind and Isaac sit down in the back garden for a game of "Dixit" with the twins, and it's so nice for Lois and me to hear the laughter that generates between the four kids.

the kids settle down to a game of Dixit, with Sarah and Edward looking on,

and it's so marvellous for Lois and me to hear the laughter the game generates

between the four kids - (left to right) Isaac, Rosalind, Lily and Jessica

Then all ten of us sit down to a hearty meal, cooked by Lois and eaten by us in the back garden, an occasion slightly hijacked as news comes in that the England Women's Soccer Team is battling to win their Euro-tournament final against Spain, over in Basle, Switzerland.

a pleasant family meal, cooked by Lois and eaten by all 10 of us in the back garden,

a meal hijacked towards the end by then news coming in on Rosalind's phone,

that the England Women's Soccer Team had a chance to win the Euros tournament again

Later, we come inside the house and watch on our TV, Prince William, flanked by some lucky young "competition winner"!, presenting the cup to the victorious England women and their Dutch manager, which is a very nice end to a very nice day, which is nice!

[That's enough niceness! - Ed]