Hong Kong, France, Italy, England: Cropredy (Oxfordshire)

Today - BISCESTER VILLAGE! The long-awaited, much promised shopping trip for the girls. Biscester Village is on the way back down to London, about half an hour from Lu's and the best way to describe it, is a very posh version of DFO in Australia. And - as luck would have it, Millie's boyfriend Lyndon is a security guard there, and he very kindly organised a 'valid for one day' VIP shopping discount card, on top of the already discounted prices. So the girls and I headed for Ralph Lauren Children, while Tobes found himself in Gucci and managed to walk away ('scuse the pun) with a pair of beautiful penny loafers for (almost) an eigth of their original RRP. Success all round - I bought a gorgeous dress, which is about a size too small for me (ie. a dress I should be able to wear now), and which I plan to be able to fit into by Summer.....watch this space

The girls got a few bits and pieces each, as did Millie, and then Tobes treated us all to lunch at Antonio Carluccio's restaurant. A bit more shopping, then the girls went home with Millie briefly (her new home in Bicester, with Lyndon) to check out her tortoise, Mr T, and Tobes and I headed back to Cropredy, via Banbury and a trip to Tescos. Millie came back with the girls and spent hours with them doing their nails (very patient!).

The girls and I went into Spider's studio to watch him organise some of his pieces in the kiln, for firing and then at 6:30pm guests started to arrive for Spider's birthday-eve drinks. Lots of fun, and another very late night.