Vesper is the new Smurf

Ah yes, Germany. My abiding memories? Giraffes and tigers in Munich Zoo, the omnipresent scent of Kaffee mit Kuchen, the comfortable elegance of our lovely old hotel, sunset over the Starnbergersee, catching up with lovely family and the children's four-hourly meltdowns over mealtimes. Gah. Food that was close enough, but not close enough. Sausages? Pizza? Even, heaven help us, fish fingers in a Greek restaurant? Not like we have at home, so instead of eating I'll just scream, thanks all the same.

Home again, and the loveliness of visitors and excursions and NO LUNCHBOXES brought to a brutally abrupt end by the re-start of term. Gah again.

Beri's had an intermittently ghastly couple of days. Wednesday suppertime was supposed to include Jonathon and Cole. Cole, new to the country as well as to the school, I invited in spite of B's STRENUOUS objections, because I felt it was neighbourly. This pill was only sweetened by the proposed presence of Jonathon, one of B's best mates. Well, Best Mate's ma cancelled late Tuesday, and I chose to tell my poor son in the microsecond between his BIG head-on collision with Oliver (MAJOR ouchies), and the school bell ringing, that Jonathon couldn't come, but Cole still would. (In the event, it all went kind of OK - Cole spent a lot of time playing with Sid, who kept calling him 'Coral'.) And then today I forgot him in the playground, and was halfway home before I realised he wasn't there. Actually, someone else had to point this out to me. Cue hasty retrace of footsteps and a big hug for a small boy rather whiter and shakier than I found comfortable. (And a big slap on the wrist for writing about this before telling Jeremy.)

And tonight we enjoyed Quantum of Solace - not much dialogue, crazily inventive shoot-'em-ups, and an afterthought of a plot. Luckily Jeremy summed it all up with pinpoint accuracy.

'So, Vesper is the new Smurf, then.'