It’s an early start with the 0815 departure on Scoot. Looking bright and breezy at Changi, not…

So best have a livener – which is mandatory on any vacation, at the airport before departing. It’s like an unwritten code. Ahhhhh that’s better… I feel awake again now.

Here’s the plane part. Seat 1F AKA leg-room with my best friend for the trip AKA Netflix and the series Shooter.

Clearly sat on the right side of the plane again. As soon as the Captain announces we are about to start our descent it means we are right over Panglao – and there she is, home for the next 10 days – whoop whoop. Looking good gorgeous. Just by the 1st cloud (right to left) is the house with my Mary and the kids…

Landed at Cebu, dash through the shitty traffic to Pier 1 and jump aboard the fast ferry, in Business Class of course. A couple of cold San Migs please garcon. Salamat. Feeling good now, but finishing Shooter, MWAH!!!

Final leg now. Docked at the seaport, and loaded oneself into a tricycle and we’re off the home-stay #1, The Kew Hotel in Tagbilaran City. Nearly there gang…

Completely fooled Jude bless him. A fake knock and high-pitched “room service” shout. He answered and nearly fell over. “Daddy, you’re not here until tomorrow…” Bless he had been counting back from the five days I told him it would take me to get there to see him. Jhea has an extension too to be with us and I even get to see Maricel for a quick chat, hug and kiss. Awesome!!!

Dinner tonight had to be at Smoque. No Chef Raphael sadly to say hi too, but all the staff remembered us which was so so nice. Not sure re Jhea being happy about it though, maybe because I kept saying she has to sing for her dinner…

Wifey gets her favourite octopus dish fix. Happy wife, Happy life…

Very happy clearly…

A new dish for us today was the beef carpaccio. Really nice with the pickles Chef, maybe a little more seasoning though – being very critical ha ha. Very nice dish!

This was a stunner and again another new dish. Some new meat types on the menu – this was for Jude and he nearly ate the lot, I kid you not. This is the new Sirloin offering, whose origin I cannot remember and is not updated on their Facebook. Anyway if you go to dine here just order the yellow highlighted Sirloin offering. This is the puppy. It’s a stunner. Great work Chef. Mine and Jude’s favourite…

Seriously just have a look at that. What a stunning piece of meat and accompaniments. A deep unctuous gravy, poky chilli, and a really really good salsa Verdi. A wonderful choice from my 5-year-old! This goes on to our Smoque Food Spotify list as a major favourite.

But then I order another new one. The corn-beef brisket. This comes with a horseradish sauce too. Touch this and she falls apart. It’s salty, sweet, beefy goodness. I absolutely loved this dish. Chef Raphael this is a stunner and will be a re-order for me every time I come back. Whoever reads this and goes to eat at Smoque this is die die must try. Amaze-balls!!!

Slept now and it’s next day. Lunch it is for family Kennett and off to another favourite Gerarda’s. We choose the newer one (yes there are two) as the atmosphere is better here we feel as you have family tables with like 32 people chomping down. People watching and chitter chatter is awesome here. Love it. Oh yeah, and we need to look for some stones for the garden and visit the factory outlet and it is next to St Jude’s Hospital. So many reasons. Plus the food is awesome!

I think Jude is the testimony to that as he chews on a deep fried and dried beef rib with vinegar and soy dip. This is one of my favourite dishes at Gerardas – let me just say it is special. And, like Jude, I love it with the vinegar and soy dip – a whole new level…

A bit of shopping, a bit of this and that, and then it is dinner time. I espied this new joint on the way to dinner the night before at Smoque’s. It looks like a similar concept to Timbre and Bedok Marketplace that Ollie and I just conquered back in Singapore. It also, like Timbre, boated live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Locked in. I thought to get there early thinking it would be busy like Germans at a swimming pool trying to reserve tables. How wrong was I? Completely empty. Anyway, all good we got great seats, drinks and started to order food. Some advice if you come here, bring a fan or something as up to about 1900 it is bloody humid and hot… Phew. Liking it a lot though so far.

Love this place. This is unique for Bohol. Never have I seen such a place since I have been coming here for the last 9 years or so. It’s brilliant. A superb new concept delivered extremely well by the creative team who started it.

Lonely, every so lonely…

Whereas I am not… Woo Hoo…

Oh no. Jhea shows #1 daughter how to do eyeliner. It has begun. Jesus!!!

OK, it’s hotting up now – as in people and stuff. The actual temperature and humility have massively dropped. Of course, the cold San Migs help too. Bring it on live music!

And they bloody well did too. The 1st band went on for about 1.5 hours straight and the girls nailed it. They were superb. A picture paints 1,000 words, a video paints… So watch the link following. Superb work ladies.

My two girls having the time of their lives clearly. Jhea even managed to look up to 2 seconds for this photo…

Whilst on the other side of the table with the olds (and Jude) – we were loving it. Cold beer and live entertainment, bloody brilliant night. Thank you The Hideout. We will absolutely be coming back!!!

“I’m bored…” Sometimes this girl annoys me and really disappoints me with what she says. Poor Jhea goes home tomorrow and might not see her Mum for a few months, but Amy is bored. Buck your ideas up, young lady!!!

And then I look to the right at the next table mid-song from the amazing band. You have to be kidding me, ladies you truly have to be kidding me. Why bother coming to this event at all. You might have well stayed at home. You are not speaking to your friends. You are not listening to music. You are not even touching the food you ordered. It’s actually pathetic. Bloody hell. Like kids get searched in schools in the USA for guns because they are banned, how about banning mobiles next. OMG how about you four have a conversation, God forbid…

And the final snap for tonight. Wifey went and bought me a pint of Heineken. “Babes if you have three pints, you get a free t-shirt…” What did she think was going to happen…?