A very happy family outside our Villa #2. Our very own little home in a hotel. A beautiful sound sleep. Just divine.

My gorgeous gang on our way to a rather delicious brekkie. This is the top bit by the reception of the hotel. This is where they have rooms that access straight to the pool. Yes, Uber cool. It has a pool bar. You then drop down a layer where the villas are and there is yet another very large pool and pool bar. Both of these levels are for hotel residents only. Then drop another level and there is a monster pool with pool bar and the beach-front. Now, this level can be used by the public if they have purchased a wrist-band for the pool/showers, or are just using the beach as long as eating and drinking at the restaurants. It really is one of the biggest swimming pool complexes in a hotel that I have seen

Brekkie over and walking back to the villa through the gardens to get changed to swimwear. But where is Jude? Is he in this photo?

There’s Wally!!! Sorry, there’s Jude.

See, I was on this vacation. And yes, I am loving every minute.

And the beautiful gang of course. Living the dream, just living the dream. Lovely photo too.

Time to test that water. If we had a sauna in the villa I would get the plunge pool temperature. Man oh man – need to break the ice on this first according to Strawberry Blonde. Big softy she is.

Looks. like she is walking on water, or jumping out of water due to the cold? You make your choice. Jude seems fine with it. Also, I live that big green hat Jude is wearing today. It’s awesome.

Love seeing the kids having fun together. Happy families, happy Mummy and Daddy.

It sure is a tough old life in the Philippines. #it’sfuninthephilippines

Jude looking very much like a swimwear Harry Potter on a metal Nimbus 5,000 broomstick being saved by his Filipino teacher, whilst Amy pretends, not to be a potter, but rather to be a sea otter.

I just smile and giggle when I see photos like this. What do they say, laughter is the best medicine? Well, I just took my medicine and I am feeling great.

Jude is very in touch with his feminine side today. Even practising what it is like to be pregnant whilst swimming. Very thoughtful Jude, your future wife will be very proud of you.

Lazy Philippines days…

The gang go back to get dry and change before late lunch and then BOOM. The heavens literally opened. Look at that rain on the pool, shows you how hard it was coming down.

This storm rocked. Check it out. But it lasted no more than 30 minutes, and it was back to sunshine. Micro-storm on steroids. A really big boomy storm. Loved it. Massive dip in Melanoma for about 30 minutes.

Off to lunch @ the competition today @ Amorita Resort to see YanYan hopefully. Wifey has organised a covert mission for him. On his paid for by guests of Amorita snorkelling trip, she has tasked him to go diving for Uni, sea urchin. We waited for ages for him to return, and he finally did but empty-handed. Why? Because his Korean guests wanted to eat the fresh Uni on the boat. Wifey lucked-out today, mwah!!!!

OK, some food shots from lunch from one of my Top 10 eateries on Bohol. We dine for lunch at one of our favourites, Saffron. It is quality, and where our mate Chef Raph now at Smoque used to be Head Chef. Small world’s right. Here is Amy’s drink, mango float. I will be doing a separate food blog for this fine dining today. Incredible lunch.

Happy campers, hell yes. How many times have we been here now? Loads and loads. In fact 10 years ago this was the 1st hotel I had ever stayed in in the Philippines. A VERY long time ago now. Amy was a baby, and Jude was not even a thought.

Even the butter is food porn. Tomato butter in fact.

Amy goes hard for fish n chips with curry tartar sauce.

I go for a Vietnamese Pho. I am keeping you foodies in suspense as nothing more than a headline. You’ll have to read the other blog on Islifearecipe.net for individual lunch blog and also the Top 10 restaurants in Bohol blog.

Wifey gets her seafood fix with the stuffed BBQ squid. Now that looks amazing, does it not?

Massive favour pulled from the amazing staff here at Amorita. I stole a little side-dish of bacon jam (not supposed to be with this dish I ordered). I just had to try it. This came with my melted cheese Chorizo Fundido with grilled bread. Fark me, did I choose well or what?

It’s a really nice space here at Saffron @ Amorita Resort Panglao

I had an ‘old moment’ and left my wallet at the villa. So my buddy and I had to scamper back to the villa to grab it and then rejoin the ladies so we could pay for lunch. Whoopsy. Gave me some time though to take a couple of nice snaps on the way.

A lovely one of my two bears overlooking the imply stunning Alona Beach at near sunset. How beautiful is that? WOW!!!

“I may be old now, but that does not mean I am not fun. Right, Jude?” I asked. “AHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!” said Jude.

Due to delay for waiting for no sea urchins, it was late when we left, yes so late that the sun was going down fast and we’re moving to sunset time. Bell was not allowed in this photo and Jude did not want to be in it – hence the blur of Jude grabbing the bear to run away and hide somewhere under a rock.

Now that’s better. A stunner of my girls (minus Jhea, but soon to change) with the stunning Alona Beach behind them. How can you not love the Philippines? The people and the place are just (saying it again) stunning! 10 years ago there were no resorts, it was all dive shacks and pizza bars, and loads of smoke rising from the palm trees from the fires.

All changed and showered back at the villa (a 10-minute walk between location A and B) and out for dinner. Does eating ever end? Nope! “Love you, Mum,” said Jude. “Did you clean your teeth properly?” said Mum.

So very happy. Now behind us is a 200-strong Russian corporation beach party which is KICKING OFF big-time. This went on until the wee hours and didn’t stop even when it was raining. They’re crazy those Russians.

Here’s those crazy Russians – all night long!

Yes, we ate a shed load AGAIN. Air-dried beef, pasta, burgers, chips and nachos. Food coma constantly here.