No sympathy, but when I staggered into the hotel looking like a drowned rat I did raise a laugh or two. I'd only gone out in a light drizzle to get some cigarettes but the skies opened - further proof that cigs are bad for you.

Aslemma. Hope you are having a super holiday meeting up with all the friends you've made in Tunisia. I also hope you are wearing sandals with non slip soles for this trip (sorry)! Be good and enjoy!

I also hope you are wearing sandals with non slip soles for this trip

And a life-jacket

Only kidding, have a great time

Good job Aslemma's thick skinned?

Good job Aslemma's thick skinned?

If I wasn't I wouldn't have survived so long Jimmy. Anyway, if I couldn't take it I shouldn't dish it out and I have some good friends on here (at least I hope they're my friends). I know you've got your laptop with you Jimmy so I hope you and Anne have a good holiday. Sending you a PM.

(at least I hope they're my friends)

Oh no she is back

Only kidding, It's good to see you back I hope you had a great problem free time in Tunisia, how was the hotel? I look forward to hearing all about it.

Enjoy your holiday Jimmy and Anne, you are not missing much frosty mornings and rainy afternoons

I would like to introduce you to, well I was going to say my but I suppose I had better include gran so our first Grandchild, Lucy.

Lucy was born yesterday and weighed 7lbs14oz and she is just under 2hrs old in the picture.

Congratulations, Kiltman. Lucy is beautiful and will probably be very spoiled by her grandad, knowing how dads and grandads are with their little girls. The best of being grandparents is that you have more time to enjoy the babies than you had when your own were little, so to yourself and Mrs Kiltie enjoy every moment of it. Welcome to the world, baby Lucy!

Thanks digby, allegedly she has me smitten already

and what a great feeling that is ............congratulations on becoming grandparents

Sincere congratulations! Make the most of those precious early years. Jennynx

Many congratulations to you all. Lucy will bring you great happiness and the best thing is you can spoil your grandchildren with a clear conscience. xx

congratulations on becoming grandparents lucy is beautiful have you signed her up to ht yet xx

oh my favourite place tunsisa been ther e3 times and goin back next may i hope, told my hubbie i want to stay in every hotel in port el kantanoui stayed in the sovia twice loved it , stayed in el mourdi club hotel , loved it , goin to stay in royal kenzi next door to the sovia in may loved the marina and the market could walk round there all day. there hot chocolate in cafe facing the sovia hotel ... sorry cant remember its name now is to die for lol

On behalf of Anne and myself,may we add our congratulations on the birth of your grandchild Kiltman. And to mum and dad and Granny.
Lucy is a "bonnie bairn"

Jim & Anne

Thanks Jimmy & Anne

Good to see you enjoyed your visit to the Abou Sofiane once again, I hope Anne enjoyed the warm weather

Not idle talk but very serious problems. I don't know how much you know about the situation in Tunisia as there has been very little on the news here, just mention about the curfew in Tunis but believe me, the situation is dire. It started in Sidi Bou Zid just before Christmas and the riots have now spread to other areas. Someone signed me up to Support for Tunisia on FB yesterday and when I got home there were over 250 messages in my in-box. I still haven't had time to read them all and now I have 370 messages! Censorship has always been fairly strong there and only recently news has been getting out. A friend who I met on HT some years ago is moving to Tunis with her Tunisian husband and two children on Saturday and is seriously worried, as they is all packed. I am not due back in Sousse until 18th March and unless the FO advise against it I still hope to go, though if my family pick up on the situation there I will undoubtedly have a battle on my hands.

To follow up on this situation I have just recieved this from a friend who stays in Tunisia -

We are in Tunisia and yes there have been riots in many places protest about the lack of work and high food prices. Generally it is the young who have been demonstrating and the young who have been burning private property etc. The troops and police opened fire as a response to being stoned by the demos. 2 teens have set fire to themselves and 30? 50? killed by troops. If you did not demo you were not at risk
last night the president Ben Ali announced that censorship would end - internet and media free and open - food prices down - all political prisoners released - work would be made available and he would go in 2014. Now is the testing time ´all peaceful whilst people see if his word is good.

Also take a look at this New York Times report for more information.

Now the situation in Tunisia is abviously changing all the time and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has now ADVISED AGAINST ALL BUT ESSENTIAL TRAVEL TO TUNISIA.

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/middle-east-north-africa/tunisia/

Graham