Firstly, thank you to all those who contributed and made this holiday for the kids a reality.  Just 24 hours into our trip and we can tell you it was far easier to raise the money than to control the kids.  They are all hyped up, excited and having a blast. Their first flight on a plane was a huge experience both for them and for us to see such happy faces on children.  Who needs solar power with LED lighting when you have these kids’ faces lit up in such a manner?  The Airmalta flight was a smooth short flight of just 1hr 30 min.  

As we flew over Malta one of the kids shouted “who said Malta was so small?  Look how big it is. Look how many house there are”.  Once over Sicily it was mentioned to one of  the kids that we are now over ‘Sqalijja’, who then did not stop talking about how much he knew about ‘Hal-Lija’.  Once landed, the Airmalta Captain allowed them all into the cockpit.  They could not believe all the switches and buttons as they called them.  It was just a 5 minute drive to our apartments in Cavtat and we quickly dropped our luggages and went down to the beach.  This was their first swim of the year. In the evening it was the old city of Dubrovnik whilst today it’s Montenegro and kids are rearing to go.

Day2.Montenegro.
So many kids, so many different characters, but all full of energy.  You’d think the kids would not tolerate a two hour bus ride however they kept themselves well entertained playing and singing “you are my sunshine”.Give them the beautiful coast of Montenegro or the remotest place in Timbuctoo.  You will get the same question from the kids.  “Have we arrived yet?” “When are we going swimming?”.  It was another great day for the kids.  Number one item on the list is always swimming, only to be topped occasionally by ” I am hungry” or “I am thirsty”. Back at the base in the evening. It was an early night, especially for the girls. The boys managed to get in a few pillow fights before they were out of battery. Then bliss!!! The quiet and stillness of the night, a time to rest and recharge for the next day. That’s today. Guess what’s on the agenda? Kids will love it……… A day on another beach.

Day 3 Farm

Today it was a quick visit to a farm where the kids got to enjoy a bit of the green countryside and see some domestic animals including a ride on a pony.  Kept the kids occupied for a couple of hours running in the fields and picking farmers fruits, from wherever they could find them.
The troops where eventually rallied up and off to the beach we went. We do have some friendly advice…. whenever you are on a sandy beach or in the water with a platoon of kids…. Never ever, under no circumstances lift a child up and throw him in the air to enjoy a short flight into the water.

Why? You will suddenly have the whole platoon stick to you like a bunch of octopus climbing all over you from all over the place shouting “Me next! Me next!”
Be warned, there is a price to pay.  One bad night with one massive bad back. The rest of the day was back at the barracks, kids playing hide and seek, catch and the most of simple and entertaining games.  In the evening it was the same. It is now becoming a routine …………..girls coloring and boys pillow fighting.

Today it’s more of the same.

Day4. Scrapbook

In the morning because of a business meeting, Christine was left alone with the sisters to handle the kids.  That gave her double work, though she did a good job in getting all the kids to work on their personal scrapbook of the holiday. The Kids were so proud of their work that they wanted them judged and rated. Obviously they all got maximum points; however this didn’t stop personal criticism by the kids on each other’s work. The afternoon was more of the same.  Swimming.   Then returning back to our apartment and the usual games of hide and seek and catch. Although I must admit the kids took a fancy to our iPad, which quickly became the center of entertainment.
Unlike the natural games that have been handed down from generation to generation, this tablet quickly became a useful tool of bribery which quickly put any kid in line. Then the evening bliss and a good night’s sleep since tomorrow we have to wake up early for our long drive to Medugorje.

Day 5.  Medugorje

Quite a packed eventful day, full of highs and lows. We were not sure if we were going to get across the border and we were running late as we had a congregation of people waiting to celebrate mass at 9.30 in Maltese. We were in constant contact with them as they followed our whereabouts km by km. We eventually got there at approximately 10.15am after the congregation waited 45 minutes for us to arrive.  It was a nice way to start the day. Two kids were chosen by the priest as altar boys.  Never saw such obedience … the priest must have pulled of some special prayers out of his cape.  After mass. we picked up our guide who gave us a quick tour and explanation of Medugorje of which some of the kids were very much interested, whilst others where quite definitely not.  We then attempted to climb apparition hill which was very challenging in the midday heat together with the kids.  However, we made it all the way to the top and back down again for a quick lunch and some shopping.  Kids where given 5 Euros each to shop and they were buzzing in and out of shops amazed how they would get their toy and money back and could do it all over again with the change. They were adorable which won them many free gifts from some of the shop owners. We missed half of the speech by Jacob (one of the visionaries) as it took us ages to rally all the troops.  Eventually it was back on the bus for the long drive back ‘home’.  Kids got up to some arguments in the evening but this was quickly settled and the bliss of the stillness night was once again upon us.

Day6 Kids find Paradise!
Today its ’addio’ plans. We were supposed to go to Omis for a very long drive packed with calculated adventure however the kids have a habit of scrutinising your plans, getting a crayon and marking them with one big cross and writing the words “SWIMMING”.  So that what’s on the agenda today.
What a day it was at Cavtat beach!  As soon as we arrived, kids saw the Water Park and were dying to all go on it as they were seeing kids climbing and jumping in the distance.  But cunning ‘adult’ makes a plan.  We shall go after lunch; depending on the behavior… Kids have a better plan.  “I am hungry, I am hungry. When are we going to eat?” So compromise comes along.  We rented a paddling boat with a slide on it, which was quickly invaded by the platoon who did not stop exploring every corner of this small floating toy.  “I want to drive! I want to control it. Look at me jump”.  Mr. Adult quickly figured out that the best thing for him to do was to stay in the water and hold the boat allowing the kids to believe they were sailing it all over the place, which allowed us to help those kids having difficulty to get back on again.
Then it was lunch.  This time the adults have learned.  Do not ask a platoon of kids “what do you want to eat?”.  Just tell them ‘Everyone Burgers’.

Lunch was devoured before we could say “and chips”.  Then zoom all off the tables and to the edge of the water shouting “Water Park”.
So it was off to the water park.  Kids were in heaven.  So much so that even adults where all over this challenging floating park.  This went on for the rest of the afternoon.  Then it was payback time for kids.  Since it was so hard for them to get on this park and had to wait all day, they made sure it was gonna be hard for them to be taken off it.  So you can imagine chasing kids trying to climb up the parts and slip in the water to catch them.  Trying to keep a serious face as you feel yourself slowly slipping down into the deep waters. Splash!!!. Children laughing and jumping up and down, it’s now become a game of ‘catch’ for them.  Somehow General Adult manages to rally them together, only to the gloomy faces as now, adult has become a spoiler of fun.  On the bus and back home it was quick wash and back out again for a drive to Dubrovnik Old City and a ride up and down the mountain on the cable car. Followed by the entertainment in the old city and later an ice-cream.  Again we can try to explain what it’s like trying to order ice creams for the kids and explain the same order to  the non-English speaking counter sales woman.  “What flavour do you want?” comes the question to one of the kids and a hundred flavors comes back from the whole platoon.   Then it’s trying to stay focused with the sales woman as one by one the voices of flavors shouting out from the mouths of the kids is reduced until the last one is repeating.  Me Chocolate! Me Chocolate!!!’.  Then silence. All busy eating and showing off their ice-creams to each other.  Back at our apartment it was a welcomed good night hug to the kids waiting for that beautiful adult time. The bliss of the silent night. Then knocked out cold till the light of the next day.

Day7 Last Day
Last Day. Yes we have plans, but there are kids involved and they all have a crayons in their hands waiting to cross off our plans once again and let us know what THEIR plans are.   In the morning it was scrapbook time as Christine gathered all the kids to update their Holiday Scrapbooks. That kept them quite busy for a couple of hours followed by the preparation of the ‘thank you’ cards to those people that made this holiday possible.  Kids loved all the hand painting. One by one each participated in the preparation of these cards. No points for guessing were the kids wanted to go.  So being their holiday, we went to the beach one last time. They enjoyed the swings on the grass by the beach until their lunch was being prepared at the restaurant.  The idea being that it would be easier to control the kids if we could have their lunch ready on the tables when we go them into the restaurant.  That would reduce the amount of time that they could get up to mischief.  But as we just mentioned it was an idea and like most ideas it failed. Then our last swim of the holiday topped up by the rental of a paddle boat with a slide and repeat of the last episode.  Kids loved every minute.
Its packing up and an early night for our early Airmalta flight back home.

Day 8  THANK YOU
Is there a day 8??  Well it was just an early Airmalta flight back home, but we still had to maneuver the troops through the airport in Dubrovnik and Malta including the short flight. The kids are just like a scud missile … in just a few seconds you can have a large amount of destruction.  However all went smooth our Airmalta flight was on time and we arrived back home earlier than anticipated.  They did get however, a few free rides on the carousel while waiting for the luggages in Malta airport.