Monday 17th September We all had a decent sleep in this morning- then woke up being Vanessa's birthday on both sides of the world. As Bruce Cockburn once sang - Panger of Love. So wishing I could be there with her- or better still , she and Is and Lu and Sam could be here with me. So feeling like this it was a quiet Vilnius day. Some wandering around - a bit more souvenir shopping... Then I went to organize the big event for the evening. We had to catch a bus...

Another quiet day in paradise. This morning we enjoyed a coffee at "coffee inn",then I split from the group to get a special gift for me - I really want to see some Lithuanian basketball - and next Monday night the two best Lithuanian teams are playing in Vilmius. Lietuvos Rytas v Zalgiris. I wish Sam could be here to see it. It is sure to be a grudge match of epic proportions. I got really excellent tickets for everone (except Romas who insists he does not want...

A quiet day - just with family wandering around the old town. Made porridge - then walked over to see Mum and Dads old friend , Pranas Nagys. We went up to his flat - then at 1pm I left the flat so I could have a Skype session with my family at home. Being Jill's birthday a fair amount of the extended family were there which was nice. I utilized the free wifi in the town centre to show off the old part of Vilnius to the family. Next, we got into some heavy duty ...

Ok, ok.... What has happening in Vilnius over last few of days. So now I tell you. It is no prob lem for you to be listen. Ok ... On Saturday the 8th - we got up in our luxury apartment in Vilnius. You know it is the hippy hippy shake. Yah. Romas and I got up at 6 ( I messed up my time zones and thought it was 7) and went for our first walk through Vilnius. We walked through avenues of ancient and crumbling buildings - some restored, others .... We think busines...

We have arrived in Vilnius, capital of Lithuania. As we broke through the cloud cover I saw a countryside of forests and castles. We landed - got our bags, walked through the door and we were there. No customs, no checks. And then we saw a crowd of people amongst the marble floor and columns of the arrival area. This was the entourage who had come to meet us. Rita, her brother mindaugas, their parents Ella and Kazmieras; Donatas, his wife Vilte and son Niko and...