Mum had grand plans for Our Last Family Holiday Together and collectively, between all five of us, we tried to make it work. Dad dried the cows off in time, Robbie got off work, and Mum readily supplied her credit card for swiping by her travel agent-wannabe; me. But things just had to get difficult.

Ewen’s exams were unshiftable and as focused as I seemed at remaining unemployed…I got a job at the last minute - i.e. the minute that is known as Friday which comes before leaving on a Sunday. Future Boss wanted me straight away, I told him to compromise and give me two weeks in Vietnam.

The great family holiday had unravelled into only one night all together. Poor Mum.

Ewen arrived after the rest of us had been together for a couple of weeks. I feel the need to brief him in on the cusp of his 14 days of fun.

• Dad’s 40 year old fillings are falling out. With a plop of the soup he is enjoying to a “Fuck! Not another one!” from the bathroom, the giant, silver balls of [lead?] are coming unstuck one by one. I enjoy his surprise at every single one.
• Mum has discovered that Facebook is not approved by Vietnam’s commie governement. She freaked out, then payed for a tool to unlock it. A happy ending to a potential disaster.
• Robbie turns out to be a master bargainer. You watch in wonder as he screws that little old lady down to such an unspeakable price, then he walks away so she  takes it even lower. I’m embarrassed, but at the same time, love it.
• Alternatively, I got ripped off royally but a bloke “fixing” my Birkenstocks. In my defence, I had just woken up and I was Robbie-less at the time. I payed about $20 for some joker to glue some bicycle tyre to the bottom of my sandal.
• And finally, Travelling With Your Parents really is different to Just Travelling. They pay that extra $10 and we all get to stay in a nice room! With a proper flushing toilet! And air-conditioning! A little difficult for my backpacker’s brain to wrap itself around, but something it got used to rather quickly. 

I have so many stories and photos to come! Thanks for sticking with me during this crazy time - I’m slowly getting around to filling you in!

***MUM’S EDIT***

Another thing that’s different about Travelling With Parents™? They pull you up on the facts. Wow, talk about killing my blo-jo (short for blogging-mojo, you dirty bugger!).