Robin at Glastonbury 2

Robin at Glastonbury
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hello

Before I shoot off to a Greek island (see below) here's another Robin pic from Glastonbury. This one was taken on Sunday night, as the sun went down (happily after the crazy rain on Friday, Sun-day very much lived up to its name!).

This was taken in the main field looking down to the Pyramid Stage, where Brian Wilson had just finished leading a mass singalong of Beach Boys classics that left everyone beaming.

The festival all takes place in the fields of a local farmer, Michael Eavis, who started it 30 years ago. You can see his farmhouse up in the top left of the picture (as ever, click on it if you want to see it bigger). And you can also see how muddy his fields have become after a weekend that started with rain and then had 150,000 people trampling all over it. Where there's baked brown mud now, there was thick, lush green grass four days earlier. The cows aren't going to be too pleased when they see!

Robin at Glastonbury 1

Robin, Glastonbury, tents
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hey up folks.

I'm in Athens now (on holiday, visiting the in-laws for the first time since we got married here in February!). Glastonbury was great, but on the Friday morning it rained incredibly hard (thunder, lightning, the full works) for six hours, flooding many people's tents completely. There were pictures on the front of all the newspapers of people swimming to their tents and tents that were five or six feet deep in water! Crazy. Luckily where we were it didn't flood. But we still had to suffer the mud for the whole weekend (first as deep rivers of brown water, then as sticky brown glue). We still had a great weekend though.

Thanks too for all your birthday greetings. We went straight from four nights camping to a very posh country hotel/spa about 20 miles away - which was a real treat. And then the next day we flew off to Greece - I was intent on making sure that the post-Glastonbury/30th blues didn't kick in!

Today I'm off to one of the Greek islands for a couple of days as a surprise treat from my lovely wife. Naturally, Robin's coming along too...

Hope you folks are good, wil probably post again on Saturday when we're back in Athens.

Robin in St Petersburg, again

robin, big square
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hey up folks

Here's Robin in the main square in St Petersburg on a rather gloomy day. Nice square though.

We're all off to Glastonbury music festival this weekend - the best music festival in the whole wide world (seriously, 2 million people tried to buy the 120,000 tickets). It all takes place on a farm near Stonehenge and is still run by the same farmer that started it 30 years ago. More info at www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk for you American folks that might not have heard of it.

Also, I turn 30 on Monday. So feel free to leave your birthday wishes here making me feel better for leaving my twenties behind!

Kit

It's not all luxury...

robin daredevil
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, Robin may hang out in a limo from time to time - but it's not always an easy life for my globe-trotting pal.

Here he is, about to be blasted into Finland by this tank thing outside a museum in St Petersburg.

But check out the look in his eyes. That bird is fearless.

Robin in his limo...

robinlivesitlarge
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

When you're a worldwide megastar like Robin, there's really only way to travel.

Here he is, in St Petersburg, in his limo, asking the driver to turn down the air conditioning a little...

Robin in Moscow!

robin in moscow
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hey up folks

Yes, here's Robin with Moscow behind him - as taken last Saturday morning from my hotel room.

Sadly, I was only in Moscow for 16 hours so I didn't get to take his picture in Red Square, but I've got plenty more that I've taken in St Petersburg (we were there for longer).

Moscow is a weird place - seemingly built on sex, money and alochol. You'd see couples walking down the street drinking beer at 10am and our (nice) hotel was full of prostitutes and a pretty seedy strip bar. Weird place. A bit in-your-face for my liking (although, as I say, we weren't really there long enough to see the nicer side of it). St Petersburg pictures to come...

Robin and Chris Martin (the second shot)

chris&robin
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Seeing as Coldplay are in the news with the release of their new album 'X&Y' (which looks like to break sales records over here) I thought I'd post the other picture of Robin with Coldplay's frontman Chris Martin, that I took back in April.

Meanwhile, me and Robin are off to Russia tomorrow - will try to post some pictures from there...

St Bees adventure #5

IMG_4146
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hey up folks

So here's Robin on the beach at St Bees, with the cliff in thr background that the other picture was taken at.

As for Russia, of course I'm taking Robin (I haven't actually got him a visa, but I'm assuming his international fame will mean they'll be pleased to have him there).

The sun is shining in London this morning. That doesn't happen as often as it should.

St Bees adventure #4

Clifftop Robin
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Oops, sorry - I know I said that I'd post this the other day, but I've been a busy bee (as ever) and never quite got round to it at the end of last week.

Anyway, here is the long-awaited (well, sort of) picture of Robin up on the clifftop at St Bees, overlooking the lovely beach on a gorgeous day. If you keep walking about 3 miles in the direction Robin's looking you get to a gorgeous old lighthouse.

Hope you folks are all good. I'm off to Moscow and St Petersburg this weekend - any of you got any Russian experience?

St Bees adventure #3

IMG_4144
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Here's Robin outside an English country cottage in St Bees, the little village that we went to for a weekend away last weekend. We didn't stay in this cottage or anything, just thought it looked lovely - particularly liked the wild garden.

Last two St Bees pics tomorrow - down at the seafront...

St Bees adventure #2

IMG_4094
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Evenin' folks

As I sit watching England play soccer against Colombia in New York on TV, it's time for the second in the series of St Bees shots.

This one was taken at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway - a narrow-guage steam railway between Cartmel and St Bees. The railway is affectionately known as The Ratty. We didn't actually go for a ride on the train (I've not been since I was about 8), we just pulled into the carpark to have a wee look. If you want to read more about the railway click here

And while we're on the subject of websites, click
here for the American website for the sticky toffee puddings I was talking about yesterday. It's amazing the number of shops it lists that stock the pudding in the States!

Oh, and we're liking the idea of Sept 1 being Robin's name day.

In tomorrow's pic we finally reach St Bees itself...!

St Bees adventure #1

Robin at the pudding shop
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hey up folks

Yes, this is the first picture (of 5!) of Robin from our bank holiday weekend adventure up to St Bees in Cumbria - a tiny seaside village that I last went on holiday to in about 1983 when I was 8. I took my wife up there for a surprise anniversary weekend (we've now been together 5 years and 1 day!).

This picture was taken outside Cartmel Village Shop, in the south of England's Lake District - a shop which has become extremely famous for its sticky toffee pudding - which is absolutely superb. Actually, I remember reading that Madonna gets it exported to the States. For more info on the shop (and to see a picture of the famous pudding) click here

More pics from our trip coming over the next few day.

Also, we're trying to find out from the Greek rellies when St Robert's day is - if indeed it exists on the Orthodox calendar. My Elvis-loving brother will no doubt be interested to hear when it is, because that's his name too!

Oh, and the other big news - me and Robin are off to Moscow, Russia in ten days. Should make for some great photo opportunities!

Hope you folks are all well.

1 x Robin, 3 x Elvis

Robin meets the King
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hello folks

After all the excitement of our British food pictures over the last few days, me, Robin and the missus have come away for a long weekend and are currently in my brother's flat in Manchester - where this picture was taken.

My bro's a bit of an Elvis nut and this is a massive great picture on his living room wall. I'm hoping the trio of Elvis dudes are not going to shoot Robin in the back. That would be lowdown and dirty.

Will post more from our weekend away in the next few days.

Oh, and it looks like there is no St Robin day - so not sure how we're going to celebrate his name day. Any ideas?

To go with the spotted dick...

Robin and Ambrosia
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

We haven't eaten our spotted dick yet, but as my mother said on the comments below, the choice of custard to go with it is very important. She suggested Birds - and I'm guessing she was talking about making it herself from custard powder, in a saucepan, with milk.

We prefer the easier route of buying a can - and our favoured brand is Ambrosia Devon custard. As the commercials say, 'Devon knows how they make it so creamy...'

As for beet pickled eggs - when people ask if I'm a fussy eater, I usually tell them that the only thing in the world I haven't eaten and will never eat is, yes, pickled eggs! I'm not sure that dying them purple would change my mind...!

Robin and some spotted dick

Robin and a pud
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, our cultural culinary exchange continues apace, with Robin showing you folks some proper British spotted dick. Well, I say proper - obviously *proper* proper would be if it was homemade, but Aunt Bessie offers a reasonable (and reasonably-priced!) alternative.

My wife, who attended a British boarding school a la Harry Potter, confirms that spotted dick was sometimes on the menu, but neither of us have ever actually tried the pudding before - so we're looking forward to tucking in. As the packaging says, it's a 'suet sponge with sultanas, currants and mixed spice'. Sounds tasty. Will let you know how it is.

Aunt Bessie, incidentally, has a fan club - which you can join by clicking here. Personally, though, I've always thought she looks a bit scary. There's something dark about that smile...

Robin and a 'Full English'

Robin. Full English.
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, for those of you who were asking, here's Robin with a 'Full English' breakfast. Well full-ish. There's no sausage or black (blood) pudding, but I think my lovely wife did me proud with my Sunday morning breakfast otherwise! I think she was in a good mood because Greece won the Eurovision song contest last night. For those that don't know, it's literally a Europe-wide contest for best song, watched by hundreds of millions and entered, this year, by 39 countries! Next year's will be held in Athens because Greece won - we're definitely planning to go.

Oh, and the Greek woman who won it is called Helena - so her victory was on her name day (see below)! Re name days, yes Dawn if people don't have a saint, they usually go for one that sounds similar. I shall ask my mother-in-law what she'd recommend for a Dawn - she's a bit of an expert on such things.

Happy Name Day Eleni!

It's a special day!
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, today is a very special day - it's the Name Day of Eleni, my sister-in-law and a very close friend of Robin. Hope you have a good one Elz! With lots of love from me and my lovely wife.

(For those of you who don't know, the Greeks celebrate name days as much as they do birthdays. Name days are celebrated on the Saints day of the name you have. Today is the saint day of St Eleni (or St Helen), so it's Eleni's turn to celebrate.)

Na zisis Eleni! (as they say in Greece)

These, KJ, are crumpets!

Robin, crumpets
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

They're sort of spongey, bread-y things, a little bit like what Americans call English muffins, that you grill and then smother in butter and jam (jelly) or whatever. The packaging of these ones tells me they're made from wheat flour, water, salt, vinegar and raising agents and a few other bits and bobs. And they are very nice indeed.

Do *you* have an English food you don't know about and would like to see a picture of Robin next to? We'll be only too happy to oblige!

Robin and the Queen's house

robin, swans, castle
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

This one was taken on Sunday, when we went to Windsor for a day out with some friends of ours who were over from Sweden.

This is the river that runs through the town, with lots of swans on it. In the background you can see Windsor Castle, which is where the Queen calls home. We tried knocking on her door to borrow some teabags, but she didn't answer.

That's quite a view!

robin look out over toronto
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hey up

This is the third in the trilogy I like to call 'Robin: A Small Bird And A Large Tower'. Here he is at the top of the CN Tower, looking out over downtown Toronto. Well, actually, he's looking at the camera. If he was looking out over downtown Toronto you'd only be able to see the back of his head and you might think he was ignoring you. Safe to say, moments after the photo was taken, he span round and had a good old gawp.

Robin. A glass floor. A big drop.

robin on the cn tower's glass floor
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hey up

This is Robin lying on the glass floor at the top of the CN Tower in Toronto, below which there's a sheer drop about 130 floors to the ground below. Quite a spooky feeling to walk on it - though it didn't stop me joining in with the schoolkids jumping up and down on it really hard. We'd have looked pretty silly had it given way...

Robin and a very large tower

Robin and CN Tower
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, I'm back in London (straight into work from overnight flight - feeling slightly dazed).

As you'll see from the pic, yesterday myself and Robin went and explored Toronto - this was taken down by the harbour and the weather was gorgeous.

We also went up the tower (tourist-y, but surely worth it on a clear day like that...). Pictures from up there to follow...

Robin and me are in Toronto...

...but sadly, my USB chord isn't - so don't think I'll be able to share any pictures till I'm back (on Friday).

Anyone got any top Toronto tips? I've been once before, but was literally in the country for less than 14 hours, so my expertise is minimal.

From where I'm typing, I can see a massive revolving ice hockey player on the roof of a bar across the street. That seems typically Canadian, somehow.

Robin, chillin'

Robin on the Heath
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

So after we'd released Robin from the door of the phone box (see below), we took him up to the extremely lovely Hampstead Heath, which is a bit like London's version of Central Park, except hillier, not in the centre and with ponds you can swim in.

As you'll see, he buried himself in the grass and enjoyed a relaxing few hours catching some early-summer rays...

Robin! Phone box!

Robin in a phone box
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, it's Robin poking his head out of the door of a traditional British telephone box. There aren't too many of them left in operation these days (they're usually modern plastic ones) but this is one of the old school types - as spotted in Hampstead, a particularly upmarket part of London.

Robin, a fish and a giant metal head

robin and a big metal head
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

This is the last of the Robin shots from our Scottish trip, taken in a wee (see, I picked up the dialect) town called Kilmarnock.

We stopped off there for a couple of hours before getting the flight home (Dawn, it wasn't a work trip - it was a fun one, crammed in among a busy time at work).

It's not the most glamourous town, but the sun was shining and everyone seemed very friendly. And all down the main shopping street they had these little scupltures built into the street. I've tried to find out more about them online (because I think they're ace) but, as yet, to no avail.

There, that's four postings in 24 hours - we haven't been this prolific since the Olympics!

Robin at Loch Lomond

robin and a loch
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

This one was taken on the way back from Mull to Glasgow Prestwick airport, when we stopped off at one of the viewing areas for Loch Lomond.

Loch Lomond is approximately 23 miles long, and up to 5 miles wide, with a maximum depth of about 190 metres (620 feet). It is the largest body of inland water in Great Britain.

The loch famously features in Andrew Lang's verse, The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond, published around 1876.

You might know the chorus:

Oh, ye'll tak the high road, and I'll tak the low road,
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye;
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.

See, robintherobin.com - not just fun, but educational!

Robin on the isle of Mull

Robin on Mull
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hey up

Here's the second picture from our Scottish adventure. This was taken on the seafront in Tobermory on the isle of Mull, an island off the west of Scotland. All the buildings are painted different colours making for a place that looks like a toy town - which may be why a popular BBC kids show called Balamory is filmed there.

To Robin's right is the gorgeous seafront/harbour that the town is stretched around. It's a very beautiful place - well worth a visit if you're ever up that way.

Robin hits the Highlands

robin back to nature
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hello folks, hope you're all well.

Sorry for not posting for a while, I've been (as ever) rather busy.

We went up to Scotland for a few days last week (Fri to Mon) and this picture of Robin was taken on the gorgeous drive up from Glasgow to Oban (passing Loch Lomond), where we caught the ferry to the isle of Mull. Absolutely lovely scenery and, as you'll see, the weather was great.

More pics from our Scottish adventure coming soon...

www.robintherobin.com

robin addresses the world
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Those of you who come to this blog via the www.athens2004blog.com might've noticed that although you can still get to the site, you now get an annoying pop-up from UK2.net.

The best, pop-up free way to get to the blog now is to come via www.robintherobin.com - which is pretty easy to remember, even for a toy bird.

STOP PRESS: Just to clarify, using robintherobin.com will still divert you to www.athens2004blog.blogspot.com (the overall holding page for the blog, and that address is fine to use still too). But if you were using www.athens2004blog.com you will now get a pop up from UK2. Hope that makes sense.

Spring seems to have turned up

A robin and a pear tree
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

After the cloudy, grey skies in London the other day (see below) spring seems to have arrived today - as the sun shines and the sky is a deep shade of blue. Whether the thousands running the London marathon are pleased about this heat is, of course, another matter. But myself and Robin are very pleased - which is why we took this picture out of the window of our flat.

Robin meets Chris Martin from Coldplay!

christopherrobin
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, a few months after he met Kylie, here's Robin going nose to beak with Chris Martin from Coldplay. As you'll see from the pic, the lovely Mr Martin was quite awed at meeting such an international star (this despite the fact he's married to Gwyneth Paltrow!) and the two chatted for a while, swapping tips about things like how to avoid being bothered in the street (Robin's advice was to 'just fly away').

Robin. And London.

robinontheroof
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hey up

Thought you might like to see a shot of Robin on the roof of the building where I work, which I just took during a hasty lunchbreak.

If you look very carefully you'll see the Millennium Eye big wheel over on the left and Big Ben somewhere over on the right. If you look not very carefully, you'll see clouds. Where did Spring get to?

Robin is cool!

Robin the cool dude
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hey up

Long time, no post - sorry, I've been flat out busy with work and then went to Hamburg for a few days but forgot to take Robin (that's what happens when you have to get up at 5am to catch a flight!). I did take a couple of 27 pics though if you want to see them (see 27 site link over on the links bit). Anyway, as I've not posted in ages, here's a bit of a catch-up.

The picture's of Robin in his trendy new leather jacket, about to flutter into town to wow the local chicks. (Okay, okay, he's sitting in the top of my leather glove, but you've got to admit it suits him).

I liked Vix's idea the other day about trying to think of what Robin's fans should be called. Any ideas gratefully received.

I'm also trying to think of another competition along the lines of the ones we had during the Olympics - so look out for that soon.

Any other big excitements? Well, tomorrow a bunch of us are going for an 8 mile country walk as kind of a wedding reunion - nice to get our mates back together for the first time since Athens. Oh, and Prince Charles is getting married today, but nobody that I know gives a monkeys. Was very surprised that his wedding was the top headline on the news in Germany last week. I think Brits are more excited about the Grand National horse race.

And finally, in smoothie news, this morning we had banana, milk, honey and a bag of frozen forest fruits, which worked very well blended up together - and was nice and cold because of the fruits being frozen.

That competition will be up within the next few days (just trying to think of something everybody can join in with, where's there's a definite answer at some point...)

STOP PRESS: For the benefit of Andria in Texas, and anybody else who doesn't know - forest fruit is the generic term for a bunch of fruits, usually berries, that you might find if you went wandering in a forest. We're talking blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, redcurrants, raspberries, that sort of thing. You get yoghurts, sweets (candy) and various other things in forest fruits flavour. Do they really not have that term Stateside?

Robin makes a new friend!

Robin meets a lamb!
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, today Robin, my lovely wife and myself went to a farm near the Derbyshire village where my mum lives, to see some newborn lambs.

This little fella was born in the last couple of days and is, needless to say, one of the cutest things in the whole wide world. And perhaps even the universe (though I'm told the Lesser Striped Deeegtwerts on Jupiter are mighty pretty),

It was a lovely way to spend Easter - and certainly fit the whole 'new life' theme nicely. Robin and the lamb got on so well that they exchanged email addresses and plan to be in touch soon. Probably.

Robin plugs new 27 blog

Robin plugs 27
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hey up

Here's Robin plugging a new blog that I've set up. Being born on the 27th, I've always been a fan of the number 27 - and whenever I'm out and about and see the number somewhere, I usually take a picture of it. And now I'm putting some of those pics on a blog.

It's www.twentysevenpics.blogspot.com (or just click on the link over in the links list)

Check it out!

Happy Easter!

An Easter Robin
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

A very happy Easter from Robin and myself! Have a good one and go easy on the chocolate.

(These eggs will be going in neither a smoothie nor a juice - but thanks for all the recipe ideas, will defintely be trying some of them out.)

Our blender arrived!

whizzz...
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, the posh blender (which, you'll remember, was a replacement for the second juicer we were bought as a wedding gift) has arrived!

This morning we had a banana, milk, honey and yoghurt (Greek of course). It was tremendous.

Note too, the extremely swanky coffee pot in the background my brother Edward got us as a wedding gift. And the lovely bread bin given to us by a friend. Verily we have the best-supplied kitchen in London now!

And, don't worry, the blender wasn't plugged in when Robin so beautifully modelled it!

The joy of juicing!

Robin and various vegetables
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, following the record-breaking (I think) number of comments about root beer (thanks for all the suggestions, I shall be sampling as many as possible next time I'm in the US!) here's another drink-themed post.

Obviously, having just got married, we were very lucky to get a bunch of wedding gifts. One of the most fun has been the juicer which we were given (actually, we were given two - clearly juicers are like buses - but the second one is being swapped for a posh blender instead).

Suddenly, we've become slightly obsessed with the various combinations available. Yesterday we had a very tasty spinach, carrots, apple, radish and beetroot - a combination which helps boost brain power according to the book which the second juicer-giver gave us. And today we've just had a very sweet pear, apple, ginger and celery. All very healthy and VERY tasty! I can seriously recommend one if you haven't got one. Not nearly as hard to clean as I thought it would be either.

So folks, after your root beer advice, does anyone have any favourite juice combinations they'd like to recommend? (Naturally Robin tends to prefer the ones with berries in them...)

STOP PRESS: Yes, smoothies do count!

The big root beer taste test!

Robin and root beer
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hey up folks

This is Robin and two cans of root beer (if, for some reason you hadn't worked that much out) which we bought from the Chinese supermarket we went to. Although they're American brands (I think), the two cans were made in Singapore and Malaysia respectively!

I'm a big, big fan of root beer, which is quite hard to find over here. They used to sell it in McDonalds in the 80s, but stopped a long time ago. So the only time I get to drink it is when I'm in the US - and it even seems to be disappearing a bit there. I know some people think it tastes like dental mouthwash, but I think it rocks.

So, imagine my excitement on finding not one but two brands in the Chinese supermarket. The Frost brand (which I hadn't heard of) was selling at 49p a can and the A&W (which I had) at 59p. So we decided to buy a couple of both and have a taste test (that's the kind of crazy kids we are!).

And the winner? A&W hands down. Not only is it a better colour (much lighter - Frost looks like treacle), but it has superior levels of carbonation and a crisper flavour! Worth the extra 10p a can any day.

Any of you marvellous US readers got any root beer tips or tales?

A bird on the shelf is worth two in the storeroom

Robin at the Oriental supermarket
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hey up folks

Yesterday myself, my wife (!) and Robin went up to Oriental City, an amazing far east shopping complex in north London. A friend (my Greek orthodox best man in fact) has been raving about the place for ages and we finally got around to driving up there.

It's an astonishing, huge place. The supermarket and clothes, gift etc shops are amazing - we bought loads of brightly packaged things - but the food court (which features individual places selling Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese etc etc) really has to be experienced to be believed! The Penang Fish Curry was out of this world!

It's well worth a visit if you're ever in London. But please note, the bird on the shelf is not for sale.

Here's Robin at our wedding!

Here's Robin at our wedding!
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, I've just downloaded the shots from my eldest brother's camera and here's Robin at our wedding. I'm the tall one and my wife, um, is the one in the white dress!

It was a lovely service - all done in Greek (it was in a Greek Orthodox church) but I'd read up beforehand about the wedding service, so even if I didn't understand every word, I knew what was going on. Most of the service was sung (there was an amazing choir up on the church balcony) and it was quite a moving spectacle. In fact, is that a tear I see in Robin's eye...?

Robin on honeymoon!

Robin at Elafonisi beach
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, here's a pic of Robin on our honeymoon in Crete (when I say 'our' I mean me and Lex, not me and Robin - me and the bird are just good friends).

The beach was a crazy, windy drive through the hills down to the south-west coast of Crete. Apparently the beach, Elafonisi, is very busy during the summer, but we were there off season on a gorgeous, crisp day and there wasn't another person on the beach apart from us. We didn't quite dare to swim in the chilly winter water, but we had a nice paddle (and I've just about got the feeling back in my feet now).

Good to see so many of you on the Blog yesterday - 46 visitors! - so clearly you've not forgotten about me and my red-breasted pal. Hello to Mary who posted a comment for the first time yesterday - always nice to have a new poster (obviously alongside the cherished regulars!).

How blue does that sky look in the pic? Ah, wish I was back there. Back to work on Thursday for me after a massive six weeks off (a sabbatical) for our wedding. Sigh...

We're back! Big news! And we went to football!

Robin at Shef Wed
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Hello folks!

Yes, we're back in Blighty after a top. top honeymoon. I've got various pics of Robin at our wedding and on honeymoon to show, but I thought I'd kick you off with this shot of him in the crowd at Sheffield Wednesday vs Doncaster Rovers that we went to yesterday. Why do you think that chap behind him is hiding his face? Perhaps he is a master criminal?! Maybe Robin should become a sleuth.

So, the big news I refer to above is that I've decided to launch a multi-million pound/dollar rebranding of this website. Yes, as you might've noticed above, it's not called Athens2004Blog.com any more, it's called RobintheRobin.com. I've bought the address www.robintherobin.com (should be live from tomorrow) but you'll still be able to get here from either www.athens2004blog.com or www.athens2004blog.blogspot.com.

Why has it changed? Well, because it's really not about the Athens Olympics anymore, but it is mainly about Robin. And, in a bid to increase traffic, I might email some of the journalists who wrote about the Blog during the Olympics and ask them to mention the site in their round-ups as www.robintherobin.com. What do you folks reckon to all that?

Right, best get on for now - but pics of Robin at wedding and honeymoon coming up very soon...

Kit
A married man.
Very happily so.

Hello from Crete!

Hello folks

No picture, because I'm just at internet cafe without a USB cable - but Robin says hi. I've got to be quick because our half hour is nearly up, but I just wanted to say hello.

The wedding went really, really well - amazing service and great reception surrounded by people we care about. Our honeymoon was delayed by a day because flights out of AThens were cancelled because of crazy wind, but we made it to Crete on the Wednesday after our wedding. We're having a lovely, peaceful time here, just relaxing after the mania of wedding-ness. It was all quite hard work to plan (and it never let up right until the afternoon of the wedding) but it was all well worth it - we both had an amazing time, and married life is, so far, very good!

Hope you're all well. Pictures of Robin on Crete to follow when we're back...

Today I get married!

Robin and rings
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, here's Robin on the morning of my wedding in Athens, looking after the wedding rings.

The service is at 6pm tonight (they do evening weddings in Greece) in the Orthodox church that my fiance's parents got married in 30 years ago.

Thanks for all your best wishes.

I can't wait.

:)

Robin visits a 2,500-year-old temple...

Robin at Sounion
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Evenin'

Today me and Robin went up to the Sanctuary Of Poseidon, a temple at Cape Sounion about 35 miles outside Athens.

We went up there with my Grampa and fiance (that's them in the background on the left) - as my Grampa's in Athens for my wedding and he's always wanted to go up to Sounion, which he's never been to despite having travelled to Greece so much in the past that he speaks fluent Greek (to our taxi driver's obvious amazement!).

It's a beautiful place, amazingly situated that's definitely worth a visit if you ever make it to Athens. Nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of wedding planning in the city too.

So, we've got some last minute sorting to do tomorrrow and then it's the wedding on Saturday. Thanks so much for all your best wishes in the comments tabs (including you Diegem - can't believe I didn't put you in my list of regulars!). It's ace that you're following our progress from all over the world.

I'll try and post something tomorrow - which is when about 40 of our friends and family arrive to join the 25 or so that have already made it out (plus, of course, the 60 or so guests who live here in Greece).

People keep asking me if I feel nervous. That in itself is making me feel nervous.Truth is, I'm actually more excited than anything else...

:)

We did it! We hit 20,000!

Robin in a market, celebrating!
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, as you'll tell from the extra wide smile on Robin's face, today we hit our 20,000th visitor! Thanks loads for the extra effort over the last couple of days - it's much appreciated by both myself and my red-breasted pal.

So, today was another cold day in Athens. Would you believe it has snowed - at least a sprinkle - every day since we arrived last weekend. The snow isn't settling, but it's absolute FREEZING cold (espcially for folks who packed thinking it would be warmer than mild London - which it very much isn't!). But the sun's shining. so that's the main thing.

Today we did our wedding seating plan and then went out and met my mum, brother, grampa and stepdad for a wander around the massive old central market hall in Athens. That's where Robin's standing, with folks packing up meat stalls (i think) in the background.

Right, I'm off to watch the all-important Greece v Denmark World Cup qualifier on TV (tried to get tickets, sadly didn't manage).

Thanks again for helping us hit 20,000 (especially the Robin loyalists like Vix, KJ, Dawn, Shay, Andrea, Cathy and all the others!).

Three days until the wedding... :)

It's working! Just 27 to go!

Yes, our campaign appears to be doing the job - we've had our busiest day on the Blog for ages. So thanks. As I write we're on 19.973 visitors. We could even hit 20,000 by tomorrow morning. Wowser.

Someone kindly posted on the comment tab below saying that they (and others) read through the RSS feed. Excuse my ignorance, but can someone explain what that is? And where would you go to read it? I'm a bit confused by all this RSS malarkey to be honest. People sometimes email about my RSS feed, but I have no idea what they're talking about! Help! Please!

In other news, today I wrote my groom's speech for the wedding on Saturday. And my mum and big brother have just touched down in Athens. We've got about 65 people from outside Greece, and they're all arriving in the next couple of days. Exciting stuff. I'm off into Athens again tomorrow, so I'll get another pic of wee Robin out there (stayed in the flat all day today working on this speech!)

Robin needs you!

Robin's campaign...
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, as the picture shows, me and Robin are back in Athens and had a nice trip down to the old Olympic Stadium today (the one used for the 1896 Olympics and the archery/marathon at the 2004) ones.

And, as you'll see from the picture, he's got a campaign to launch! If you click on the Site Meter below, you'll see that we're just short of our 20,000th visitor to www.athens2004blog.com - in fact, about 80 short as I write this. We normally get between 15-25 visitors a day (of course, it was thousands during the Olympics!) but we're keen to hit the magic 20,000 mark as soon as we can. This is mainly because I get married in Athens in 5 days' time - and I was really hoping to pass it before that.

So, what do me and Robin want you to do? Ask your relatives, friends, colleagues and even enemies to come to the blog (www.athens2004blog.com) in the next couple of days. They don't have to even read any pages when they get here (but it would be lovely if they did), I just want to see if we can push it over the magic 20,000 mark with a burst of visitors.

So go on. Ask a couple of pals to pop to the Blog and let's get past 20,000 by Friday. Then I'll be able to get married with that particular mission accomplished.

Thanks very much. Update tomorrow...

Robin and Robot

Machine and bird in perfect harmony
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

This is Robin and a chap who lives in our flat called Robot. Although it looks like Robot is karate chopping Robin's head, he is actually just giving him a friendly pat - they're good friends and Robot is very happy to have Robin back.

Oh, and Robin's left leg hasn't fallen off, he's just tucked it behind him.

Nine days till I get married...

Robin's made a new friend!

Robin and his new pal
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, having returned from a month in my brother's sports bag at the weekend, Robin wasted no time in finding a new friend on his return to London.

He bumped into this chap in a bakers near where we live. Quite why the bakers is selling 2004 Olympic ginger bread men in February 2005 wasn't clear, but he seems fresh, so we're pretty sure he hasn't been sitting there since August,

In wedding news, my big brother Eddie took me shopping today and, with his marvellous advice, I managed to get myself a shirt, some shoes and some cufflinks. 11 days to go...

Here he is!

Robin is back!
Originally uploaded by athens2004blog.

Yes, as explained in the post below, Robin is back. Found. Discoverd. Back back back!

So here he is with the flag we made for him on New Year's Eve, which was exactly when we discovered he was missing.

Ah, it's good to have him back.

:)

Robin. Found. Yes!

Yes, 30 long days after we realised he was missing, Robin has turned up. I always thought he would, because it didn't seem possible that he could've just disappeared into thin air.

So, where was he? Well, on Boxing Day, I lent my football boots (which I'd brought with me from London) to my brother Robert to play in our village's annual football (soccer) match. Robin, as it turns out, was in a plastic bag in the plastic bag that contained the boots. So my brother took both Robin and the boots off in his sports bag. And, my brother being my brother, he only got round to completely unpacking that bag today. Whereupon he found Robin, who'd obviously just spent a nice relaxing month away from my camera's lens.

Funnily enough, we found this out as we were driving up to my mum's house for the first time since Christmas, and I'd just been thinking about places where I could look for the wee fella. No need, because as we neared my home village we got the call saying he'd been found.

Now, I know he's only a soft, little toy bird qand there are more important things to worry about in the world, but I think I can speak for my whole family when I say we've all been somewhat sad about his disappearance for the past month. The thing is, with Robin's whereabouts being such a mystery, it was impossible to get 'closure'! I just kept trying to work out how he could possible have disappeared. And now I know.

So, I'll get a picture of him up very soon (I don't have my digital camera with me right now) and the really gerat news is that now, rest assured, Robin will be there in Athens, where his Blog adventures began, to witness myself and Alexia getting married in 13 days' time.

Result. There's some big grins in my family tonight (and Robin looks pretty pleased to see me too).

Happy new year. Sad new year.

First up, happy new year to all you readers out there - hope you have a great 2005.

But, I'm afraid, I do have some sad news too. This news is really not very sad when put against what's happening in Asia right now, but it is still quite sad. Robin has disappeared. I took him up to my mum's house for Christmas, but as I forgot to take a USB chord to connect my digital camera to her computer I didn't bother taking a picture of him. So, having returned to London I went to my (as yet unpacked) bag on Dec 31 to take a new year's picture. But he wasn't there.

The bag he was in (a big holdall with all my clothes etc) has only been in my flat, my car, my office and my mum's house. We've searched all of them very thoroughly (including the bins) but he hasn't turned up. He was in a little white plastic bag within the holdall, and as that plastic bag hasn't turned up, I'm guessing he's still in it. It's absolutely baffling and very frustrating.

But I'm assuming it's a question of when, not if, we find him. He must be somewhere. I could've just taken my mum's robin, Robyn, and used that for my blog pictures instead, but I thought you folks would probably like to know the truth - that the pesky little bird is currently off on an adventure somewhere without me.

Obviously you'll be the first to hear when (let's say when) I find him!