The Hobsons are holidaying in Madrid, part I

My parents and younger brother, Adam, arrived on Wednesday afternoon and have been enjoying the sweltering heat of the Spanish capital. The concierge of our building quickly realised that some new guiris (foreigners) had landed at 121 Camino de los Vinateros because Jaime has been going down every morning with a couple of bags full of empty Mahou cans.

On Thursday they strolled around Plaza Oriente and the Retiro whilst Adam tried to perfect his tan and then in the evening I took my parents to meet the bunch from the BLC at Mozar (where they spend almost every evening downing beers or in my case shandy (lightweight). They had a great time and thought that everyone was lovely. Mum's words about Colin were 'oh, what a character!'- Yes, well that is one way of putting it. We said our farewells to Ruth and Dave and all the teachers who are escaping Madrid for the summer and headed off home at midnight, before my mother turned into a pumpkin.

On Friday I took them to the Theme Park in Casa de Campo as a belated birthday treat for my brother who was 16 in May. I really wish I had sent him a CD in the post or something and saved myself from the torture of almost spewing my guts out all over my mother after disembarking from the Tarantula. It is a new ride at the park and I never want to see it again! After going on 4 hideuous rollercoasters I decided that I have grown too old for this sort of thing and I no longer think the rush of adrenalin is 'really cool'. I had to retire to let Adam go it alone. However, he later managed to talk me into going on the Rapids after assuring me that you didn't get that wet. Yes, whatever. I had to spend the journey home on the metro looking like I had either pissed my pants or I suffered froma profuse sweating problem (note to self: don't wear jeans if intending to go on silly water flumes and shit like that!)

Last night Jaime and I took my family out for a meal in Siam , a Thai restaurant near Plaza España. It was Father's Day last month and my dad will be 57 on July 22 so it was a double celebration. We had a lovely dinner and then we went to have some drinks on a terraza nearby. We were fleeced 22 euros for 2 coffees, a beer and 2 G&T's! Outrageous! Thankfully by then it was Mum and Dad's turn to pay.

Today we have been to Xanadu to do some shopping and have a wander about and now we are refuelling for part II ot the Hobsons in Madrid. I will keep you all posted.