The Journal of Phillip Grant - Jan 10

A new family moved next door so we went over to meet them. It's the Kane family, I got a chance to chat to the dad, Bradley, who held his daughter Abbey very close.


The last owner of the house left his old relic of a car on the street. I noticed Brad kept looking at it with a really distressed expression. He realised that I noticed after a bit. He admitted that he was getting that car towed away as soon as possible. Bradley said he's had nightmares about his wife Em and a car crash since before their marriage. Brad doesn't own a a car and never wants one left at his house, it's a phobia for him.

Vanessa had her birthday. She was pleased about it, but that might have been that we've agreed she should quit work. She wants to write novels and while we aren't the richest of the Grants, we are doing fine with money.

It's been a while so I had another party. I invited my siblings along, I really don't know Sammy or Kathy. They left home when I was still very young. A couple of cousins, the guy from next door and the random gate crashers filled the place.

After the party, Vanessa had a chat to me about another baby. Let's just say that she can be very persuasive and I can't deny her anything.

It's hard to believe that Uncle Henry is still with us. He's very sad these days, he misses his sibs and he misses his wife.  Both his children, Callie and Derrick still live with him so he's not alone.

I had an offer from the Bistro in town. Go to France, bring back 5 photos to decorate the restaurant and they'd reward me. So I kiss Vanessa good bye and headed over seas.

Not only did I photograph a lot of places and people in France, but I was asked to recover someone's treasure. That required some switch pulling, but not a lot more. I think granddad must have been here once, would he be pleased that his descendants benefit from his explorations still?

Well, hello lovely treasure chest. What goodies do you have for me today?

I returned the treasure and now I'm much more accepted by the locals. I've been invited to have a longer visit sometime.

While the markets are great, the museum and nectary are fantastic, all I want to do is go home. I have the photos, it's time.

I went to the Bistro to deliver the photos.

The owner was extremely thrilled by the pictures. I was expecting a bit more than the cost of the trip, maybe 2500 in total. But he gave me 36,000 for those 5 photos. That was so much more than I expected to get. I think the most valuable in the collection was maybe 2,000. That was the most profitable trip.

Still, I want to be home. My boys are here, my love is here and what more do I need? Stephen grows like a little weed, he's bigger after those few short days.