Sat 21st: An early start for a visit to Wakodahatchee, a small wetland complete with boardwalk. If you are early enough you get to see a range of birds on the move before the sun gets to high and the temperature gets too hot. There's herons, cormorants, turtles, alligators, and some humans taking their morning walk.

I try to get the hand of the X30 zoom on the new Sony, difficult to get the focus right at full zoom, but I shoot some good images. Image of the day however, is Bud's shot of a squirrel, with the sun picking out his tail. Bud is shooting with his 100-400mm Canon lens, trying to catch birds in flight, which as ever proves to be a difficult challenge.

After some breakfast we visit the Arthur R Marshall Loxahatchee Wildlife Park. This is another manifestation of the Everglades, more forest and swamp, compared with the sawgrass of the other day, but also some vegetation in between. We see no wildlife, but get an impression of the flora & fauna of this area, slightly underwhelming.

Time for more driving to see all the malls, and the state-of-the-art hospitals in the area. We call into the Del Ray Beach area and stroll down Atlantic Boulevard. Worth Avenue in Palm Beach has class, whilst Atlantic Boulevard in Del Ray Beach has charm, or that's how Bud describes the difference. There are a few more people around here, and some of them are trying hard to be The People; one lady with an amply filled gold lame boob tube, tight white slacks, very white teeth and a tan definitely makes the grade from where I am standing, and fortunately I don't get caught with my tongue hanging out.

It's a big night as we are the centre of attention for the family party, it's really quite intimidating, but of course everything is fine as we are introduced. Jennie is their only child together, Lisa is Bud's daughter from his first marriage. Neil, Kerry & Robbie are Dava's children from her first marriage. Jake is Robbie & Melissa's son, Spencer, Caleb, Daphne & Tiffany are Jennie & Scott's children. Neil's wife is Sigrid, from Austria, and then there's Lisa husband, Ken. They both have children but are not at the party. Kerry lives in Connecticut, and so is deemed too far for this party. David is Bud's younger brother, a high risk opthalmic surgeon, who seems to know everything; he speaks in a low gravelly monotone that can be difficult to hang onto.

Neil is a great guy and runs his own $40M flower importing business, owning farms in Columbia, and travels all round the world. As a supplier to Walmart, I'm sure life is hectic, but it does have its rewards as he's just trading in his Porchse, for a new build Corvette. Bud & Dava have ordered in food from their local Italian restaurant and there is far too much, as you might imagine, plenty of beer and the evening finishes with whiskey and cigars (not me) outside in the cage.

Spend today: ice-cream (cash); shoes (card)