Meet the Ekkels, Shepperton, UK

BIBS (AKA DAD)

Bibs' claim to fame is being one of the top balalaika musicians in the world. Half Polish, half English, completely hilarious, Bibs throws out one-liners when you least expect them and when he does you will likely need to change your underpants or wipe up the Zywiec that has sprayed through your nose. He knows a little about many things and when he doesn't, he will have 8 pages of Wikipedia up at 3am to find the answers.

LORA (AKA MUM)

Lora is my cool and crazy cousin - a transplant from Canada to the burbs of London. I remember vividly her bachelorette pad in Vancouver - the lava lamp, the eclectic subjects filling her bookshelves, Lora skimpily clad in a towel, freshly washed, lighting a cigarette. Well now she lights fags, cooks magnificently and keeps an amazing garden. She is also on a serious genealogical dig, putting together the family tree.

ALYOSHA

I remember Alyosha when he was 6-months old. He was quiet, perceptive and so cuddly! Boy he fooled us. In no time he was mooning grandmothers and landing his sister in the hospital with chopsticks up her nose. But now that this is all out of his system, he is a diligent musician (bass guitarist in We Push Buttons,) party animal, and student. Here are the things I love about Alyosha: he will eat Silotka (salted herring) with me in the middle of the night, he smiles all the time and despite being a student musician (double whammy) he makes veggie stir-fries in his kitchen dorm.

MILA

Enter Mila. This sixteen year old angelic vixen can sing, sew, play piano (keep it up Mila,) and is going to school next year for Drama. She has big blue eyes and mile-long lashes that peek out from underneath a radical, nearly-platinum mullet. Watch out, these eyes can convince you of anything. She was a cat in her previous life (the eyes told me this in all seriousness,) so she can often be seen lounging on the couch purring things like "I wouldn't say no to some tea." She parrots me even more frequently than Lucas does. Apparently I sound like a valley surfer girl!

Slav and innocent by-stander girlfriend Patrycja

Slav is Mila and Alyosha's older brother and he happened to be crashing at the Ekkel house during our visit. He runs an underground train and currently starts work at around 3-4am! In Alyosha's absence, Slav taught Lucas several Arnold Schwarzeneggerisms like "Stop it!" "Who are you?!" The Ekkel boys do not go 5 minutes without an Arnold impression. I am terrible at it, but it is hilarious to listen to.

So now you know who will be starring in the next few blog entries.