So where were we...that's right. Sun, snorkelling, and champagne. All in all a wonderful start to the holiday. But of course, it couldn't stay that way could it, nooooo. Too much to expect a three day holiday to be perfect for ol' Robbie.

The next morning I woke up feeling not quite right. By the time I managed to get out of bed, I knew I'd come down with a classic case of sunstroke. "The symptoms, Dr. Shepherd, you ask?" Fever, and torrential diarrhoea. Wonderful. Outside, the clouds had parted, the tide was high, in short it was a perfect day for roaming the island, escaping to secluded beaches, drinking cold beer, and doing all the things you'd expect to do on an island getaway. Not for ol' Robbie.

Fortunately Florence Nightingale appeared in the form of MyTW, who tended my pathetic needs around the clock like only a Thai woman will do. I drank about five sachets of electrolyte powders and another five litres of water while trying to lay in the shade wherever I could. Man it was hot. By late afternoon with the weather and water still perfect, I was tempted to go for a short snorkelling trip offshore, but decided to reserve my strength and come good on the last day.

And come good I did. So much so that on our last day on the island, I managed to convince MyTW (who can't swim to save herself - I learned that on our honeymoon when I almost drowned her after dragging her out into the water only to realise she wasn't floating like a person should be) - that we should do a beginners scuba dive course.

Despite her protestations, I assured her that it would be safe and fun, and indeed it was. Our instructor basically carried MyTW the entire way so all she had to do was stick her arms out in front and remember to breath.

We spent about an hour diving in about five metres of water, with the most spectacular diversity of fish species you could imagine. Fat parrot fish, a giant moray eel, those bloody nemo fish (whatever they're called) and countless others. All right off the beach in just a few metres of water. Absolutely breath-taking.

But it was all over too soon, like all good things. Before we knew it we were back in Phuket and rounding off the trip with a two-hour thai/oil massage at a Patong day spa. Magic. And so now, as of the time I write this, it is just 10 days until MyTW arrives on our at-the-moment not-so-sunny shores to start our new life together. Wish us luck!