Middle of the week already

Well it's the middle of the week already. Monday's trip to BG was great. We started out early, eight a.m. to Tampa and a relatively easy drive. We were there when the gates opened and got set up for our safari. Mike and I went in one direction and the Doreys went in the other with plans to meet up at eleven to be together for the planned adventure. We saw such interesting animals, particularly the kangaroos who can run/hop at an unbelivable speed. Almost too fast to really see. The highlight of the trip was the safari which was only a half hour long but it was the first oppoirtunity I have ever had to feel a giraffe and to be close enough to look one of these creatures in the eye. Of course they know that when the truck comes with 20 people standing in the back, that they have lettuce in their hands and it's snack time. They love to eat out of your hands and will slobber over you if you aren't careful. Additionally they are so elegant!! We were told to scratch behind their ears or rub their necks but not to touch their faces because they don't like that. There were several giraffes who came immediately to the truck and some that stood off and watched. Of course we saw many other animals on this sarangheti (sp?) but the highlight was definitely the giraffes. After lunch we separated again and Mike and I took the train around the park twice and he had a nap...on the train. We also took the sky train across the park and got to see things from quite a high vantage point. My acrophobia was under control except for one stretch where the cable car went up quickly and steeply and I sat with my eyes closed for a few moments just to regain my comfort level. We left the park at three thirty and it felt good to get home.

Tuesday morning we headed over to see Bonnie and Peter in Wesley Chapel. I kept a dentist appt first thing that morning and had a check up of my jaw.After some poking and digging I find that it feels much better. No need to go into that. Anyway Bonnie and Peter are wonderful hosts and of course, Bonnie is a great cook. She fed us a most interesting and delicious lunch and then we played some bridge just to say we did!! Home in time for supper which we didn't need and in fact didn't eat!!

Then today...the middle of the week. We headed to Claremont to play golf, about an hour's drive. Nice course but more difficult than Royal St Cloud. Of course the weather is wonderful and with the low humidity, it was a great day to be outdoors. Teed off just around nine. We picked Chris up after  work and headed to 4910 and after a brief visit, went to a new dining locale...The Pub at Pointe Orlando. What a swell place!! The appetizers were delicious: Laura wanted to try a scotch egg; we had deep fried pickles which were SO GOOD and also a goat cheese dip which was yummy. This pub is an English style eatery so three orders of bangers and mash and an order of fish and chips came next. The bread pudding with whisky sauce polished it all off and of course, there were interesting and unusual drinks and beer. I would go back tomorrow! I have pictures and in the next day or so I will get them included here. The decor is appealing as is the food.

We are all pretty tired tonight. On our way back from The Pub, there was a mammoth traffic jam between here and Orlando. A notice was flashing that there were completely blocked lanes 16 miles ahead and we didn't think that we would get caught in it as we were only eight miles from our exit but we were right in it for sure. The last few miles were totally stop and go. It took us just over an hour for a drive that can take 25 minutes on a good day. Very Very Ugly. NOnetheless we got back safe and sound. Played some bridge and it's now time for bed.

Tomorrow over to see Roger and Maureen. The Smith Kids are at the beach so we will probably see them as well. Supper with the Pictou County vacationers around 5 and then back here. I am not doing anything on Friday. Will get the pictures up and caught up at that time.

Thanks for stopping by and I will be back!!!

Busch Gardens

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I would love to tell you all about our day at this point, but I am so tired, I don't know if I will be able to stay awake.
Here are a few comments...

• Busch Gardens is well worth the visit
• Giraffes are incredibly beautiful, friendly and elegant 
• You can overcome a fear of heights on the Sky Train at BG

Late night Sunday

 It seems like this was a long day...time change means we were a little behind the curve and were almost late for Mass at Holy,Family. Mike and I drove the average age up a bit. So many young families go  to church there. Teenagers and pre.teens and just a large number of them. Something we don't see at our church. We have mostly old people, like ourselves. I love that church.


After Mass we stopped at The Fresh Market and picked up some pastries to have at 4910. Poor Jocelyn wasn't feeling great today and she slept a lot of the time we were there. We had a good visit and will be back on Wednesday.


When we got up this morning, it was pretty grey looking and I thought it would turn into another lovely Florida day but it turned the other way and rained most of the day. The traffic was crazy when we were coming back here...the worst so far. Our 25 minute drive back took almost an hour and we saw five accidents along the way. Wouldn't that just ruin your day?! Everyone was on the road or at the mall. Laura said the stores were crazy too.


So in the morning we are heading to Busch Gardens at about eight. It' almost an hour to get there so we will have a full day. Hope you all have a great day tomorrow. I'll be back...

We decided today to do a bit of shopping so this morning we went to The Loop which is one of our shopping destinations. We don't seem to have much of a Florida list this year so we weren't too long. I got a good spring walking jacket which was 70% off. Love those sales. Also a couple of shirts as I prefer white shirt
s and somehow didn't bring enough. Still no red shoes...or shoes of any color for that matter. The hunt continues.

Tomorrow we are going to church in Bayhill and then to see Chris and fam.  Busy week ahead that just got a bit busier...
Monday to Busch Gardens
Tuesday to Bonnie and Peter's
Wednesday golf and it's Jocelyn's actual birthday
Thursday to the other coast for supper with the Pictou County Contingent
Saturday is Jocelyn's birthday celebration..
That seems like a full week to me...hope everything falls into place. Be back soon! till then!

Fabulous Friday

Well this was a great day in the SS. We golfed at the Royal St Cloud Links and had a fabulous outing. What a spectacular course. It's a links course and quite rugged in places. Lots of sand and water and dunes. There is a video on line worth watching just to get a sense of the course. Cart and eighteen for $30. Probably more than lots of people pay but it was well worth it. We all loved it. Hot!! We teed off at nine- o-four with a starter from PEI. He lives here for six months and works a day a week for free golf. Sounds like a deal to me. Anyway by the time we finished it was pretty hot for sure. However there was cold beer in Davenport and we barbecued burgers and ate key lime pie for dessert.

You may know I have been struggling with the after affects of a tooth extraction that I had done just before we came. Finally I seem to be on the winning side and although it may seem to have been a poor choice to have it done before coming here, I couldn't take the chance of having it flare up while here and having to have the proceedure done away from home. Fortunately I had taken a course of antibiotics with me and I took them as a precautionary measure and things are looking good at this point in time. Hoping for the best.

We are really pleased with our location and how the first week has gone. The Doreys are great to spend time with and we have played bridge every day so far. Keeping a running score. No surprise to me...MVM is in the lead but I am firmly in second; had a bad night last night but my first couple of days were great so I had some wiggle room. Now that we have been fed, we are ready to get at it again. Right now we are watching.....golf!!

I hope my boys are reading along. No one is commenting so I don't know if anyone at all is reading except Carol! And Jane LL!! Jane commented! Thanks Jane!!!

We are going to Busch Gardens on Monday and to Bonnie and Peter's on Tuesday. Jocelyn's birthday is Wednesday although her party isn't till the weekend. I hope to get out and do some shopping tomorrow and maybe even get out for breakfast. I told Mike today that I didn't want to cook on the weekend. I don't do it at home and certainly don't want to do it here. Chris is back from Arizona today but busy on Saturday so we will be in Orlando on Sunday for part of the day.
 I don't have to say how much I love to visit with that family. They are all totally sweet.

So that seems to be it for this time. We seem to have our computer issues resolved. I have to do this on Mike's laptop as the keyboard on the SamTab is just too tiny, and digital to boot. Good for the basics but for any amount of typing I just can't do it.

Hope you find time to drop by again. All is well here. Wishing the same for you!!

This is a rant...read with care

Today was a beautiful day in the SS...bright and sunny...no humidity. Yesterday our condo owner told us a wireless router would be delivered TODAY.  We stayed here ALL DAY waiting for said person to arrive. Didn't happen. A WHOLE day here. On the patio...that was fine but here ALL day.  I suppose it was a favour to us and Evie is in NYC after all, but someone dropped the ball today and we aren't too happy with the failure to deliver. At the end of the month we will be trying to find a day to get something done and that day was today.  Tomorrow we are heading to a national park for some geocaching and golf on Friday so it could be next week before we get this problem resolved.

Hope all is well where you are. Till the next time and a more cheerful mood..  :-)