The New Craze

All holiday I have had my eye on these little things. Called Vinylmation. It's a Disney collectable thing where you buy either ready made 3 inch mickey figures, decorated in any number of colours and styles or create your own design using pens, paints, stickers etc.
At ten dollars each for a small one they aren't cheap, but they can be traded in the Disney stores if you get a naff one in your surprise box.
Otherwise you keep spending money while collecting sets or personal creations.
Hubby thinks it's all a load of pish and says he doesn't know why anyone would want one but let Alexander get them. Today he bought his first plain one so we sat and coloured it in while in the shop.
I will sneak one in too before the holiday is done hahaha!


This is a forty dollar large version.


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Typhoid Time

There always has to be a visit to a water park. I find them all bit tedious. The boys love the tubes and waves and I just paddle around waiting for a thunderstorm to show up so we can leave.

As water parks go, I can tolerate Typhoon Lagoon more than the others as it has a nice sandy beach area and a quieter atmosphere than Blizzard Beach.
It's not that I feel at all self conscious in my swimsuit, in fact the opposite. I actually look quite shapely!!! Though you need to ignore my bruised shins from the corners of the bed that leap out at me daily as I navigate my way through the pile of eiderdown and fancy pillows thrown onto the floor in order to get into bed on a night time. Why do people actually bother with all that stuff?

I'm playing spot the Brit again, much easier here once pale chests and backs are uncovered. Although red and white St. George towels are a bit of a giveaway too.
The funniest thing just happened. It started to rain a little- no torrential downpour or anything. We are in a water park remember? You have no idea how many people came out of the water, packed up their things and left, or sat with towels over them!!!! Un-be-liveable.
Well back to the relaxing. Might go and find myself a piña colada if I can be bothered. Lol!
Wish I had wifi so I could actually publish all these posts as I write them though.
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Losing Track of The Days

I have no idea what day of the week it is now. I know we have been here a while cos my suntan is coming along nicely and I'm getting fat from all the eating I am being forced to do on this flippin FREE dining plan.

For those unfamiliar with this, I will explain.

If you booked a Disney Superior hotel you got a free dining plan for each person in the party. So although you had to pay more for the hotel, the fact that you didnt pay for food evened it out and you got better facilities at the hotel to boot. As you know, my husband is one for bargains and so of course this is what we did.

Now a dining plan in most other countries would be of regular portions, but obviously this is the USA and everything is bigger - but not necessarily better! The dining plan consists of one snack, one counter service meal and one table service meal per person per day.

Examples;
Snack - piece of fruit, soft drink, icecream, bag of crisps

Counter Service - Salad bowl, burger & fries, hot dog etc plus dessert and soft drink.

Table Service - Main course, steak, chicken, fish etc plus dessert and soft drink.

Now on paper that sounds like an average days food - yes? NO!

Average portion sizes are pretty big by my standard and unless you plan your eating habits well, you find yourself not wanting to eat much more than a salad come the evening meal. Although the main courses vary a great deal depending on where you eat, the desserts and snacks don't. Luckily you can use them up with bottles of water, drinks and the odd cooling ice lolly.

I enjoy eating generally, but even I have got to the stage where somethimes I dont want to eat anything. The heat doesnt help either, its so hot still, up in the high nineties most days, without the usual thunderstorms in the afternoon to cool things down a little. So unfortunately we are having to suffer all this food and sunshine as best we can.

Its a dirty job, but someone has to do it!

Day Five - Fossil Hunter

I'm not the girliest of girls, I don't have a thing for shoes or clothes or makeup etc but I do like nice, practical handbags. Not these frilly, glitzy tiny ones, or large shoppers as touted by celebs in Heat magazine. Nope, just neat with pockets to store my gadgets and pens and in colours that go with anything - usually black!

In recent years I've moved from Tula, to Radley and now to Kipling and Fossil. Kipling ones I get on ebay, second hand because they are a lot cheaper and most look practically brand new.

My Fossil collection I get from Florida because they too are much cheaper and are very much my cup of tea. I like to stroll past the Fossil shop in the metro centre and look at the almost exact ones selling at over £200 knowing that I paid a fraction of that price.

This one I saw a couple of days ago, resisted the urge to buy it immediately as I wanted to look around, but went back today and bought it.




This one cost about £47.00, will be at least treble that in the UK for something very similar.





This one cost about £19.00 and the purse about £15.00. The pictures don't really show them at their best, they are much nicer in real life.

The other thing I almost bought today but didn't was a pair of Sketchers Shape Up trainers. My SIL has a pair and says they are really good. I tried on a pair and to say they feel a little odd is an understatement. Very comfy but increase your height by about 2 inches and look like you have something wrong with your feet. They are supposed to give you long, slim legs and tight buttocks. I wish!!!

At $100 a pair, about £80, and no hope of discount with coupons, I thought that was a little steep. Could I really go out wearing them around Blyth? I decided not and will have a look in the Crocs shop instead!

It's been another hot and sticky day, contrary to the forecasts. No rain at all for three days. Even sat by the pool this afternoon to help the tan on a little.







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Day Four - pinning him down

Disney really do know how to make a dime don't they? For sixteen years we have managed to steer our children clear of Disney Trading Pins and all that collectors stuff. Not because we were being miserable or strict but because we knew how much it was all likely to cost before being cast into a toy box on returning home, never to see daylight again. That was until this morning.

I blame hubby. Had we not rushed off to Epcot at the crack of dawn only to find that we had a 30 minute wait before the place opened we wouldn't have been standing beside one of the stalls selling all sorts of items, including starter trading pin sets. It's like having sweets next to the tills in a supermarket!

The set contained a lanyard thing, two identical pins (one to keep, one to trade), and a plastic card with trading instructions. Apparently you can trade with any Disney 'cast' member in the parks. You just saunter over to them, ask nicely if they would like to trade with you and then they smile sweetly and ask which of their prized pins you would like. None of the " bugger off I'm not trading my limited edition, gold plated, animated Chip n Dale pin for a lousy ten a penny Tinkerbell" business.

Anyway, the morning at Epcot passed nicely although much of it being spent either at pin trading stations (of which there are many) or eyeing up possible trades with cast members. I have to say that I did encourage Alexander a little by buying him a set of Star Wars pins to kick off his collection, although Darth Vader kept coming loose and ending up on the floor a lot.

Lunch at the Coral Reef amongst the fishes reminded me of our aquarium at home and I hoped they were coping with electronic feeding and were swimming around as happily as the five foot long blue fish in the tank here.

Tomorrow apparently we are on the hunt for more pins to trade at Disney studios. He spotted a skateboard pin and is on a mission. What are you betting that by lunchtime tomorrow he will either have traded for one or been bought one from the shop? The latter more likely.

We had a gloriously sunny but hot as hell afternoon without the kids this time, walking around Downtown Disney while they ran around Disney Quest like crazed loonies. This place is a gamers heaven. Five floors of nothing but games of all kinds, from Hungry Hippo to interactive racing. Conveniently, The House of Blues is right opposite the doors so we were forced to sit out in the sun, with a cold Bud Lite and wait for them to come out.

One of our waiting games is probably very common and called 'spot the Brit'. It used to be much easier but now that we have become more americanised it's sometimes tricky. No longer can you rely on the obvious football top/striped shorts, socks and sandals combo. I got caught out with that one last year. Women are easier, and especially if they are of the 'our usual holiday is in Torremolinos' clan. They are extremely obvious of a night time as they have had a siesta, shower and change of clothing into night out attire.

Regulars to Florida know that you don't take night out clothing, just more day out stuff. No-one dresses up much, unless it's for a special occasion, Just like make up. What's the point? It lasts all of five minutes in the heat and humidity. Which is why I tint my eyelashes before I go. Aha, now you see......!

The easiest way to spot them is to look out for red bits, we still have to get the hang of decent sun cream, and not lying in it all day.
Our lotion of choice is P10/20 you put it on in the morning and it really does last all day - even here. It seems expensive but worth it, trust me and you only have to fight with the kids once to get them to put it on.

I'm rambling on now aren't I? Yes I know, you should have stopped me a while back. So if you are still with me at this point, thanks for reading.


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Day Three - hot and steamy

The day started early as usual due to confused body clocks, although not as early as 3.30am which is our record so far. This year it was 5.30, dressed and ready to eat breakfast at 6.30.

The plan for the day was to drive to a skateboard shop in Orlando to buy the boys their treat, a new skateboard, followed by a couple of hours at the Vans skatepark while we looked around the shops and then a couple of hours at the Cricketers Arms watching the Newcastle v Man Utd match. Back to the room to freshen up before a meal in the Disney Yacht Club.

All went to plan, give or take a hundred dollars!!! Except for the weather. It was like being in a spa sauna and steam room.

Overcast - the sauna, hot and balmy
Sunny - the sauna with a bucket of water on the coals
Rain - warm shower, nice and refreshing (and torrential)
After the storm - the steam room.

We knew the weather was a little unsettled at the moment but the extremes were impressive. Unlike the UK there was never a requirement for a coat, but it changed every few minutes, hot, wet, steamy, wet, steamy, hot. That was just at the shopping outlet!

The boys had a blast at the skatepark. It is a Vans park and is huge by our standards. Alexander had the time of his life, Jordan less so as he wasn't too impressed that a six year old American kid could do tricks better than him. FOUR hours after being signed in we picked them up, as hot and sweaty as we were!

Enjoyed a lovely meal of steak and a caramel vanilla dessert before heading back to the hotel room where we all crashed out exhausted. Here are some pics of the hotel lobby area (Old Key West Resort)















This is our tiny verandah. Not much of a view but somewhere nice and quiet to sit and have coffee.

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Day Two - Planes, trains and automobiles

Planes
As planes go, Virgin Airlines is pretty good at cattle class level. Had we paid an additional £234.00 per person we could have turned left at the door and spent the eight hours in a little more comfort, or for some ridiculous amount of money gone upstairs into Business Class and been asked to vacate the bar area as we travelled though turbulence. No, we decided to travel with the riff raff as usual.

The flight was uneventful although we were surrounded by two large family groups who obviously had never been long haul before and were used to getting in as many free beers as possible throughout the flight. Their kids were hyper and spent most of their time swapping seats. Fortunately our kids were well used to long flights and behaved impeccably.

Trains
A conversation overheard as waiting door the shuttle train to take us to the arrivals terminal at Orlando airport.
" so I said to the attendant, I know I'm not the slimmest prison but I certainly don't need two seats, and you know there was a huge, fat woman who they just let on. Oh my God it was so stressful for me." this was from a woman with the largest backside I have seen in a long, long time so I dread to think exactly how huge this other woman was!

Automobiles
The hire car is often the subject of great discussion. How big, what type etc etc. The first year we went alone without MIL/FIL we opted for a large family car and ended up with some massive cadillac thing with leather seats. No kidding if there had been a body in the boot/trunk it wouldn't have surprised me. Now we go for a people carrier affair with plenty of seats so that the boys can be split up if necessary.
First we have a competition to guess the colour, then it's who is having which seat etc. This year we were told we could have any of the cars in row B, the keys were on the dash. Forfeiting the colour competition we went for a forest green, because we'd never had one before.

Then comes the 'how to drive it' part. Americans must think that we instinctively know how to drive every car that was ever built as they never leave instruction booklets, you know door where the wipers and lights are, how to unlock all the doors, how to open the boot etc etc. So for the first five minutes it's all a bit hit and miss.

Then it's just like riding a bike. Once out on the open road all is fine, and we usually get to where we need to go with little incident - thanks to Mr Tom Tom! Driving in Florida is so easy. Just remember the basics and you'll be fine. Let the men do the driving and the women the navigating- doing it the other way doesn't work, trust me!



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Day one, pass the Valium

We hadn't gone more than a hundred yards down the road when they started bickering. We had called into the garage to fill up with petrol and they were arguing over headphones. It continued for the next three hours at varying degrees until we reached the hotel at the airport.

At that point Big dude crashed, exhausted from the exertion of sitting in the back seat while little dude created mayhem in the hotel, exploring. He was that kid that normally makes yours look like an angel, and no we hadn't force fed him Skittles and Red Bull. He was able to do this on a normal intake of food.

At this point we would have happily swapped him for any other child in a 5 mile radius.

Unfortunately we had arranged to go over to the in laws and out for dinner to a very nice pub/restaurant. With an audience of cousins to play to he excelled himself, resulting in being manhandled rapidly into the car and escorted in silence back to the hotel. At least missing pudding saved on a few pounds on the waistline as well as the purse.

Back in the confines of the hotel things calmed down and we tried to settle into bed ready for the long flight the next morning. Hahahaha it was Travelodge at the airport remember, meaning that people were checking in and out at all hours of the night, and the security door to the corridor was right outside our room. I still don't understand how people can even consider having a conversation in a hotel corridor at 3 am knowing full well that everyone can hear them.

Big dude, being pretty much nocturnal these days had texts coming in throughout the night from his mates, and it was go flipping hot in the room that I had to open the window which you'd be forgiven for thinking looked out over the main runway!

If I slept at all it was for a few minutes at a time. At around 5.30 we gave up and made a coffee. Sleep would have to wait until a more convenient time. Departure day had arrived and we were all ready to set off to the sunshine state.


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Holiday eve, eve, eve

In just 3 days time I will officially be on holiday. My plans for being super organised are looking sick as so far the bags are still either in the loft or at the in laws.
I haven't even told the kids that it's old clothes only week yet.
I have sorted out some toiletries for the overnight bag since the luxurious travelodge don't do them anymore, and found a bottle of P10 in a drawer so put that in the designated 'things to pack' place on the dining table.

Oh and I have found a little baggy in which to keep the most important items iPhone/iPad/iTouch leads and chargers!

Tomorrow is eyelash tint day and then that is it, just the packing and cleaning (incase we get burgled). I think the fact that this will be our 16th trip to Florida means we are pretty much going to our second home. If we forget something we know exactly where to buy it. Like Wal-mart!

Been a funny couple of weeks since I finished work. My head has been spinning with things to do for holiday or job search or housework. Last night I lay awake at 4am trying to think of answers to interview questions. I know, I wanted to slap myself!

Today I had an appointment with a Business Link advisor who went through the basic nitty gritty of setting up your own consultancy. It's not ideal but if nothing permanent comes up soon then it's something I must consider. Now my head is spinning with business plans and net profit figures.

On a more positive side though I did have a conversation with someone who may be in a position to offer me work in Sept.

It would be nice to come home and not have to spend hours on websites filtering searches.

Soooooooo.......

Tomorrow I will start to chill. Tomorrow I will try to start to chill.
Tomorrow I will chill a bit after my chores.


Here's where I will be in my mind! The little island off the gulf coast whose name escapes me.





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Elocution Dr Watson

I've just been watching Sherlock. If you havent already seen the new series then you should. It's very good.

Anyway, the opening minutes of this weeks episode was of Holmes talking to a prisoner, making a point of correcting his grammar at regular intervals until the prisoner made a concious effort to correct himself first.

That was me in the days when hubby and I were young and in the early stages of our relationship. We were both in the Navy and would travel up north to visit parents now and again. My parents were a Policeman and a hairdresser, not exactly academics but they did know how to put a reasonable sentence together. Genetically they must have been ok as between them they produced me, who passed her eleven plus and ended up in Grammar School.

Hubby's parents however were a Dental Surgeon and a Head of English and to my mixed Lancashire/Yorkshire upbringing talked 'posh'. Like 'proper posh'.

I tried hard to think of words that sounded better than the ones I used without thinking, and I'm sure on many an occasion used something totally incorrect. Mum in Law couldn't help herself and corrected my 'me/I/one's' or the way I pronounced a word and then apologised for doing so, making more of a point that I was not as educated as 'one would like'.

Don't get me wrong, she is a lovely, kind woman and never shows anything but affection towards me but she probably thought my Grammar School education was wasted.

Nowadays I just ramble on saying what I like, most normal people seem to understand what I mean. I gradually gained confidence and once my feet were under the table had no need to impress with anything other than good manners and knowing where to place cutlery at a dinner table. (Something one of the other daughters in law was unable to do - Ha!)

I catch myself correcting my sons who have a Northumberland accent and use lots of local dialect, like. "I don't know" becomes "Ah divvent nah", and "Don't worry" is "Nee Botha".

Pity Grandma is now to frail to use her elocution skills.

A Week Today

Not long to go now. A whole week in fact before we pack the few odds and ends we take with us to Florida and set off across the Pennines to the airport. Of course those of you who know me will also know that my suitcase will almost certainly look as neat and tidy as the one in the picture, although the contents wont be as 'floral'.

After an evening with brother in law and family who conveniently live close to the airport and offer their taxi service and car storage facility every year. We will start our holiday with an overnight stay in a Travelodge - It can only improve!

On arrival in Florida we check into The Old Key West Resort. We've never stayed there before but got a free dining plan as part of the deal so decided to give it a go. Hence my unsucessful attempt to lose weight before we go as I know I will return the size of a small whale!

After a few days 'doing the Disney's', shopping and the usual things we find to occupy ourselves we change to 'Universal mode' and head off up the I-4 to my favourite hotel, The Hard Rock Hotel. We stayed there a couple of years ago and loved it. It's such a cool place. Hopefully we wil get to experience poolside rock bands and movies as tropical storm Faye put a stop to that last time.

One of our main reasons for staying at a Universal Hotel is so that we get a free 'fast pass' which comes with a room key card so we can enjoy all the big rides with minimum wait. This year we will be visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which according to reviews is amazing and has queues a mile long.

One of the perks of going to Florida at this time of year is that American schools go back earlier than ours so we get a week or so of quieter time in the parks. However, there is also a higher risk of thunderstorms and hurricanes!

I want to get a real life proper wand from 'Ollivander's'. I know, I'm such a big kid!

All that's left to do now is the usual pre holiday checks. Passports, tickets, passes, coupons, eyelash tint........

However did I have time to work?

All this being at home business is hard work! I really dont know how I managed to fit in a job as well.

I get up only a little later than I did - no later than 7am. I busy myself with all the housewifery duties such as putting, taking out and hanging laundry, emptying the dishwasher, packing lunchboxes etc etc.

The rest of the day I find myself pottering around doing this and that, the little jobs that annoyed me but I never got around to fixing. Usually it's around 1pm that I realise I have only had one cup of coffee - at work I'd have had at least four!



The dogs are looking fitter and the fridge has more than a days worth of food in it.








.....and then there's the job search......but we will just skim past that one for now.




Do you think I could be procrastinating again? You know how I clean ovens and windows etc when I had an assignment to write???

Yes I think so too.

Maybe I will get the house in order and then look for a job?