I live in a predominantly male environment - ratio of 4:1. As a child in a small village I made dens and played out with mostly boys. In the Navy I did a 'man's' job as an aircraft engineer. (Yes I will say that because at that time that's what we all said because most people didn't get offended at things like that and I still don't.)
Anyway, making a sharp exit from what could be a very heated post on what offends people, I'm simply making a point that I think I have a fairly strong understanding of what makes the male species tick.
I have a whole cupboard full of instruction manuals, not even opened, still tightly sealed in their plastic bags, cast aside with disregard as you would a price of junk mail.
Men like to tinker, 'faff on' and experiment with all things mechanical. My boys both took so many things apart that I would end up with a whole bag of 'bits' of things, wheels, plastic hands, bits of cars or toys that were investigated and left being deemed to be too hard to put back together or broken beyond repair.
This still happens, even though they are all much older and should have learnt by now but they can't help themselves.
Take last night for example. Alexander had his bath and went off to bed to watch a video. Apart from a goodnight at some point not another word was said. I went into the bathroom a while later to find the water still in the bath, not unusual for a 12 year old, so with my usual grumble, tidied up and went to empty the bath.
Now, we have one of these modern new fangled baths. None of this two taps and a plug on a chain at one end stuff. Oh no, we had to be all posh and have something fancy.
Posh and fancy is all well and good, when folk leave things alone and resist the urge to investigate!
I am now about to use this...
To empty it so that I can remove this...
Because this...
A vital part of the mechanics of a 'fancy' plug was removed by an inquisitive 12 year old last night and now when you turn this round silver shiny thing...
Nothing happens!
I now have to use my problem solving skills to get the damn thing out. So far I'm thinking of big blob of blutack, then if that doesn't work, one of those suction cup hook things. And if all else fails, a new bathroom!
*Rolls up sleeves and heads off up to the bathroom........*
....the solution, a crumpled up bit of parcel tape.
This week has been quite eventful. Things have happened that wouldn't have happened if I had still been driving around the North East region chasing unachievable targets and biting off heads.
This new happy, relatively stress-free lifestyle suits me and I'm going to make the most of it while I can before I have to start contributing to the family income again. Oh to be wealthy enough to potter about doing this and that or not if the fancy takes you.
Having enrolled on three courses with the intention of self development and having delivered employability courses when working as a lecturer, the JobCentrePlus Job Coach as they are now called apparently, seemed happy enough to leave me to my own devices. Once she had my six sample signatures on the electronic screen firmly fixed to the desk, she sent me on my way with my 'Jobless Person Instruction Booklet'
I have a head full of ideas at the moments. Things I want to do while I have time. Funny how precious 'time' is at this age. Finding 'time' is often harder than finding 'money'. So I've baggsied some and have this week started learning and doing cool stuff.
Online Social Media Marketing Course - I liked the sound of this because it seemed directed at the user geek rather than technical geek, and since I spend much of my life attached to technology and social media platforms, I though that there may be a time in the near future where having this extra knowledge could be beneficial. One week in and its going well. Today I will watch my last of three webinars this week and complete the weeks assignment.
Creative Headspace - Creative Marketing course. I have dabbled a little in marketing my crafts -selling a few handmade things on a minute scale I have to say, but since this course is delivered in a create workspace locally I thought if nothing else it would give me the opportunity to start 'doing' something creative with a purpose. Like creating my own caddisfly.
Artist at work
I had heard of the caddisfly but hadn't sent any more than a second thinking about it since. I didn't know that has a larva that would stick 'things' from its environment to its shell as camouflage to protect itself. These 'things' would be little stones, twigs, specks of glass, gold..whatever was around it. In the words of the tutor Lynn, "some would be jewels and some just excess weight".
This clicked immediately with me. I have a load of skills and experiences 'stuck' to my shell - some of it useful, some of it less so and some I can do without. The purpose of doing this was for us to identify what we had that was useful and what we could discard.
My caddisfly
The two hours were spent with three others, one my good friend and creative advisor Ann, and another couple of older 'felt makers'. A cabbage shaped teapot and lemon cake. The workshop was full of arty crafty things. The tutor a fountain of knowledge who will I'm sure prove to be very helpful if not inspirational over the five weeks.
The fact that I actually put something down on paper that I was pleased with was a start. Gave me confidence that I could still do it. Something I hope to get more of next week when i start the third course which is a Drawing and Painting course. Proper art. I'm a little nervous as I expect there will be the old faithfuls there who do it regularly because they are retired or enjoy the social aspect. I just need to dust off the art supplies and see what happens.
Where all this will take me is yet to be seen. I have an idea bubbling and have already had comments that it could work. I need to clear my head of the clutter and gain some confidence before I unleash it.
So here I am, in my sitting room, looking out of my bay window at the sun streaming into my garden, birds in the tree opposite and the dogs snoring happily by the sofa. The familiar hum of the washing machine in the background reminds me that I am not on the poolside, on a balmy Floridian morning anymore, but this is where I'd rather be if I had to choose.
Floridays15 is over. We had a great time despite the weather being a bit temperamental, but like everything you make the most of it, and apart from the Orlando City match, it didn't actually stop us doing anything.
The last of the souvenirs have been put away (I have a whole shelf of Starbucks mugs now!), all the clothes washed and ironed and the jet lag is pretty much over with. The rest of the family are back at work/school and even the poorly dog has perked up into her usual old but cheery self. We are back in 'normal' mode. Except me - but that's for another post.
I asked the boys what they had enjoyed most this trip. and this is what they said;
Diagon Alley in Universal came up top for most of us, it was pretty spectacular and definitely top of the list for me too. Here's a video I took.
Alexander said he had really enjoyed the indoor Skydiving (all 10 minutes of it!)
..and both boys had enjoyed their morning at The Fun Spot. A place thats been there for years but we have never been to before. I wish we had taken them there before, they both loved the four go cart tracks.
Hubby and I both loved the Orlando Eye. It was a beautiful morning and seeing everything around us from up there brought back memories of previous visits when we had stayed on International Drive with his parents. The 'Eye' was actually built on land that had been the 'Mercado' a Spanish style shopping/restaurant/entertainment centre that we had visited many times and usually for the obligatory 'Bourbon Chicken' in the food court on the first night there.
The new 'Orlando Eye'
View up International Drive
Had the Orlando City match not been a washout and we'd been able to see the game, we would I'm sure have enjoyed that much more. However, just being there gave us a taste and should we be back there in the next few years we can always try again.
One of our favourite pastimes out there is to try new restaurants. Especially those in Disney while on the Dining Plan as many are expensive and you wouldn't tend to eat in them normally. We had some fantastic food.
Tappan Edo in Disneys Epcot World Showcase was top for the two boys - surprisingly since both aren't very adventurous with food but this was chicken, steak and noodles cooked on a hotplate infant of them. Even Alexander ate most of his.
Hubby and I thought the Filet Minion Oscar Style in The Boathouse at Disney Springs was amazing. A large 14oz Steak topped with lump crab in a bearnaisse dressing followed by key Lime Pie. Although the meal in Jiko at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and also the Wilderness Lodge came close behind.
Filet Minion Oscar Style...mmm
African pot steak
Creme Brûlée - my favourite dessert
Having said all the above, we all felt that we need a change now. The boys still enjoy the roller coasters and other rides but not enough to stand in a long line in the sun to go on them. The magical 'goose pimple' thrill of walking down Main Street in The Magic Kingdom for the first time has long gone leaving us with the comfortable feeling you get when you know exactly where the short cuts are to get across the park and the location of every restroom.
It will be a good few years before we spend a small fortune on Florida again. In five years time the current renovations and new building work will be complete and maybe we will consider it. Maybe the boys will be too old and doing their own things by then leaving hubby and I to go alone and have a completely different experience...
Until then we have a lot of fantastic memories to look back on and millions of photographs to smile over. Not to mention my collection of Florida Starbucks mugs.
