And a bit more of a catch up!

Tuesday 11th August

Today I did a 3 hour drive down to the West Palm Beach service station, then turned around and drove right back. Whilst I was there I did have lunch and move a couple of things from my car to Katie’s and vice versa so I guess there was method in my madness.

I got back around 4pm to arrive in the middle of an issue where Katie had been cut off from electricity in Fort Lauderdale because the power company thought the bill had not been paid when it had really. As can often be the case when dealing with big corporations Lisa and I spent probably 5 hours on the phone between this afternoon and tomorrow and really did not achieve very much, the power went back on when they wanted it to, all our shouting and complaining did not seem to move anything any further along. In the meantime Katie and Rachel had a house with no air conditioning with temperatures inside in the 90s, luckily they found elsewhere to sleep at night. When the power company did come back out to turn the power on, Wednesday lunchtime, they claimed the gate was locked and as they could not raise any attention from the house, the door bell is electric, they left/ Amazing how they managed to open the same gates when they wanted access to turn the power off. Eventually the power was restored on Thursday at around 11am.

Wednesday 12th August

Today we spent a day in, I was very happy with that after yesterday. I read a lot and did manage to do a bit of writing, but not a lot else, other than talking to Florida Power and Light on the phone of course....

Monday 10th August - Kennedy Space Centre

Today we drove over to the coast to Kennedy Space Centre, Baggage has been doing work on space exploration as part of her science school work and this is a very suitable field trip for the end of term, after all you always go on a field trip at the end of the summer term don’t you.

Space Shuttle Discovery is on the launch pad, it rolled out there last week in preparation for it’s launch at the end of August so we get a look at it from the observation gantry, though you do not get to see much as it’s launch tower is in the way and all you can really see is the top of the orange fuel tank. However it was still good to see it there getting ready for it’s launch, we will not be in Florida when it goes off, but after having seen it getting ready to depart I will try to track it's launch date and get Baggage to watch it go off over the Internet on the NASA site which streams all launches as they happen.

On the way out to the gantry where we looked at Discovery from we drove alongside the crawler roadway that is used to transfer the assembled shuttles from the assembly building out to the launch site, the impressions in the roadway being clearly visible even though the shuttle travelled over it a week before.

After having taken a good look at the tip of the tank from the gantry we continued on to the Saturn V centre where the focus is on the Apollo program and moon landings. It was 40 years ago this summer that man first landed on the moon and this is being commemorated in the centre with additional exhibits being on display from the NASA archives for the first time, it was good to go there and see some of these things that had been hidden away for so long. The exhibits included an array of prototypes for the suit for the moon walk, I guess that the suit that was worn has become part of our history so does not look out of place, some of these that were proposed and tested looked as if they would have been more at home in a 50s ‘B’ sci-fi movie.

After the Saturn V centre we headed back to the main visitors centre and watched one of the IMAX films and then took a walk in the rocket garden and paid a visit to the Robot Scouts exhibition before thinking about heading back to our house. It was a good day, we have been to the Kennedy Space Centre before, but the last time Baggage was there she was only 7 so did not remember much of it and it all came across as being new to her, she really enjoyed it, it was a pretty good field trip.

We got back to the house at 8:30, early enough to watch a bit of Torchwood before bed.

More Posts to catch up with!

Saturday 8th August

This morning Lisa and Baggage headed over to Lowes to have a go at another of their wood craft projects for kids, today it was a small boat that was made. When they got back we gave it a go in the pool and it worked great. It did not sink!

I managed to do a bit of writing today and I read quite a bit. I am enjoying Cell as much as I did Duma Key!

For dinner tonight we had a beef Pot roast with the free joint of beef I got last time I bought one, the joint was big enough for about ten people and there are three of us, still it had cooked up really nice and will be great cold in sandwiches.

This evening I found season three of Torchwood available on BBC America on demand, five episodes to watch, that will keep me quiet for the next couple of evenings.

Sunday 9th August

Today we did a bit of cleaning before lunch, hoover, bathrooms etc. really exciting stuff! After lunch Lisa and Baggage had a swim, I opted to read.

We had to swap out our hire car today, though I managed to keep the Dodge Charger we have been driving and simply get it swapped out onto a new contract. I could not hire one car for all the time we are here as it exceeded Dollar’s maximum length for a single hire.

After we had swapped the car we drove down into Celebration for dinner and ate at Market Street Cafe as Baggage has been looking forward to one of their Chicken Pot Pies, both Lisa and I opted for a salad as it was just too hot to consider anything else tonight.

After Baggage had gone to bed we watched a bit more of Torchwood.

Another couple of days (slowly catching up!)

Monday 3rd August

Lisa and Baggage went out to The Villages to meet their friends Marleen and Cassidy today, they went to ‘Paint-a-pot’ I took advantage of the peace and quiet and wrote some more, I am now well into Chapter 9 ‘Australia’.

Before I got into any writing this morning though I cleaned the pool decking and painted a bit of it, I am not painting the entire deck as I only did that last autumn, but there are some bits of it that do not seem to have faired very well so as I have some of the paint left I am just touching those up.

This evening I watched Wayne’s World, one of those films I felt I knew as I have seen so many clips from it over the years, but had in fact never seen all the way through.

Tuesday 4th August

Mainly just did a few jobs around the house today, cleaned the front door step ready for it to be painted and sorted all the towels and sheets, disposing of those that are well passed their “sell by date”. Did manage to get some writing done as well and even managed to read a bit, but nothing too exciting.

Wednesday 5th August

Today we spent the day at the house and did a few more jobs around the place, then this evening we went back up to the Amway Arena to see Green Day, who were supported by the Kaiser Chiefs. The concert was brilliant. The Kaiser Chiefs were very good, even though most of the American audience did not seem to know who they were and they got the biggest cheer whenever they mentioned Green Day, they only had a half hour set but managed to fit in a good number of their hits. Green Day were really on form, they played loads of material off their new album and most of their well known tracks, the stage show was very impressive and there was loads of crowd interaction, they even got members of the audience up on stage to sing with them and at the end one lad went up to play guitar, and did a pretty good job! The plan had been to take Katie with us to Green Day as we did not think Baggage would like it, though as Katie is now back in Fort Lauderdale we had no choice other than for Baggage to come along and she had a fantastic time, I doubt she would admit it, but I reckon she preferred Green Day to Demi Lovato! The next concert we have booked is on the 18th, the Jonas Brothers, another one for Baggage, reckon I may well be taking ear plugs to that one!

Thursday 6th August

Ears still ringing this morning!

We did some packing today, we have two weeks left before we return to the UK, but have an awful lot to sort out and pack so decided it was best to do it in bits, not all at the end. I also managed to fit in a swim and to get some writing done, I am now up to Australia’s Red Centre.

For tonight’s dinner we had sweet and sour chicken made with tinned chicken from our Hurricane Box, we keep a box of supplies at the house in case of a long term power outage caused by a hurricane or tropical storm and most of the tins are heading out of date so we either chuck them or have some odd meals to eat up before we head back to the UK.

Friday 7th August

Today we were going to go to Kennedy Space Centre, but Lisa and I had a really bad night so we will put that off until Monday, Baggage also gets the day off school today as Lisa is not with it enough to teach her!

This afternoon we did make it up to Festival Bay and watched G-Force in the cinema, it was OK, though there were plenty of other films showing I would rather have seen if we had not had Baggage with us!

On the way home we had dinner at Chilis, then Lisa got herself an earlier night and I watched Domino on DVD, it was OK if you like seeing Keira Knightly getting roughed up, better than G-Force!

Pinch and Punch, our final travelling month

Saturday August 1st

Today Lisa and Baggage went off to the Craft Show again, as we had been for one day it was only $4 each for them to spend a second day there and there were plenty of crafts we did not get to yesterday for them to try out. I decided to stay at the house and got on with my book, I actually really got on well with it and wrote 2 1/2 chapters, getting me up into the writing about what we did whilst travelling by getting me half the way through Hong Kong.

Lisa and Baggage got back around 6pm, a second good haul of free stuff, though not as much stuff as we bought home between the three of us yesterday.

Sunday August 2nd

Today we are spending most of the day at the house, we are off to see Demi Lovato at the Amway Arena tonight so are not in a hurry to do much during the day. I read quite a lot and have now finished my book, I have a second Stephen Kong book here I have not read yet, Cell, so whilst I am in a reading mood guess I will give that a go.

The concert, whilst not the first time Baggage has seen a band played live is in effect her first concert, in that it is the first time she will have been to a concert she chose to go to and that was not a part of something else. I did not have very high expectations, I was really only going along as the driver, but I was pleasantly surprised. Demi Lovato was supported by Jordan Pruit and David Archuleta, both of whom were pretty good, Demi herself was very good on stage, especially as she is only 17, if she is still in the business in her 30s her stage show is likely to be well worth taking the time out to see.

After the concert Baggage managed to get her ticket stub signed by Jordan Pruit which made the day even more special for her.

days off and a few Crafts

Wednesday 29th July

Today we decided a day off from Baggage’s schooling is in order so we treated her to a visit to Disneyquest in Downtown Disney, we got there at about 11am and stayed in there until just after 6pm. Disneyquest is a computer game based indoor theme park, we managed to try out most of the games on offer, plus Baggage did the drawing classes where she learnt how to draw various Disney characters.

The photo shows Baggage and Lisa as paddles in a life sized pin ball game, they had to rock their ducks to move the pucks on a large video screen to strike the ball and win points. On one of the games Baggage actually won, though was not sure how she managed it.

On the way home we got ourselves a McDonald’s drive through, it was far too late to worry about what to cook for dinner.

Thursday 30th July

Today we really did not do much, all that computer gaming yesterday has tired us out. I did read quite a bit, am getting near to the end of my book now. Some more beer to add to the records also: Killian’s Irish Red, Lienenliugel’s Berry Weiss, Yuengling Black and Tan. The Irish Red is very good, as with the Sam Adams it is best drunk at room temperature. The Berry Weiss is very refreshing when drunk in the hot tub at the end of a long day, best served very cold. The Black and Tan is also best served cold and goes well with a few peanuts and a good television program. Tonight we all watched Adam Sandler in 50 First Dates, Lisa and I had seen it before but as it was filmed in places we visited whilst on Hawaii we wanted to watch it again out of curiosity.

Friday 31st July

Today we watched STS-127 Endeavour land (on the TV), unfortunately the approach was up to KSC from the South, sometimes when coming in to land they do so over Orlando, but not this time.

After it was down we headed up to the Orange County Convention Centre to a craft show, we did not really know what to expect, though it might be a few stalls and we may be in there for a couple of hours. We were in there from noon until it closed at 6pm. It was a fairly large hall and whilst there were stalls you could buy things at the vast majority of the show was given over to ‘Make and Take’, you could try out crafts and take your creations home, all for free. We tried out loads: painting, earring making, Photo Pearls, Christmas Decorations, Scrap booking, Cookie decoration (and eating), Duck Tape Wallet making, mini chalk board decoration. We also got loads of other free stuff to take home, I reckon between us we got well over $150 worth of stuff, all for free. It was so good that Baggage and Lisa have decided to go back again tomorrow.

For dinner we grabbed a Chinese take away.

Struggling to write

Monday 27th July

We all got up pretty early today, Lisa woke by 6:30 and Baggage and I were both up by 7, no particular reason, just woke up. I spent a lot of time out by the pool reading, I really just cannot put that book down.

Tuesday 28th July

This morning I managed to get a bit of writing done, though nothing like enough. At this rate I reckon I may just about have finished writing half of my book by the time I return to the UK, that is still quite a lot that will be left to be done.

Lisa and Charlotte went out this afternoon to the Library to watch the talent show they are putting on, I had great intentions, I was going to write all afternoon, but after about half an hour of not really getting anywhere I gave up and watched a movie instead. Trouble is it is all too easy to turn off the laptop and go and do something else instead.

When Lisa and Baggage got back we all had a swim before I made dinner, tonight we had sweet and sour chicken.

What can I get for $5

Sunday 26th July

Did a few jobs about the house this morning then watched the Hungarian Grand Prix. Afterwards we went out to Old Town and had a wander around plus played the $5 game, who can buy the best item for just $5. I got a rabbit made from Nuts and Bolts, Baggage got an orange vase and Lisa got a candle holder similar to those we had seen in Fiji, we decided that Baggage won.

Baggage also did a Bobble Head video which we got in a DVD, this will be useful footage for a future entry for the website. Not bad, they only charged $5, though they could have let her finish the song, the guy who was running it seemed to cut her off early?

On the way back to the house we stopped at Cracker Barrel for dinner and then called in to Walmart where Charlotte got a mouse for her laptop, she got a pink one which matches the laptop cover.

Progressive Nation 2009

Saturday 25th July

Today I can get a Grand Prix fix again, though qualifying leaves a bit of a bad taste ad Massa ends up being taken to the hospital after a very nasty hit on the head from a spring off the back of Barichello’s car. It turns out he has a fractured skull, it would have been much worse had the helmet not held up, and he is to spend a few days in a Hungarian hospital before returning to his native Brazil. He obviously is out of tomorrow’s race and Ferrari will only run one car, though there is talk of Michael Schumacher stepping back into the car for the European Grand-prix at the end of August.

This morning Lisa and Charlotte headed over to Lowe’s (the hardware store) for a wood working class and Charlotte came back with a helicopter model she had made, it is all free, I guess the store work on building customer loyalty, and Charlotte has a great time, in fact she has already said she wants to go to the next one in a couple of weeks time.

This evening I am off to Hard Rock live at Universal City Walk to see Dream Theater. They are playing as part of the Progressive Nation tour 2009 and there are four bands on the bill: Scale the Summit, Big Elf, Zappa Plays Zappa and Dream Theater. All bands are very good, Zappa plays Zappa and Dream Theater are both excellent. Most of the stuff Dream Theater play is off their new album, Black Clouds and Silver Linings.

The gig ends after 11 and I stop off at McDonald’s on the way back to the house as I have only managed to grab a burger for tea at about 5:30 and am starving, two burgers in one day, very healthy!

Katie and Rachel are off today

Friday 24th July

Katie and Rachel are heading back down to Fort Lauderdale this morning so we all head over to iHop for breakfast before they go. Lisa and I had a bad experience in an iHop a few years ago and have avoided them ever since, however the breakfast we had this morning was very good, if we were in the habit of going out for breakfast then eating here could become a habit. I am sure last time we went to an iHop about all that was on the menu was very sickly pancake and waffle variations, today you could have had pretty well any fast food staple you desired, the menu was fairly extensive.

After breakfast Katie and Rachel got straight off, the house will seem awfully quiet without them here!

This evening we watched Coraldine, I picked it up yesterday from Walmart on 3D DVD, luckily there was a 2D version in the box also as none of us could get on with the 3D, maybe our telly is just not bright enough, but it just seemed all blurred and washed out. As it was Lisa did not like the film at all and gave up after about half an hour and went and had a bath, Baggage and I did watch it through to the end, though I felt a few of the scenes may be nightmare material for Baggage.

Reading is my main activity!

Wednesday 22nd July

Today I seemed to spend most of the day lying by the pool and reading Duma Key, guess I must really be enjoying this book, it has been a long time since I read a book from cover to cover with the kind of speed I am reading this one, in fact the last would also have been a Stephen King, the last book in the Gunslinger series.

The additional $100 that was originally held back from our repaid deposit on the house in Hawaii also turned up today, with that we have finally got all our deposits from our various properties back, all our Internet based bookings went OK, the houses were there, they were as expected and we got all our security deposits back in full. If you follow my rule of always talking to a real person before you book a house over the web you seemingly should be OK!

This evening by special request I made lasagne again, everyone really enjoyed it last time and tonight the repeat performance was also a hit. Simple recipe off the side of the lasgne sheet packet and it obviously worked. After dinner we played a couple of games of Toss Up and Monopoly Express, both simple dice based games, before going to bed.

Thursday 23rd July

A quiet day in today, I get to the bank to deposit the cheques and stop off at Walmart for a few bits and pieces on the way back. This afternoon the girls go in the pool.

Katie decided to head back to Fort Lauderdale today, but left it a bit late in the day and even though she did get everything into the car and head out towards the Turnpike she ended up turning back and is back at the house tonight, they are now going to leave for Fort Lauderdale tomorrow morning.

More time spent in Florida

Monday 20th July

Today is the day that Baggage has been waiting for since we were back in Australia, the day she is going to watch the new Harry Potter film. The film came out last week but Katie is taking her and wanted to watch all the other films again before they went and only managed to get the last film watch yesterday evening.

Did not do much during the day, spent quite a bit of time sorting photos from our trip, there are so many of them to go through and if I do not sort them down into a much smaller subset of the best ones we will never end up showing them to anybody! The plan is to select a subset from each country that will make about a 10 minute slide show for that country, even that would be over an hours worth of viewing if you were to watch all the slide shows end to end. Thank goodness for my MAC and iPhoto it makes such tasks so much easier.

After the girls went out to Harry Potter Lisa and I decided we should watch a movie to, we chose the couch potato option though and bought The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ‘on demand’ from our cable supplier and thoroughly enjoyed it. We did not have to drive home after the movie either!

Tuesday 21st July

Today Katie and Rachel are going out to Islands of Adventure for the day, I decide to take the opportunity of the house being relatively quiet to catch up with the last couple of Baggage videos that needed completing and getting up on the web site.

We managed to spend quite a bit of time on Skype this morning, first with my Mum and then with Danny, it was good to be able to talk to both of them.

Baggage managed to find another copy of There’s Something about Mary at the library today, so when they get back Lisa and I watch it from where we left off with Katie and Rachel, they had a good day at Islands.

Beer tonight is Sam Adams Boston Lager. After having forgotten to put it in the fridge I find that it tastes much better when served at room temperature, no surprise really, it is a red beer and does a British bitter not taste best when not too cold? Am just irritated that I have been chilling it for all this time and missing out on the real taste of the beer.