Myrtle Creek

Today's riddle - I've seen these animals many times before at Myrtle Creek GC and always believed them to be Muskrats, but yesterday my playing partners told me they were, in fact ?????? - I can't remember the name! I think the word begins with A - they were apparently imported about a hundred years ago as a potential substitute to the beaver, whose population was on the wane, but their pelts aren't as good as the beaver's. No amount of web-trawling has revealed the name yet - can anyone help? This was a baby one - maybe 2-3 feet long - Daddy would be more like 4-5 feet:

Myrtle Creek is beautiful and full of wild life - swooping turkey vultures, wild turkeys, but thankfully yesterday, no whiff of skunk! A very tame doe strolled out beside us at the 4th green, complete with fawn - and there was another one lurking in the woods. This shot was taken from just a few yards away:

Lucy cycled home yesterday - I had dropped her off at work in the morning with her bike, on my way north to Myrtle Creek. We just hung around in the afternoon and eventually got in the pool - Jo's 3rd visit - amazing!

Jo made soup - and we also had a delicious pud straight from the recipe book - can't remember what it was called - by then all the brain cells were dead - I had somewhat overdone the gin content in our evening G & T's!

Dropped Lucy off again this morning so I've got her car - may go shopping later - we'll see how the kids are.

Sleepy Sunday

Scott got back quickly with the dogs - his Dad drove over half way to meet him. Bailey was active:

but poor old Ryan just lay there:

We didn't go anywhere so just spent time reading, snoozing, listening to music (downloaded new Beck album plus two new audiobooks) and eventually the pool:

Scott cooked salmon on the BBQ and Jo made up noodles - Lucy mixed an alcoholic smoothie and I did the G & T's! It was pretty hot yesterday - well in to the mid 90's I suspect.

We're all up this morning - Scott and Lucy are going to work and I'm taking advantage of half price Monday at Myrtle Creek GC - should be back early afternoon.

Saturday

Well, the Lesinas finally got home safe and sound yesterday - I picked them up at the airport early afternoon. A very quiet and slow day - although we did manage a dip in the pool and hot tub.

Dinner was preceded by the usual G & T and Lucy went to Alberston's to get some chicken and she made up a Caesar salad - very nice.

Watching the final round of the Open this morning - and I'm babysitting - Jo and Lucy have gone to church and Scott has driven to the Coast to get the dogs.

Friday travel

First of all, a photo from our trip to Pleasure Island on Thursday evening. The boys had a great time - especially at the Lego store where there's lots of things to play with - and, of course, they got gifts to bring home too - just as well Scott and Lucy packed an extra suitcase!

We dined at the Italian Portobello restaurant.


On Friday morning, Lucy drove us to the airport - no problems - everything went smoothly. We had a couple of hours in Salt Lake City - time for a couple of beers in Finnigan's and it gave me a chance to see a bit of the Open.

We picked up Lucy's car at Medford and drove back to Delsie Drive (via Albertson's to stock up). Had a dip in the pool and waited - eventually Lucy phoned to say their plane had technical problems and had been delayed. After some to-ing and fro-ing, they eventually got put up at the Hyatt right in the centre of Orlando airport - and past security - just a 5 minute stroll to their gate in the morning.

This was a great outcome for them - far better than arriving in Las Vegas in the early hours of the morning and having to look for somewhere to stay there. This way, they'll arrive here refreshed and well on Saturday afternoon - via Phoenix - and it saved me having to go and pick them up at Medford at 2 or 3 am this morning!

Thursday

Our last full day - what to do? In the end, Jo and I stayed at the ranch whilst the rest headed off to Typhoon Lagoon, where they stayed until the usual mid afternoon klaxons (remember them all those years ago?). The bonus was that they got back here quite early - armed with Key Lime Pie - Jo's favourite!

Probably go Downtown Disney tonight for something to eat - then it's an early rise - Lucy will drive us to the airport. In return, I have to drive from Grants Pass to Medford airport at about 3 am to pick them up!

Tuesday

It was theme park time again yesterday (Tuesday) - this time Epcot. Another tropical downpour late afternoon meant donning the ponchos again and we were back at the ranch not long after 6pm.


Stars of stage and screen yesterday were Braeden, Cade and Lucy. The video clip shows Lucy and Cade on stage at the Velcro show - yes, Velcro - everything is sponsored here - even at Disney.

Imagination was popular - Jo may have retired but she was still in her element showing the kids what to do:

- and that was Tuesday. Wednesday was, for once, a slightly earlier start - we'd promised ourselves that we would be up and out by 8:30 latest every day to get the best of the weather and beat the crowds - but have failed miserably so far. Today was better, however, but we still managed to spend all day at the Animal Kingdom and not do anything else - but that was fine with us all.

Cade voted Animal Kingdom 2nd best park - just behind the Magic Kingdom. The boys enjoyed the greeting when they arrived:

Braeden was too small for the Everest ride, but we took a photo anyway:

Pizza, Bombay gin and beers in the evening - and off to bed by 10 - hopefully!

Monday

Yesterday was a quiet day as Jo wasn't feeling well - she slept most of the day, but she's fine again this morning.

Scott and I took the opportunity to nip down to Ginn Reunion, which is the location for our golf trip in November. It looks very nice indeed - Scott took this photo of me in front of the driving range:

Scott, Cade, Lucy and Braeden went to the pool in the afternoon - it was a lovely day. In the evening, we went to Red Lobster - excellent shrimp, scallops and lobster - and a really nice place.

Epcot is on the agenda for today - if the boys ever get up! Perhaps a water park later if the usual afternoon storms don't materialise.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Day 2 was spent at Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM). My ankle was still sore and I was going to have to hobble around. I tried at the start but it was obvious I would just be making my ankle worse - Jo suggested we get a wheelchair - it was the best $10 we ever spent - at least for me - pity about Jo, Lucy and Scott having to push me around! The good side for everyone, however, was that we all got to go in the disabled entrances and bypass the lines! What a fraud I felt!:



This park is primarily for adults and teenagers - not as good as the Magic Kingdom for younger kids. It does, however, have two of the very best rides going - the Tower of Terror and Aerosmith's Rock 'n Roller Coaster. We couldn't get Jo to go on either and Braeden was too small for the latter. On the Tower of Terror, all I could hear was Braeden asking his Mummy to get them to stop it! It's pretty awesome when they take you up in the lift and then just let it drop - and then again and again.

The acceleration on the Rock 'n Roller Coaster is fantastic and Cade bawled all the way through it - I thought he would have wet himself - but he held on OK! He was fine afterwards and happily posed for photos with his brother:

More rain yesterday but it didn't really affect us. We went back to our complex and freshened up in the pool:

We had planned to go out for seafood in the evening but then another storm broke and Scott went for a nap before we got pizza delivered to our rooms. Don't know if this was natural or whether Mickey was "planted"!:

Beautiful morning today (Tuesday) - but Jo's not feeling well, so I guess I'll hang around here - not sure what the Lesinas are doing - the boys are still asleep.

Magic Kingdom

Jo and I decided to go for a stroll round the site whilst we waited for the Lesinas to awake:

One of Lucy's patients had made up Disney t-shirts for the boys - and ones for Lucy and Jo too:

Boo - hoo - Scott and I felt left out!

Well, they did eventually get up, and, despite the forecasts, Cade insisted we went to Disney - so the Magic Kingdom it was. By the time we got there, parked, got transport to the ticketing centre, bought tickets, got the ferry over and entered the park, it was almost noon.

On the round the park train for a stop then got fast passes for Great Thunder Mountain Railway - that was great - even Jo enjoyed it - but then the heavens opened and all the outdoor rides were stopped as there was lightning in the vicinity. We didn't really mind the rain at first but eventually thought it might be prudent to buy rain ponchos. The rain did stop eventually and we did most of the rides - including Jo's favourite Pirates of the Caribbean, which had temporarily broken down earlier. Splash Mountain was great, as was Buzz Lightyear - and the new Monsters Inc laughter show featured me on screen and Cade's joke read out! The only ride to avoid is the old Carousel of the Future - nostalgia only!

Echoing our first family visit to Disney in 1989, we posed in front of Cinderella's Castle:

We didn't get out of Disney and over to TGI Friday's until 10 pm! Back to the apartment at 11 pm - large Bombay Sapphires to heal my aching ankle and off to bed, with the intention of making an early start this morning (Sunday) to avoid any storms.

The adults are now up (8 am Sunday) but no sign of the tired kids yet - patience is a virtue!

A neat little clip of Braeden, who spontaneously broke in to dance yesterday when he heard the Riverdance troupe performing:

Florida travel

Crack of dawn start and potentially awkward schedule - but all went well. Even our transfer from Heathrow to Gatwick was smooth and quick. We had ample time to enjoy the lounge facilities at Gatwick before heading for our slightly dleayed Virgin flight.

We were in the upstairs section of the plane and the space, food and service were all excellent. They made up most of the time lost on departure and were just 15 mins off schedule in Orlando. There was a huge storm and the roads were awash. Lucy met us (eventually) and we headed back to our accommodation in Kissimmee - except we got lost and it took forever!

Cade was in good form but travelling through the night had thrown Braeden off balance, so we nipped out to TGI Friday's and just got a takeaway and some beer and wine. Off to bed about 10:30 pm Florida time - about 3:30 am in our body clocks!

Up at 6 am this morning - all quiet - Jo got up about an hour later but still no sign of the Lesinas. Weather forecast for the week is pretty bad - storms are normal at this time of year, but not usually until late afternoon. Today the rain is forecast to start about 11 am, so not sure if Disney is such a good idea?

Another quick update

I know, I know - been slipping again! Just haven't had time recently. Golf Wednesday then Friday (Kemnay - football group - won again - 3rd year in a row!) - popped in to Inverurie, then off at the crack of dawn on Saturday to Cornwall. Horrid weather for golf but OK on Monday afternoon when Kelly, Jo and I did our little tours round Mousehole, St Michael's Mount etc then went out for dinner with Craig.

Jo was back at school yesterday tidying up - but that's her finished now - at last, the pain is over! Just preparing now for another very early departure tomorrow to Florida. Spoke to Lucy last night - they're leaving just before midnight their time tonight and will be there well before us tomorrow, so will pick up the hired vehicle - and maybe do some store shopping to stock up our villa?

A couple of quick snaps from last weekend - first Jo and Kelly in front of St Michael's Mount, then Jo and I at Mousehole harbour:

Belated update

Been so busy flying around everywhere, I haven't had time to update my blog. What have I been doing since last Thursday? Friday was just work then a quick foursomes tie with Jas in the evening - early to bed before dawn alarm to catch the early flight to London.

I met up with Dave at our hotel just after 10:00 am on Saturday and we headed off to Lord's for the cricket. We had a good time, but left just before the finish (foregone conclusion anyway). We stopped off for a beer at the Warwick Castle in Maida Vale:

Dinner in the evening was at a noisy tapas bar in Soho, and we had a leisurely breakfast before jumping on the Tube on Sunday morning to head for our respective flights - Dave to Houston and me home. I still managed to fit an my postponed tie against young Ross Gray then nipped home to pack my bags for an early start on Monday morning.

I had been invited to play golf at the new Carrick course at Loch Lomond but had not fully appreciated what a star-studded event it was. The accommodation was terrific and my room was packed with goody bags:


All the sporting stars were there and each team was drawn to play with one of them - we got Frank Hadden, Scotland's rugby coach/manager - a really nice, down to earth guy:


We had a quick beer after golf and I thought I'd better ask what the dress code for the evening dinner was? Black tie! Horror of horrors - I only had a sports jacket! Frantic phone call to Barry and he rushed down with his kilt and all the gear - saved! The only things that didn't fit were his shoes, but I had a pair of black ones anyway.

The dinner was excellent - hosts were Andy Cameron and Ian Robertson and entertainment included Eddi Reader & Fairground Attraction (remember "Perfect"?).

On Tuesday, Barry and I attended Dad's one month assessment at Erskine and it went pretty well - he looks relaxed, clean and happy, and the staff say he is absolutely no problem and joins in most of the activities. We took him outside for a very brief stroll (round the car park!) and he was laughing away as he posed for this picture:

Wednesday was just up and down to Fraserburgh then golf in the evening (won again!). Jo was out for her school end of term dinner - almost there now - just 2 days to go!

Tomorrow, it's briefly over to Gary's after work then home to pack for weekend trip to Cornwall - it's all go!

Kingsbarns

Had a great day out at Kingsbarns yesterday, courtesy of HSBC. Great course and fantastic weather - it hadn't looked promising at all as I drove through heavy rain around Forfar/Dundee, but Fife was clear. Here I am with my host Alistair Scott (ex Hun) next to me, and his other 2 guests:

Got back home in decent time to see the 2nd half of the Spain-Russia match. I had just settled down in front of the TV when Jo arrived - earlier than expected from her school show. She, too, settled down with a glass of wine and I thought - whoops - going to have to change channels! Jo insisted I just leave the football on, and she sat through the last half hour with me - Gary wouldn't have stood for it, however - he'd have gone to another room!

Got a lot to do to in the office today, particularly as I wasn't in yesterday and won't be here on Monday/Tuesday either. I've then got to squeeze in another golf tie at 6:15 tonight, before heading home to catch a few hours sleep before getting up for the redeye in the morning. Another golf tie on Sunday evening after I get back from London, then it's off at the crack of dawn again down to Loch Lomond for the big charity event. I got a phone call last night from our host offering me not just accommodation at Cameron House on the Monday evening after the golf, but also on the Sunday evening if I wanted! It transpires that this weekend is the celebrity re-opening of Cameron House and there are events on the Sunday as well as Monday's big bash. I politely declined the Sunday night accommodation but have accepted Monday's. Here's the programme for the weekend:

All clear

Got the all clear from the optician this morning - although she told me I may have to come back if any "floaters" appear in a few weeks time.

Now heading off to Kingsbarns (south of St Andrews) and will be late home - as will Jo - it's the first night of the school show.