St John's

 8/9 Knowing the eta for arriving in St John's, I was out on deck by 6am. I watched the pilot boat arrive beside us. Once the pilot arrived we made for the narrows allowing us into the harbour- there was only 15m on each side of the ship for us to squeeze through! Very rugged coast line. One minute the sun was shining the next the mist was down. Houses were perched on cliff edges. We could see Signal Hill where Marconi sent his first transatlantic message.

  We left the ship after breakfast and headed towards the Museum and Jelly House Row. The colourful houses were so bright and cheerful. It was a hike up the hill from the dock - it didn't look steep until you started the ascent and then you felt it. I often paused to look at the scenery - well that was my excuse!! Motorists are unbelievably  good here - if they think you want to cross they automatically stop. Makes a change from nearly being run down in other places.

  The Museum was very interesting and very informative. If we stood still we felt like we were swaying- 6 days at sea does that I suppose. The three of us were having a little moan about the fact our legs didn't seem to be working in way they should! Downhill and steps were particularly difficult!🤣

  We made sure that we were back in time for our departure. We are now leaving 45 minutes late waiting for one coach and from my balcony I spotted a couple sort of running down the hill - I think they were lucky we didn't sail without them - don't think it will be 'happy families' in that cabin tonight - everyone on the starboard side were watching their arrival! Embarrassing!  

  Clocks go back another half hour tonight and we are 'dashing' to get to Charlottetown before strong winds hamper our arrival.

  We've had some great laughs at dinner when on a shared table but last night topped them all - a single lady arrived at the table having attended the 'sip and sail' (cocktails as ship leaves port). She'd had 4 cocktails and never stopped talking - how had she  managed to eat? - but she was so funny I don't know how we managed to eat! The Silent Disco and then a show with a magician ended our day. Clocks back 1/2 an hour.

  9/9 Grey start to another sea day but luckily the sun did shine. J&J went to a lecture about the 'Space Race' while I went to an art class - Zen Tangle. 

  Coffee, crosswords, chats, lunch and our mile walk saw us into the afternoon. We were passing islands as we walked - all very unexpected.

 Black tie night. We have slowed down (do you say that on a ship?) because we are now in pristine waters and home to whales etc. I thought I seen signs of them in the distance which was confirmed by the Captain. The laundry is out of use for the next few days while we are here and head down the St Lawrence. The show tonight was by the Canadian singer who won the Canadian Voice - she was very good.

10/9 Docked about midnight in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. No wonder we had to get here early the wind is extreme and hopefully we are tied up tight!

  Dad was stationed here for a while in February 1942 - we hope we might be able to find out why!

  

On our way!

 2/9 Arrived at ship on time boarded and had lunch. When allowed in cabins   I spotted my case at top of luggage trolley but it didn't appear! My cabin steward Rise finally found it! She must have had a hike as she was trying to catch her breath! I'm cabin 15 and Jake is 129 - we are both on deck 5 and you've guessed it I'm closer to the laundry!

We toured the ship trying to find where everything was - library, gym, pools, hot  tubs, pub and entertainment areas were found. Time for drinks in Crows Nest before dinner. Then it was time for the pub quiz - the 3 of us need to up our game!! Clocks back one hour!

3/9 Grey sky. grey sea - rather windy. Passed Lands End at some stage during the night. Listened to a presentation about 'George III - the mad king' and his relationship to USA. 

3 laps around the decks = mile. Very sunny on the port side but very windy!

Pleasant afternoon reading.

Dinner and then a quiz game - once again not our best effort!! Clocks back one hour!

4/9 Rather rocky night - woke to grey sky and sea although there was blue sky and sun later in the day. 

Another quiz another failure although the questions were obscure  - e.g. 'name the London Occult Society' ????

Mile walk completed although I think we went further as we were skittering across the deck with the roll of the ship! Pool closed all day!

Black tie night and 'meet and greet by the Captain' - glasses of bubbles were flowing across the pool deck. This was filled by dinner and a show.

5/9 Grey sky, strong winds and rain today! Some of the deck was closed off so no laps today! Went to Line dancing instead. Did another quiz - much better results! Great day for reading!

6/9 Woken to blue sky - makes a change! The sea is not quite so grey! Still 48 hours until we see land - don't know how the early sailors coped!

7/6 Lovely start to the day! Managed to walk around the uppermost decks now that it's no longer wet. Tried our hand at shuffleboard and deck  quoits - Jake manage to throw hers throught the protective netting. Luckily it stop just short of going over the edge and into the ocean!

With the sun and warmth we changed into swimmers and did a bit of sunbathing until suddenly  the sun vanished, the sea frett appeared and the temp dropped! We retired to the hot tub - the pool is closed, too rough.

8/9 Finally  - Land!

Off to sea!

 It was another foray into the garden - we were going to have another attack on the tomatoes! There seems to have been a lot of self seeding of these 'monsters'! It was time to pull them all up! Green tomatoes are now in the greenhouse and another batch of tomato soup was made - I think I'll give tomatoes a miss for a while!!

There seems to be a plethora of butternut pumpkins - last count 24 rather large offerings. I suppose pumpkin soup will be a change from tomato in the winter!

There were a few zucchini/ courgette plants to be dug up - I felt like I was being overwhelmed by vegetables!

We did manage to get a swim in before lunch but after picking apples and pears.

After a few days in the garden clearing up, putting away,  harvesting and swimming, today we head to Southampton. We are expected to board at 1pm and as everyone has to be on board by 3:15 we expect to leave English shores soon after.

Our first port of callis St John's, Nova Scotia in 6 days time!!! So until then .....

England bound!

 Flights went well, I laughed, hand over mouth so that others couldn't here my chortling, all the way to Singapore watching 'Ted Lasso!  The 2 hour stop over gave me time for a cuppa before a wander around - got to get the legs moving!

I think I managed about 3 hours sleep before 'The Bee Gees story' and 'Welcome to Wrexham' kept me occupied for the rest of the journey from Singapore. I was soon on my way to Paddington station and managed to be on the train to Worcester within 10 minutes of arriving there. Another 2 hours and I was greeted by my sister, Jake.

We headed to the centre of Worcester arriving at Mark and Sparks in time for a cuppa and bacon butty! I managed to help the English economy with some purchases! 

Arriving at Jakes place a swim was in order! It was very refreshing! Mind you not long after the grey clouds appeared and down came the rain! I think my arrival broke the drought. Usually the grass in the garden is lush and soft to walk on this yellow brittle straw like stuff was not! 

I think I managed to stay awake until about 8:30 and was so happy to go to bed.

During our weekly chats Jake would tell me that she'd basically given up with the garden, lack of rain meant nothing was really growing. With this in mind I had visions of barren earth. I could not believe what I saw - you've heard of the 'Day of the Triffids'  well here it was like tomato and pumpkins were taking over the earth!!! They are everywhere! I will admit a couple of trees have died but the pear trees are full of fruit and don't mention how many raspberries there are! 

 This is what we picked yesterday! I could hardly lift the basket and I do strength traing twice a week! I was on cutting duties - the freezer will be full of tomato soup/sauce before we leave!

Homeward bound

 Sad day today leaving Justin and family. At the moment I'm relaxing in a hotel in Atlanta. Flights tomorrow - Atlanta to LA and 4 hours later LA to Sydney.

What's been happening in the last couple of weeks?:

* Heat, heat and more heat - 41.6 yesterday!

* Storms, some torrential and some 5 minutes of rain raising the humidity.

* Animal interactions - feeding, watering and collecting eggs from family chickens.

   Squirrels playing chicken with the car.

   A deer bounding along the road.

   Local horses and cattle passing the end of the fence daily.

   Rooster, the dog, constantly leaving the door open and letting the heat in.

* Swimming, swimming and more swimming - my hair might have a slight green

   tinge!

* An hour in a pinball machine place - l was rubbish!

*A couple of hours at the bowling alley - I won the first game and then went

  downhill!

* Continued our drawing sessions - Ben finds it hard to sit still!

*Watching Ivy at her riding lessons.

* Football/ soccer all the time!! I was even asked if I was in Atlanta for the big match 

  tomorrow!

To get a photo with Ivy and Benny I had to tell them that I wanted it to see how much they grow between now and next year! Benny refused to smile! I think Ivy might be as tall as me by next year!

Don't think I'm looking forward to really cool weather!

Trying to cope with the heat!

Driving back from dinner the other night at 7:15pm we passed a temperature sign 103F (39.4C!). It has been 36C, in the shade most days but today it has dropped a little and there's been rain for the first time. The temperature is now 24C so feels cold!

This  week Benny is at a Golf 'camp's in the morning and Ivy is at the Barn helping younger kids with the horses. Some afternoons the kids are with friends or at the other grandparents. We watched Ivy ride on Saturday.

Afternoons  involve the pool. One of their games is that one person swims with their eyes closed and the have to find us in the pool - Justin is usually 'it' although Ivy is good at the closed eyes swimming!
 

I enjoy the early mornings when everyone leaves for their activities. It gives me a chance to be outside with my cuppa catching up with all the news. We watch the football/soccer usually from lunchtime. Unfortunately we didn't see the Aussie game because it didn't start until midnight on our side of the USA. There is a big build up about the USA/AUS game - it starts at lunchtime on Friday.

I thought I might have got away without a swim today but no! We spent nearly an hour playing different games unfortunately one involved me being grabbed by the leg and dunked - shouldn't have bothered washing my hair!!

We have continued with our daily drawing of each person's idea. 

Meeting the family

 I think the temperature has almost been rising a degree a day. The mornings are lovely as I sit outside with my cuppa listening to all the birds singing and watching the hawks swinging the thermals.

Justin set up a bedroom for me in what was his office. He took out the carpet and put in new flooring, painted and added bedroom furniture. It's very comfortable. it does get hot by the evening so the AC and fan run all night.

I was lucky that Rooster - the dog - recognised me and he has accepted me being there.

Ivy and Benny have certainly grown and changed since last year!

Ivy was going to ride at a show on Saturday but her pony had a sore leg and couldn't compete but she and Lauren went as supporters. Benny and I spent time in the pool.

This week Ivy is at horse camp - she helps out with younger kids and also has her chance to ride. Meanwhile Benny is at soccer camp - I'm just watching them going through their warm ups.

I took over watercolour pencils and little art books so each afternoon we sit together and draw and paint. Ivy and Benny are enjoying it - we take turns deciding what to draw.

I think Ivy was tired and emotional when drawing yesterday. 

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

There has been jumping and diving competitions after dinner which is very entertaining. I think both Ivy and Benny could be hurdlers!

I watched Benny at soccer camp this morning - 3 hours in the heat - but all the kids, of various ages seemed to enjoy it. Benny and l spent a large part of the afternoon in the pool. I'm having trouble trying to think of games to play in the pool - they are keeping me on my toes!!!

Ivy has been to horse camp and is now at a friend's place so I'm 'chillaxing'.