On my way home.

Having had a bad turn and not recovering enough from it PLUS missing the boys very much I decided that my best course of action will be to cut my trip short and head home.

So having re-booked my ticket and then confirming my flight I packed and just enjoyed the time with Sandy before my trek home.

Unfortunately I will not be seeing Rhonda and Kathy as I was looking forward to meeting them both but my health has had a major downturn and I need to get answers from the quacks that pose as Doctors so I am heading home.

This morning Sandy and I went for a drive to the famous beach where you are able to drive your car along it... I was a little apprehensive that we might get bogged and I would miss my flight but we managed to keep from sinking in the packed sand.

We headed off to the air port in plenty of time to catch my flight (or so I thought)... once I presented my ticket to the curb-side check in the attendant asked me to go inside check in there... well that should have been my warning that things were about to go bad...

Once I presented my information to the check in assistant she said that I have not been ticketed and I would not make my flight to Atlanta!!! There was over an hour to go and I could not see the problem but she spent the entire time on the phone getting a ticket from Virgin Blue and by the time I was all ticketed my flight had left.... Panic quickly set in!!!

The best she could do was to book me on a direct flight to LA but leaving from Orlando instead of Daytona... GREAT!!! ... instead Orlando air port was a good two and a half hour drive away.

Sandy saved the day by asking if there was a shuttle I could catch and promptly rang the shuttle bus to book me on the next departure... in an hour's time!!!!

So off we went to the Bus depot and another teary farewell... lemme-tell-ya I hate goodbyes and I am going to miss seeing these girls I have come to love and have a place in my heart for.

I had plenty of time to catch my 6:00 pm flight which would get me to LA for my 10:30 departure... barring no more stuff ups!!!!! Met two great people on the plane which work in the entertainment industry; one as a camera man and the other as a sound man and they kept everyone entertained through out the flight!!!

Ok, now I know I am related to Murphy and his annoying law of when something goes wrong it does so at the worst possible time... The plane flight to Sydney was delayed by two hours, meaning I would not get to there in time to catch my connecting flight to Adelaide... all because... they had no flight crew!!!!!

At this point I was ready to scream except I was in an air port terminal with more security than the crown jewels so having a hissy fit would not help me... but I did think about it a lot!!!

Met this couple who are Cherokee and they chatted about all sorts of interesting things including knowing about my friend Colleen and her stand at Wounded Knee!!! Wooo hooo you go girl!!!!

Finally they found crew, we boarded the plane and were thankfully on our way back to OZ... I felt just ghastly and was not looking forward to the cramped 15 hour flight back home... so I watched movies and made the best of it despite the fact they had stuffed up AGAIN the dinner and gave me a regular meal instead of the gluten free one I had arranged...

Yes, getting into Sydney I missed the flight back to Adelaide... I am NEVER going to fly Delta Airlines again EVER!!!!

I rang Alan from Sydney and told him the time I would be arriving and when I finally touched down in Adelaide I was thrilled to bits to see him and to be home... but I felt as though I was a zombie with no sleep and jet lag and the fact I was not feeling well at all...

The experience was amazing... meeting my friends and sharing some very fun times, even though the whole episode with Delta marred the trip considerably but I take with me a lot of experience and the memories of those I met will be with me always...

Now I just need a few days to recover...

18.08.10 St. Augustines

With an early start to a little town of St Augustines, Sandy and I drove along the very picturesque coastal route for the two hour trek to our destination. This little town dates back to when the Spanish settled here and the fort on the shore line is a reminder of long gone days where Pirates were amongst the waterways along the Florida coast... very exciting stuff... Jack Sparrow would be proud!!!

Along the way I was surprised to see by the side of the road a loggerhead turtle trying to get off the scorching bitumen and onto the grass verge ... which incidentally all footpaths in the US have very steep curbs.

The town itself is just gorgeous and wandering the cobbled streets was fun and very hot so we cooled off in a little hotel restaurant for lunch where we received complementary Margaritas... (Gee I could get used to this... ) and very good service...

More sightseeing and bargain hunting followed and upon spotting a chocolate store that sold Gelato we indulged in the icy concoction... I sampled the rich dark chocolate ice desert and told the two girls serving behind the counter asked me how I liked the Gelato? My response brought for giggles from the two young ladies when I said: "You two girls must be angels because I had died and gone to heaven!"...

The drive back was enjoyable and having been a very hot and humid day Sandy took me to her favourite restaurant situated by the water and had a very Hawaiian influence from the way the waiters were dressed to the delicious menu.

I kept up the tradition started way back in LA for Margaritas except I first ordered a Pina colada... which was yummo!!! Then had a Margaritas... I think Margarita's and I are going to be firm friends!!!!

Having driven home after a fun day with Sandy I was a little sad that the trip was ending but looking forward to getting home and finding out what was causing this thing in my chest to suddenly flare up the way it does...

Last minute packing and farewell to all her many and varied pets including 5 snakes, 1 rat, 1 iguana (who is a major sook but very cute) an assortment of frogs and turtles and a tarantula called rosy... not to mention the many little lizards, squirrels and birds that come for a visit each day!!!

My time with Sandy was just magic and I loved being in such a richly diverse ecosystem with so much beauty and wildlife.. Thank you my darling for a wonderful experience...xxx

17/08/10 Washington / Daytona

Woke up to a lovely fresh morning and Tina and I packed the car up super early after making sure all the cases were packed the night before. It was still dark when we left the woodland setting Tina lives in and by the time we came closer to Washington it was light and already getting warm.

It was a tearful farewell and I was sad to leave her just like I had when I left Colleen... two very special ladies that made my life just wonderful... It was a special time and althought I was not feeling too well in the last day of Washington Tina looked after me very well.

The flight to Atlanta was uneventful but the scenery was lovely... In Atlanta there was a security scare when someone left a lap top case on the counter at McDonalds... Went and bought a coffee there and I noticed this case that was left behind from before I got there... about 15 minutes later I knew it had been left so I approached one of the staff and they prompltly told their manager who called security. This has happened many times before but each time they treat it with the seriousness of something threatening.

Unless you experience something like this first hand it looks like something out of a movie, both exciting and the potential to be frightening... within minutes there was a police woman guarding the case and she ushered everyone away from the object... then another officer with a German Shepherd came and sniffed the case thoroughlly until his handler were satisfied there wasn't a bomb about. The officer opened the case, looked inside then took the case away...

I was thanked by the female Police woman for being a good citizen and also by the Manager of McDonald's.... Woooo Hooooo!!!!

The time soon went along and I caught my flight to Daytona where I was greeted by my dear friend Sandy with a Clash of the Titans poster... Woooo Hooo!!! What a scream!!! Loved it!!!!... Only the MMIFFS possums will know what this means!!!!

We drove home, I freshened up then we went to the beach for some yummy food in one of the many sea side cafe's and we had Martini's... Woooo Hoooo!!!! Sooo Yummy!!!!

We walked along the beach and saw the sandpipers dancing and running away from the waves... too gorgeous!!!!

Later we went to the supermarket and I can not get over the fact they have food, liquor and pharmacy in the one store!!!! Sooo amazing...

Home to bed as we were both tired and ready for another day of sightseeing... Still feeling very unwell so I talked over the options with Sandy and I decided that I need to cut my trip short and head back to Australia...

So tomorrow will be the last day in Daytona so will phone Rhonda and Kathy to let them know.

16/08/10 Washington DC

The Washington Monument and me at the White-house!!

Tina and I saw the beautiful city of Washington and the many historical and Monumental attractions... Loved the Lincoln Memorial (below) and the Newer World War II Memorial. The whole city is just beautiful... saw my first squirrels and went completely loopy!!!!

These two ladies walkingt past gave me the strangest looks until I explained that we do not have squirrels in Australia and a conversation blossomed!!

We had a very long day sightseeing in the heat but Tina looked after me very well and made sure I drank lots of water... but by the end of the day I was not feeling very well so we made our way home and some well earned rest.... leaving for Daytona tomorrow so need to be up very early... 4:30 in the morning for the long drive into DC.

Feeling very sad that it was the last day with Tina just like I felt when I left Colleen as I have made some very close friends and love these two ladies dearly. More tomorrow so Bye for now!!!

Williamsberg 15/08/2010

Bright and early Tina and I were off to Williamsberg...

Here's Tina sitting on one of the benches where the leafy lane leads to the river.

What a great town and very historical... so much happened at this town which is kept as it was back in the days of Thomas Jefferson.

We went through the town and saw many of the houses that people in those days used to live in and still today they have kept them in original condition... the unusual thing about the town is that in one house you enter it might be 1876 and then in the afternoon the same house may be two years later depending on what happened in that year.

We later went for a horse drawn carriage ride through the town and it was just gorgeous!!! Loved the whole experience... the only bugger was my bag broke AGAIN!!!! I had a bag strap break on me in LA and now this other bag broke on me in Williamsberg!!!! I now have to look for a decent bag with a sturdy strap!!!... something industrial strength perhaps!!

We are soon to head home as I am writing this in a quaint little coffe shop / bookstore so we have a two and a half hour car drive home with looming rain clouds on the horizon...

Hope you are all safe and well... I miss my boys and little fur angels and miss Colleen lots... Love you all... off to Washington DC tomorrow...xxx

Fredricksberg: Saturday 14th August 2010

The first thing that hit me when I stepped out of the air port in Washington was the humidity and today was no exception. It was a bright sunny day but a little humid; not uncomfortably so but enough to make it sticky. Here I met Tina for the first time and she is an angel... so much fun and likeable with a great sense of humour...xxx

Well, today Tina took me to Fredricksberg and surrounding district and I have never seen such a picturesque and beautiful town. Every house is splendid with old colonial charm, which adds to the character of this old Southern quarter.

The streets are lined with greenery and the people are very friendly but it is the history of the place that really impacts you from the Civil war sites themselves to the Old shops selling civil war paintings and sketches... everything in the town revolves around that period wher this nation was divided. Below is an auction block where slaves were perched and exhibited.... one can not help but be saddened by the tragedy of families being torn apart and each member was sold off to different owners... truly sad.

The bank's steps where Tina and I am standing are famous because both President Lincoln and General Lee stood to make an address... although not at the same time so even this bank is steeped in history.

We went to one of the old Civil War sites and watched as a group of volunteer soldiers from the Confederate Army, all dressed in authentic Confederate Uniform go about priming and then loading an old brass cannon then upon the signal fired it... There was not one person in the crowd who did not levetate when the thing went off!!!! It was not until you actually heard the deafening explosion from the cannon that you realise just how terrified those soldiers must have been to face a battery of cannons go off in succession.

We saw a church with two cannon shot still lodged in its fascade and I could not help but wonder how those people at the time praying within coped with the enslaught and the futility of it all until I saw the slave block on a corner and I was reminded just why the North and the South was so divided.

This is a famous battleground at Charlotsville where the eerie light of dusk adds to the sombre atmosphere of the place... a row of cannons look out over the fields where countless lives were lost and the fight for freedom shaped a nation.

Tomorrow is an early start for Williamsberg and more things to see...taking a lot of pictures and video so will have fun putting it all together when I get back.

I still miss my sweetheart Alan and my never-home Tim... and of course the angel cats so just as well I bought pictures with me to pine over!!! I rang Colleen today and it was wonderful to hear her voice...miss you babe and Buster...*Big Hugs*

Will write more tomorrow about this fascvinating part of the world so bye for now and thank you for visiting.

Washington

WOW!!!! I made it to Washington.... not that is a surprise in that or anything but the carry on at the airport was phenominal!!! Poor Colleen must be soooo glad to have her place back after having a possum invasion!!! It was such a wonderful time spent with her and her beautiful little dog Buster... Love that little guy!!! .. and she is such a special lady...xxx

Now I am with my friend Tina who is just gorgeous and we had such an adventure already getting home from the air port... we took nearly three hours to get home as they were doing road works along the way so were not able to turn off where we should have... but many miles later and a pit stop at a service station soon got us on the right way home... I just love her home... so beautiful in a woodland setting with lots of wldlife in the area.

Today we are off to Fredricksberg and some of the more historical spots of the city... already saw the White House and the Washington Monument at night and was in awe of the beauty of the city... if you are thinking of travelling to the States then do yourself a favour and visit Washington... just gorgeous! Will post some pictures when I can so watch this space...!!!

For all the MMIFFS possums Tina made me a T-Shirt with Mads on the front and on the back there is a great caption commemorating my US tour... Will take piccies and post as it is a scream!!! thank you honey!!! I am being very spoiled and looked after so THANK YOU!!! ...xxx

I miss my boys very much and my two little rascal cats but I am having a lovely time with the most beautiful people... will write again soon so bye fore now!!! Love to you all and thank you for writing on my little blog...xxx

Warner Brothers Tour 10/08/2010

Today is Tuesday 10th August...

My missing suit case finally turned up last night so that was a good sign and I was happy that everything was in tact and I no longer had anything to worry about. Colleen rang Delta umpteen times a day and at night wanting to know where my case was and if they did not hand it over then she would introduce them to her bink baseball bat!!!! Needless toi say she put the fear of god in them and on the fourth night it arrived.

Went to Warner Brothers Tour today and it was just magic... got to see the set of ther Mentalist, the Harry Potter costume floor with a lot of cool things in it... but we were not allowed to take pictures... bugga!!! ...not even on the sets, but it was an experience that was well worth doing.

After lunch at the Commissary we went shopping at the Warner Brothers gift shop and of course I bought Tim a few things as well as something special for my brother and his gorgeous girl friend... as well as something special for my Angel Alan.

I had the best time there and am looking to going to Disney land tomorrow as we had to change plans on the day we were supposed to go.

The people here are very freindly and welcome you eagerly... Aussiess are flavour of the month and have been for the past twenty years apparently!

Not long now before I fly out to see my angel girl Tima in Washington.

Going to a sushi place for tea tonight so looking forward to that and then a quiet night in as we need to make an early start tomorrow.

Having lots of fun and meeting lots of great people but I miss my little Muffin Alan very much.

Will let you know how Disneyland goes...

The Getty Museum Of Fiune Arts

Had THE best time today... Sunday the what ever day of August... writing this after having a very large margarita at one of our favourite restaurants... Colleen is laughing and being super funny... had the best day today when Colleen and I went out with Ali and her two kids Ethan and Daisy to the Getty Museum of fine arts... OMG!!! i saw and Original Van Gough... THE IRISES!!!! I have died and went to heaven... They have original Van Gough, Degas Pissaro, Le Trec, Gaugan, Renoir and many others!!! THEY ARE ORIGINAL, PEOPLE!!!
Tomorrow we are goin g to Disneyland... fun fun fun!!!!

Ok got to go and sleep this Margarita off!!!

Friday 6th August 2010

Well, I finally made it to LA after having a harrowing flight... got very sick on the plane owing to the fact that alll the food they gave me was stuff I couldn't eat.
Arrived in LA air port and they lost one of my luggage... poor Colleen spent ages on the phone trying to find out what happened to it after i was told it had been sent to Washington instead...
Tomorrow we are going to Customs to see if they have it!!!!
The people here are very friendly and welcoming and it is such a magical place... lots of famous land marks and we went to a wonderful Mexican restaurant called Marix... soooo going there again!!!

Will post some piccies later on... so watch this space.

Well the day is finally here...It is almost 4:00 in the morning... My benji bear has just woken me up (So I won't be making much sense... hey, it's 4:00 in the morning, what do you expect???)

I am so nervous and excited but most of all grateful for this opportunity. I'm all packed and suitcases are locked so now all I need to do is have a shower, brekkie and that's me done...

Thank you all so much for your kind words and well wishes... Love you all...xxx

So, I'll see you on the road...

xxx

Now I am excited

Now I am excited!!!!

Only three sleeps to go and am getting a little jiggy!!! Wooo Hooooo!!!!!

Had a very productive day with lots done in the morning... baked another two cakes on top of the ones already baked... and frozen... can not trust the boys to leave them alone... one has already been hoovered down so not taking any chances with the rest...then spent a lovely afternoon with my dear neighbour Michelle; sooo love the company and chat and always good to catch up and touch base on what is happening with our families.

Received a beautiful 'Bon Voyage' card from Carmel to add to the ones I have already been given from Gail and Mum.... sooo lovely thanks babe!!

Then Mattymoo and Kelly angel came over for coffee as Kelly had soldered my St Christopher Medallion so they dropped that off... Thank you blossom, you did a great job ...xxx *big hug*

Tomorrow's main goal is to contact customs and see if I am able to take all those packets of Tim Tams with me... Alan is hoping I won't be able to... so might have to send them instead!!!

Do the last minute check on the things I am taking and then lock my suitcases!

More cakes to bake tomorrow... *sigh*

Three sleeps left!!!

With only three sleeps left I am now re-evaluating all the things I am taking with me... need a fork lift to move the suitcases!!!!

It seems I am getting busier as the days fly by, and this afternoon I am taking time out for a catch up coffee with my darling neighbour Michelle and then Mattymoo and his angel girl Kelly are coming over for a catch up as she has soldered my St Christopher Medallion for me... Thank you honey!!!

This morning I am going to have to read the manual for the camera Alan bought me... you should see the thing... small as a kitchen tile, writing as small as an ant's footprint and as thick as the yellow pages!!!!

Is it just me or does technology get more complicated as we get older? Tim is able to master ANY gadget or gizmo with his eyes shut but I need to read the manuals from cover to cover three times before I even get an inkling... I swear it is written in code... and they are receiving instructions from a higher power, which probably accounts for the attitude!!

Reminds me of the time we were looking to buy a computer and were confronted with such words as hard drives, rams and clock speed!!! (To name but three).

"Are You Serious?..." I said to the young buck staring piteously back at me. The look on his face said it all, but regardless of this I pushed on...

"... back in my day a HARD DRIVE was something you did through the back roads to 'Victa', a RAM is a male sheep, a BUS is something you caught to get to the shops, 'DIM and SIMS' are a yummy Chinese miniature version of the chiko roll (except with plain rice pastry) and a SHIM is something you hit when you smack into furniture while trying to find your way through the dark on your way to the dunny at 2:00 in the morning!!!... and MOTHER BOARD... Mother's don't get bored honey, especially if they have several little whippets like you!!!"

Needless to say the look on his face changed and it was quite an education for the both of us!!!

But I digress... I am having a ball getting ready for the trip and super excited about meeting all those angels I have made friends with over there in the States. Possum invasion on its way!!!

One day closer ... four days left!!

The weather is giving me a lot to worry about having just experienced winds and rain the likes of which I have never seen... but reliable sources in the form of my dear friend Mattymoo who is a linesman and would know about such things has assured me by the time Friday comes around it will be much improved... here's hoping.

Went to the travel agent today about this diet thing I am successfully adhering to and the best they can do for my meals on the plane is put me on a diabetes diet... BUT... if I get served dairy, gluten, solisylates (Gods even the spelling is dodgy) or anything else I can not tolerate I am in big trouble... and so are the other passengers...

FORWARD WARNING: I can not be held accountable for any indelicacies I may inadvertently omit during my sleep... (I am having nightmares just thinking about it... perish the thought!!!) Therefore I endeavour to keep myself thoroughly occupied and not sleep a wink for fear of the consequences... I have visions of gas masks being jettisoned from their moorings and passengers all gasping (either through lack of oxygen or shock)... and heaven help anyone lighting a match!!! At this point I know I need to shut up!!!!