the only complaint is the weather as similar to uk with rain and high winds - we feel cheated .
We drove down coast road to Cape Canaveral last Thursday and booked our slot on a camp site within view of launch which looked about 4oo yards away.
The launch was spectacular at night 9pm - very slow and turned our way just over our heads and very low - it was a clear night and we saw the booster drop away - what an experience. Getting home at night - was slow - and new to drive at night in darkness as no lights on I-95 and you have to concentrate more.
The place has been buzzing with Daytona races - there were 125,000 visitors and I wondered if Michael was on one of hundreds of executive jets passing our flat near airport. It must have been the ultimate freebie as luxury executive facilities costing thousands.
It ran for the whole week - we went to our favourite book shop Barnes and Noble opposite track - very noisy. I don't know how they make any profit as full of people reading mags and books and not buying. Always a Starbucks to enjoy .
Sunday was main race when winner gets 2 million$ - well we went to mass and then to a golf club for lunch - we saw the thunderbird's ( there equivalent of red arrows ) fly over -great display.
We went home and TV started bleeping and a red bar on top of screen - Tornado warning.
The programme switched to a weather man ,who was following its progress on Doppler with a road map - he said which area was next and which road and time -
we were told to go into bathroom or under bed and 125,000 at race were evacuated and race stopped - there was torrential rain also .
I waited to look at Tornado but it just missed us .
The media organisation was so professional but I note there are evacuation route out for hurricanes - as I type on balcony there is a gap before next block and hotel was so damaged in a recent hurricane that it had to be pulled down .
your ma is kindle mad - in the laundry room last night we met an elderly lady, who said she had 15 books on kindle = Peggy Holloway - we shall have to look.
this place in university of the 5th age - there are 90 year olds in shops etc - this is the place for long life
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Daytona
we made it - travelling 200 miles from Miami - the Sheraton Airport Hotel was like Victoria bus station with so much turbulence with people staying overnight for flights plus aircrew's. Glad to move.
We have a red dodge and traffic on I-95 was quiet - the highlight for your ma is stopping at MacDonald's for a big mac - our only one in the year. You should see faces when we order so UK people not too common - you would think we were speaking in a foreign language.
The condo resembles an east European -drab - costs 40k to buy - very small bedsit - however we always make best of things and very satisfied as we are overlooking beach and sea as I type and we are away from hoi polloi - we can drive and park freely . The location makes up for everything and we are very comfortable. we are youngest in block - and elderly from Malta loves to speak as her father worked for British and she emigrated to UK and worked at Spalding in farms before marrying a yank.
We shop at Publix - the US co-op - which is near us - our diet is now salads and fruit - unfortunately my local boozer sells only Bud and is like the black hole of Calcutta - what a bunch of dummies . Still I join in - the last group were here from NY - annual event for Daytona races - they drunk as though there was no tomorrow.
Ma loves her Kindle and it will cost a fortune as all the eBooks she like are expensive - for Amazon it is a licence to print money. She will be expert on Tudor History/Russian Romanoff's and Hollywood stars !
We have a red dodge and traffic on I-95 was quiet - the highlight for your ma is stopping at MacDonald's for a big mac - our only one in the year. You should see faces when we order so UK people not too common - you would think we were speaking in a foreign language.
The condo resembles an east European -drab - costs 40k to buy - very small bedsit - however we always make best of things and very satisfied as we are overlooking beach and sea as I type and we are away from hoi polloi - we can drive and park freely . The location makes up for everything and we are very comfortable. we are youngest in block - and elderly from Malta loves to speak as her father worked for British and she emigrated to UK and worked at Spalding in farms before marrying a yank.
We shop at Publix - the US co-op - which is near us - our diet is now salads and fruit - unfortunately my local boozer sells only Bud and is like the black hole of Calcutta - what a bunch of dummies . Still I join in - the last group were here from NY - annual event for Daytona races - they drunk as though there was no tomorrow.
Ma loves her Kindle and it will cost a fortune as all the eBooks she like are expensive - for Amazon it is a licence to print money. She will be expert on Tudor History/Russian Romanoff's and Hollywood stars !
Thursday, February 13, 2014
On Travels to Miami
Travelling these days is not for the elderly, infirm or faint hearted - the hassle staring at M/c airport where there appeared to be extra security presumably related to Sochi.
Fortunately I had paid for the car park next to check in as luggage so heavy - it was loaded by Rob at home into the Suzuki.
We created a security alert on boarding London shuttle - red light bleeped when I stood on painted feet on floor and looked into the camera - the face that came up was mine superimposed with your mothers! on entry photo I had given her my boarding card by mistake - didn't appreciate they now check individuals onto flight by photo.
The security chap must have seen before as we had to change cards.
The Miami flight was delayed by 4 hours due to weather in US arriving back late - made massive difference as we should have arrived at 11pm UK time instead of 3am. People are ridiculous stingy as I was the only one to use porter and worth 10$ to take us to hotel shuttle as Miami airport is huge. Surprise as immigration chap was humorous - well sort of
The Sheraton transfer was fantastic at looking after luggage . At 5am I had first drink after 20 hour day - Sam Adams at 10$ with extras ,
we were in BA Traveller plus and seats were better than business class for upright reading and every seat taken. we thought of Mairead when Kerrygold butter was served!
We stayed an extra day on Saturday to get adjusted and appeared as Neanderthals sitting around pool as everyone had either iPod or tablet - these were caricatures of' spitting image' as all going on cruises and they are mobile in 90's in this climate - obviously no insurance problem's here - however conversation is now finished as they all fiddled with gadgets like teenagers . Wait till your Ma opens her Kindle!
We ate in hotel restaurant - brek usual with sous chef but evening meal was unbelievably bad at £80 without wine etc . It was cold and dreadful - a disgrace.
Weather sunny - good news Gaints beat Wigan - picked up nice dodge car and onwards to Daytona
Fortunately I had paid for the car park next to check in as luggage so heavy - it was loaded by Rob at home into the Suzuki.
We created a security alert on boarding London shuttle - red light bleeped when I stood on painted feet on floor and looked into the camera - the face that came up was mine superimposed with your mothers! on entry photo I had given her my boarding card by mistake - didn't appreciate they now check individuals onto flight by photo.
The security chap must have seen before as we had to change cards.
The Miami flight was delayed by 4 hours due to weather in US arriving back late - made massive difference as we should have arrived at 11pm UK time instead of 3am. People are ridiculous stingy as I was the only one to use porter and worth 10$ to take us to hotel shuttle as Miami airport is huge. Surprise as immigration chap was humorous - well sort of
The Sheraton transfer was fantastic at looking after luggage . At 5am I had first drink after 20 hour day - Sam Adams at 10$ with extras ,
we were in BA Traveller plus and seats were better than business class for upright reading and every seat taken. we thought of Mairead when Kerrygold butter was served!
We stayed an extra day on Saturday to get adjusted and appeared as Neanderthals sitting around pool as everyone had either iPod or tablet - these were caricatures of' spitting image' as all going on cruises and they are mobile in 90's in this climate - obviously no insurance problem's here - however conversation is now finished as they all fiddled with gadgets like teenagers . Wait till your Ma opens her Kindle!
We ate in hotel restaurant - brek usual with sous chef but evening meal was unbelievably bad at £80 without wine etc . It was cold and dreadful - a disgrace.
Weather sunny - good news Gaints beat Wigan - picked up nice dodge car and onwards to Daytona
Sunday, January 26, 2014
I'm just starting the blog to get it up and running before we leave for Florida, on a very wet and windy Sunday morning before we go to mass. Your mother tells me that she says few prayers and calls me Padre Pio.
I will update regularly to give you the news assuming we have Wi-Fi and the others Kindle fire HD works well .
Dad
I will update regularly to give you the news assuming we have Wi-Fi and the others Kindle fire HD works well .
Dad
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