A break in usual service!!

I hope to be able to resume my blogging very soon, but on the 14th I had an operation to replace my arthritic right hip, I had been waiting some time for the operation and I honestly thought I had gone in with my eyes open. While in the main I was prepared I was unprepared for how emotional I would feel afterwards and that has really knocked me for six. 

Anyway I am now back at home struggling with sleeping on my back and coping with the awful surgical pressure stockings which they want me to wear for three months!!! I am sure I won't manage that as they are driving me absolutely nuts . I also have to do blood thinning injections for a month it's certainly not a bed of roses.  I know in the long run it should be a huge improvement but it feels that result is a long way away at the moment! 

So once I am in a better frame of mind I will resume blogging!!!

Back to see Harry Potter!!

The weather was glorious, in the 90's it was fantastic to be able to wear summer clothes and not worry too much about feeling chilly!! We decided to make an early start and headed off down to Harry Potter Land to do the ride. Last time I visited I wasn't able to get on the ride as the seats were too small. There had been a load of complaints about the seat size and this time there were some more generous seats, however I am pleased to report that on this visit I didn't need one of those as I fit in a regular one. 

There wasn't very much by way of queue, but when we were queuing it was interesting, lots of Harry Potter stuff to look at.

Once we actually got to the ride it was a combination coaster come simulator ride. We were chasing the golden snitch! It was a very strange ride. I have a pretty good stomach for most things, but this one really made me feel queasy. I can only remember one other ride doing that to me and that was at Alton Towers back in the 80's. To be honest I was glad to be off this ride and we didn't do it again despite the very small queues!

I really like how they stage set the whole of the area, we were able to buy a post card and have it stamped Harry Potter World. There were streets and snow capped buildings, a great experience!

Laura treated herself to a 'butterbeer' so we all had a sip, it was very nice!!!

Just as you leave Harry Potter land is the entrance to the Dueling Dragons Roller Coasters. Again I had been unable to ride last time so I had to have a go this time. It was quite an experience, it seems as if were would crash into the other coaster, we got that close at one point!! I can say that I have done it now, but it wasn't a very comfortable experience as you had to sit on your shoes if they were likely to fly off. If there is a next time I'd wear trainers!!!

We headed over to wards the Superman ride and had a go on the tea cups and The Hulk Roller Coaster.

The Hulk is a massive coaster that goes upside down several times!! I loved it!!

Universal seems to have moved with the times and everytime we visit there is something new to see or do, along with some of the old favourites. They specialise in HUGE roller coasters and simulator rides, which is fine by me!!!

Home Again :(

Well time really does fly, its hard to believe that our two week holiday has been and gone and I am back home and back at work. As usual Florida was quite an exhausting trip although I did have the benefit of one of those little electronic scooter things. Without one I would not have been able to have done the parks. I simply can't walk any distance without severe pain in my hip.

So I'll tell you a little about the trip.

We stayed at The Clarion Inn, Lake Buena Vista. This was a lovely hotel, although if you look at Trip Advisor you will see many mixed reviews, I think basically it comfortable, serviceable with friendly staff, what more can you ask for? There was an on site shop and Deli, a restaurant, bar, swimming pools and most of all a very comfortable bed. 

We were on the ground floor and the only real disadvantage that we had was that in the morning people would walk pass the room talking to each other which woke us up, but we were planning on getting up fairly early to get cracking in the parks so not a huge problem.

Our first day was spent at Universal Studios. We were lucky as the crowds were relatively small so we didn't really have to queue too much. The parks were well organised for people in scooters and wheelchairs, they had easy access to just about everything that I wanted to go on. They also let all of us stay together because its not much fun being split up from your family to do the ride alone. 

On the walk through the park we met Shaggy and Scooby, Shaggy cracked a great gag, Where are you from? Beth said North of London, Shaggy said , Oh I heard you have a bridge there and its falling down!!!!

Tom met Marilyn Munroe!

The girls met characters from The Simpson's!!

The Simpson's ride was fantastic, we managed to have a few goes on that a slightly different experience each time. 

This year for the first time I was able to fit into all the rides that I wanted to go on. Luckily they have seats for you to try so that you don't have to queue up for nothing. I was a bit worried about how it would effect my hip, but as long as I was able to keep my feet on the floor I was able to brace myself against the carriage and not hurt myself. I decided against the roller coasters without floors and flailing legs would not be good for me!!! It was boiling hot, for the whole of the two weeks and although I didn't do that much walking, I didn't do that much eating either!! So I was surprised when I got home to find I had lost half a stone!!

I'll update more when I get a moment!!