Happy Halloween!!!

While we were away we decided to have a bit of fun. All around the parks you see groups of people wearing matching T shirts, with 'Family Reunion' on them, so we thought we would do our own version of the T shirt wearing fun!!

Before we left home we asked Rick to print us some shirts, Subtle little numbers in white with Black writing, we decided that we all needed suitable names so with those chosen it was over to Rick and his magical printing machine.

The first time the shirts had an airing was on the evening of Sam's birthday. We decided to all wear them for Planet Hollywood. On the way out we took a few snaps by the big mickey Halloween pumpkin.

So here is the rear view with all our names!! from left to right Zandi, Brandi, Shandi, Candy, Andy, Sandy and Randy!! We certainly turned a few heads that night and even managed to get a special request read out for 'Andys' Birthday in Planet Hollywood. Made a few people laugh!!!

 

I love this shot as we all start to walk away!! its so funny. I can't believe that we only came back this month it seems like an age ago since we were there. Now we are all shivering with the cold and getting sorted for Christmas.

I was really hoping that I could make a start on my Florida scrapping. Last week I ordered a couple of hundred photos from Snap fish. They arrived on Friday and were terrible. Three packs all the photos were stuck together, on the back was written 'wet' so they had helpfully told me they were wet when put into the packets. I contacted them and they have refunded me, but it'll be another week before the next lot arrive. I can't believe  that knowing they were wet they would pack them up and send them out!!!

 Have a great week.

Harry Potter Land!!

One of the things that we really enjoyed on holiday was the early entry to Universals Islands of Adventure. This was to take advantage of the recently opened Harry Potter Land. We had to be at the gates for 7am, which wasn't as bad as it sounds because we hadn't fully adjusted to Florida time, so it was fairly easy to get up. Once we had been checked in we walked through the very dark park. The floor was wet where they had washed it down. We had breakfast of porridge and toast in a restaurant. It was named after a pub from the film, but as I am not a Harry Potter devotee, I can't remember the name!! I mean I do enjoy the films and book, but I haven't committed to memory every little detail.

The buildings really looked good and in the early morning light it could even have been real snow, apart from the fact that it was already steamy hot and sticky!!

We were heading up the 'high street' of Hogsmeade looking for our breakfast!

At the end of the street there was the roller coaster and the 'big' ride which I didn't attempt. There had been a lot written about how small the seats were, so as Tom didn't fancy it we let the kids go on while we went on the small roller coaster. The little one was great and we had about 8 goes before the park opened!!

As soon as the park opened it was swamped with people who must have headed straight to Hogsmeade and within 30 minutes the wait for the ride was 90 minutes long!

Great day out was made even better when we were sitting waiting for the kids to come off the ride and we witnessed a butter beer explosion. The man on the butter beer stall was trying to set it all up when he experienced a bit of a mega blow back and the whole stall started to squirt butter beer all over the attendant and the floor. It was funny, poor bloke  is possibly still trying to beat off the wasps now!!!!

Time has flown....

I can't believe that we have been back just over a week and it feels as if we have never been away, already my thoughts are turning to next year and what we might do. Two weeks ago we were sunning ourselves in the Florida sunshine and today we had driving rain, real stair rods that got you really really wet. We had wreath laying at work for Armistice Day. My colleague was representing our department, she missed the inside two minutes of silence when a meeting over run. as soon as the time was up she rushed outside for the wreath laying and was soaked through to the skin, her hair was plastered to her head, it took the rest of the day to dry out.

So it hardly seems possible that it was only a short week ago that we were enjoying the brilliant sunshine and moaning about it being too hot to do anything!

Carl and Beth walking around Universal Studios.

We went on the great movie ride, this is a scene out of the classic film, Wizard of Oz.

This is the entrance to The Big Movie Ride, There was hardly anyone in the park, I was able to take photos of the place and hardly had any people in them.

So what to do next year?? Its always nice to have something to look forward to. I do have a mini break with the girls in Ypres at the beginning of December so that's good news.

Christmas just around the corn and not a thing prepared - HELP!!!!

Not Long until Christmas

Its official, its nearly Christmas!!! I have done absolutely nothing in preparation apart from make my Christmas Cards. I suppose that's not too bad then. I am determined to try and keep costs down this year in light of the recession and loss of pay at work. I have enough equipment to enable me to make some nice Jewelery for my friends and family so I think I will be going down that route. I might start NOW!!!!!

Disney this year was full of Halloween stuff but if you looked carefully there was plenty of Christmas stuff on the shelves.

I really liked these baubles, but I couldn't justify spending $11 on ONE, they were made of glass so the chances of getting them home in one piece was remote. None the less they are pretty and they came in loads of lovely colours.

I have finished downloading all my photos and will have to start the Marathon job of deciding which ones to scrap after I have photo shopped them!! I really need to get my new craft station ordered so that I can find space to work its all such a mess at the moment.

Its quite depressing coming home in the afternoon after work in the dark, we are really in the dark days now and tomorrow they have forecast gales and heavy rain. Button down the hatches!!!!

Home Again.

We are home and within minutes it feels like we have never been away!!

We had a good flight home, seemed to pass quickly, I think it was something to do with the interactive TVs which had a built in games console which kept us all busy. None of us was able to sleep on the plane which was a nuisance because once we arrived back we were exhausted and faced a drive home on a day where there was a train strike.

The M25 was closed at a junction near to our home so we had to go the other way around it which added to the journey, but we eventually got home at lunch time. I put the first load of washing on and then went to bed for an hour or two. When I got up I felt a little better and just got cracking with all the sorting out. Its a  mega job just getting that done let alone sorting the rest of the house out. I have now put away all my new craft buys, done 6 loads of washing which has given the tumble dryer a good work out!! There is still a load to be done, but we are plodding trough it all.

Yesterday I had a lovely surprise, my neighbour and friend Karen welcomed us home with one of her famous home made Victoria sandwiches, Yum!! I was so tired yesterday I never even tried it, but today I will.

So back to the laundry and the scrubbing in preparation for going back to work tomorrow  :(

A night on the town

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Last night we went into Old Towm Kissimmee to see the vintage drive by and to take in a few if the sights and smells of the old town. The atmostphere was great loads of sparkling vintage motors done up for Halloween I was also went back to the bead shop this time I found beads fir 50 cents a string it was a very good evening!!
Today it has been a lot cooler with a bit of cloud coverage so we took beth to International Drive indoor flying experience. She had done something similar fur her birthday last year so she had another go and that little bit of experience paid off she was away far better than anyone else in her group she really enjoyed it and it was fun to watch as well !!

Wakey Wakey rise and shine!!!

After a late night last night we had a rude awakening this morning!! We had been to see the 'world famous' Bob Jackson at Disneys Port Orleans resort with the other not so world famous Jacksons. It had been a night of laughter and dancing and general fool making. You should try saying 'Sarah, Sarah sitting in a Chevrolet. All day long she sits and shifts all night long she shines and sits' when you are on the wrong side of half a bottle of sparkling wine (with extra sparkles for Deb!!!) Malc and Tom went on to entertain the whole place with their horse riding and dying fly antics. The plus point is that it wasn't our hotel heavens knows how Malc and Deb will be able to show their faces again!!!
So after all of that and not getting to bed until gone one we were rudely awakened by the hotel fire alarm at 7 this morning. First of all it was hard to know what was happening but the din was incredible and Sion everyone was making their way down the emergency stairs to the exits. I witnessed a bizarre assortment of night wear all assembled on the car park. The brigade turned up and saved the day. Turns out a darling little boy played with the alarm in the dining room setting everything off. Once we were allowed back in we returned to our rooms only to have the same happen again! We gave up and when back on for the second time went to breakfast with loads of folk who were still in their pjs !!!
The rest if the day we have been shopping tinight we are going to downtown Kissimmee to see the vintage car parade.

Epcot Centre

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Today we went to Epcot it was so hot that we found it a slog. The weather has been unbelievable this holiday, tonight we had a few spots of rain and I mean a few (around 5!!!) we are now poolside and enjoying a lovely warm breeze. The USA is in full Halloween mode and tonight there are even more pumpkins in the hotel reception. Better than pumpkins though is the fact that out hotel is stuffed full of American Air Force pilots in Orlando on a convention. ( Grace tell your mum about the lovely uniforms they are all wearing!!!) this evening they were three deep in reception I found that I had so many things to ask the receptionist and tonight by the pool they are quite easy on the eye ;0) !!! It's hell having to put up with the stress of all the airmen!
So tomorrow what will we do?? Beth wants to go to The Magic Kingdom I think I should stay here and see if any of those nice airmen need a hand to do anything!!!!

Beetlejuice!!!

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Hello from an extremely hot Forida where the pavements are tacky and melting and where I feel as if I have landed in the middle of an oven!! We decided to meet up at 9am by the 'Universal' world globe. We went into the park and we were amazed to find it so quiet. We walked from ride to ride with no queues we went on everything and saw everything without any stress or hassle! We rode the new Simpsons ride twice in the first half an hour we saw loads of characters and shows including Blues Brothers and Beetlejuice. We were a little late to Beetle juice and ended up at the front in the second row, great view but the sound system was far too loud. At one point Deb and I could feel our throats vibrating with the noise, weird I know but that's what happened!! Great show with the usual attractive short skirted ladies to keep the men interested!!!
Tonight we took our friends to Walmart and thanks to our whacky sat navdrove through a gas station twice!! How that was right I don't know. Afterwards they came back to our hotel and we had drinks Round the pool (there is no bar at the hotel so we took advantage of walkways best!!!)
Tomorrow we are going to Epcot late inthe day to catch the fireworks.

Beth in cartoon!!

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Today has been an odd one extremely hot and steamy too hot to do too much really so we had a lazy breakfast by the pool, popped to the shops mainly craft shops which to be honest were not that exciting. The bargain of the day was a pair of shorts for Beth for $3 !!
We spent last night wondering if Carl was ok in the end he made it home with little problem.
So tonight we went to Downtown Kissimmee and I found a fantastic bead shop millions of beads would be an under estimation. I was like a kid in a sweet shop unfortunately Beth isn't feeling too well so we had to come back before I had the chance to buy Anything. I will have to hold that thought can't believe they can sell beads for $1 for a 24 inch string!!!
Before I discovered the bead shop we came across an artist who drew the cartoon of Beth very impressive for ten minutes work!!!

Pumpkin Patch!!

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Sue this blurry pic is for you!! Celebration pumpkin patch
Tonight Carl has left for home we are all a bit upset but Beth in particular his flight has gone should be at Gatwick for 10am . I have found a great app for my iPhone that let's me track his position he is on his way !!
not really sure what we will do tomorrow foot still dodgy fingers crossed that it holds up. On a plus side I have discover another Michaels and it's 'bead week' whoopee!!!

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Another good day in the Florida sun shine we started by driving out to boggy creek for an air boat ride. It was a great experience loads of birds and insects but no alligators apart from a couple of captive ones!!
This afternoon we did some shopping and have generally had a chilling day to give my foot time to recover !!! Tonight it's planet Hollywood with Sam for his birthday !!!

The Last Supper

Tonight was our last meal out in Florida,we hit Bob Evans again. We had a darling waiter who was very attentive and a laugh. We got home around 10pm the kids went for a dip, although it was a bit nippy only 75 degrees.Our room looks like a bomb site not sure how this lot is going to get packed.
On the last day Beth discovered pin trading another Disney money making experience she spent the last of her dollars on a lanyard and some pins to swap.After talking to a friendly cast member we found out some are more collectable than others,so while dodging the showers she went off in seach of secret mickey cast member pins.wish we had done this earlier she loved swapping.

Countdown to home...

We are into the final part of our holiday,it has flown. Lasr night we went for dinner at Planet Hollywood , what an experience !! I had never dined like that before. We met the Jacksons and what a night. It was hard to actually eat as felt like we were eating in a disco! The down side was it was crowded and Laura couldn't cope so she and Scott ended up waiting outside. I felt bad for her but what could we do ? In the end they decided to walk around Pleasure Island and found a couple of places they liked. After a very lively dinner we strolled around and had a HUGE one scoop chocolate icecream. We watched toffee apples being made and we raced some Lego creations.
Laura and Scott were waiting in the car, so we stopped off at Burger King on the way home.
Today we are going back to Epcot for half a day then back to Universal for the rest of the day.
Tonight will be packing followed by cleaning the villa.The biggest bonus is having the washing machine, we won't be bringing home any dirty washing.