Back to reality

There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home.

It's so great to be back home under our own roof.  There's something so beautiful about a huge dump of snow.  That's what we woke up to this morning.  Dads got a full propane run scheduled for this morning and I'll set up shop at the kitchen counter with a pen in hand and a calculator close at hand.  Ready and willing to get back to work.  Until next time when we can make some more memories!

One last thought

Forgot to tell of our adventures just this morning.  Our luggage has been checked and rechecked and rechecked several times.  Trying to check it this morning it was magically over weight.  It took everything yesterday no problem and though they hadn't been opened, this morning was a problem.  Had to take out of one and put it in another, to even out the weight.  We were successful in that and go to enter security and our travel document wallet is not where it's supposed to be.  Maybe packed it in the suitcase.  Hoping that's what happened, got new boarding passes and went through security.  Everyone was being flagged for a swab which really slowed down our line.  The first person through with no problem.  Then comes my turn, sure shooting alarm goes off. Swabbed everything.  Still no good.  I had to be fully searched.  Never fails.  Dad always has agood laugh while he politely waits at the end.  Finally through.   Get to the lounge and magically there appears the document wallet in dads knapsack.  Oh well on to the rest of the day's adventures.  Hopefully this mornings trip ends at1207 yellow head.

Hopefully home today

Our flight last night, the last leg home was iffy.  The weather was questionable.  If they couldn't land in Smithers they would go to Rupert and then on a bus home.  Not something we were interested in doing so we spent the night in Vancouver.  We took one last selfie in our 'fairmont robes'.

We had the opportunity to meet up with chelseY in Vancouver, what a blast we had in such a short time.

Anyway hopefully to home sweet home this morning.  IT IS TIME!!!

Playing '"gate tag"

Trying to get on the plane to Vancouver.  As the first passengers are being boarded, they are shortly de planing.  Seems they are moving us to another gate because of a problem with the aircraft.  Well then we'd rather not take that one then.  Sent to gate 31.  Me in my gadget ears hear we're then moving to gate 38.  Tell dad and sure enough 5 minutes later announced we're no going to 38.  So here we are.  Seems there is no plane here though, so we'll be at least 30 minutes delayed.  Who knows if it will be longer.  As long as we're there by five.   It's all good!

The long road home

Things are changing as far as travel is concerned. The days of travelling from Vancouver to anywhere are getting slimmer and slimmer.  A lot of travel is being funnelled through Toronto.  Ames from a long trip Smithers-Vancouver-Toronto-Jamaica .takes a good two days travelling and then back again.  Glad we went for two weeks.  Four days total would just about take two weeks for a one week vacation.  Anyway, we're at the Toronto airport good and early.  Thought the flight left. At 9:30 but it doesn't leave til twelve.  We are sitting now in a lounge with all the fixings.  One of the benefits of our credit card.  Paid for it one way or another so may as well take advantage.  Even an express line through the security.  Dad noticed the sign and sure enough, straight to the front of the line.  Hoping to see Chelsey in Vancouver. ( spell check again chelsey. Caught it too late of course)  as she struggles to make her way home from visiting Keri.  Now to funnel through the pictures and pictures for ones you may like.

Notice the star on the very left.  What a sight!

Long road home

Last night

Last morning

Today is the last morning we can sit out on our balcony, listening to the ocean and drinking coffee.  It's bee so great.  This morning the ocean is really roaring.  What a sound.  On the other side of the world though it's just as nice to hear absolutely nothing when you want.  To sit outside at night in the summer and hear the occasional car drive by has its advantages also.

Dad spent a total of five hours 'in meetings' yesterday.  guess it's all part of his civic duty.  During his first one I sat by the pool and swam a bit.  I have a lot of fun teasing dad because he can't float.  He has a lot of fun teasing me because I can't reach the bottom of the pool to stand.  I'm only about an inch too short, but it's enough to cause a problem .  While he was gone I told him someone had approached me from the Guinness book of world records about what a good floater I was.  They were so impressed .  He said he could probably stand longer than I could float.  He's probably right but I was satisfied at least I can do one thing better than him.  Quite an accomplishment.

We had such an awesome supper last night.  A treat for the last night.

Pics

Another day in paradise

Notice dad with his brill doing sudoku in the chair with a ginger ale nicely by his side.  Also notice he's going the Jamaican way with his broeks showing over his shorts so you can see the America eagle signage.  

We just had the spa lady here.  They do back waxing for $60.00. I said I'd pay $100.00 if I could watch!  Dad wouldn't go for it.

Taught the bartender what a grammamosa was.  An lot of champagne with just a little orange juice for colour.  But that dream has come to an end since I didn't have the heart for him to open a whole new bottle of champagne just for me.  Hopefully someone will ask him to open it.

Have big plans for the steak house tonight.  Really looking forward to it.  Tonight I will be having lobster.  Last night and I should be getting rid of your dads money so he doesn't have to worry about taking it back with him.

It's funny.  At home I'm the money girl and dads spends and I just have to worry about finding the money to pay for this.  Here it's just the reverse.  I don't worry about the money at all.  I spend and when it comes close to the end I get a warning and then another warning and then last call.  So far I haven't even reached the first warning so that's  good enough for me!

Dad has a council meeting tonight via Skype.  So if it's after 10:00 our time or 7:00 your time please don't call.  We hope to get in touch with you either before or after.  No before, after just ain't going to work.  This gramma is having trouble keeping her eyes open past eight o'clock.

I'll post more when I can think of something else to write.  Love to you all of course

Chelsey, Jon, Maya Eli Isaac, Keri,Mark,, Genevieve, Curt, Emily and of course Eva.

As for Eva, I don't know if you remember me telling you about Charlotte and how she looked her age. Well turns out Charlottes birthday is October10, 2014.  So she is close!  Also don't remember if I told you either they were swaying between Charlotte and Eva but Charlotte it became.

We hear so many stories about the pains of breastfeeding I just snickered, yet dad was just going oh gross, oh gross, oh gross!  It was so funny.

Well now that I've started again, Chelsea you better return home because those boys miss you more than you can imagine.  Isaac and Eli were doing what reminded them of you and Maya was having a good time with it.  So proud to see Maya doing her devotions with you op de faceboek.  You must be so proud.

Keri enjoy the last day with your sister, I'm sure she had some wonderful bonding time with the precious miss G.

Looks like this page is done so I better quit right now and post pics on the next post

Last full day

When you look in the Psalter Hymnal, the name of the song is always the first line of the song.  Kind of felt I was doing the same thing.  Today we're spending our last full day in sunny Jamaica before heading back to reality.  We've had a great time but it is time to get back.  We've done a lot of relaxing and I think we're ready to get back at it.  The vacation life is fun but so is our work.  So glad we have jobs we enjoy.  It is so great to go and see the world as a tourist.  At this resort we were treated very well with just a few minor snags.  Once they were fixed up we were golden.  When you listen to some of the complaints some people have I just think maybe you should go to New York.  Did however find out why were wearing a brown bracelet though Florence.  It denotes air canada.  The purple ones seem to be for newbies with no privileges.  We are allowed to make reservations for restaurants, they are not.  Some are waiting in line for two hours before they sit down with no opportunity for a reservation.  I love being a bit higher class.  I've been strutting this bracelet about as much as my "fossil purse" now that I know.  Makes us feel pretty important.
Anyway looking forward to what the day has in store for us.
Even though it's not important to talk about the weather, it's been so awesome here.  Only a couple of showers that happened in the evenings.  However we have been watching the news and there seems to be a horrific storm coming to New York.  According to the news it looks like it is going to cause some turmoil.  Hope our travels go as planned, but we are prepared for delays.  Even saw the mayor of New York on tv warning people to be prepared.  It's going to be a storm worse than Sandy he said. Let me know if anyone has heard anything about Toronto .

For Florence

We were always looking for w place that we could eat outdoors.  Well now that CONCACAF is over that place has opened up to another buffet.  Not half the selection but it is outdoors.

More yet

More horseback riding

The rest of horseback riding

The pamphlet do horseback riding showe waist deep in the water.  Thought dads adventure was over but the best was yet tocome for him.

Soccer

What an amazing time we had.  The soccer was unbelievable.  We were cheering for Panama.  They played amazing!  It went to two periods of 15 minutes overtime and then to a shoot out.  It was one one after regulation time.  The Mexico fans were actually quite an embarrassment.  When Mexico scored their only goal, they all threw their beer in the air.  So glad we were not sitting close.

The taxi driver said our tickets were "on Jamaica".  That was really nice.  He took his wife along.  It was fun.

After the last game when there were only about 20 or so fans, it was nice to see by the second half the one side of the stands were actually full.  Mexico had their fans but the locals were all cheering for Panama.  Because we've been here just about two weeks, were of course locals by now.  What fun it was when Panama scored.  This team is staying at our hotel, so it was nice to see them give it a valiant effort.  Both teams were evenly matched.

We kept wondering if any of the Mexico players were from the ones who were at our place years ago when they travelled through our province.  There was this one little guy who I thought wow what are the chances.  He was so amazing.

The security was keeping a very close eye on the Mexico fans.  I was sure it wouldn't take much for them to get out of hand.  What a thrill it was to see though.  Another memory made that won't soon be forgotten.

Horseback riding

Although it's not even noon yet I've had more adventure in this short time than there have been hours. I just met Elvis.  I guess he's not dead after all.  He had a lot to say in such a short time, but I decided to cut our visit a little short and get back to the business of the day.  Of course came the inaugural questions where are you from.  Canada.  Well maybe you know Jimmy, he's from Ottawa.  Well actually I don't but I know jimmy from telkwa.  So funny how people think.  

Dad is off horseback riding.  He was the first put on a horse, then had to ride around the ring.  Round and around and around until fifty or so people were saddled up.  We were to be picked up at our hotel and ten fifteen.  It's s ten minute drive, by the time he was headed down the trail, it was about 11:15.  Thought they would never get on their way.  

There was a chick from our hotel that came on the bus with so much bling I thought there was no way she'd be going horseback riding but oh yes she was.  Only by the time she was on horseback, she added glasses.  Pure white shoes with gold buckles, while shorts HUGE earrings the whole nine yards.  I took a picture of her and I hoe it worked out.  I waited til she was close to dad so she wouldn't know I was actually taking her picture.

I stayed back because I'm such a chicken.  It's really nice here.  I plan to blog, read my book and get some chill axing done.(silly spell check again).

I'll post some pics here and carry on later.

Relaxing

Just can't believe how diligent I am on this trip with letting you all know what we're doing every minute of the day.  Hope you are too.  Now that the time is drawing near to returning home, we've got this internet, mail and Facebook all figured out.  Only one more huge hurdle and that is dad,s council meeting on Monday night.  What a drag for the last night here but oh well it's really been a great time.  Hope you are all staying warm and cozy and enjoying long winter evenings.  That is the wonderful part about winter, you can be in your Jammie's at six o'clock and feel no guilt.  By the way your dad just slammed off another one.  Time to graduate to the mediums I think!

More pics