Monthly Archives: March 2007

27 March 2007

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Sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. The weather here has turned much more summery in tune with the onset of British Summer Time last weekend. Today has been quite warm, with a pleasingly blue sky. I walked into the city to pay in a cheque and came back exhausted. I’m probably still short of sleep after a few hectic days.

I’ve entered a poem and short story for the Fish Publishing annual competition. Both were inspired by Florida, and I was quite pleased with them. The short story was under 300 words – a requirement.

After visiting Caddington last Friday for a spot of children-sitting, we drove back to west Norfolk for an evening with friends, which was most enjoyable. It was hard to calculate the time of the journey, so we were well ahead of ourselves, and had to “lose” some time on the way by taking a more interesting route.

We have cancelled tonight’s meal, partly because Dot is a bit under the weather but mainly because most people couldn’t come. I missed chess last night and went to a PCC meeting instead. Not nearly as exciting.

23 March 2007

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This is the Gulf of Mexico, with Dot and I in the foreground, pretending we’re glamorous and wealthy, or at least that we have sunglasses.

Here in the real world it’s still winter and gloomy. I played chess again last night – a good game in Yarmouth, but I couldn’t quite turn it into a win. We drew 2-2, which ironically could mean that our B team are relegated.

This week I’ve written my EDP page, given away some money, chosen some hymns, visited my aunt, called in at the office, renewed my parking permits, paid some bills and been to the chiropractor. I’ve also found my driving licence, which had been missing for over a month after I thought I’d put it with stuff to take to Florida but it turned out not to be there. After almost giving up, I found it on the floor of the filing cabinet: I must have slipped it past the file instead of into it. Quite a relief, but it still doesn’t explain where Dot’s slippers are. I’m pretty sure they’re not on the floor of my filing cabinet, but I’d better check. No, they’re not.

I’ve downloaded a Jethro Tull album, which has to be a bad sign. In an hour or two, however, we’re off to Caddington to baby sit this evening while D & V go to a party. We also have a dinner date near King’s Lynn on Saturday evening.

20 March 2007

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Parking is extremely restricted on Sanibel and Captiva islands in Florida. I found this sign in the undergrowth, right next to a spot where you could stop and get a great view of the bay. Either someone got fed up with being told he couldn’t park, or… well, they do get hurricanes there. And alligators, come to think of it.

Played chess last night but played a rash move after a good opening and got a disadvantage. Fought on for a long time, but eventually lost.

Today Dot has just arrived back from Necton – one of her regular school visits – and the weather is very cold, blustery, with occasional sleet or hail showers. David says it’s even worse at Caddington, where V is gradually improving, though still not well.

I’m feeling a bit down and directionless; don’t feel I’m accomplishing much. On the plus side, David is doing a great job on the new InPrint page, which looks terrific.

19 March 2007

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Gradually catching up, but I seem to have mislaid my driving licence, and two very large bills are awaiting payment, which is a bit of a downer. Extremely cold today: windy with sleet and hail showers.

Yesterday went to church as usual, then inserted some flowers on my mother’s grave and saw the new grave of Dorothy Spelman, who died a week or so ago. Flowers also to North Walsham cemetery (weather turbulent), and visited J & F. Son R also present: it was mothers’ day. Very pleasant time and cake. Today have just been to see JP, who has been taken into a BUPA home. She is doing well. Her stepson John visited while we were there.

Just to remind me of what it was like a week ago in Florida (and probably still is), I have included a beach picture: Dot and Barbara against the Gulf of Mexico. No bets on who wins.

18 March 2007

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Little bit of a hiatus there. When you get home after a holiday there’s so much to do – in this case, so much still to be done as well. On Monday it was my brother’s birthday, and we spent much of the evening round at their house. My other brother, meanwhile, has had to be taken into hospital for a while – but the prognosis is not too bad.

The car has been serviced, and I’ve been to Cromer and Halesworth on training missions. And most important of all, we’ve spent a day down at Caddington with D and V and the grandchildren. Unfortunately V has not been at all well – genuine flu, I think – but the others seem OK. Grandchildren growing up fast and delightfully.

Yesterday I could have gone to Lowestoft for a Christian Writers’ meeting, but in the end I settled for catching up with some work and watching bits of rugby on TV. Ireland threw away the championship by attempting to get another try at the end and allowing Italy to get one instead. As it turned out, kicking the ball into touch would have done it.

Nice evening with friends last night, and a good view of the Cow Tower while putting the education world to rights.

Sunny and quite warm weather during most of the week has now turned to very cold, with sleet.

The picture is of an ibis, taken at Tarpon Bay, Sanibel Island, home of Doc Ford in the Randy Wayne White thrillers. This particular bird, with three friends, was hanging around the bait bin, hoping someone would forget to put the lid back on.

11 March 2007

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We’re home. Started out from Captiva just after 9.30am yesterday, had breakfast at the Lighthouse Cafe and then drove to Tampa, where we reached the airport at a ridiculously early 2pm. This was entirely my fault: I’m neurotic about being late for planes. Had to wait two hours to even drop our bags off (we’d checked in on line the previous evening), then went through customs, where my rucksack was closely examined and I set the buzzer off. All well, though. We emerged at Starbucks, and I had a caramel apple cider to see what it tasted like: surprisingly good, despite its sweetness.

So we were in the departure lounge by about 4.20pm. Only two shops, so we had to spend most of our time reading. I bought another Randy Wayne White thriller. Saw our plane arrive just before 6pm, and we atarted boarding about 7.10pm. Everyone was on board by about 7.35pm, and the plane left at 7.45pm – five minutes earlier than its official schedule, and half an hour before its slot.

Dot and I had the same two seats as on the flight over, but this time there was someone in the window seat – a young Angolan guy who seemed almost as nervous as Dot. But he only disturbed us once during the flight, which seemed to go reasonably quickly, though we didn’t sleep much. We arrived at Gatwick – or as the pilot called it, Heathrow (you have to worry) at about 8.30pm (half an hour early) and it took the usual hour to get through customs and collect our luggage. Whereas in Tampa all the customs officials were allocated to the American arrivals, at Gatwick there were about a dozen for non-Europeans, and just three for us – reduced to two halfway through. Being English just doesn’t pay off anywhere.

Reached our car with no trouble, if you can call hauling three heavy bags no trouble, and left Gatwick about 9.45am (4.45am Tampa time). Traffic not too bad: we called in at the services on the A11 and had a Kentucky Fried Chicken. Reached home at 2pm, which meant we had been en route for just about 24 hours. Very tired in last stages of drive. It’s now 8.30pm and we’ve kept awake by doing lots of stuff – unpacking, washing (in Dot’s case), sorting the mail, and so on. But by the second episode of Desperate Housewives, we were both falling asleep, so we’re now going to bed.

For the sake of completeness, I should mention that I went for a walk Friday afternoon and at Tween Waters met Barb and Dot coming back from having their nails done. In the evening we went to Redfish Blu(e)fish, which was excellent again. Before leaving yesterday morning I walked down to the dock and saw a couple of manatees.

While on the dock either then or the previous day, I saw a guy wearing a teeshirt with the excellent inscription: “Be patient, and you will achieve everything. Be impatient, and you will achieve everything quicker.”

The picture (by Dot) is of the antiques shop mentioned in the previous blog.

9 March 2007

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A common event on the islands: waiting to be called for breakfast at the Lighthouse Cafe. It’s worth it.

Our tour of Sanibel yesterday started with a few backroad accesses to beaches, followed by a rather exquisite ice cream at the Dairy Queen. We didn’t actually go there for the ice cream: it was to see a golden eagle’s nest out back. We saw the eagle, but could not get a close enough picture of it. Lots of vultures too. Then proceeded to Dixie Beach Road, which was a quiet and delightful backwater down to the bay: some very expensive properties there. We continued down a narrow lane which ran right alongside the bay and took a few pictures: beautiful spot – almost nobody around, bay on one side and wildlife refuge on the other.

Back on Periwinkle Way we called at an Antiques Shop, which is the American name for all kinds of bric a brac and curios. Fascinating: even I, a determined non-shopper, didn’t mind being in there. Following this we ventured down Tarpon Bay Road to the marina and by chance (to make up the numbers) went on a trip round the bay. This turned out to be a surprisingly cool experience, and Dot and Barb accepted offered blankets! Back on shore it was pretty warm again, and there was a nice little shop…

In the evening we went to Dolce Vita again. Probably the best food on the island, but quite rich, as were most of the patrons. Piano accompaniment.

Played bridge, but we were all rather tired, and so abandoned it quite soon.

This morning felt a bit queasy, so had an early bath. Others didn’t sleep well, so it was after 9.30 before we walked up the beach and round to Starbucks for breakfast. I had a pomegranate frappucino, which also includes peach juice and green tea. Delicious. Chocolate chip cookie too. Consumed it all on the dock: Pine Island Sound dead calm. Manatees around, but haven’t seen dolphins for a while.

Back at the house worked out what we’d bought for Customs purposes: could have been worse, and well within limit. Did a little bit of packing while Dot and Barb went on to beach. Now as I write they are off on to Sanibel to have their nails done and to do a little shopping. Our last day in Florida!

8 March 2007

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Well, Traders was a mistake. None of us was really hungry: apart from Roger, we had two starter plates, and they proved far too much. We had to slink out rather quickly.The wine was good though, as was the film – Walk the Line – biography of Johnny Cash. Up rather late this morning. Dot has gone up to the post office with Barbara, after which we shall embark on a tour of some of the lesser known parts of Sanibel. Weather is warm and bright.

The picture (by Dot) is of the exit from Sunset Captiva (where we’re staying) on to the beach.

7 March 2007

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In the evening yesterday we paid our second visit to Redfish Blu(e)fish. Good food, wine even better. We were almost home when Barb realised she’d left her glasses on the table, so we returned to fetch them. Total additional time probably 40 minutes! Back home we watched Inside Man, which seemed really good, though I dozed off a couple of times, out of tiredness rather than boredom.

Today we were out of the house by 9.30 and in the Sanibel shopping area by 10. I bought a new bag to carry all the extra stuff we’ve bought, plus present for Phil, whose birthday is on Monday. Then back to Captiva for lunch at the Green Flash – outdoors, to the accompaniment of water sprays that kept drifting over us. Archetypal American waitress.

After lunch we went kayaking for a couple of hours over to Buck Key and into its beautiful little lagoon. In Pine Island Sound the wind got up a little but it was still no problem. This evening we are having an unusually late meal at Traders, so watching part of a film first.

Weather warmer again. Blue skies.

Picture by Dot is of birds in the Ding Darling wildlife refuge.

6 March 2007

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Just returned from two hours sailing in Pine Island Sound on board the Adventure, captained by Jorge, from Chile. Beautiful day: some breeze, but not too much. No sign of fish, surprisingly in view of what you can often see from the shore, but plenty of entertainment from Jorge, who had views on a wide variety of things, from Canadian government to the amount of food you get in certain restaurants here. When he discovered I was a writer he came up with a couple of ideas for my next column. Hmmm…

The Sound is only about five feet deep at its maximum, and is over two miles wide. Jorge suggested that if we sank, we could walk ashore. The more vertically challenged among us were not sure about this, but some found it comforting.

The picture was taken at the end of the voyage by Jorge, using Dot’s camera.

Earlier, while I took a while to get up (hadn’t been feeling too well – maybe very mild sunstroke from tennis, or a touch of dodgy food), Dot and Barb went over to Sanibel for a little shopping. When I eventually stirred, I finished writing my page for next week.

Last night after bridge we watched The Luzhin Defence, a film about a chess grandmaster who is one pawn short of a set. No, that’s a metaphor. The chess references, of which there were many, were very accurate, though there is no way a world championship would be settled by a single game, of course. Superbly acted by all.