Tag Archives: shopping

The end of Battlestar Galactica

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About to leave for Coventry to pick up Andrew, who is joining us for Christmas. After a very wet day yesterday, it’s dry here at the moment, and the forecast for this part of the country is OK (unlike the south-west, where there is flooding). The car should be OK, too as we had a new headlight leveller fitted on Thursday (another very wet day). I waited for the work to be done and managed to write a piece for my website in the garage waiting area, which was useful.

On Friday Julia Higbee popped round in the morning, and I went into the city in the afternoon to finish off my Christmas shopping. Started by dropping off cards to Jude and Maggie Bird, so it was a bit of a circuitous route. But all went well. Yesterday Dot spent most of the day cooking meals for Christmas week and I spent much of it feeling sorry for myself, as I had some problem with my intestines, but I think that’s improving. More uncomfortable than anything. Jonathan called in during the afternoon.

We ended up on the sofa watching the end of Battlestar Galactica. Yes, we finally made it. Not a bad ending, though I have to admit I had got a bit fed up with many of the characters. A bit too much introspection, perhaps. However, it was all very clever and resolved a lot of things which seemed irresolvable. I think it was impossible to resolve everything.

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!

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.