Sarasota - 4th November to 6th November

As I write, we are ready to leave the warmth of Florida (not really true for past 2 days) for the cold of Wisconsin, but before we go I'll bring you up to speed with the past couple of days.
Tuesday morning Rose and I set off with Rose's friend Shelby on our bikes for a ride to Casey Key.
The local railway track has been converted to a biking trail so most of the ride is through a national park - very pretty and peaceful. However the peace was shattered by what sounded like a gunshot. Shelby's rear tyre had burst! Thank goodness for cell phones. She called her husband and made her way to the nearest road for him to pick her up. We continued on the trail. At the end of Casey Key, with Venice on the other side of the water, is a small fish bar which also serves great coffee. Rose and I had a cup and sat talking to a couple of men, one of whom is an Iroquois Indian from Canada.
Just as we were leaving, Shelby rang to say her bike was fixed and Dave was bringing her to meet us. We crossed back to the mainland and immediately turned right along the water and went to Pop's, a quaint waterside bar and restaurant. We ordered a pitcher of beer and a plate of Nachos for two - it was huge and plenty for the three of us. It was great sitting there watching the boats go by. It's not as easy to cycle after two large glasses of beer even though it was 'Lite'.

When we got back (slightly saddle sore - me) we just flopped at home. But of course, it was a great night to be in and watching the results coming in on TV. Rose had been threatening to immigrate back to the Netherlands if Obama did not get in. Guess her grandchildren felt the same way.

Well Rose is happy and staying in the US
Wednesday was aquarobics again and then, as the weather was cold, we took a drive to Lakewood Ranch - not very exciting - so we went to St Armand's and enjoyed an ice cream then a coffee as we strolled around looking at the shops. Back home again and off to the club house for pub night (and generous servings of Scotch).

Sarasota - 31st October to 3rd November

I finished off last time saying we were getting ready to go into Sarasota to eat. Well, we had the most amazing dinner at Michaels on East. Friday night's special was 'Lobster Fest' which consisted of two Maine lobsters, mussels and clams served with red potatoes and corn on the cob, which we washed down with a rose champagne. Absolutely delicious. Afterwards, we drove into the centre of town where we parked then walked around enjoying the halloween revellers in their costumes and also the live music.
Saturday, we cycled a round trip of 10 miles to a shopping mall to check out the special offers for kiddies clothes. I bought Nya two winter dresses (NOT pink so don't panic Traer!). Lazed around in the afternoon, ate delicious homemade chilli and watched a couple of movies. Went to bed early as I was feeling slightly under the weather.
Sunday morning I was fine again - must have just needed a bit more sleep. As the clocks went back, we had an hour's extra lie in. Went to 8.30 mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, then back home for BLT and coffee along with the Sunday papers. Then it was off to downtown Sarasota for the last performance of the musical Bye Bye Birdie at the Players Theatre, a local community theatre. It was a great, funny performance with more than half the cast being school kids. The lead roles of Rosie (Kaylene McCaw) and Albert (Jim Taylor) were superbly performed.

On the way home from the show we stopped at an Italian restaurant, Carrabas, for supper. We started off by siiting at the large horseshoe bar (Rose thought we might get to talk to someone) but it was too cold as we were directly under the air con. We asked to move and went to sit at a counter facing the kitchen where we could watch the cooking. For our meal we ordered spiedino which were skewers of large prawns and scallops grilled over coals and with a herby lemon butter, mashed garlic potatoes and courgettes. Yet another scrumptious meal this time washed down with chianti.

This morning it was up and off to an hour's water aerobics. The sun was shining in a clear blue sky and the pool water was 87 degrees. What a great setting for exercise. Rose and I stayed at the pool afterwards enjoying the sun, reading and lazily swimming. Early afternoon we went grocery shopping for this evening's meal and bought king crab clusters. We headed for Casey Key around 5 to watch the sunset but first we drove at the 15 mph limit from one end of the key to the other and back so that we could gaze at all the amazing houses. It is a long narrow key with, at most, only one house on one sid of the road or, in certain areas a house on either side. Did I say house? Mansion is the correct word. Anyway, after our drive we went onto the beach and watched a beautiful sunset. Then back home for crab and champagne - what a hard life!

Week Ending 1 November:

Saturday 25th - World Wide Creative went surfing, followed by lunch at The Brass Bell.http://www.heavychef.com/heavy-chef-wwc-news/geeks-go-surfing-lifesavers-on-high-alert/

Sunday & Monday Uncle Pete, Aunty Mim & Sandy were down from George, and we all went out to dinner on Monday night along with Eric.

Tuesday - I had my mishap, but all OK now, thanks to everyone.

Friday - Lunch time we took part in the Blogging Bake off, where we had to bake bread to raise some money for a charity that turns old containers into things in Africa. Seeing as we do not have an oven at the Studio we made Aunty Mims Beer bread in the Weber BBQ - which was great, apart from a little impatience and we put it on the BBQ too early and the bottom was a little burnt. http://www.heavychef.com/heavy-chef-wwc-news/blogger-bake-off-on-the-world-wide-creative-balcony/

This weekend - have taken it easy, Mike went surfing on Sunday with Shaun, Stephen & Rudolf from the office.

Friday Mike is going up to Jo'burg for the day and then on Sunday we are heading up to George for work and will be there until Wednesday evening. I'm looking forward to a break from the City after an exhausting week.