Sarasota - 27th to 31st October

Travelled on a direct daytime flight from Gatwick to Tampa where I was met by Rose at around 6.30 pm Florida time. We talked non-stop on the drive to her apartment at the Stoneybrooke Golf and Country Club where we arrived at 8.30 - too late for dinner but not for a bottle of pink champagne and a giant bag of potato crisps!
It was really cool the next morning when we took a long walk all around the complex - but the sun was shining in a clear blue sky which made up for the cold wind. Spent the rest of the morning drinking coffee, unpacking and getting organised (not a word usually associated with me). After lunch, we took a trip to the nearest shopping mall where we spent a couple of hours. Back at the condo, Rose prepared a delicious supper of stone crab claws and king crab clusters with salad and asparagus accompanied by a bottle of bubbly! Give me crab any day, rather than lobster. Absolutely delicious!
Wednesday morning there was still a cold wind blowing but, undaunted, along with another brave soul, we were in the club house pool at 9.30 for aquarobics. Actually, it was great as long as one kept one's shoulders under water. Rose had tennis practice at one, so I drove to the mall again and treated myself to a manicure and pedicure. There was no one else in the salon at the time, so I had a great time chatting to all the staff. Wednesday evening is 'Pub Night' at the club house so we went along around 5.45 and sat at a table eatng and, yes, drinking, with a load of Rose's friends.
Thursday was Rose's tennis match against another club so we started the morning with a brisk walk around the complex as a warm-up. It was still not weather to sit outside, so, on her way to tennis, Rose dropped me at Michael's craft store so I could look for scrapbooking stuff. Loved it as I could just look round at a leisurely pace. Did some other shopping and went to an Italian coffee shop for a pannini and coffee before heading back with Rose (who had won her match). By now the wind had died and it was HOT so we lazed by her complex's pool and read.
At 5.30 we drove into downtown Sarasota to the dinner theatre. After we had eaten our buffet supper, the stage was transformed for the play 'Gold Diggers of 1633' a musical adaptation of Moliere's comedy 'School for Wives'. Zany and entertaining. Afterwards, on our way to the car park, we heard some great sax playing. Our investigation led us to an outdoor courtyard of a nearby restaurant. There was only one group there, all ladies enjoying the music, dancing, eating and drinking. They called out to us and asked us to join them. They were on their annual reunion holiday and were all involved as consultant architects at airports in the US and Canada. We joined them for a glass of wine and stayed until the musician left.
This morning was HOT. We started the day with aquarobics then took a picnic to the Siesta Key beach. I just love this beach; the sand is fine quartz and always feels cool no matter the temperature. Had a long walk paddling through the water and watching the birds diving for fish. Came home when it got too windy and we were covered in sand.
Getting ready now to go downtown again for supper and then, maybe, go to see the Halloween revellers.

Weekend ended 19th October:

Thursday 4am up early to catch flight to JHB. Mike and Fred had meetings with Louis (Our new employee in JHB) and Thursday night was our first Heavy Chef in JHB. Luckily I could stay with Lyn and her parents and avoid work for a couple of days.

I had a great 2 days - thanks lynda!! I loved spending time with Senna and Callum - who are both toooo beautiful. Thursday night Lynda had arranged a games night with her friends, so after a family roast dinner a few friends arrived and we played three rounds of 30 Seconds. Friday Lynda took Senna and I to Gold Reef City (an amusement park), we all went on the big wheel (Kiddies version) and Senna loved the Cars that went around on a little track and down a fast hill, along with the Flintstones Ride where she went around 3 times in a row. I will ask Lynda to send over some of the photos. Mike picked me up on friday afternoon and we headed back to the airport for a night flight home through the lightening storm out of the Gauteng Area.

Saturday: Enjoyed the 30 Degree heat, quick walk to the Waterfront to get some milk etc. At the moment the 12th biggest yacht in the world is outside the Cape Grace Hotel, so Mike drooled over it and tried to do some calculations in his head on when he will be able to afford it. At $300million dollars the maths was quick - Never! Although it is pretty amazing it has 2 helicopters on, a big sail boat on the side and numerous other smaller boats. It is owned by the co-founder of Microsoft (I think he also owns a bigger one) and is worth a look http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatoosh_(yacht)

Sunday: Didn't enjoy the 13 Degree cold.Only in Cape Town can the weather change so dramatically. Went to Pat's for breakfast to watch the Gran Prix. Back home to work and washed the windows. Fed up of being inside we took a drive to Muizenberg with the surf board only to find it was a bit of a lake. Now watching a movie before heading to bed and to start another busy week.

Update - Sep 08

Due to the lack of posting on my part, I thought it best to update you on the main things that happened in September.

Chad and Che got married on the 2oth September, the whole family converged on Durban for a weekend wedding. A beautiful wedding despite the rain. Friday night Uncle Mike had arranged a BBQ at the B&B where we all stayed, and a chance to catch up with all the family.

Mom and I headed to Durban on the Sunday before the wedding and spent time with Micky, Ray, Oma, & Saskia before Eddy arrived on Wednesday and Mike on Thursday. It was great to spend time with Lara and Matt - below:

Back to Cape Town on the Monday after the wedding. The next weekend we thought it a good idea to go to Hermanus and see the whales, so we picked up Patrick with our picnic and made our way along the coast. We only then realised it was the whale festival, so when we hit the traffic we turned towards the nearest beach to eat our sandwiches. The next day we heard 1,000 cars an hour entered Hermanus that weekend - so we were glad we turned around.

Weekend just gone had a relaxing weekend, going to the beach with the Roed's and half a round of golf (Mike got hay fever on hole 4 so had to turn back). This weekend it is Chrissy & Mikael's Birthday party and Mike's Univeristy friend is heading down from Bahrain - so we should be quite busy.