Friday 27 November 2009
Happy Thanksgiving...
Mum, Steven, Iain & Lou prepare for waverunning
Steven starts his engine
Lucy & Jessica at Pine Island
A hungry pelican looks out for fish
Dad & Margaret on Fort Myers Beach
The newlyweds pose against a Ft Myers Beach sunset
Eunice & Lou at the Gulf Shore Grille
Where did the sun go?
Lucy enjoys a Cosmopolitan at Ruby Tuesday
The three fishes enjoy the pool
Mary, Margaret & Lou ... aka the Three Librarians
Welcome to children's corner
Tuesday 24 November 2009
Homework...
Iain works on his assignment
A band plays at Cape Harbour
It's a lively night at the Long Boards Bar
Eunice and son-in-law at Cape Harbour
Peter and Lou at Cape Harbour
Monday 23 November 2009
A date with the manatees...
An atmospheric view of Crystal River from the hotel
Ready to snorkel
Looking good
Dad & I view the manatee
A view of Dad & me underwater
A mother and her calf at Crystal River
Captain Fish steers us back to dry land
Broderick, Lucy & Iain
Sunday 22 November 2009
Game day...
With a lack of internet between Tuesday and Thursday I've fallen a little behind with the blog. Tonight we are staying over in Crystal River for a snorkelling tour tomorrow, so there's a reasonable chance of being left without an internet connection again. I'll keep you posted ... or not.
Anyway, I need to go and get ready for a drive up to Tampa. Lucy & I are watching our first American Football game this afternoon ... the New Orleans Saints are visiting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and if the form-book is anything to go by, the Bucs are in for a real pasting! We can only hope that our presence will help turn their fortunes around...
...no such luck with the game ... the drive up was painless, as was finding a place to park outside Raymond James Stadium - home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. All around the stadium was buzzing with mainly Bucs fans, some that appeared to have stayed overnight in trailers or tents, and many that had brought full size barbeques and the like. This was no trip to watch a weekend football fixture, it was a full-on social event!
Once inside the stadium we purchased shirts, programmes, food & beverages and located our designated seats ... the view was perfect. After all the pre-game build up (national anthem etc.) the game began and the stadium erupted. As for the game, well it couldn't have started any better for the Bucs ... after forcing the Saints to punt, the Buccaneers drove 95 yards down field for a touchdown to take a 7 - 0 lead. Unfortunately that touchdown and conversion were the only points scored by the home team for the remainder of the game.
I won't bore you with the game specifics, but suffice to say the Bucs lost 38-7 after a dismal second half. The result however, did nothing to spoil our day, in fact, I get the impression Lucy would be happy to come again - I certainly will be doing one day.
We made a relatively pain free exit from the stadium and its surrounding area and drove the hour plus journey north to Crystal River to meet up with Steven, Dad, Margaret, Mum, Mary, Katie & Nicole at the Port Marina Hotel complex. Several of us ate food, many of us drank beer, and Steven, Dad & I played pool ... having lost no games I assumed the title of undisputed Ale House Pool Champion 2009.
At about 9:30pm we all retired for the night in preparation for an early start ... some much earlier than others.
Anyway, I need to go and get ready for a drive up to Tampa. Lucy & I are watching our first American Football game this afternoon ... the New Orleans Saints are visiting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and if the form-book is anything to go by, the Bucs are in for a real pasting! We can only hope that our presence will help turn their fortunes around...
...no such luck with the game ... the drive up was painless, as was finding a place to park outside Raymond James Stadium - home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. All around the stadium was buzzing with mainly Bucs fans, some that appeared to have stayed overnight in trailers or tents, and many that had brought full size barbeques and the like. This was no trip to watch a weekend football fixture, it was a full-on social event!
Raymond James Stadium
Once inside the stadium we purchased shirts, programmes, food & beverages and located our designated seats ... the view was perfect. After all the pre-game build up (national anthem etc.) the game began and the stadium erupted. As for the game, well it couldn't have started any better for the Bucs ... after forcing the Saints to punt, the Buccaneers drove 95 yards down field for a touchdown to take a 7 - 0 lead. Unfortunately that touchdown and conversion were the only points scored by the home team for the remainder of the game.
The Pirate Ship inside Raymond James
Kick-off
I won't bore you with the game specifics, but suffice to say the Bucs lost 38-7 after a dismal second half. The result however, did nothing to spoil our day, in fact, I get the impression Lucy would be happy to come again - I certainly will be doing one day.
Action from the game
Lucy & Iain at the ball game
We made a relatively pain free exit from the stadium and its surrounding area and drove the hour plus journey north to Crystal River to meet up with Steven, Dad, Margaret, Mum, Mary, Katie & Nicole at the Port Marina Hotel complex. Several of us ate food, many of us drank beer, and Steven, Dad & I played pool ... having lost no games I assumed the title of undisputed Ale House Pool Champion 2009.
Dad, Iain & Steven shoot some pool
At about 9:30pm we all retired for the night in preparation for an early start ... some much earlier than others.
Saturday 21 November 2009
Pool Party...
On Saturday we breakfasted at the villa, at the same time feeding our local terrapin, who we have named Charlie (no particular reason so please don't ask).
At about 10am we drove down to Coconut Point shopping mall to find some more bargains. Lucy purchased a Hollister shirt, and I bought a Hollister hooded top and a Tommy Bahama shirt. I would have bought a protective cover for my iPhone from the Apple Store, but given that the plentiful staff around the store failed to even acknowledge my existence whilst stood at the counter for several minutes, I walked away empty-handed out of principal.
For lunch we dined at the Asian Chao, an Oriental Restaurant that served mainly Thai cuisine. Lucy & I both ate a shrimp starter, followed by Pad Thai and Bangkok Noodles respectively. Both meals were excellent, but like the Apple Store, the service could have been a whole lot better ... we ensured our tip reflected the service.
SuperTarget was visited next, buying a bikini for Lucy, and a cheap ($25) underwater digital camera in preparation for our trip to Crystal River tomorrow. From Target we drove home, making a quick stop to pack a couple of things before dad drove the four of us round to Eunice & Co. for an evening of pool frivolities, barbeque and poker. Only four of us played poker - Eunice, Lou, Lucy & I ... my game plan of allowing the three ladies to consume copious amounts of alcohol paid off as I won all the chips, and more importantly all the dosh.
Dad drove us home prior to midnight and we headed to bed not long after our arrival, ready for a big day tomorrow.
Charlie the terrapin
At about 10am we drove down to Coconut Point shopping mall to find some more bargains. Lucy purchased a Hollister shirt, and I bought a Hollister hooded top and a Tommy Bahama shirt. I would have bought a protective cover for my iPhone from the Apple Store, but given that the plentiful staff around the store failed to even acknowledge my existence whilst stood at the counter for several minutes, I walked away empty-handed out of principal.
For lunch we dined at the Asian Chao, an Oriental Restaurant that served mainly Thai cuisine. Lucy & I both ate a shrimp starter, followed by Pad Thai and Bangkok Noodles respectively. Both meals were excellent, but like the Apple Store, the service could have been a whole lot better ... we ensured our tip reflected the service.
SuperTarget was visited next, buying a bikini for Lucy, and a cheap ($25) underwater digital camera in preparation for our trip to Crystal River tomorrow. From Target we drove home, making a quick stop to pack a couple of things before dad drove the four of us round to Eunice & Co. for an evening of pool frivolities, barbeque and poker. Only four of us played poker - Eunice, Lou, Lucy & I ... my game plan of allowing the three ladies to consume copious amounts of alcohol paid off as I won all the chips, and more importantly all the dosh.
No comment
Steven takes charge of the barbeque
A successful evening
Dad drove us home prior to midnight and we headed to bed not long after our arrival, ready for a big day tomorrow.
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