Well here I am in North America. It's not the bit I'd most like to be in, but there you go - At least I'm (almost) in the same timezone.
The trip here seemed epic and endless. About 22 hours from leaving home, to arriving at the hotel. My luggage failed to arrive at Charlotte (North Carolina). Subsequently for the rest of the trip, and the first full day of the holiday, well let's just say I was even more curmudgeonly than usual. My bag arrived eventually, around 24 hours after we checked in. Clean underwear at last.
The first night I had just wanted to go home (but obviously didn't tell Billie), I felt very very negative, but the arrival of my medication and socks the next day helped quite a bit
The crowds are only rivalled by the heat in annoyances (it is Easter after all). The hotel is pretty nice, even though the wi-fi is a bit puny and I have to pretty much type this in the bathroom to get even a low signal. (just when did good wi-fi became key to a good holiday?).
My biggest worry however is Billie. Her main concerns are her blackberry, her ipod, the car radio, the pool, food, thrill rides, and then maybe, just maybe, me?
It's a bit like being alone sometimes, but I've quizzed her and she assures me holidays with her Mother were exactly the same. So I'm trying to be cool and give her as much space as she wants.She is a teenager after all.
Meanwhile we are only managing half days at the parks, before the heat and crowds are forcing us back to the hotel (me for a snooze, she to the pool). What has amazed me is how little has changed in the 10 years (blimey) since I was last here. I've generally a good sense of direction and apart from the initial drive from the airport (22 hours travelling, pitch black, and annoyed) I've had no problems finding anything and I've been enjoying the driving.
(nearly two weeks pass...)
I almost gave up with this post due to the poor wi-fi, and being constantly knackered. Here we are at the Airport,and as there is free wi-fi , and our flight is somewhat delayed, here's part two. As I sit here I'm amazed at the amount of technology around me. Almost everyone is attached to an electronic device of some sort. I've this netbook and my ipod, Billie is about a hundred feet away charging her ipod touch, and using he Blackberry. The last time I was here the most technologically advanced object I had was probably a paperback. I've never seen so many iPhones as during the past fortnight. If I were a visiting alien, it would have been an easy assumption that they were the standard Human communication method .
I was initially troubled by blisters, when they began to heal I re-activated an old work injury, whilst putting on my socks of all things. Consequently my limp continued. Just as that improved a little I got terrible (is there any other kind ?) toothache. Eventually my mouth could barely open and the left side of my face swelled to chipmunk like proportions. For a few days I had to eat only flat food, and very carefully! It's starting to subside a little , but at least it's stopped me from being too gluttonous, which is extremely easy here due to large portions and low prices. Then in true movie victim style I actually twisted my ankle, ensuring that I would have a limp in my right leg for almost the entire holiday.
Billie continued to be less than interested in anything Dad related (and it's my Birthday on Saturday too!) but I think this is just normal for a 14 year old, otherwise she wouldn't have even come I surmise. We've had a little friction but nothing like a deal breaker. I'm rambling.
(I know it's ancient history, but I've found myself almost constantly thinking of Barbara, which I've found to be both a comfort and a torment - no one to blame but yourself! maybe it's the foreign soil and the anniversary of last seeing her coming up. who knows? - who cares?)
If I think of anything else even vaguely interesting, I'll put it in another post. We didn't take many photos, and I don't think there's a single one of me, but heck I may even post one next time! Excited? Can hardly wait? I'm not really surprised...
(ps title picture is a fence at the Canada Pavilion in Epcot. Even long long ago the 'circle o vision' movie used to bring a lump to my throat, and a stirring in the heart. Strangely I couldn't bring myself to go in ...)
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