Calgary at last

Well it's taken a while to get even remotely sorted - hence the long gap since writing - but we have made it to Calgary & it's great so far. We have purchased furniture, cars, TV's, ordered internet, cable & phone services but we still have plenty left to do. However, we're moving into our house on Saturday - we have somewhere to sleep, somewhere to sit & TV to watch - SORTED!

I also now know where I'm working - an oncology surgical ward where they do cutting edge surgery. It has a great nurse:patient ratio & a really fun ward manager. No night shifts either. There are aready 4 UK nurses on the floor, so I should fit right in!!

Of course,being us, we have had occasion to see the healthcare system from the other side already as our dear, accident prone Sophie has managed to crack a bone in her foot while playing on the trampoline in our friends garden!! She's now sporting a beautiful bright red cast on her foot -photo to follow!!

There's a great, newly built, designated children's hospital not 10 mins from us - so we took her there. Of course, our health cards are not done yet so we had to pay $515 up front & will be able to calim it back once our cards are through.

It's not stopped her though - she's been walking to the park & back with the rest of the gang & wathcing her run across the fields cast & all was just hysterical!! Luckily she has a weight bearing cast with a walking shoe.

Tropical Storm Fay

For those of you who may be worried about the impact of the tropical storm hitting Florida - don't be. In our area it's turning out to be a damp squib. We may get the odd gust of 30mph winds later & we'll certainly have a damp end to our holiday but having cleared our pool area of furniture & making sure we had enough food & water to last us, just in case, it's turned out to be nothing. Still for once I actually know what we're having for dinner tonight!! Not usual when I'm on holiday!

Of course Miami was hit fairly hard & so will Polk & Manatee Counties near Tampa but for Citrus (where we are) they haven't even bothered to close the schools.

Sea World

Shamu.

Well we had to go do at least ONE park!! Seaworld is pretty neat & all the kids enjoyed it! We went with Rusty & his girls, whose pics I'm sure will appear at some stage! Sophie sat down in the splash zone with him & his younger daughter, Robin - they got soaked!! We stayed up for this one but did go down for the dolphins later (their water is warmer!)

Mount Dora

Sipping lemonades on the rocking chairs on the main hotel's (which was built in 1883) veranda. plus the view we got from that veranda over lake Dora.

Mount Dora is a very quaint old (by US standards) town with lots of lovely shops to browse. it's about 1.5 hours drive from our house in Florida & well worth the trip! We went with Allen & his partner, Lisa (the harley guys!)

I want one too!

Alex had to try it for size as well, of course.

In fact we have all been out on the back - except Steve!!

Harley Chick!

Here's Sophie on the back of a friend's Harley, about to go out on US19!!

she's hooked & wants one when she's older!!

UK house completion

We are taking a quick break from chilling to say we have now competed on our UK house! YEAH!! We're watching the money markets avidly for when the money comes into the account. Right now would be good but it's not there yet!!!