LONDON

WOW. London is amazing and huge, must bigger than I thought it would be. I almost hurt my neck turning all directions. We took a cab to the train station in Milton Keynes. Train to London and then the underground. And I mean underground. The subway is wayyyyyyy down. Lots of steps and really long escalators and very crowded. Lots of people use the underground. We made our way to the Green Park. The parks here are huge and beautiful. Very well groomed and used. Lots of people laying around and playing. We got onto a double decker open bus. Great idea as you are high and able to see more. However, I can not believe how CLOSE the vehicles and people come to each other And they pull out in front of each other as well. Kind of getting use to the left side driving.

The buildings are unreal. Huge, and I mean huge and right on the street. Just enough room for a small sidewalk and then there's the street Lots and lots of stone. Newer buildings are more of glass and silver (some blue) looking.

The churches are magnificant. The Tower of England...WOW... Next visit will be a tour of that for sure.

We had fish and chips which were good. Their pubs are just like on TV...usually downstairs, dark, cozy. Very nice people.

Also got to go in and look around, we had already eaten...darn it...the Cavair place. Might be worth a trip back. They were a bit snotty but everything inside the store looked great.

Next to the underground and the train. We did not take the "bullet" back so had lots of stops. It was about 8-8:30 when we got back to JJ's. Very tired.

MORE TO COME

Adventure - of course continued

So Jon and JJ had some errands and the kids and Ron and I ordered in Pizza with American Sausage!!! It was pretty good. Maybe we were just hungry, but all in all, pretty good. So we are watching Dr. Who...ask Joe, he knows all about it!!

Their house is just like in Harry Potter. I will have to get a photo and put up. Small but very nice. I don't know how anyone gets their cars (which are all really small) into them. The patio is very nice. Just like on House Hunter International...refrigerators small, bathrooms small, no laundry rooms. I am very surprised about the lack of storage. Maybe that is why the garages are so small...can't get car inside so use as storage.

I have been called LOVE by three people...mostly store people. JJ has on her bog English to English. It is funny the words they use to explain/describe same things as us. You will have to check it out as I have had her add more.

They say Hi-ya in meeting and Cherry in leaving. So far pretty easy to understand. I'm sure they think we talk weird!

I seem to be all over in the blog but want to say so much.

Going to the Market tomorrow morning. Not just foods but all kinds of items. Even hair cutters/barbers. Will take more time and look around.

More to come.....

Adventure continued

So next morning JJ took Jon to work and I was so impressed how Joe took control. Made sure that Joci was put together, eating, got the drinks, brushed teeth and than JJ and I walked them to school.

I am picking up more accent with Joe than I thought and I feel like I too am talking a bit different.

Than JJ, Ron and I went to the Market in downtown Milton Keenes. Kind of a modern, square silver and glass area. And if you have to go to the toilet (our bathroom/restroom) you have to find them...and it is usually a walk.

We visited their version of WalMart (Argos), drove by a huge IKEA, a Home Depot type of store (B & Q) and Morrison (grocery store)....Lots of grocery type full service stores.

Back to the driving...WOW...I feel like we are flying and the round-the-bouts are big and fast. You have to have a lot of faith in the other drivers and them you but it seems to work. Jon and JJ have both adapted quick nicely to the driving.

The Adventure and a LONG Start

We flew from Phoenix to Detroit...normal, no problems...except we didn't get to bring the Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce and the Green Relish. Got to Detroit and within no time was on our way to England. Ron sat on the aisle and me in the middle and I have no idea who the guy was next to me. Rather a snob I think. The seats were not comfortable but all in all the flight was not bad.
After deplaning at Heathrow we were in a very long line to check pastports (Our first stamp!)which moved very quickly and we made excellent flying time as we were early, Jon picked us up. We walked right thru customs...didn't have anything to declare and no one questioned us.

OMG with a capital OMG...the driving on the left side is mind boggeling and a bit scary to say the least. It was nice to visit with Jon and Jen before walking to the schools to pick up the kids. As I posted on Facebook...the recognition that it was truly us was wonderful. lots of hugs and kisses. We first picked up Joci and met some of the moms and than we all walked to pick up Joe and also met some moms there. You walk a lot...the schools are in the neigbnorhood and everyone walks...very few cars dropping off and picking up. Definitely a social for the moms.

Ron and I stayed up from the time we got here in the morning until night time so we had been up a long time. A couple of times during the day we slipped into nodding sleep but we made it until nighttime.

To be Continued.....

Fishing Equipment Wanted

Yes, do you have a fly rod/reel sitting at home. You thought you were going to learn all about it but just didn't have time. OR, you are ready for that next step in your rod/reel acquisition and now have a set you could donate.

DONATE that equipment to Casting for Recovery. At every retreat we try to give at least 4 rod/reel sets to our ladies. Some of the ladies have never fly fished in their lives and find it to be a wonderful recovery process for Breast Cancer. Grant you, some of our ladies say it was wonderful but nope, not for me. The retreat was the best but not going to fly fish in the future. However, by having the rods available they get the opportunity.

You can contact either Kitty Wiemelt at Kitty@kittywiemelt.com or dfischersurvivor@gmail.com and we will be very pleased to pick up your donation.

Please go to castingforrecovery.org and see what CFR is all about.

Thanks! :):)

Retirement

Who would have thought that the word "retirement" would be coming up so fast. Two years...that is if I retire.

Everyone has told me that there is no way I could retire. I wouldn't be able to NOT do anything. I guess that is what you think of when you use the word retirement...you literally retire...sit around and not do anything.

I agree that I do not believe I will be able to just sit around. Although I have become better at that than in the past.

I was told the other day that you must have something to retire TO. Not just retire FROM something. Makes sense. But finding that TO might not be so easy.

I think it is funny how some people know exactly what they want to do, what they enjoy most...all the wants and whats. This is not easy for me, I usually answer with a "I don't know!" I know more of the what I "don't" wants.:)

And for that matter a lot can happen in two years. That's for sure. We may all have to work a whole lot longer than we initially thought with the economy, etc.

I know that I will always be involved with Casting for Recovery. I know that my grandchildren are the "most" important to me....well, Ron too! But as for the rest of this "retirement" business, I am not sure.

Help CFR Become Social

CFR's Facebook page is going to business from personal with the help of a very dear and intelligent Amy Rose. It has been set up but we need EVERYONE to go to the page and enter "LIKE" so that we will be able to keep it.

This will be one of CFR's "Social" networking/information site.

Please go to: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Casting-For-Recovery-Arizona/208657485840061 and enter "LIKE" for us.

Thank you so much all so much!!! :):):)