Today has – thus far – turned out a lot better than expected. I broke a tooth just before we went on holidays and the dentist filed down the jagged bit but said to properly fix it was going to be a big job and so she would rather leave it until I came back as it was not hurting and messing with it could start up toothache. I was happy with that but today was the day to go back.
I was dreading it. As a dental phobic who has had her fair share – and more – of tooth problems this year I was not keen. When a dentist says it is a big job it is worrying to say the least.
As it still wasn’t hurting I said would it be better to leave it for a while and she agreed. It is going to need to be crowned and I am just not in the right place for that at the moment.
So yey – no dental work today.
The news about Fiki has been sinking in for us both today and I am hoping that the watching him like a hawk waiting to see some sign he is in distress will pass. We just have to treat him as we always have and just keep our eyes open for any significant behaviour changes. But it is awfully hard.
I have new scrapping to share today – another fishy page, but this time from Animal Kingdom.
The Nemo musical was a new show we had not seen and it was very good. The part where he was in the aquarium in … appropriately enough – the dentist’s office … was very well done with the huge seagull popping in. It was a page I had to scrap as Nigel and I both love the line ‘Fish are friends not food’. Neither of us each fish and so we have derived almost infantile pleasure from repeating he line whenever we get the chance. Hence the title.
You can't really see from the scan but the background cardstock is all glittered and really 'fishy' somehow and the fish and shells are too. I bought both from Joann whilst away.
And for the first time in ages I used the Craft Robo .... and it worked. It is very tempramental.
The lettering is actually shaded from blue to green but again it doesn't really show up too well.
Today I am thankful for
- A lucky escape at the dentist
- A slowly returning paper mojo
And my page a day calendar today is
It was turning out to be one of those dreaded “Can’t I do anything right?” days. An important letter was returned to me, unstamped. In the grocery store, I discovered my shoes didn’t match, even though both were brown. Outside, I tried valiantly to unlock the door of a car that looked amazingly like mine.
Later, at the red light, I drummed my fingers impatiently on the steering wheel, but when at last the light turned green, I couldn’t remember where I was headed. I roared off anyway, so no one would guess my dilemma. After several blocks, I remembered where I wanted to go. Feeling almost smug, I pulled up at the dry cleaner’s. My victory was shortlived, however: I’d forgotten the clothes.
Back at home, I gathered up all my courage and phoned our insurance company to straighten out an unpaid claim. I concentrated intently as I punched the endless numbers that I hoped would connect me to a live person.
The lady who finally spoke to me was smiling; I could feel it all the way down in Georgia. Sweetly, she suggested, “Let me get you more experienced help. I’m new here.”
“Oh no, please don’t go,” I said near tears. “You are so—nice—and patient and kind. Please help me.” I didn’t tell her that sometimes fast-talking people, especially short-tempered ones, scare me.
She laughed like a next-door neighbor. “Okay, then.” She took care of my problem, and when we finished she said, “Have a blessed day. We’re always home for you.”

Now on to another holiday account. I am finding these time consuming to write but know I will be glad when I have it all recorded and can use the accounts to support the pages in my album.
Sunday 22nd July
We had had a late night and so planned a very leisurely morning by the pool. The weather was gorgeous when we walked to breakfast, but clouded over a little by the time we walked back and so we decided to head off and do some final shopping for a few things we wanted. We headed off to The Florida Mall just for two specific shops and then made our way to Epcot. Epcot is a large park and split into two very distinct halves and so we had always planned to do two part days there, one in Future World and one in World Showcase. As World Showcase opened later today was to be the day to do that, but the skies were grey, although it was very hot, and would not have made for such nice photos, so instead we opted for Future World where everything is inside and there would be few photos taken.
It proved to be a great decision.
We started off with the Imagination Pavillion. There was no line for Journey Into Imagination and it is a cute little ride so we did that first. They have changed it since our last visit and both of us felt it had lost some of its kitsch magic. I think we were both influenced by the fact we don’t like Eric Idle too.
From there we went to see Captain EO which is now back where it used to be after a long long absence. When we first went to Florida in 1993, Captain EO was there, but the following year it was replaced with Honey I Shrunk The Audience. We had also seen Captain EO in California. I was never a fan of Honey I Shrunk the Audience but we were both utterly addicted to the pre-show film, sponsored by Kodak, called True Colours. It was a fabulous little film we had always loved and we missed it very much. Nigel made me my own version for my 50th Birthday which I shared on here. This is the Disney version obviously filmed by someone illegally and it is very bumpy and jerky as it is hand held, but you get the idea.
Anyway, we saw Captain EO and it was OK but not earth-shatteringly good. We both came out feeling a little sad too as it was Michael Jackson at his peak. He was so talented and it was so sad what happened to him. When you think of the difference between him and Donny Osmond, the same era, the same global superstars at such a young age, similar sibling background etc the difference is staggering. Just very very sad.
From Captain EO we made our way round to Canada as we wanted to catch Off Kilter performing.
They are always a real highlight for us – a Canadian band of rockers in kilts who play good rock including bagpipes.
We love them. Or maybe I should say – we LOVED them. Yes, after 7 years away this was another thing that had changed and, for us, not for the better. There was only one original band member and the lead singer who played the pips had gone. They had a new fiddler instead and he was excellent. The band were good but they were not the Off Kilter we knew and loved so much. Nigel had bought their CDs so we still have the music but it was a shame to see a very different performance. I have searched You Tube and the only renditions of Amazing Grace – which they did in an utterly brilliant way – were people’s home movies as well so I did find this clip which gives a kind of idea of what they did. You have to watch quite a bit before the bagpipes come in but it will give you the general idea.
From there we went to see the UK, briefly as that is never a part we enjoy, and then went and saw the O Canada film, another thing we always love.
Sadly it is another thing they have changed. The film, a 360 degree wonder, is still good, but there is a new narration by Martin Short (who we adore as Frank in Father of the Bride) and it has lost some of its magic. There is even a new recording of the beautiful Canada song.
Oh well, I guess life moves on and we are just both creatures of habit who like what we know and know what we like.
This is the original soundtrack to the end song (though not the pictures from Epcot)
The weather was looking a little ‘angry’ as the wind had picked up and the sky was filled with black clouds so it seemed a good time to head round to The Universe of Energy and do Ellen’s Adventure.
This is a real classic attraction nd is some 42 minutes long. There is a pre-show, a moving theatre and a show. It is really good and one we always enjoy. And thankfully they hadn’t messed with it.
We expected to come out to a downpour but it hadn’t started raining but the wind was fierce. It was the strongest wind we had ever had in Florida and gave us the teeniest taster of what it must be like when a real storm hits. It really did look very angry and we didn’t want to be caught in a terrific monsoon downpour so we figured it was time to call it a day. We headed back to the resort and had dinner in Port Royal and then a really lazy evening – we figured we had earnt one as we had been pretty non stop since we’d arrived.