Dolly's Dreamings

January snap challenge 2018

There is a new snap challenge at UKS for January and February and I think - I think - I am done with the photo part of the challenge

 

1   a bell

 This is St Alban's Church in Bournemouth where we got married - I took the bell as a close up too

 

 

 

 

2   a gate

I opted for the gate at the level crossing in town. I love that the fact the high street is bisected by train tracks makes Poole kind of unique

 

3  circles

There were so many circles - it's a bug hotel

 

4  two legs and four legs

Nigel and his boy

 

5  something warm

 

Fiki wrapped up for his afternoon nap - most definitely warm!

 

6  stones or rocks

 

The beach - Friar's Cliff

 

7  breakfast

Couldn't resist this one

 

8  a letter box

I know technically it is a post box - but it IS a box you put letters in and I liked that it was a double

 

9  you

Mmm - two of these - a kind of sensible one and definitely daft one

 

 

 

10  after dark

Present from Pauline - enjoyed after dark last week

 

 

11  something sweet

 

Starbucks of course. His is sweet - mine is sour

 

12  upside down

Struggled with this so did one of the spares too. Kind of upside down as it is me on the floor in a very odd shaped shadow

13  round about

Planting in the round

 

14  up above

 

the sky was so blue I couldn't resist it

15  something you made

One of many this month

 

16  words

This is the book I have just finished - if you haven't read it then do - it is superb

 

17  a delivery

A ridiculous delivery - a huge box for a tiny tiny battery for my car remote

 

18  shiny

This shiny little angel sits on my printer and has for years - made by a good friend - Mrs Friend... she stands less than 1.5 cm and is quilled

 

19  stripes

Well - he is a spotty leaopard but has tiger legs

 

 

20  out of a window

taken out of the car window as we drove by sandbanks

 

A the letter 'B'

B something oldBeach huts today

 

Christchurch castle - approximately 1200 years old

 

C family

Lovely family visit this month

D a quiet moment

Hatchpond down the road - a quiet moment of refelection

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• new plants for the garden - and already planted!!!
• a lovely day out
• a sneaky Prezzo
• finishing a challenge

and finally - I meant to share these the other day as I loved them. Minnie Mouse finally got her star on Hollywood Boulevard last week and Nigela nd I loved watching the ceremony

These were some still of the event from the internet and yes - I will scrap tham just for me ... Rocking the dots!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An anniversary of sorts

It popped up in my facebook feed today that it was two years ago I made my decision to take early retirement public. I had handed my notice in on 19th January 2016, but it had taken us ten days to draft letters and adverts in readiness as we wanted to make sure parents and staff heard on the same day and everything was ready to go. I had just six months left of work and I was exhilarated that I had made the decision. Nigel and I had been talking about it for quite a while, but his surgery and subsequent issues of December 2015 finally made that decision real for us and the timing was right. The earliest I could justifiably retire was when I was 55 - so I was 55 and that was it. I was soon to be done with the work, the stress, the politics, the constant negativity of some people, the pressure of targets, of policies, of 14 hour days. I was finally to get a life where I could do the things I wanted with the people I wanted. So two years ago today it became public and 18 months ago I became a very young and very happy retiree. And I haven't looked back - not for a second. People told me it would take me a while to adjust. I think it took about a week! 

 

I know I am very lucky. I have had an amazing 18 months - and I hope we have another 18 years, no ... 28 years - at least - to share the adventures together but the truth is you never know what might be around the corner. You never know how long your journey will be and so it is vital to seize the day if you can. We did. We seized and we are so happy. I know how blessed I am and I am eternally grateful for that. We have had to cut our cloth, substantially, but that doesn't matter at all. We are fortunate that we want for nothing and that we enjoy simple things that cost little. We would rather take our sandwiches to the park than dine in fancy restaurants, we don't drink or smoke or go clubbing and our luxuries of Starbucks and cinema membership are cost effective. 

Two years eh! Fancy!

Compared to two years ago my day has been very different. It didn't start early to begin with. It started with a lie in (we are not late sleepers and usually awake by 8) and a scrappy morning and a lunch together and a scrappy afternoon and a haircut and lots of chat and an evening free of work, of e mails and of stress.

And thank goodness a haircut was a part of the day. Goodness me. I was almost at the stage of plaiting Nigel's hair. We have both been suitably shorn!

 

I scrapped a page for the weekly challenge on UKS this morning

 

I thought the title was very apt - a Parthenon - in Nashville. Why???

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• retirement and togetherness
• new adventures, new experiences, new friends

 

scrapping and relaxing

The weather hasn't been fabulous over the weekend (in fact it was quite grim yesterday - but that means nice and cozy inside with lots of time for scrapping and relaxing.

 

I have a new page to share that I made for a challenge on UKS

 

 

 

Part of the challenge was to use a lot of stickers or chipboard or embellishments and that comes hard to me!

 

 

 

 

I liked the picture - Nigel has planned to have the photo taken there long before we went. We just were not expecting such glorious weather for it.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely weekend of relaxing (we did housework and laundry and shopping too but it was still all good
• Nigel's back healing well - they were big holes wherehe had three large skin tags removed. He is now, at last, dressing free.

And today's offering is what things look like from different angles

 

 

the theatre from back stage

 

a very old hedge cut in half - amazing

 

How they lay brick roads in Holland

 

 

a wind turbine blade being transported - it's huge

 

 

inside pearls

 

Cinnamon when harvested

 

inside a bowling ball

 

 

The inside of a battery!

 

Air traffic control in Beijing

 

 

Underfloor heating before the top layer is laid

 

 

a modern battleship out of water

 

 

 

WOW - that was early

Goodness me - our alarm went off at an hour with a 6 at the start! Unheard of. I had to be at work by 7.30 ... goodness me. I don't plan on doing THAT often.

However it was all good, two exams invigilated and still home by 12.00.

 

Dawn has a new collection out today and it is on offer whilst new

It is called Old Romatic and is gorgeous

I used it to scrap a page of our vow renewal at Sacre Couer for our 25th anniversary which is still one of the most special moments of my life - so magical - just we too and the nuns singing. Just beautiful and meaningful.

 

 

A very short post today as I am struggling with a very bad knee ... no idea why ... and so am minimising sitting time as it hurts when it is bent.

 

Today I am thankful for

• work being over early
• a sneaky starbucks
• the start of the weekend

 

 

Some days are VERY productive

Some days I seem to do nothing, meandering through my day with ease and little purpose, which is good. Other days I am driven - or actually driven and driving as it happened.

I spent this morning making new things for my craft stall. Dolly's Designs is going on the road again for Spring Craft fairs and I needed new stock.

So it was a busy creative norning with felt and ribbon and lace and beads.

I also finished of CT work to share today

There are new releases at Pickleberrypop and I have worked with a few of them. I will share them today and tomorrow.

 

This is a gorgeous kit bt Dita B Designs called  the Magic of Winter and Templates number 55 by PrelestnayaP designs

 

 

and this was working with Boho Bliss by Fayette Designs

 

 

Dawn Inskip also has her Dearest Diary collection on 50% 0ff today

 

 

After a very productive morning where I was driven I was the one doing the driving this afternoon. Nigel had a job involving stores he couldn't park at so he was driven - by me! 

Today I am thankful for

• a very productive morning
• being able to work together - way more fun than work used to be
• gorgeous kits to work with

 

and a few more of those worn out things following on from the other day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fab couple of days

We have had a busy few days.

Saturday was both Nigel's mother's birthday - so he took his Mom out for lunch, and our next door neighbour's birthday. It was her 70th and he children had arranged a fab party for her in town and we were so thrilled to be invited. It was a lovely event and, best of all, it was a complete and utter surprise for her.

 

Yesterday we went to visit my family ooopnorth. It was so great to see everyone, even if we did arrive late. The weather on the way up was atrocious. It was 10 degrees here but by the time we hit Newbury it was snowing and was zero. It snowed, heavily, all the way through Oxford and beyond and whilst it was very pretty it made for some reasonably treacherous road conditions. Nigel drove very carefully and we arrived safely to enjoy a great meal and good time with everyone. 

 

 

 

 

Today we went out reasonably early for us and did a few chores and then this afternoon we went to see The Post. It was much better than I anticipated and a good film.

 

I do have some new scrapping to share though.

 

 

I made this Saturday as a copy of a class at the virtual crop held by ATDML. It was such a beautiful class by Karen I could not resist.

 

and this was a challenge page - use bright and bold and not your usual style. Well bright and bold isn't my usual style so there you go.

The Gone With the Wind album is filling nicely and I am enjoying that it is a mix of Disney and non Disney pages. 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a good film
• chores done
• the joy of seeing family who I miss so much

 

 

and todays random daftness - worn out things along side the things that are new (or newer)

 

 

 

 

seems not everyone is good at darts

 

 

well used well sharpened knives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's been a cinema week

Having missed out on films in November and December, for the best of reasons ie being in America, we have been catching up and int he last seven days have seen four films

We saw Darkest Hour which I thought was OK but it wasn't a hit in my book, although Gary Oldman was unrecognisable

We saw Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri which was very good - choice language but a very different sort of film. I can see why it won awards but it isn't by any means our award winner of the year 

We then saw Molly's Game which was good, great Sorkin dialogue but very long

Today we saw Coco - my favourite of the week. I was pleased we had been in Disney for the release and had learnt a lot about the film and about Dios De Muertos (which we knew nothing about)

The animation int he film was utterly superb and the story was wonderful and yes, I cried. Always a good Disney if I cry!

 

Couldn't resist sharing the trailer - go see it - it's fabulous

 

 

 

 

Nigel had a little minor op on his back to remove three large skin tags today and we are glad it is done. They go off for histology but the doctor said they were fine. He is a little sore now but no stitches which is great.

 

Dawn has a new collection called Hush out today. These are the elements and there are papers and stitches too

 

 

and this is what I made with it

 

And I have another pickle barrel collection to share - this time from Jumpstart Designs called So this is love

 

 

and this is what I created with that

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a cinema week
• a successful mini op
• working heating as it is awfully cold out there.

 

 

and these were off t'internet - my friends who are teachers will really identify with these ladybird spoof pages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Busy from start to finish

Today has been a busy day where I seem to have had moments of quiet but moments of running from thing to thing.

We were up early as I needed to do uploads - more about those later.

Them we squeezed in a cinema visit for a film I really wanted to see - Molly's Game - but i had no idea that it was a 2 hour 20 minute film - YIKES

 

I literally ran round Tesco as I was getting late for the next visit and I thought I would save time by scan and shop and putting things straight into my bags. Great idea except when I went to check out at the scan and shop it didn't  work and the assistant was 'oh yeh - it's been on and off all day. Sorry, you'll have to start again!' 

No way - I dashed to an empty checkout, unpacked it all, packed it all back and ran to the car.

I dropped the shopping home, ate a granola in the car on the way and did a couple of chores and then went to visit a past teacher of mine. She was an incredible influence on me from the age of 11 - 18 and I was the teacher I was in no little part thanks to her. She played such a part in my life and was always so calm but firm and efficient and I have stayed in tough with her ever since.  She is in her late 80's now, but still as sharp as a needle - but she had a hip replacement last week and only came home yesterday and I said I would pop in when she needed any help. It is the least I can do so I spent the afternoon there, which was very pleasant and nice to feel useful.

I dashed home, finished the uploads and am catching up with this part before I make dinner.

Retirement - a life of ease eh! Would I rather be working - oh my goodness no - and I did sit for 2 and a half hours in the cinema and I haven't a single bit of marking to do! 

Now to CT things

First Pickleberrypop have their Pickle Barrel release today and Oh My the colours are all pinka nd gorgeous and romantic. There are so many bargains at just $1 each and they all coordinated.

I have two to share today

 

First this is the collection - the 6 pack - by Fayette called Mad about you

 

and this is what I made with it

 

 

and this is a collection called Candies in the Snow by Mooscraps

 

and I scrapped this picture of Alice and Gareth - it was so nice to have them over the other evening and so right to scrap this

 

 

In addition Dawn Inskip has her Besotted collection on at a massive saving today - 50% off

 

 

Today I am thankful that

• I got it all done
• I was able to be helpful

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A quiet weekend - with a few noises - and the final holiday entry

We have enjoyed a quiet weekend. Some walks, some lunches out by the water and some scrapping. I have also finished my latest painting. This time we were given a picture of a dog to paint. I wasn't inspired but the techniques were good and I was quite pleased with the finished picture.

 

 

I also made this page from the suggestion and page on Created by ATDML. I couldn't resist doing it.

 

The sad thing is that I spent ages and ages decorating the word love. I inked it with stencils and then other stencils and it ended up looking like a piece of patterned paper. I might as well have not bothered and just used the patterned paper in the first place.

 

 

The other anomaly is that I chose the colours and patterns as they matched the top I was wearing perfectly. I then covered the top with the frame! ah well. 

 

The noises I refer to were the od electrical issues yesterday. we had the fuses trip twice which may have been the dryer and then the stranges noise from the airing cupboard and the central heating pump appears not to stop any longer!! Oh dear - I feel expense coming. we have to switch the heating off with the master switch now.

•  Today I am thankful for
• finishing a painting project - I can start on Fiki now 
• The heating at least working providing we supervise

 

Sunday 10th December 2017

Start time 10.26 out

Start miles 17489

End time 7.00

End miles 17635

 

 We were a little late up again and moseyed over to breakfast at 10.15 ... Worried I would be late. It was still very very busy. We then headed round the resort to take some photos before going to meet Mike. The plan was that we would meet at the bottom of the escalator in the lime garage., I guess the best laid plans and all that. We knew there was an issue as the queue for the lime garage started way way before the orange garage. We couldn't understand it ... It had been so quiet every time we visited ... Except today of course. And we knew Mike did not know the lay of the land like we did and so would panic. We finally made the light and headed In But several floors were showing full and we ended on the top deck and even that was pretty full. We found a space but Nigel had to ring Mike and he was stuck at the speedway garage where he had turned off as he didn't know what to do. I was driving and so headed out of the garage to drive over to the speedway gas station. I earned my wheel spin stamp, my I turn stamp, my block three lanes until they let me out stamp and my solo driving stamp as we met Mike and Nigel rode with him back to our resort. I was on a mission. I was on fire!!! We walked around  showing off our new home. It is a very beautiful resort and although it was cold and hoodie weather, the sky was blue and the views were gorgeous.

 

 

 

 

 

We headed off to Celebration and went to the Starbucks there and I finally managed to try a Christmas Tree Frap ... Peppermint mocha, macha tea flavoured cream, sprinkles and a strawberry topper. Very cute.

We sat on the rocking chairs, cold as it was, took some pictures of the Celebration tree and drove Mike around this surreal town that we love.

 

 

 

 

Back to our resort and a final chat and then it was time for us to say farewell to Mike and to head off to the parks.

 

We went in for our final visit this trip to Epcot. Our first stop was Test Track, using one of our VIP extra fast passes. It was a cool ride but nothing like as good as Radiator Springs racers although it uses the same track and technology. I felt quite poorly after the ride ... Nothing to do with the ride. I had chest pains all over my right side so we took things steady. I was happy to sit whilst Nigel played at designing things.

 

 

 

 

We stopped and watched the Jamminators, who were quite entertaining.

 

We went over to Norway and rode Frozen ever after for the second time. We both love the ride ... They utilise new technology like the projection on the faces and it is such a pretty pretty ride. It is a really good ride.

 

 

From there we went to China and enjoyed a meal at the Lotus Blossom Cafe. I know it gets rubbish reviews but we love it. We couldn't get round to America as the bridge was open to get the pontoons in place for the night show so we went on the Mexican boat ride again as there was no wait and it is cute. Our final stop was mission space .... Green of course. I was up for it despite being frozen solid. The simulator part didn't worry me, the dark did t worry me, the lack of space didn't worry me but when they showed you the over the shoulder restraints I was OUT. NIgel tells me it was fabulous though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was bitterly cold so we headed home, stopping off for an ice cream cookie sandwich ... Well what else do you do when it is freezing.

 

Back to our room and time to chill, figuratively speaking of course

 

Monday 11th December 2017

Start time 12.00 after packing

Start miles 17535

End time 8.30

 

Today was another lie in day. We knew we would have little sleep for the next couple of days so we tried to max out today. We bought a whole mess of snacks with left over snack credits whilst we were at breakfast and then I did the thing I dread – the packing. This year we had been reasonably circumspect with purchases though I still needed both of the suitcases I had packed inside the other cases. We had some quite big things to pack like the globes etc which were in boxes. But it all went in and everything was packed and locked and ready to go apart from hand luggage.

We went for a drive round to say goodbye to Orlando. We went down I Drive as we haven’t been there for years and then popped to a Michales at Dr Phillips before going back to MGM for our final day.

 

 

 

It was far less cold – we were in long pants but shorter sleeves, though we did have our hoodies in readiness.  We started off at the Trolley Car Café and had a special Christmas cupcake and a frap. It will be my last frap. I did enjoy it though as it was a peppermint mocha. Back to green tea lemonade when I get home. We enjoyed sitting in the sun and then we started to use up our fast passes.

 

 

 

 

We had been gifted 6 VIP fast passes at DVC and we still had our bonus paper fast pass. We used quite a lot of them on Toy Story Midway Mania. The final result was that Nigel beat me over the holiday 4 games to 3. 7 outings in all – brilliant. We also went to see the Indiana Jones Stunt Show that we hadn’t seen in years and it was really very good. We both enjoyed it.

 

 

 

 

I was so pleased witht his picture.

 

Dinner at Rosies by which time it had gotten a little cold and we were thinking we might not stay for the night shows. Then they put the heaters on and it was lovely. Whoever thought we would be sitting under heaters in Florida.

 

 

We then used our fast passes up on Tower of Terror which was brilliant and to ride it over and over is great fun. I think, on balance, it really is my favourite ride in the whole of Disney World.

We wandered along to Hollywood Boulevard and watched the two shows, ending with Jingle Bam which is so vibrant and I love the lazers and the snow, before heading home, satiated after an amazing holiday and an amazing Disney trip.

 

Tuesday 12th December 2017

Start time 7.50 departure

Start miles 17570

End time 1.00

End miles 17867

 

Total miles travelled 3037

 

A very short report for today – partly because not a lot happened and partly because I have simply run out of steam.

We enjoyed a final breakfast at Riverside Mill … we have had breakfast here almost every day and we have loved it. We took a few last pictures of our new home, knowing we would be back soon, and then loaded the car, left our spare drinks and snacks in the laundry for the next guests and said a sad farewell to Disney World.

It is an easy drive to Miami and we don’t mind it at all. We decided to come off the interstate at West Palm Beach this time, a place we have not visited. It was interesting to see the huge houses on the beach road. There were no places to stop and the beaches were all private. These huge homes had the beach all to themselves and many had their own beach houses on the sands.

 

 

 

 

 

We decided to stop and get a quick lunch at a Dennys in Boca Raton (the name of the house we almost bought) and I can honestly say it was the very worst service we have ever experienced anywhere in America. I would not recommend it.

It was time and so we headed into the airport. I confess I am not a good traveler although Nigel is the first to admit I am a lot more relaxed than I used to be. Not so this time. Things did not go quite as smoothly as I hoped at the airport and there was a little bit of upset crept out. OK, I disgraced myself. But I do get stressed by TSA and that is my excuse and I am sticking to it.

Eventually we got to the airport lounge, which is a seriously disappointing lounge. It was a good job we had something to eat before we arrived.

 

 

 

 

The flight coming in was delayed and so we were late leaving by almost an hour. However, it was an amazing flight. The flight in had been late as they had battled a storm all the way. We had the storm on our side pushing us home and so instead of almost 9 hours it was just over seven and we arrived early. However, the price for that was the most turbulent flight we have ever been on. Even the crew said it was awful. They had to suspend the meal service as it was too dangerous for them to be walking around. Thankfully I was not sick, though I felt it. We landed early, Tim was there to collect us and in less than two hours we were home and had our babies back.

It had been the most amazing holiday. We had seen things we thought we would never see, we had visited cities, and enjoyed them, and we had seen Disney at a new time of year and are now hooked on Disney Christmases. It was awesome but, as always, it was lovely to be home with our fur family, in our own beds and have all of those memories to look back on forever.

I like long weekends

The weather hasn't been fab but it is oh so nice to be Friday. A long lie in - I didn't feel well yesterday but sleep did the trick - and then scrapping followed by lunch at the seaside.

It was glorious - very ethereal int he mist with a nice bit of god-light thrown in. The tide was way out.

 

Today also included watching Darkest Hour ... we had wanted to see it for a longt ime and it was a bit disappointing to be honest. Quite slow, but I am glad we saw it.

 

Nigel has had a hard day too. Family stuff. He has the patience of a saint and I love him for it.

 

I have a new digital page to share today - made with a new collection including a FWP by Dawn Inskip called Spice up your life

 

 

and don't forget Dawn has an amazing sale on ... visit her store here 

 

Today I am thankful for

• scrapping time
• a sit by the water
• cinema club

Saturday 9th December 2017

 

Start time 9.20

End time 7.00

End miles 18489

 

 

We were up a little earlier as we knew we had an appointment. The weather forecast had said the cold weather was coming and there was a definite chill in the air... But we are Brits and it was nothing we couldn't handle.

 

We enjoyed breakfast and then waited for our lift for our DVC appointment. We were picked up promptly at 10.10 and whisked off in comfort to Saratoga Springs. We did a DVC tour in 1996 and in fairness we ought to have bought into it then. We would have made a great deal of use of it by now. It was time to find out more. We had booked it because we were genuinely interested ... Not because of the incentives offered. The set up at Saratoga Springs for an open house is fabulous. A welcome centre, pastries and coffee, an introduction theatre then lots of individual rooms for the proper presentation where everything is explained. We knew it would t be a high pressure sell ... And it wasn't. She was very nice and very amusing as she explained things to us. She thought 100 points would be the best fit for us but we both agreed 200 would give us more like we wanted. We went to see the sample rooms at Wilderness Lodge, Aulani and the Poly and the Wilderness Lodge one bedroom Villa was gorgeous and what we would have gone for. The price was actually very reasonable and we could certainly afford it but we had also agreed we would not make a decision until we were home and we stuck to that. After an ice cream we were dropped back to our current home resort, Riverside. There had been a couple of things we had been unable to get at Walmart yesterday so we headed to another store, discussing DVC on the way. We were both in agreement ... Ten years ago we would probably have jumped at it, but now, at our age, it wasn't the best bet for us. Who can tell how many more years we will do long haul travel before age, ill health, insurance costs etc stop us and we want to stay closer to home. We don't have children to will it to, or grandchildren we want to bring with us. Plus the bottom line for us is that we are not Disney deluxe people. If I could buy DVC at a moderate it would have been a lot more appealing. We like simple food, we like resorts where we can drive and park close to our room. We like the dine plan included. We stay in fancier hotels when not at Disney. AT Disney we like to relax, be the scruffians if we want to be, chill out and the room Is just a place to shower and sleep. We had pretty much talked ourselves out of DVC by the time we reached the store.

 

We got what we needed ... More Pringles for Nigel and the trousers I had been searching for, and the. We headed to MGM. Oh my ... Such a different experience for us. It said it was 12 degrees but factor in the wind and the wind chill and it was seriously cold. Everyone was in long pants, coats, hats even gloves. Disney are the consummate professionals though. They had woolly hats, gloves, sweatshirts all out in store and we're doing a roaring trade in blankets and fleece dressing gown type things. Having said we would rather it were cold than hot, we were wrong. It was an endurance it was that bitter in the wind. Who would have thought we would wear the hoodies in Florida and still be cold!.

 

 

We did Toy Story midway mania with our bonus paper fast pass and for the first time I actually beat Nigel. We then braved the wind and did Tower of terror ... Gloriously warm inside... And the. We used one of our DVC bonus fast passes for Toy Story again and I won. It is now a draw ... Two victories each. We stopped at the Trolley Car cafe for a frap. People must thing we are mad as everyone was buying hot drinks. We don't really do hot drinks so fraps it was and the peppermint Mocha was delicious.

 

 

We stood and watched the street performers for ages ... Well for as long as we could stand the cold. The policeman was brilliant ... Really funny. Eventually the chill got the better of us and waiting until 8 pm in the cold to watch the fireworks held little appeal so we headed back to the car.

 

 

 

 

I had the keys and discovered an interesting feature we didn't realise the car had. I pressed a different button on the key fob and thought ... That's odd ... It sounds like the engine started. I said to Nigel and he said ... No of course not. We both leaned in closer to the car and yes ... The engine was running. Mmmmm fancy that. Heater on full blast we decided to finally go visit the Caribbean Beach. We had avoided it as we figured it would be upsetting  but on balance I am glad we went. It was carnage ... Our beautiful Home from Home destroyed... It was so sad, and even the villages still in tact looked tired and worn. It was good we went to see it as we would always have wondered if we ought to go back. Now we KNOW it is no longer our Disney home resort.

 

We decided on the Polynesian for dinner but as we did not have reservations they would not let us in. Oh well, we totally understood. People probably abused it just to get on the monorail. We headed instead to wilderness lodge. We went primarily to buy the frame we had seen, which on a second view was cheap and tacky and we decided not to eat there either. But it was a good exercise as it finally decided us that it was NOT our Home resort either, so it was worth the visit. We are NOT going to be DVC members.

 

We returned HOME to riverside and now we know it really is our Home here for the foreseeable future. We had a lovely meal ... The chicken sandwich was delicious ... Bought our last few things using our new $100 gift card  and then headed to our room which was thankfully warm. It had been a very different day from any we had had in Florida but we were left with a warm glow that we had found a new Home we were happy with.