I've not hibernated ...

... or emigrated *wink*  I've just been doing 'other' things.  Partly I've not felt like blogging (well, sometimes you just don't!) but mainly I've been working on a photo book of the Bali holiday.  

How difficult was that?  I wanted to make it a positive book after all the upset that happened and, I think well, I hope, I've succeeded.  It's now finished and printed and it arrived on my doorstep yesterday.  I'm pleased with it.  I think I achieved what I wanted.  I was a little disappointed with some of the photos that looked really good on screen but more than happy with some that looked pretty poor on screen.  I used some pretty 'suspect' photos but they turned out really well.  Wish I'd taken a chance on more of the 'suspect' ones now.  Overall though, I'm happy with the way it turned out.

As well as working on this I've also booked our (that's Jackie and mine) next jaunt and this time we're doing it all on our own and going to Mexico!  We're doing a tour of the historical places of interest (Chichen Itza and the like) and ending with 4 nights in a luxury Spa hotel in CanCun before heading home.  Will be busy methinks, well, the tour part anyway, but looking forward to a bit of the culture and seeing some of Mexico other than the beach *lol*  

Dad's started physio - shame the exercises don't get done when nobody is putting him through his paces. Can't seem to make him understand that he needs to do them if he wants any chance of being able to walk better and fall less.  Think he wants a miracle cure as he complains about them 'not being easy'.  No Dad, but nobody said they would be!  Mum said he had a lazy streak - seems she was right but he's just wasting everyone's time if he's not prepared to put some effort in on his own accord.

There's been a meet in Guildford,  arranged by Greta - and it was brilliant!  We used the shoebox principle again and this time, although not all projects were finished on the day, those I bought home untouched have been finished.  Now, that's a first *grin*  I have photographs but I need to go through them.  I have photographs taken of different things over the period I've not posted but need to go through them all.

Last weekend I spent with Jackie as her car 'died' and she needed to buy another.  It's not something she'd ever done on her own before so I went along to help and guide her.  Told her she would be doing all necessaries but I'd be on hand more as a confidence boost than anything.  Trip was successful and she's waiting delivery of the car of her choice - a Citroen C3 - following it's service, valet and everything else they do pre-delivery on a used car sale.  She didn't get quite all of her criteria for her money but then she was never going to but, she's happy with what she has bought and that's the main thing - and it's a lovely car :0)

The travel documents for our trip to Cyprus have arrived so in 19 days time OH and I will be flying off to sunnier climes and will be witnessing our eldest re-marry.  Hopefully there will be more photos of a wedding to share - and a bit of Cyprus for good measure.  I've not been before and I'm hoping to see some of the island.

Hey, a very brief run-down of the past few weeks (sure I've missed something) and photos will follow, when I get the time and/or can be bothered to sort them out *LOL*

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Summary of holiday ...

... and a slideshow!

How was the time taken up ..... ? 

• 1 rest day
• 1 wedding day
• 1 rest day
• 1 beach day - Sanur Beach
• 1 travel day - to Lombok
• 1 rest day
• 1 day sightseeing - Potter, Weavers, Pura Lingsar, market
• 1 beach day - Gili Air
• 1 rest day and ill (would have been ½ day sightseeing)
• 1 travel day - back to Bali
• 1 sightseeing day - Elephant Park, Tagallalang Rice Terraces, carver.
• ½ sightseeing day (our choice) - Tanah Lot, Echo Beach
• 1 rest day/evening sightseeing - Uluwatu
• 1 forced rest/travel day .... home

Length of holiday?  

14 nights/days.  Can't help feeling it turned into a holiday of missed opportunities but at least we got to see some of the area and had a few first time experiences.  It wasn't all bad but it could have been soooo much better.

Adhoc pics around and about.  

Warning -There is a soundtrack on this slideshow ... traditional Balinese Rindik (bamboo) music *grin*

Back to the present and I've finally made a start on the prep for the shoebox card *phew!*  Couldn't find what I thought I had so having to improvise but it seems to be working.  I've made my sample card, now I need to make the packs.  Took a while to get to my crafty area as 'twas.  Still need to do a clear up - *lol*

Today it's off to Dad's.  Just hope he's in a better mood than he was last week but I'm sure he'll have some crisis or another.

Tomorrow I'll post some 'crafty stuff' *wink!*

Thanks for dropping by .....

Did I say ...

... we were going out for brunch?  Strike that, didn't happen.  Well, not with those we'd arranged it with  anyway.  

15th May and our very last day. Knock on our room at 9:30am. Everyone's going to coffee shop for breakfast. Everyone? What about our brunch date? Nope, going to coffee shop for breakfast. OK, when?  9:30. But it's 9:30 now. Jackie and I still in nightwear. Nothing said earlier. Jackie been up and around since early doors. Give us ½ hour? ½ hour later - ready but ..... not a soul around. They'd gone. No transport, no food, no info! We'd been fiddling around and packing, taking our time 'cos no rush ... brunch at 11am. No help forthcoming either so, after initial shock, we finished packing and took ourselves off to the resort restaurant for 'brunch' - although now more like lunch. Got to say that it was gorgeous. Both had burger with all the trimmings - and the burger itself? Pure steak, minced, formed and cooked to perfection. Trimmings included fried egg, bacon, cheese and all the usual - but better. It was so big neither of us could eat it all but it sustained us right through until we ate on the plane.

Our Villa at Karma Jimbaran

Centre - villa entrance gate.  Left - doors to the communal area (lounge, kitchen and dining area).  Right - plunge pool.

From door of communal area .... sunbeds, table and chairs, ground floor room (Hayley), 1st floor room (Mick & Lynn)

Across courtyard, a separate building ... Stacy, Sam and Ruby's room

Lounge area and the door to our room.

Kitchen area

Dining area

View from kitchen area

View from lounge area

 View from our room

Our room, called the 'study' room 'cos I guess it's also used as a study - *lol*.  There was a big desk to the right.

Daytime view from our lunch table on the very last day.

Not much more to say really - well, there is but I won't *grin* ...

The others came back from their 'trip' around 3pm and we left for the airport around 6pm.  Our flight was due to leave at 22:40 so there was a little time to kill once in departures but it went quickly with coffee and cake and a foot massage.  

Sunrise over Palm Island, Dubai

Sunrise approaching Qatar

Hello Doha (daybreak) .... 

.... Goodbye Doha (mid-morning)

Hello England. 

Landed back in the UK early afternoon on the 16th May and home by 3pm. Have I ever been more glad to be home? Nope, can't say as I have. This holiday has certainly proved to me that it's the people that make, or break, them. Bali and Lombok are beautiful places (which I would have loved to have seen more of) with beautiful, friendly people. Shame the same couldn't be said of some of our travelling companions *sad face*

There's one more post to come ...

Yesterday I was back on cooking duties. Paul's been trying but he's finding it hard still so I took over. Was hoping to see the littlies as well but, as Zac is still coming out in new spots and he's now got fluid building up in his ear. Daddy says it's not bothering him at the moment so let's hope it doesn't. Whatever, I didn't think it wise to go visit. Didn't want to risk bringing the virus into the house, just in case *lol*  I've also been working on a slideshow of odd 'general' pics of the holiday. Hoping it won't be too big for YouTube :0)
Today?  I am going to make a start on my shoebox card for the House Party!

Thanks for dropping by .....

Penultimate day ...

... 14th May - the last 'full' day.  The following day we were flying home.  A few hangovers around this morning.  Some had gone clubbing, others had just overdone the Bintang.  Jackie and me?  We were fine - *lol* Think we were the only ones that hadn't over-indulged the whole holiday.  Certainly not enough to suffer the following day, have to spend virtually all day in bed (well, not because of over-indulgence at least) or even have to be put to bed! No plans for anything today, other than a BBQ at Matt and Anie's in the evening.  The 'oldies' were around all morning, the younger members didn't appear until the afternoon, still looking rather the worse for wear. Anie asked f we'd like to visit Uluwatu to watch some traditional Balinese dancing.  Jackie had seen it before. She was keen that I should see and it was the sort of thing I wanted to see so, at the designated time our little driver and car, from the previous day, came and whisked us away. This time Mick and Lynn, long time friends of Jackie, came with us.

A beautiful evening, in every way.  We'd been warned about the 'naughty' monkeys and Mick and I were advised to take our specs off while passing them or risk losing them.  Made things a bit difficult to see so I gave Jackie the camera.  She took some brilliant photos.

Wonderful sunset, only the 2nd proper one we'd seen since arriving in Indonesia.  Unfortunately the view of this one was spoilt by the electric supply (one complaint I had on occasion when there was something really worthwhile to photograph, spoilt by the electric supply - *lol*)

The highlight of the evening - the Kecak dance.   

Once again, it was a while before I remembered I could take video clips and, once again, something is better than nothing.  I took a few clips and melded them together to put in one video ...

The dance lasted around an hour but we'd been away for around 3 hours when we returned for the BBQ.  The food was wonderful, the atmosphere not, as it had continued to be when we were all together.  Jackie and I ate our meal and left to spend the rest of the evening on our own but were looking forward to having brunch with Mick and Lynn the following day (arranged earlier in the day) while the younger element went off to the water park before we left for home. 

Back to the present ... General domestic duties yesterday.  Boring!  I've also photographed the cards made at the Glitterpot on Friday so they will be added to the blog in due course.  Think I'll finish the holiday blogging first though .... just one more day to go (or is there?) *wink*

Thanks for dropping by .....

Better day ...

... in some ways,  13th May,  and it was a Friday (Friday 13th isn't always bad *wink*). The others went shopping.  Jackie and I went to see more of the country and a bit of culture.  Had a private car and driver and he was ours for a whole 8 hours if we wanted him!  Lady Muck #1 and 2 is what we felt like.  Comfie, high end car, aircon that worked and a chauffeur!  What more could we want?  For it to be a little cooler as it turned out *grin*  

Plan for today - a visit to a temple on the coast.  Reached by walking to it at low tide but it's an island at high  .... Pura Tanah Lot. Took a while to get there so another lovely drive through the country with plenty of local life to spy on.  Arrived at a large car park and out we got and .... the heat hit us!  Think it must have been the hottest day we'd had since we'd been in Indonesia and it was exceptionally hot.  Anyway, sign posts spied and off we went.  

Initially we were a bit bemused as we had to walk through a large market (although we did spy a few flip-flops that took our eye so mental note made).  Got to end of market and the vista opened and there, in front of us, was the island and temple.  There were a lot of different 'holy' areas (well, we assumed they were holy as most did not allow access) that we passed on the way down.  

By the time we got to the beach, well rocks, I'd had enough.  All I wanted was shade and cool.  I was starting to feel really ill again.  I obviously still hadn't fully recovered.  It had only been a cold but nowadays, with the COPD and age, colds hit me for six and really lay me up. 

A guy came up and asked if we'd like him to take a photo of us together, in front of the temple.  It transpired that he was one of the professional photographers that touted for business around the site.  Having taken a couple of us on my camera it wasn't likely that we'd want one of his, when he asked, but he took our refusal in good part and didn't mind at all.  

Beautiful area which I would have explored more had I felt better.  As it was Jackie wandered off with my camera while I sat and waited.

Then we made our way back, very slowly, stopping on the way to treat ourselves to those flip flops *grin*  In some ways it's a shame that it's become so 'touristy' and that the market has grown up in the area but I guess a lot of the money goes towards upkeep.  If I ever go back to Bali I would visit this again but would make sure I wasn't ill when I did so - *lol*!

Back to the car and the aircon.  Our next stop? Echo Beach, for lunch.  Busy area.  Several cafes but not surprising as this is a surfer's paradise. 

Jackie and I sat and had lunch watching many heads bobbing in the water waiting for the 'perfect' wave.  I had my camera trained on some of them waiting for at least one to get up and ride a wave.  I got arm ache!  I missed several but finally got one *grin* ... and a fisherman.  While we were here the manager from Villa Infinity arrived with Ruby's little suitcase.  We were only about 10 minutes from the villa - where the wedding took place.  Anie had asked us to collect the case while in the area but it was delivered instead.  

There were many stray dogs around and Jackie noticed a notice (oops!) on the front of the menu asking that the dogs weren't fed.  It seems the cafe's work with a local vet and there's a programme in place for caring for these dogs, including the necessary operations *wink*  How difficult is it to refuse these big brown eyes?  Refuse we did though. 

When we left, this dog and managed to get him/herself right under the table at the back of the picture.  Not sure that the new occupants of the table were even aware he/she was there. 

We decided that we'd take a slow drive back to the villa, have a siesta and get ready to go out for dinner in the evening.  We'd never intended having the car for 8 hours.  It was nice to know we could though.  The driver took us to a shopping street, on Anie's instruction, but we weren't interested in shopping (hadn't been all holiday) so we told him just to keep driving.  He seemed surprised but even more so when we asked him to stop at a bead wholesaler .... the only shopping we were really interested in.  Unfortunately, although it said 'Buker' (Open) on the door it was firmly locked!  Just as we were pulling away we saw somebody in the shop.  Too late - we carried on our way.  Would have been in our element selecting beads and findings to bring home but wasn't to be, or so fate had decreed *grin*  A stop at a supermarket for a water refill, return to Karma, a pleasant afternoon relaxing and dozing and we prepared for the evening.

We'd planned to dine in the resort restaurant.  We'd been told it was expensive.  We thought it would round the day off well so we dressed in our 'best' togs and off we toddled.  To my mind we had the best meal of the holiday.  Lovely setting and the meal was delicious.  Expensive?  I guess it was by Bali standards but compared to the UK it was pretty reasonable for the quality of the food and the cooking.  We only ate a main course .... no room for a dessert.  

We rounded off the evening with a quiet drink and a lot of chat at the villa.  A very enjoyable day.  I just so wish I'd felt better to make more of it.

Back to the present - a day of crafting yesterday, at the Glitterpot, with a new tutor to me and Cally ... Alexandra Kamann.  We made 2 cards in the morning and 2 in the afternoon and we loved them!  The more I look at them the more I like them.  Lovely lady and I'm sure we'll be doing some more classes with her.  The cards will be photographed and posted as soon as *grin*.  Good day.

It's looking as though the antibiotics may have started to work their magic for Paul's thumb.  Continuing to keep fingers crossed though and ...

One other bit of news received yesterday.  Shock, horror ... providing things go well (it's extremely early days), we're going to be great-grandparents.  Now, that's not so bad for Paul as he is 71 but I'm only just 60 and faaaaaaaaaaaar too young to be a great-grandmother!  I wasn't happy about becoming a grand-parent at the age of 40.  I'd certainly rather wait a few more years to become a 'great' ... mind you, it will make Dad a 'great-great' *LOL*! 5 generations .....

Thanks for dropping by .....