Last day of summer!

The mornings have really cooled down and even the humidity has been pretty low all things considered. This is the last day of summer, however, being a realist about this, it is still over 90F in the afternoons, so not exactly autumnal yet :) I am not stopping swimming outside any point soon.

The schools went back last week so my morning commute has at least three cars now, but still not too bad. The worse parts are the 20 mile an hour school zones. It is key to observed these speed limits as there are always police around, and as of tomorrow a new driving rule comes in. You are not allowed to use mobile phones in school zones. It is a really good idea, but a shame it is not a total ban of mobiles. I was only saying to Stuart that I must have no friends as I am barely ever on my mobile, out of the car, yet I see every second driver with the phone to their ear, and all those not talking to someone, are texting - great even safer!

I nearly 'rear-ended' (drive in to the back) of someone today - indicating is optional and generally you are all driving along a a reasonable speed then the person in front decides to turn with no warning. Fortunately, there was no one behind me, otherwise I might have been rear-ended! Laura is always telling me it is a matter of time before you or the person behind you does it. Quite often it is at lights! It also explains why many of the cars are missing bumpers. I don't know if it just a Houston thing - I have a suspicion it is. I was reading in the Houston Press that Houston is probably the most car-centric city in the nation. They also say 'if you walk here, you get funny looks'. I know that to be true! I thought I would let you see what you pay for petrol here compared to home! Not a lot really, hence why you can be car-centric, and do your commute with a V8 engine.

I forgot to tell you I think the head is coming off my 5 iron. I was speaking to Andy at work, and he said because of the heat, the glue melts and hence your club head becomes lose. I did play with yesterday, and fortunately it didn't come off mid swing, but I have been told about a place close to the office that I can take it to get fixed. It is my trusty club, so cant survive without it!

Another chilli plant - this time with chillis already on it - and they are hot!!! I couldn't speak for at least 5 minutes after trying a really small dried one.

Fore!

It was a day of golf at Redstone. Certainly not a cheap place to play, but worth it. Mark ( a colleague from work) and Alex (his friend) picked me up about 8 am to start off out of Houston to the north. Redstone appears out of nowhere, surrounded by some new build homes and then the golf course. The only other thing around, is the road in and out and a couple of places up and down it!

We had a caddie who spotted balls, gave advice and generally kept play moving. Our caddie was called Jimmy and he was a pianist in a 60's band hoping, one day, to get big enough to travel abroad. He was fit, running ahead of us, and too good at gold laying down the odd ball to take a shot at and normally putting us all to shame. On the 18th hole he decided to give some coaching, which was useful but as any golfer knows when you are told something to change you forget about something else and therefore it all goes to pot! My over swing came into play at the end, nicely photographed by Mark, and probably due to the two beers consumed! It was so nice to be out on the golf course and need to do more!!!!

My game is in need of some serious practice but I am not sure the driving range is everything I need, generally more golf would help!!

Laura returned from Brazil today and she came around for a swim. Hic! It was fab to catch up and become like a prune in the pool. I am now definitely ready for my bed!

Chilli on the brain

Today started with a morning run outside. When I got up at 7:30 I went outside to evaluate the humidity. It was really pleasant, even possibly cool (relatively!). To make up for the naughty ice cream last night I decided I needed to make myself work for it. So I ran for an hour and the nice cool weather soon changed when the sun came up!! At least this time I remembered to take a towel for the car seat:)

Stu and I worked out everything that he needs to move to the States and what needs to head down to Mum and Dad's for 3 years. I am hoping he managed to get through some of our champagne and drink's cabinet at tonight's cocktail party!

I went to Central Market, a big supermarket inside the loop (so quite a drive for me), and what else I realised is that it is owned by HEB - where I was last night! They were having a chilli pepper event and I wanted to see what it was all about. I met up with Danny and we tried some roasted 'hatch' chillis. Apparently, hatch chillis only get harvested once a year and you get mild and hot ones. They are best served roasted, which they were doing outside the store in a big barrel. The mild ones were very mild, actually more like a standard pepper, whist the hot ones had a delayed kick, but nice heat. Slightly bizarrely, I bought three of the hatch chillis last night, but didn't realise what they were. I thought they were just regular funny shaped peppers! I also don't know whether I bought the hot or the mild ones!

I had to go and practice my golf as I am playing tomorrow morning at the same course they play the Houston Open! It is called Redstone and is north of Houston. It is certainly not cheap, but I decided since I hadn't really spent my gift from the company in the UK, this was a chance to blow it all in one go! I haven't played for a while so I am a little nervous, but apparently we get a caddie who is our ball spotter - well he is going to have his work cut out with me!

I decided to look around for a new electricity provider because I hadn't signed in to a fix contact I had no tie but my price was also variable and it has only gone up! So the thing here is there is plenty of competition, which is good for the customer. I just applied online and got an email straight back saying I had sufficient credit not to have to pay a deposit - that is good! I was slightly worried though because I couldn't find out how you notify your existing supplier. Today it all became clear, I received a letter from a third party company who do the switch and you do nothing as everything is taken care of. It sounds so straight forward, no written letters, it is great (well maybe I should reserve that comment until it is all done and I have got my deposit back from my previous supplier!).

Chilli Plants

I have just discovered American ice cream is really rich and now I have the worse case of indigestion ever! It was only meant to be a treat, but I am severely regretting it now!

I managed to buy Stuart a 'welcome to his new home' present, two chilli plants that he can look after (I will help), and hopefully harvest them in 80 days (it sounds a bit like Farmville!), anyway one is a habanaro and the other is some sort of Tabasco chilli plant. The difference is where in the UK we had to try and get the greenhouse warm enough to grow them, they should manage just fine outdoors (except when a hurricane rips through that is!). I made little saucers for them out of some of my reycled bottles - what a recycler!!

I am now a supermarket convert - going to the other side! I went to my first new large HEB's and it was amazing. HEB is a cheaper supermarket than Randall's and this one, which is not quite as convenient as Randall's to the house, has so much more, especially in terms of fresh produce. I watched one guy picking out lobsters from the tank. The fishmonger put the lobster on the scales and walked away - as you can guess the lobster tried to make a run for it, but fortunately was caught before dropping to its death off the counter. They had decorated cheese - I don't really know how to describe except, for example, there was a ball of goats cheese that looked like a scotch egg with a chilli sticking out of it. It was called a 'spicy goats cheese ball'!!! There was just so much, 24 hour Tesco's is going to seem like a breeze to get myself in and out of now. Aside from the weird decorated cheese, they had a good selection of tasty, not flavourless yellow coloured slabs you normally get. On the topic of cheese I was told you don't want to buy something labelled 'cheese food' as that means it has never seen a cow! They have a British section with HP sauce, baked beans etc, I felt strangely homesick while looking at it. No Twinning Assam tea bags though, only earl grey and English breakfast. I bought some Rose's Lime Jam, at great expense, as I am running out of my British bought marmalade. However, it is because I got overly excited in the big shop that I have my indigestion now :(

I went for a swim tonight because I was feeling gym guilty. I have only been for my personal training session this week and nothing extra. I was really proud of myself as I managed to get my heart rate up the most I have ever done at swimming, while wearing the monitor. As you can imagine, straight after, I thought I was going to die as it was not a sustainable level, unlike running.

Stuff...

It must have been like paddies market here today. I had the gardener, the pool man and the exterminator! I cant resist a clean pool so I had to jump in when I got home and it was lovely :) I did notice that the cowboy hat, I thought was the pool guys, obviously wasn't. I had put it in the garage for him to collect, but it is still there! Unfortunately, whose every it was had a very small head, even smaller than my little on!

Tonight has been a night of doing stuff. I managed to get a second set of key for the car. I went and got a new pair cut and just hope I will be able to claim back OK (I did ring the car fleet management company and they said I could go ahead with it - but not cheap, over $100!). Anyhow, it now means Stu has a set and I don't need to be so paranoid about looking myself out the whole time! I got told I didn't sound like the 'lucky charm', an advert, which, as the name suggests has an Irish accent! I did point this out, but got they didn't understand. Other jobs completed, washing (in desperate need - not of myself, my clothes!) and changing the hose on the reel. There are two houses with the house and one reel. One hose had a damaged end so I couldn't get my spray attachment on it, and since I am about to buy plants, I needed to be able to water them:)

As you have guessed I have now finished the work that kept me late last night, and it all went well thank you!

Working like a trojan

Join me have a turkey sandwich from the gym for my dinner back at work! The turkey sandwich was a rip off - if I have to pay $7 for a wee sandwich I expect it to be tasty, not a health, boring, dry one! I even went in the hunt of mayo in the office to give it a bit of moisture - but couldn't find it! Why was I at work? Well, as Stu knows me so well, it is my inability to not do something high standard - I am trying hard to do just what is required but I find it tough. Anyway, the work we (the team) are doing gets presented tomorrow so all the stress is over :) I have to say as that is officially the latest I have been in that office, until 9pm, I didn't feel very comfortable mainly because all the sensor lights switch off around you, even my office one did when I am not moving anything apart from my hand!

We had a really weird thing happen at work during the day. Basically the power cut out. The first time it happened so quickly (off and on) my PC went black, but came back up - no work lost. The second time, I wasn't so lucky! I don't think it did any of our big computers any good!

Outside work there has been lots of dumper trucks gathering for the past two nights. There must have been at least 30 of them along the road. I can only assume there is some big road or building works happening nearby. It would have been a cool photo, but it was dark when I got the opportunity.

I managed my hour with the trainer, between work, so I now cant move as I have very stiff hip flexers. I can't believe I only have four sessions left with him. I still need to continue my cardio programme, but I will have to do all the strength and flexibility exercises myself!

I am envious of Danny, as he was going off to watch Ghost Busters at the Miller Outdoor Theatre which would have been fun. Stu and I will have to keep an eye open for all the things to go and do and not just at weekends. I must pick up the 'Houston Press' tomorrow for all weekend things happening.

Opps, slept in!

This morning started badly. My mobile phone ran out of battery in the night, my alarm clock, and I woke just after 6am! At least, I have my husband to wake me up, even on the other side of the Atlantic!

I stayed at work until 6pm and funnily enough I didn't feel like going to gym, so instead I went to 'Lowes' to look at plants. I have been told they are reasonable value there. Well, it was pretty sold out of plants so I spoke to a shop assistant and asked when more where coming in. He said if I go on Friday they will have all of this weeks delivery out on the shelves. It was such a great feeling looking for plants! I don't want buy to many but something to brighten up the back a little will be great.

I checked the 'Vortex', the insect killer Stu bought me last week, and even though I had it up all Saturday there was nothing in it! I would like to think it is because there are no mosquitoes in my backyard, but I know there was, as I have the bites to prove it! I will continue trying to use it to get some results!

I was hoping to have a picture of some new plants (exciting for me), but as I didn't manage to buy any, I took a picture of the Texas star that is on all the bridges on the freeway. While I have been driving around I have also found myself looking at cars for Stuart. We get a month with a hire car so at least he is not totally car-less, but it will have to happen quite quickly. We were trying to look for something economical, but that is actually quite difficult!

Less than 3 weeks to go ...

Well, I think I out did myself on last night's blog. Time flies when I am writing it, and before I knew it, it was 2345 when I finish last night. Long and short of it is, 5.5 hours sleep is not enough for me on a Sunday.

I managed to make it to the gym to my trainer, but didn't manage a run beforehand. Actually, we have a busy week at work this week so I will be do a few more hours than usual - a pretty uncommon thing here so no complaints. My trainer gave me a seriously hard work out - my heart rate watch said I burn 430 calories in the hour, and I certainly felt like I had. I said how did he know I was out at the weekend!! I bumped into my new friend at the gym and I must have talked to her for at least 45 minutes in the changing rooms. She works now part time in the hotel business and enjoys the rest of her time by her pool and at the gym! She is nice and we end up at the gym at the same time every week, she is also like me having her favourite locker space.

I am so excited as it is only 19 days till Stu is here and counting. I still have lots of things to do around the house to get it ready that will keep me out of mischief until he arrives.

Tonight's photo is one of the main landmarks I use, it is called 'Memorial Hermann', the other part of the Hermann Hospital complex, is in the medical centre closer to Downtown. Anyway, it sits just off I10 (Katy Freeway), and when I see it and its crown on top, I know that I am not too far away from home.

Imelda strikes again!

Our wee trip to the local pub last night resulted in a slightly sore head this morning. And possibly, in my stupidity, I said I would phone Mum and Dad at 1230pm their time - 0630 mine! Well, my alarm went off at 0615 and I snoozed it twice, then turned it off, and promptly fell back asleep, fortunately, only for quarter of an hour! I had a lovely chat with them, before going back to sleep, only to wake up at 0800 to skype Stu!! It was my own fault ruining my Sunday lie in! I had actually woken at 0500, boiling. So I got out of bed and set the air con from 78F to 76F - extreme cold for me! Of course, when I woke up at six, I was freezing!!!

I forgot to tell you about the ferocious dog Di and I encountered last night on the way to and from the pub last night. Yup, a chiwawa! This little beast ran up and down the garden barking at us in its high pitched squeak! It was either scared of us or very well trained as it stayed on the lawn and did not come, even one step, on to the road. I couldn't believe it, when it was still there on our return, the poor neighbours must go mad with it! Di managed to get a picture of it with her swanky iPhone. Yes it is really that small :)

Di sent me an email from her bed, this morning, to say 'please can we not go to the gym, and just go to the Egg & I for breakfast!' We got there reasonably early, before the crowds arrive after church. Once again I had eggs Benedict and Di had crab cake Benedict. Both of us started to feel alive, and so headed to TJ Maxx (same as TK Maxx back home - not sure what the reason is for the name change!) I got a little carried away and came away with 2 pairs of designer sunglasses ($10 bucks each), 3 pairs of shoes (nearly 4, but I decided that was just over the top!), a summer dress and a work top. For anyone who hasn't been to this shop, everything is seriously reduced, often designer stuff, that is end of the line or when there is excess stock. It is a pot luck to whether you get something you like. It was my first time visiting this particular TJ Maxx on Memorial, and it was great, because there was barely anyone there and everything was neatly arranged (my pet hate is shopping in mess with millions of others!). My additional purchase of shoes has meant I have had to be more economical with the space in my shoe wardrobe, so I am now placing the shoes in toes in, toes out, toes in etc!

We also went off to Ikea, because Denver doesn't have one. After my big spend, I just helped Di shop, and she came away with a funky rug for her kitchen that is going to have to go in the hold on the plane. We managed to get a plastic cover for it, from one of the other rugs! So it will be fine on the journey. It was very humid, and hot today, so we went straight back to sit by the pool and cool down. It is a hard life! I dropped Di back up at the Woodlands, some 40 miles north of Houston, mid afternoon. This time I took the Sam Houston Tollway, and although it charges you, it is a much better route than I45 all the way north. For some reason, there is more maniacs on I45 than any other freeway I have driven on to date. Some of the tyre marks you see on the road make a shiver up your spine!

Danny had suggested meeting up for something to eat - Mum and Dad will tell me off for too much food and drink again! I picked up Danny, and after looking at the Houston Press (a weekly free newspaper), we picked a Vietnamese place, Nga's, in Midtown. When we got there it looked like it was closed, but it was just very dark windows. We were the only ones there, mind you it was just after 6pm! The food was lovely and authentic, although we ended up with much bigger portions than we both needed! Both of our main courses came on a bed of vermicelli, which I ended up leaving and eating the beef stripes and vegetables. For a place that looked pretty scruffy on the outside, it was well worth a visit. And as with most eating out here, it was very reasonably priced. To finish the evening we went and sat back on Danny's porch in his groovie red deck chairs.

More Pressies!

What a lovely chilled out Saturday. I was up to skype at at a reasonable hour for a Saturday, but at about half past nine - ten o'clock, Di was up and ready for the gym. We did a good work out and it was midday before we left! I introduced Di to Jo, my trainers, stretching before we got on to the treadmill!

We did a bit of shopping, and Di bought Stu and I's wedding present. It is a very smart brushed steel food blender, similar to Stuarts back home. This weekend is tax free! However, as we realised it is only tax free on clothes and school stuff! Our food processor had 40% off which was good news! Obviously, we had to test it out making salsa. My salsa, although Stuart's recipe, was not as good as his! But the food processor worked a treat.

We had a lovely time sunbathing and sipping at Caparinha's :) I also cooked us a BBQ with sweetcorn, veg skewers,and sausages :) It was yummy, especially as I have not had a BBQ all week!

Tonight we walked to a local bar - Next Door. It was good, but quiet. We had a guy sit down an talk to us and then he wouldn't leave -so we left! We are now back at the house and in bed!!

Di's here!

Di is in heaven she is watching Jonathan Ross on my BBC America!

We finally got her out of the airport at 9pm, 3 hours later than planned! I got to the airport at about ten to six, but then an enormous thunderstorm came in so I sat at a petrol station just outside the airport watching her flight arrival. She then phoned saying they had landed in Austin! In the meantime, I was sitting in the middle of a massive thunderstorm. Fortunately, they just refueled and took off again. After 40 minutes the first storm cleared so I texted Di to say it was all fine, however in 10 minutes the skies started to darken again and the radar picture showed another storm coming in!

Well, they landed in the middle of the second storm, which was great for me, but bad for those landing.

Houston George Bush International Airport is amazing for driving, as it is so well sign posted and so very easy to get to the right terminal. The only downside was the first time I came through the pick up zone, Di's luggage hadn't come out so I got moved on to do another loop. The loop is only five minutes and the second time I lingered long enough so as Di came running out of the terminal building, and I got her!

This evening we went for a sneaky Mexican at La Hacienda just near mine, and had superb Margarita's (tequila, limes and triple sec) !

Tomorrow we will do a bit of gym, followed by sitting by the pool and BBQ'ing :)

Hatless Cowboy!

Where is the cowboy? Look what I found when I got home. I haven't moved it from the back as maybe the owner will come and collect it. It is either the gardener or the pool guy - I am guessing! My pool looks fantastic. I spoke to the pool guy saying it looked nasty and he has done a fab job. That means Di and I can swim lots this weekend :)

I had a free session with a nutritionist at the gym this evening, but it was a total farce as a free session I think should tell you something useful rather than just a sales pitch! Oh and guess what she doesn't come cheap! I said I had spent enough money already and wasn't prepared to spend anymore however interesting it might be, maybe next year! At least I didn't have to admit I eaten a brownie today :) and I got away with excusing myself for the red cherry all down the front of my white shirt!

I had a fantastic swim using my webbed gloves again - they really make a difference to the resistance in the water. Recently, every time I have been swimming I have been short for time so this evening I had nothing pressing so did my swim then enjoyed the sauna. There was two Chinese ladies in the sauna with me. One was giving the other a head massage that looked quite painful - hardly relaxing. Each to their own.

I have been cleaning non stop this evening. I like having people to stay as it makes me tidy up. Although, I am disappointed with my new floor cleaner, to date I have been using fairy liquid! And this new stuff says it doesn't leave streaks - liers :) I am pleased I have managed to get the rust marks off the side of the bath from my shaving gel can! I was going to be asking for advice.

I was very nervous when I opened my letter box to see the dreaded water bill, if you remember last month I had managed to use 25,000 gallons that cost me $200! Well, this month I used 7,000 gallons costing just $50, that is more like it! I am not entirely convinced last month bill was 'real', but I don't know how I can prove it at this stage.

Pressie!

No nasty surprises this evening, so maybe I manage to clear whatever was causing my drain issue. I ended up preparing for the worst last night and checked out phone numbers for 24 hour drain services - just in case!!!

Another busy day at the office! We had an all afternoon meeting. Stuart was down to the London Embassy for his visa. I only got to talk to him for five minutes and he was mean. When I asked him how it went, he said they said they could not process his visa! Then laughed - how cruel. Tomorrow, the removals company come to assess the amount of stuff we are left to take, and everything else will head down to Glenlair (sorry M&D!). Things are really moving now:)

I had a present outside my door this evening - Stuart has bought us a 'Vortex'! It says it eliminates pesky insects forever! Battery or plug operated, it emits UV light and CO2 attracting all the biting insects and zaps them! I will have to try it out this weekend when Di comes to stay.

It rained tonight - it is strange how I become excited by the rain these days as once again I can turn off the sprinklers. I was also hoping it would top up my pool, which is a little low, and still green. I never managed to ring the pool guy, but must tomorrow.

Lindsey uploaded all the water photos from the tubing weekend so I have pulled off a couple from Facebook for those not on Facebook! You may have to read this in conjunction with the posting for Saturday. But just to reassure you, the tattoo is only stick-on and I took it off on Sunday!

Nasty Surprise!

I can confirm leaving the washing in the machine to soak before washing was an improvement!

I am slightly worried I have a block drain in my en suit toilet, of all places! It was a nasty surprise this evening, so I will have to keep an eye on it and may have to get a drain cleaning mannie out. That, on top of the pool going green, I just want an easy life!

Otherwise today has been very uneventful, I managed to get myself to the gym, and then it meant I could make myself a yummy pasta and prawn dish for dinner, so it was worth it.

I had to buy myself a new razor and face wash tonight, as guess what? I left them in the hotel at the weekend. I am so used to Stuart double and triple checking the room before we leave, that I didn't do it and now I have paid price!

I finally managed to take a picture of what could be classed as my 'local'. It is nothing to look at, and actually reminds me of the pub in Shameless (Channel 4 TV programme). I certainly wont be going in there myself! Unfortunately, the photo doesn't really show i,t but, behind the cars, it has a piece of garden fence out the front door, so you can discretely enter and leave!!

Fruity

I was feeling remarkably well this morning, my afternoon kip the day before must have done the trick! I had to meet Cecelia this morning at a car body shop to get her brand new VW Golf fixed after a run in with the garage door. The body shop was on a street with very smart houses I thought I was going the wrong way, but it is just another example of the weird lax zoning laws that exist in Houston.

Tonight was the start of my fifth week with my trainer. I can't believe the time has passed so quickly. Every week he asks me what I have eaten that day - well today, it was definitely a fruity day! I didn't feel like breakfast so I had a yogurt (bifidus difadus!), and then I missed lunch! So I ended up with a bowl of fresh fruit, a tub of cherries and nectarine, that I had brought in. I know I said I wanted more fruit and veg after the weekend, but that was a little extreme! I was worried I would have wind during my training session! I hadn't told you but on Friday I had the most unbelievable stiff stomach muscles or rather higher than that, the muscle just at the V of your rib cage. He had made me do a curl exercises with a 15lb bar. It was very heavy at the time, but didn't realise how much I was going to suffer. The stiffness only went away properly this morning. However, this evening I told him what had happened when he brought out the slightly lighter, 12lb bar! Well, as soon as I lay down to do the same exercise I just couldn't , it felt like my muscle was tearing apart. I think he felt suitably sorry and we did other exercises this evenings not using that muscle!!!

Tonight's photo is from a garage I see every evening and it makes me chuckle - 'Affordable Mufflers' - you may not find it as funny as me :)

I have been struggling with the top loader washing machine. It maybe because I am just used to our UK machines, but I don't think it washes as well and it it definitely deteriorating my clothes (good for shopping, but rubbish for all my favourite things!). Anyway, Stu gave me a link to a blog on a British expat forum and there was a lengthy discussion around top loaders and how to improve the wash. One of the suggestions, is to let the clothes pre soak in the drum before putting the lid down to start the cycle, and I have given it a go this evening. I had been pre washing/soaking a lot of my clothes. I guess I will see the results shortly (the wash only takes 25 minutes!).

Home again!

At about five am I woke up to an alarm in the hotel. It wasn't near our room, and I could hear some sort of tannoy announcement, but I just could not work out what was going on. I looked through the peep hole and there was no people evacuating our floor. It soon stopped and the next thing, the tannoy announcement is blaring out in our room, saying it was a false alarm. It was very strange and the really weird thing was, Lindsey and I had been having a conversation about fire alarms in hotels and the fact some people end up outside with very little on, just earlier that evening.

We didn't need to get up until 9am again, so we got all our things together and boarded the bus ready to leave at 1030, for our journey back to Houston. A DVD was put on, which kept us all quiet and mellow, quite a change from all the other times on the bus :) Again, we stopped down the road, this time at a place that made handmade burgers. They were good, but I have to say I was really looking forward to some vegetables and fruit! I feel asleep for the last part of the journey only waking up as we pulled off the freeway.

I will definietly be going back to Austin, as I didnt get to look around at all except at the bars, but then, at least, it means I have an excuse to go back and party there!

It was a good weekend, thank you Laura for inviting me along. I will look forward to my bed tonight! Never did quite manage the gym this afternoon!

I will add more photos as I get them from other folk so keep an eye out :)

Tubing on the Guadalupe

Saturday

Fortunately, after a relatively big night, we didn't need to be at the coach until about 0930 for breakfast burritos - a variation of egg with sausage, egg with bacon, beans and cheese in soft flour wraps. They were hot and pretty good for the morning after! There was no sign of Laura until just before the bus left as the night out had taken it toll!

We also met the group from Dallas another 30 or so people - this was a large group to go tubing!

The drive to the Guadalupe River took about an hour. Poor Laura was nearly dying, while the rest of us were getting given mini vodka jellies - the orange flavour was my favourite! We were also given rubber bands to identify our group in the river and transferable tattoos - just for fun. So most of the journey was spent putting on our tattoos. I decided on one for my shoulder and one around my ankle (I still have them as they have not come off in the shower!) We also spent a far amount of time covering ourselves in sunscreen as this was going to be an intense number of hours in the sun.

At the river, there was a number of tubes already in the water - not moving very fast!! It has been a very dry summer so the water level was extremely low. We all opted, without much dispute, for the 3 hour trip and not the 7 hour trip down the river!

Our tubes were large inner tubes with a piece of plastic tied on to the base of the tube (as we soon discovered, so your bottom doesn't scrap along the rocks!) We also had beer coolers in other tubes that would float down the river with us, to give us sustenance!! It was nearly 12:30pm by the time we set off and to begin with I was convinced I was going upstream faster than down stream. There were other groups on the river, as well as, family groups, one of which had there dog with them in the ring and who looked particularly sad about it. The only time the dog cheered up was when his owner put him in the water for a swim then lifted the dog out and ended up with a Labrador sized dog on him in his tube.

Some people had music playing, but the common theme was definitely the beer coolers. The beginning part of the river was very slow flowing, but deep enough in the centre not to get bothered by rocks, however, as we continued down we got to some small rapids, which meant pushing normally! We stopped on a rock to wait for the group (and the cooler!), and it was so hot off the water. You also had to be careful because the black tubes heated up to burning temperature. I got stung twice by a large wasp like thing, and it hurt - lots, however, I was more shocked by the size of hole it put in my arm with its stinger! I took over Lindsey's waterproof camera and took lots of photos (that I will get from her, to show you). We were very good putting on a ton of suncream throughout the float! We were about half way down the river when Lindsey began sinking! Here tube had got an inch long tear in it! That meant we were down to three tubes between four, so poor Chris had to opt for swimming and walking! The deflated tube was then towed the rest of the way :)

There was a group stop at the edge of the rapids to get a bit of body relief from sitting in the ring all afternoon. It was nearly 4pm by the time we got to get out point. I was looking forward to food and water by that point. I only heard of one injury in the whole group, a riped off toe nail!!! It was good, however it would be certainly more fun with more water and you would be able to go much further in less time, maybe next year we will be lucky with the rain fall!

For dinner it was meant to be Rudy's BBQ place, however, the que was enormous, mainly because we had two bus loads of people, so the four of us went around the corner to a Mexican place. As I said, all I wanted was food and water - and that it what I got! The BBQ food smelt really good and I was slightly disappointed that we didn't wait in the que, but I don't think I would have lasted!

It must have been nearly 9pm again when we got back to the hotel. I was feeling tired and was very tempted by bed, but finally at 11pm, after a shower and lie on the bed, Lindsey, Chris and me, (Laura had gone straight to bed), went out on the town again! On the way to the bars, we went along a path next to a small burn, and I saw this over sized cat thing running in front of us. I immediately stopped in fear and said, 'what is that?' It was a raccoon, but a big one. Once we had crossed over the burn, it went back the way we came and jumped up on to some rocks next to the path - obviously where it lives, and most likely feeding on human food, which explains its size!

This time we went to a place called Maggie Mae's, which had a large roof top bar. The temperature was really pleasant and there was not the humidity you get in Houston. The music was good and we stood looking over the balcony down the 6th Street people watching! (my favourite past time). Unfortunately, all those photos have come out too dark!

It was very nearly two before we were back at the hotel (again).

Austin here we come!

Hello readers, I am now back from my weekend excursion to Austin, a little tired, but pleased I got invited along.

So on Friday, we all met at an apartment block to park our cars and catch the coach. There must have been about 40 of us in the bus and at least four beer coolers! Our bus driver, Lowell, was from Louisiana and you could just tell he was going to a good laugh!

All the people in the group had some connection to the guy running the trip, Jason Kujda, hence the trip been called 'Tube Kudja'. Everyone was late twenties-early thirties. Most were there with partners and had been on the previous year's trip. They were all friendly and there to have a good time.

We were escorted out of the City of Houston by about 4 cops on motorbikes. It was very cool as we whizzed through the rush hour traffic. They were mad though, as they came up the inside of the bus between us and the concrete barrier on narrow hard shoulder. The bikes were really 'farty' sounding as they went past. Before long we were out of Houston and our way to Austin.

By that point, one beer down and on to beer no. 2!

The journey is about 3.5 hours, but we had a planned convenience/food stop. We pulled off at a petrol station with a 'Taco Bell'. For all those who know Taco Bell's I would not call them my first choice in fast food! However, I was staving and dinner cost just $1 (you might get an idea of the quality!)

We must have arrived in Austin, after a number more beers down, at about 9pm. We stayed in Hilton Garden Inn, central to Austin. We all checked in dropped our bags and went out on the town! We were told one of the guys plays ping pong, and this particular bar, the Lustre Pearl, has ping pong tables, and hula hoops as we found out! It was like an old wooded house with the yard, now used as the 'beer gardn'. After chatting and hula hooping, we moved on to 6th Street, where all the main night life is in Austin. Laura, Chris, Lindsey and me ended up at 'Chugging Monkey' (I think that is what it was), and we danced lots to a really strange mixture of music. I decided to get some 'interesting' drinks, one of which was a cold tea vodka thing - not that pleasant!

All the places stop serving alcohol at 2am, so we walked back to the hotel via the hot dog stand!

Dinner for cheap

My stomach is bursting after a three course meal deal! From the 11th-23rd August you can go to a wide selection of restaurants (the more expensive end) and get a three course meal for $35 (not including taxes and drinks!). The menu is obviously cut down, but there is some good things on offer. Tonight, four of us from work went to Smith & Wollensky, just opposite Highland Village (a posh shopping mall/area). Amusingly, we didn't have much variation on what we all ordered. We all avoided the Caesar salad and the chicken for main! We started with the split pea soup, which was individually served from silver bowls by the waitress (as photographed!). Actually, I forgot to mention all the cutlery was silver, however, at one point I thought they were going to replace our silverware with a cheaper alternative since we were on the $35 menu :) Then medium rare steak fillets, or rather 'filays', as you call them here. They had amazing crispy outsides, plenty of butter and salt!, and they melted in the mouth. For dessert, well it was rude not to when you are paying for it, so I had the sorbet, while the guys had chocolate cake, see fork for scale!, and cheesecake. The chocolate cake was sickly sweet and I think my sorbet was a better choice to cleans the palette. I forgot to mention I got left to choosing the wine, as I had said I don't like whisky, only wine and G&T's, on a concersation about Scotland. The menu must have been A2 paper size with about six pages top to bottom in wines. First of all, I said where are the prices - there were numbers up and down the right hand edge, but they were three figures so I assumed that was a code! Oh no, they really were three figures and some above the $500 mark. We decided it would be a tad uncouth to go for the $35 menu and then order a really expensive bottle of wine. So as a true Scot I started reading the menu right to left (i.e. price to wine!). This rapidly slimmed the selection down. We passed up the cheapest Texan wine on offer and settled on a read Merlot from the Nape Valley. It was drinkable, but probably still way over priced! All in the all, the company was great and the food was very good too, so no complaints.

However, getting to the restaurant was a hike. I went off for a swim from work and unknown to me there was an enormous thunderstorm while I was in the pool. Danny said the lights and computers went off and on at work, due to some sort of power surge. It actually happened at the pool briefly, but I didn't think anything of it. I estimated, at the worse, it would take me 30 minutes to get from the gym to the restaurant. Well, three traffic lights out and a lady in a large pickup perpendicular to Westheimer in a ditch, meant my reasonable journey took just over the hour! The lights had gone out due to the storm. Just to put this in prospective, Westheimer, at the point I was at, is five lanes in each directions and a turning lane, not to mention two lane roads joining from either side. Everyone is remarkably disciplined when the lights do go out and it is all turn about, but it does slow everything down, and you still have to be aware for the crazy ones. When I finally made it to Highland Village I parked on the opposite side of the road to the restaurant, parking around there can be challenging. Two nice police, however, stopped the traffic for me to let me cross Westheimer :) I decided not to make eye contat with the drivers!

After I got home this evening I have been madly packing because it my weekend to Austin, to go tubing on the Guadalupe River. We leave, by we, I am mean Laura, Chris (her man) and a friend of Laura's from work, with some forty others from Houston in a bus to Austin. On the Saturday we are going tubing, I am not exactly sure the format but I assume we each get an inner tube and float down the river. However, with the drought in Austin this year I think we might be walking (so my trainers are packed!). On Sunday, the bus drives us back to Houston for early afternoon. It is going to be a fun weekend and there is about 80 people going in total, with the other half busing in from Dallas. My bag is absolutely stuffed as I am not exactly sure what I need, I have got five pairs of shoes, enough changes of outfits for at least a week, heaps of sun tan lotion and my gardening hat :) Because I will be away from home and my computer this will be my last posting until Sunday - I know you will all be utterly distressed by this! I could do a post from my blackberry, but I would get finger crap trying to do a posting this long!

Have a good weekend and I will tell you all about my trip on Sunday, or rather Monday for all you at home.

Plant life

Would you believe it I have now reached 100 posts! That is quite a significant number I think.

Today I got out on the right side of the bed :) and feeling decidedly better than yesterday, except for a wee hangover and a dreadful thirst, after Laura and my session last night. I am sitting here watching another episode of NCIS, standing for something like 'Naval Crime Investigating Squad'. I know we had it back in the UK, but I never watched it. I am currently addicted to it having moved on from Top Gear repeats! I really need to go for a shower as once again I am stinky since coming back from the gym. Tonight, I stayed at work a little later before heading for my session with the trainer. I then had to do one of my cardio workouts so I didn't get home until after 8pm this evening. Although it was a struggle to make myself stay and run, I did it, and now I feel much better.

I decided to take some photos of Cecelia and my science project at work. A little while ago, well at least two months ago, we were told our office plants were going to be taken away as part of cut backs. So we decided to try and grow some of our own. We took 4 cuttings and put them in a cup with water. Amazingly, the shoots continued to live and now they have all formed roots - I hope you can see them through the cup! Anyway, next stage is to get soil and plant pots.

Oh, and the office plants have not been taken away!