Beatles on Discovery Green

Gretchen enjoyed her first concert! Laura came and joined us at Discovery Green for a Beatles tribute band or orchestra really since they had a bout 60 people playing all different instruments. By the time we got there they had already run out of St Arnolds Lawnmower to Stuarts disappointment, so he had to make do with Heineken!

They were singing songs from all of Abbey Road Album and started with an Indian sounding version. What we quickly discovered was that they were all really out of tune! I think the set up being outside wasn't optimal as the entire night was out of tune, and I am pretty sure they are normally quite good.

Gretchen really enjoyed the attention – oh cute doggy!! She was very well behaved right up until the point she decided she no longer wanted to sit on the grass and preferred to jump on to one of laps and then precede to stand on our shoulders to see what was all going on around her!

Pool time with Gretchen is still interesting. She is prepared to go into the lilo but doesn't exactly sit down loving it, however Stuart is gently working on her.

Anchorage blooming

This trip was shorter with less play time, but that did stop us some fun – the good old concept of ‘work hard, play hard’!

I managed to get myself out of bed and go running every morning along the coastal path just down the hill from the hotel.  The weather was glorious – it was sunny with a chill in the air.  Every evening we went out to dinner and ate far too much hence the reason for running!

On our final evening just before getting on the flight at 12:30am we went back down to Girdwood to the Double Musky. The road down there takes you along Turnagain Arm and it was amazing to see how much snow had melted since our last visit, not to mention all the trees are in leaf and so the bottom of the mountains look vibrant green.

Once again I ate as much fish as possible and this trip managed a Copper River Salmon – the first of the salmon run and a very unusual White Salmon again it just started running. The White Salmon has white flesh apparently because it has a different diet to all the pink salmon. It has a milder flavour than pink salmon and it was incredibly moist and yummy!

On the Wednesday evening we went along to a Geophysical BBQ held at a local park, Kinnaird Park, just outside Anchorage.  They were boiling up 100lbs of King crab legs.  They were spectacular (better than I got at the restaurant on my previous visit), not to mention the bit of BBQ steak on the side I had my fill!

The only other excitement was a fire at the hotel – fortunately we were just heading out to dinner when the fire engines arrived.  Not sure what is was but there was a lot of smoke and the following few mornings the breakfast area downstairs was closed!  Mind you with the breakfast place closed it meant we got to try a cultural experience in Anchorage, the Snow City Cafe.  They did a fine eggs benedict!!

Now sitting on the overnight flight back to Houston and just about ready to doze off again.

Well I thought I had finished my blog only I wasn't anticipating the landing at Houston!  So I was fast asleep and was waken suddenly as we hit the runway really hard then bounced, then bounced again.  Next the engine thrusters were back on full and we were taking off again.  Silence from the cockpit until were on the ground for a second time – this time the way it was meant to be done!!  The air hostess came over the intercom ‘welcome to Houston - for a second time!’.

Long time no see

After over a year we finally get Di to come and stay.  In true tradition we head to La Hacienda for Mexican food and ultra strong margaritas!  The next morning I was running at 6am and my little head was pounding!
The plan for the weekend was a Greek Festival down the road followed by a pool party at Danny’s for Anne’s departure to Copenhagen and then on the Sunday meeting up with an old Aberdeen ex-colleague who happened to be in Houston, Joyce!

	Stuart and Di having the hair of the dog at the Greek Fest.  We were enjoying some gyros and Greek pastries (yummy!) It was a stunning day – sunny but not humid and the ladies got to wear their straw hats!

Danny’s pool party ended up quite doggy – 3 so Gretchen was in her element.  She never went near the pool even though it was quite warm.  Danny cooked up a fine BBQ and I absolutely loved the BBQ’d quesadillas with melted cheese and tomato inside (licking lips now!)

	Hello ladies!
	Danny I like those lights hanging from the tree! (note to self must buy some more inflatable toys for our pool!)
	Stuart attracted all the dogs as he ate the sausage.

Di was very sweet bringing gifts, I got a lovely necklace and Gretchen got horsey – her favourite toy now!!  I haven't got a photo of her playing with horsey yet but will do soon.
On Sunday morning the three of us and Gretchen headed to the dog park for woof woof fun.  As usual Gretchen was out mingling and only paying part attention to us although Stuart has been working hard at improving her obedience and she is definitely better than she was.  Later Stuart and Di went to pick up Joyce from her hotel, doing a bit of shopping (turned out a bit more than a bit!) and then came over for our second BBQ and dip in the pool of the weekend.  It was great to see Joyce as the last time was at our wedding.

Great to see you Di and Joyce – hope to see you in September if not before