Friday, September 30, 2011

Slow commute on tube...

But I gave a seat for the first rime in weeks, so that's not so bad!

Aha, earlier defective train on the line...the Victoria line with all these new, state-of-the art trains in it!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Oh yes...

What a struggle today is proving to be!

Desperate times!

That lack of sleep

Is making today an effort!

It turns out!

Waking up at 3am and not getting back to sleep makes you very tired!

For fucks sake

I can't sleep

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Dallas/Fort Worth Airport

Our home for a few hours!

On board

At Las Vegas...next stop Texas!!!

The strip...

From the airport

American toilets

Are very strange! They don't seem to extend far enough up nor down to keep ones modesty in tact!

All checked in...

Ready to head home!

All my bags are packed...

I'm ready to go! Sob sob

Boo

Action Stations to get us home!

Last day

Done and done!
We headed downtown today to the stratosphere to go up it and then also take on some of the rides, the one where you got blasted up the needle was fantastically scary!
Then we went to Freemont Street to see the neon lights and it was essentially a street party there!
I liked the 80's show, mainly as I fancied one of the singers! Oops!

Friday, September 23, 2011

Last day

Of the holiday and so far it's been spent mostly by the pool!
Heading downtown now to the stratosphere and Fremont Street before hopefully bring back and in bed not too early!

Amazing

I have to tell you 'O' was absolutely phenomenal viewing! Divers, acrobats, swimmers, gymnasts...the works!

Here's us (our hotel at least!) at night

Time

Doesn't exist in Las Vegas, it's really very weird and off putting!

Another nice day in Vegas

Mostly today spent by the pool!
Off now to see the Cirque de Soleil at the Bellagio perform their hit show 'O'
Should be good hopefully!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

And out we go again!

Hopefully we win big this time!

American TV

Just brilliant!!!
In between the adverts that is!!!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Things you do only on holiday

Aside from drink and eat too much...showering more than once or twice is definitely on that list!

Excellent weather...

To sit by the pool!

Oh no

$10 down already! :(

View from the 23rd floor of the Monte Carlo

Hoover Oops

Here's the Hoover Dam from yesterday!

Vegas baby!

What a strange day and what a strange change of places to visit...from meteor crater to the Hoover dam and now Vegas!

Route 66

Was pretty cool, but boring as anything to drive on!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Meteor crater

Arizona is full of holes in the ground!

Off the road

Last day on the road today! Vegas, Baby tonight! First hitting up the Meteorite site, then route 66 before Hoover Dam and then Vegas!
Great times!

Monday, September 19, 2011

And...

We're back on the rim!

The grand canyon

In all its glory!

Me halfway down the Canyon

Not a bad view from lunch!

But...

I'm pretty tired today so think it might be a bit of a struggle!

Longish day...

In the car today, from the ranch by Tucson to Flagstaff via an afternoon in Sedona! Went well though, although Amanda has a we'd headache!
Grand Canyon tomorrow!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

My goodness

It's quarter to nine and I am absolutely shattered!!!!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Friday, September 16, 2011

Lunch

And much needed today too after half day morning ride!

Email home




Begin forwarded message:

From: Neil Robertson <neilly_rob@hotmail.com>
Date: 16 September 2011 11:26:28 PDT
To: Andrew and Kirsty Hodge
Subject: Horseys

Hi Andrew and Kirsty,

We hope you two are doing well and behaving for Mummy and Daddy. We've seen pictures of Kirsty moving around the living room and are sure that Andrew is enjoying tweenies at nursery.

We are having great fun here in America, we're real cowboys! Sorry for the picture quality, but we thought you'd like to see our horseys for the week. Neil is on Dusty...he's a real character, after his own heart, always at the back but very pretty. Amanda is on Derringer (which is a small gun ladies used to keep in their handbag), which is apt as he's really small but very fast (when he gets going!)

It's been 30 degrees plus most days and pretty sunny although we got caught in so much rain twice...it was heaviest rain we've ever experienced!

We're off for a half day ride now so see you later!

Lots of love,

Uncle Neil and Amanda. Xxx

Days 3&4

Both days I've run out of time a bit, for which I'm sorry, but basically they've involved lots if loping and mountains!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Day 2

Well now, someone became a pro!
Day 2 started early with a 7.30am meet for a slow walk out to the cookout location where breakfast was served. Then a slow walk back followed.
After that it was time for a fast ride, raking a similar route to the morning route, but first loping out in the desert...fantastic!
Then a visit to the pool followed by a jacuzzi, but not for long as it got super hot today, about 95 it topped out at!
Lunch followed then a few games of pool and a chill out back at the room!
Then at 4.30 we had another fast ride which we firstly missed the rain, then close to home we caught the thunderstorm with the lightning and thunder very close together! Carnage for a few seconds, but all fine. It was off horses then a walk back to the ranch in the pouring rain!
Another good days riding, I'm a bit sore but having a great time!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Muscles...ahhh

I can confirm the muscles that ache are not used in football, cricket or golf!
Neil is an old man!

Day 1

Well, what a great first days riding! First up we went on a slow ride to meet and get to know our horses, Dusty was my chap...very friendly and beautiful but a bit of a brat! Slow ride allowed us to take in nice scenery, but was a bit boring!
We then had a lesson, where we learnt how to lope. I was not too bad at the loping style-wise, but Dusty needed a bit of a kick and a smack to get him and keep jimmy going!
After lunch and a snooze, it was time for a talk on natural horsemanship, the new way to break horses in. It was interesting and highlighted other ways to touch a horse and get a connection.
After some uming and ahhing about what to do, Amanda did the fast ride whilst I did the team penning...I'll do another email about team penning in due course! It was great fun, even if my team wasn't the greatest!
All curtailed though by the rain per the previous post!

Rain!

Rain like I have never seen before!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Line Dancing

It's great fun, buy much harder than it looks!
Randomly when you try to look cool doing it, it makes it easier!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

And believe it or not!

We're online here!

It's dark today with the clouds coming in

But wow, what a place this ranch is!

Morning

So bags have arrived, we slept to about 6.30am then at 7.15am we went to the pool, the ambient temperature a mere 25 degrees c at this time!
Wowsers!
Think the heat might take some getting used to!

Amanda waiting for the Hotel Van!

Oh no

Bags didn't make the connection!

By the way!!!

It is hot, hot, hot

That's us...

Made it to Phoenix!

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Oosht

Amanda loves a good faff!

Jeez

Well looks like we just about made our flight to Phoenix!

Thank goodness

We had to wait at US immigration for 90 minutes!

On board!!

See you in Chicago then! ;)

Our plane

To take us to Chicago!
Looks nice! :)

Here we go then!

In taxi to Heathrow...wild west bound!

Thursday, September 08, 2011

Counting down the hours now!

Mounting motivation and 'give a shit' issues right now...but whole department not just me seems inflicted!

Come on holiday!!!

Wednesday, September 07, 2011

Wednesday blues

Not a productive day so far!

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Monday, September 05, 2011

So...

About 14 hours later and back at Vauxhall!

Can't wait to leave this job!

And in Leicester

For a whole day!
As now have to Bevin London tomorrow! Brilliant!

Leicester train

Made with 15 minutes to spare! Easy!

Fixed

I think and more importantly...hope!

Stupid iphone

Has managed to freeze itself so these updates may take a wee while!

Saturday, September 03, 2011

Great day

Enjoyed a lovely day in Glasgow today...apart from the end Scotland result...albeit a robbed 'fair' result!

Back in Linlithgow enjoyed company of the kids during the day and a lovely night out with Iona tonight!

Uncle Neil properly again tomorrow!

Friday, September 02, 2011

Holy Shit

It is banging hot on the tube tonight! Pure sweltering on the Jubilee line!

...and possibly worse

I'm concerned about making my flight here now!

Almost done...

For another week!

Aren't the flowers we got on the weekend doing well!

Bloomin' marvellous!

Thursday, September 01, 2011

Done

And done, off to sleep now, Scotland tomorrow evening!

So new month

And hopefully a successful one house wise and a chilled one otherwise, with the main holiday of the year happening.

Main highlights to look forward to:

Scotland vs. Czech Republic
Horse riding in Arizona
Grand Canyon
Vegas baby!
Completion on house?!?!
2 weeks off!