Never Say - Never Again

It usually comes back to bite me in the bum. Last year when we flew to Greece on Olympic Airlines I swore never to do so again. Well guess what, we're flying Olympic. What has changed? Not much really although Steve tells me his trip in April was more pleasant than normal and he was give a pillow a blanket and earphones. Those were the things missing on last year's flight. Since we're not talking short hop here but an almost twelve hour flight I consider these necessities. My biggest beef though was that between dinner at eight and breakfast at eight in the morning it was impossible to get juice. I was told that if I got some then other people would ask as well. Water was offered.

So why are we flying Olympic? It's a non stop (sort of) and they have a larger luggage allowance than any other airline. Including the carry on we have two hundred and eighteen pounds of stuff. I think it's actually a bit more but I'll let Steve sweet talk the check in people and maybe they will let it go.


I found this video last year on another blog (can't remember which one, sorry) and saved it for the appropriate time. This seems to be it. Watch it if you want a chuckle. Turn up the volume and listen closely, the Captain has a very strong accent but is really funny..



I don't know when I will next blog but I will make it to the local Internet joint to answer emails. I will also be in Germany for a week starting Saturday. I'm looking forward to seeing my friend and my elderly aunt and uncle.

Wish us a good trip...

It's That Time Again

The time to pack for the trip to Greece and trying to decide what I really can't live without is difficult. So I've pulled out just about everything I think I need and put it into 10 pound piles. We are allowed four suitcases of 50 pounds each plus carry on. Of course since Steve has his hands full taking care of me and the laptop, he considers me his "carry on".

The plan is to spread this stuff evenly amongst the four suitcases and try to maybe put a few clothes in as well. Again I need two separate wardrobes since I decided last week to go to Germany as well. My friend left a message saying that if I was coming she needed to make a trip to the winery. That did it for me, I picked up the phone and said yes, foot or no foot, I'm coming.

So what can't I live without? There are pecans, baking soda, maple syrup some for me some as gifts. There is coffee and kitchen gadgets. There is cutlery and scissors and really really sharp knives. There are sheets and duvet covers and of course my pillow. I never ever go anywhere without my pillow. Of course some of this stuff is available in Greece but here's the problem. We won't have a car immediately, there are no really good shops within walking distance, there is no mall close to us and the foot is still not good enough for long walks.

Speaking of the foot. This is the before...

This is the after...I went for a pedicure today. It's still not perfect and truly I had no idea that the recovery would be this long. I'm told the swelling could last another four months or so. But it does look better doesn't it? It was worth it, I hope. I just need to be able to walk pain free.

Were We've Been

So take ten adults and one teenager in a three bedroom cottage with one bathroom and you get the following...

The women...knitting, crocheting and reading.


The men... figuring out how to put on a railing with Steve supervising.


The fishermen... Steve and Aaron with their catch.


The boat ride... obviously we didn't all fit in the boat.

Some quiet time with Sudoku.


Me, looking for a little solitude.


A quick game of Crokinole.

And of course bridge, lots and lots of bridge.

We have now been gone 16 of the last 18 days traveling around to different friends cottages and it's been a blast. I am glad to be home though, it's funny how now matter how much fun I'm having I miss my own bed.

Now I have two weeks to get ready for the annual sojourn to Greece and I suppose tomorrow I'll go into panic mode. For today though, I am thoroughly relaxed. This has been an amazing summer in spite of the weather.

A Reunion Of Old Friends

Does it look like we're having fun? Until the rains came we were having a blast reminiscing, eating and drinking. We are a group of Realtors who started working for the same company in 1980. Some of these people I haven't seen in 15 years. We range in age from 50 to 75 with me somewhere in the middle. Three people are missing, two deceased and our manager who is in a loosing battle with prostate cancer and was too ill to attend.

There were more agents working in our office but it seems this group always hung out together. We also got and gave advice and supported each other through many traumas over the years. This was the first time we have gotten together but we promised to do it again next year.

Meanwhile I've done the laundry, repacked the suitcases and we're on the road again tomorrow for another five days in northern Ontario. There will be no Internet, no blogging and no emails.

See you all next week some time...

Summer And The Living Is Easy

We've been gone ten days and it's not over yet. We're home just for a couple of days to do laundry, go to a medical appointment and for me to attend a reunion barbecue of a group of Realtors that I worked with most of my career. Most of them I haven't seen in years and I'm looking forward to it. Thursday we bail out again for another five days of cottaging. The bridge group of eight will spend an entire weekend at the cottage playing. I'm sure we will also find some time for swimming and fishing.

The road to fun and games.
A few days of feet up and relaxing first.

Playing with the wildlife.

And last but not least, Steve finally catches a Pickerel, that's Walleye for Americans. There were a few more caught and dinner was wonderful.

There is something about not having Internet that is really quite relaxing. Now of course there are over 400 posts in Bloglines for me to catch up on and I had a couple of hundred emails to scroll through. Most were junk though so it was easy. And the foot, well I'm happy to report it's getting better. It did get something called a Pin Tract Infection and I had to go to hospital in our little cottage town last Monday. I was given an antibiotic and it's now on the mend. I still can't do much walking though and spend a fair bit of time with my foot up. I'm getting really spoiled.

Hope you're all having a relaxing summer...