Tony & Wendy's Travel Blog

Osaka
Lazy start to the day as we don’t dock until 11:00. Mind you still up at the crack of sparrows in time for breakfast at 07:00. Still sleeping fitfully due to the jet lag.

Sumptuous breakfast, with fruit – yes me eating healthy stuff – and Becher Museli.

Then it’s coffee on our balcony and blog time. My data SIM seems to work pretty well as we follow the coastline I have pretty good speed even on board at sea. Mind you as we approach Kobe and I could do with it, we loose connection.

I think Apple must have declared bankruptcy as much to my excitement there’s even a small Apple store on board, mind you they’re never open, but at least I can peer in like a child outside a candy store.

Today we’re sampling the highlights of Osaka. First of many castles and shrines. I’m sure by the end of this trip we’ll be shrined out.

Castle is ok. More impressive from the outside than inside. At least the climb up 8 flights of stairs gets us some exercise.

Manage time for a rushed coffee and sandwich for Wendy, then it’s back on the coach off to a shrine.

The shrine is much more pleasant. Looks like there is a family christening with kids dressed to the nines in beautiful kimonos and costume. Volunteer to take family group photo for proud parents and doting grand parents. Never ceases to amaze what weird things people believe in but if it gives them solace what the hell, at least the Shinto religion don’t want to kill me, stone me to death or conquer the world. For me I’ll stick with a devotion to the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

It seems that not all toilets in Japan are high tech bottom scrubbers, there are some holes in the ground – obviously installed by the French.

To finish a busy day it’s afternoon tea in the lounge, entertained by a mini chamber orchestra. For me it’s a dirty chai, all convered by the drinks package.

Table for 6 tonight with two other geriatric couples. Wine flows and after dinner I try one of the Bourbons, not bad.

Talk about boring and confusing dinner guests. Couple A are talking about their trip to yet another castle whilst couple B were talking about there trip up a mountain. Nothing wrong with that other than each thought they were talking about the same thing. Confusing, but hilarious, after about 5 minutes they finally realise they’re both talking about different things. Get me out of here, beam me up, I’m too young, mind off a 16 year old it’s just that my bodies decomposing.

Then we’re off to the evening show, yes even me, in fact I’m quite keen. it’s a performance by the World famous Kobe Taiko Drummers – see video. We’re sat on a front balcony row. 9 people in all but can you believe it that 5 of them are asleep, even through all that drumming. For once I manage to stay awake.

Kobe

Another Wallace Arnold tour. What the he’ll are we doing on this Wallace Arnold tour for geriatrics, treated like a simpering simpleton; I’m too young; I can’t cope; let me out.

This time we set off for a ride on a funicular up to the observatory overlooking Kobe. Well they keep calling it an observatory but it’s more like an observation platform. Great views over Kobe and the sea though.

Then we’re off down to a Sake museum. Interesting video on Sake making on days gone by. My was it labour intensive. Enough to put you off drinking for life. Lots of interesting exhibits and of course a shop at the end of it all. Although to be fair to them you could escape without being forced through the shop. Wendy couldn’t resist buying the plum Liquid sugar.

The first process in Sake making is to polish the rice. Now I know the Japanese are small but where the hell do they get people small enough to polish rice?

Then it’s back to the ship for Wendy’s lunch.

Thankfully a restful afternoon sat on balcony doing my blog, minding my own business and Wendy’s doing some knitting. Along sails a boat full of Japanese tourist’s, all gawking in at our floating gin palace. The Victor Meldrew in me is not amused and refuses to wave back or smile for all the clicking Nikons.

In the evening we meet up with our new found American friends, the only Republican’s in LA, well I assume they’re of that inclination from our conversations.

We have dinner at the Le Petit Chef an animation themed restaurant where you see the cartoon chef make your meal on the plate – see video, it’s easier than trying to explain it. It’s really awesome. What a creative idea, the kids would really love it. Amazing wealth creating idea.

At last I find a bottle of Carmenera, pretty good it is too and they keep it flowing.

Then it’s to the Yes / No game, where Kim chances her luck. Finally down to the theatre for an illusionists show, which in time honoured fashion I nod off through.

A great evening with our new found friends Phil and Kim.

Kochi

First tour today is to a Buddhist temple. All very interesting, even have Shinto shrines in the ground. Two for the price off one. Steps are steep and rocky. I’m sure the hospital and ambulance must pay them to keep them that way, helps drum up trade.

Wendy starts taking her shoes off to go into one of the inner sanctums, within a second, and out of nowhere, a women descends on her shouting ticket, ticket. That’s what happens when your signs are only in Japanese.

Shinto believes every thing has a spirit in it, including rocks, trees and any thing. The bigger the object the bigger the spirit. I’ll stick with the Flying Spaghetti Monster, seems equally implausible, but at least there’s a beer volcano and a stripper factory in FSM heaven.

Oh just up Wendy’s street we go to an indoor market for a browse around and a lunch opportunity. Wendy tries the save option when it comes to food, pork noodles but then again was it pork, after all there was a picture of a cat on the front!

Then it’s off to get another castle. More steps than jihadis in Syria and some of those steps are so tall. No idea how those little Japanese ever managed them.

Toilets are a major trek away, hidden down the bottom of a hill. At least they don’t call them conveniences. I bet the gift shop more easy to get to.

Final destination is some beach to see a statue of a prominent war lord geezer. Beach is oh so grey but has the advantage of yet another small shrine – joy.

By the time we get back to the ship we’ve done 5 miles and over my magic 640 calorie limit – so that’s enough for a whole bottle of red wine tonight.

Well I always thought the Japanese were experts at copying other countries products, but it seems when it comes to handrails they just couldn’t crack that idea. Certainly the castle and the Buddhist temple could do with some handrails to assist the less sure footed escapee’s from the Wallace Arnold bus tours.

Amazing isn’t it, I buy a 30 day unlimited data SIM for japan and it even works out at sea as we’re relatively close to the shoreline. My Photo Library gets corrupted so I have to rebuild it from iCloud. 10 gigabytes later and it’s rebuilt, sadly without the album structure, but worse still I’ve now been throttled back on speed to a blistering dial up modem speed of 256K.

So it’s a series of emails to Sakura pointing out that their web site says “No limitation whatsoever”.

Oh it’s probably because the telecom company have detected runaway usage. Normal service should be resumed Saturday. Needless to say they haven’t heard the last of this. Every dog has his day when it comes to review time.

Hiroshima

Start our Wallace Arnold Geriatric Experience with a bus and then ferry ride to Miyajima. This tour has to be one of the most expensive and at 7 hours I wonder whether we’ll have the endurance to last that long, but it was the only one that did the Atomic Bomb Dome and Miyajima. A certain Anna had told us that we absolutely shouldn’t miss Miyajima so here we are. She’d better be right.

Well it’s yet another shrine (a UNESCO World Heritage site) with the Torii Gates appearing to float in the sea. One of the most iconic pictures of Japan. Just our luck the gateway is covered in scaffolding and plastic as it’s being repainted. The rest of the place is interesting though but sadly we’re frog marched through so don’t have time to linger and enjoy it. A great pity. But at least Anna was right.

Then it’s back to ferry and bus to head to the restaurant for a Western (sadly) lunch in a 5 star hotel. Ideally we wouldn’t want to eat on one of these meals for the masses, but again it was this the only way to do these places.

Meal was very good and not too big.

After lunch we set off for the Atomic Bomb Dome, followed by the Peace Memorial Park and the Museum. Our guide speaks excellent English, we can even understand him and gives us very informative and relevant commentary on all the places. Quite a sad place really. Then we go to the museum. It’s an awful place. Packed like sardines, carried along at a snail pace, through the rug rat infested narrow corridors of exhibits. Just so glad to get out. A real shame as there was some interesting exhibits and we could have leisurely lingered longer had it been less crowded.

Back to the boat / ship, never know what to call it, for a quick turnaround and down to dinner. Risk what we now call the geriatrics from hell table one more time. At least one American couple are vibrant and interesting, unlike the other mind numbingly boring American couple who can’t even be bothered to wait for everyone to be seated before ordering.

Try the show. It’s a Motown singer so Wendy should enjoy it. I put myself to sleep to avoid the agony. Even Wendy gives up after 10 minutes and wants to go to bed rather than listen to this.

Drive to Brett’s
Set off down to Ascot to stay at Bretts overnight.

Only an 8 minute delay, no real hold up. Have I been teleported into some alternate parallel universe? Am I still in Britain?

I suffered with the squitters and was shouting for Huey and Ruth last night, but bizarrely saw no diced carrots. Today is 24 hours starvation. This is what happen when you have little grandchildren milling around. They’re just walking germ factories. Mind you 3 days with no alcohol is probably also a major factor.

Heathrow off to the Land of the Rising Sun
After a good nights sleep I’m feeling better, but still going to keep off food and alcohol for another 24 hours.

Brett runs us to the airport.

We’re flying from Heathrow terminal 5 and I have to say the check in and security screening is some of the slickest I’ve experienced, even though they had to pat me down.

BA flight in Premium Economy is pretty comfortable but 11 hours with no food or booze is purgatory. To make it even more dire the choice of films has obviously been made by an escaped Chinese paedophile. Fortunately manage to get some sleep.

Yokohama

Arrive at Haneda airport in Tokyo 20 minutes in early. Despite having split our clothes across two suitcases in case BA loose a bag – they do tend to excel at loosing bags – both bags arrive. Customs and immigration is one of the slickest ever accounted. So fast that then we have to wait nearly 20 minutes for our luggage.

Pick up my unlimited data SIM from the arrivals hall and went over to the desk to buy a No 8 bus ticket to the Hotel – all pretty efficient. Saves £60 on a taxi. Bus arrives on time and sets off at 08:40 precisely, not at 1 second before, not even 1 second late, but spot on 08:40. Just one of the many awesome features of Japan.

Drive into Yokohama was interesting pass through all the new industries and then you pass the old rusty, decaying and obsolete smoke stack industries.

Bus arrives at the hotel ahead of time. It’s the Yokohama Royal park hotel 5 star, the tallest building in Yokohama. Fastest lift in the world.

I passed on the breakfast on the plane – full English no less, and it looked pretty good – as part of my starvation, but now it’s time for some food. I think perhaps I’m pregnant as I have a real yearning for a MacDonald Egg MacMuffin.

Not exactly a recommended light meal to recover from a failed attempt by Wendy to poison me, but it’s what I want.

Within 4 minutes from the hotel we’ve found a Macad’s. It goes down a treat and is served on a tasty sweet bun.

By now it’s only 10:00 and the room’s not ready but for an extortionate fee they can somehow miraculously summon up a room for us. You’d think for the price that this hotel is extorting they could be a tad more accommodating. We’re pretty tired so stump up the extra – it’s just the kids inheritance anyway.

Have a well deserved 3 hour nap – I know a violation of my 3rd law of retirement.

Yokohama to board cruise

Good early breakfast. Mainly Western with some tempting tastes of the orient. See the Japanese Monks eating salted plums so give them a try. Must be some sort of punishment for their sins, the worst taste ever, I’d rather chomp on nettles.

Hotel Wi-fi was a blistering 90mb. I think I must have died and gone to Flying Spaghetti Monster

Have a stroll to try and buy a few essential for the cruise. Then get a taxi to the Celebrity Millennium. Lightning quick and efficient check in. Amazed and impressed, a very rare occurrence for me these days.

Champagne to greet us. How am I going to cope with 24*7 free drinks?

Lazy afternoon.

Shimizu for Mount Fuji and Mount Hakone

Dinner last night was on a table for 6. Ok but not really a very stimulating bunch. At least they all spoke English. Free drinks package was good though, the wine flowed freely, topped up regularly by the Eastern European surly sommelier. Even had to refuse the last top up.

After a great breakfast we dash off on our first Wallace Arnold tour for geraitrics, mentally infirm and weak bladdered moaners. Our tour guide is a giggly, squeaky and singing Japanese lady who is chronically suffering from a severe dose of verbal diarrhoea. Absolute nightmare would be waking up with her screeching away on your pillow. But to be fair she did keep us entertained and she did epitomise my expectations of Japanese womanhood.

Two hour coach tour; then a pirate ship across a lake; followed by 30 minute queue to catch a cable car up to the top of Mount Hakone to view Mount Fuji. Great photo opportunity. We were really lucky with gorgeous sunshine and a clear view of Fuji, it can be covered in clouds 50% of the time. Then a pewk invoking one hour drive across the mountains. Just about survived without calling out for Huey and Ruth again. Two hours later we’re we warily board our floating gin palace. Was it all worth it?

Wendy was quite disappointed on today’s tour, she thought we were going to the top of Mount Fuji and not the top of Mount Hakone to take a photo of Fuji.

Met an interesting American couple. Must be the only Republicans in Los Angeles, good to know there are at least two.

Greeted at the port by a Japanese drum band, big, big drums, followed by a brass band.

Back on board we have speciality afternoon tea in one of the lounges, serenaded by guitars and a singer.

Dinner is again on a table for 6. Not a really exciting menu but food was good. Company left a bit to be desired, spoilt by southern softie snobs from oxford – majestic centre of the known universe, don’t you know. Really do prefer avoiding Brits at dinner, American’s or Canadian’s are much better dinner companions. Sad isn’t it.

Well again there’s no daily blog on this trip. Instead I’ve just done the main photos from our French trip to the caravan in Normandy. Sadly in no particular order. France like America is now so much part of our daily life that we no longer really treat it as a holiday, just somewhere we go to live for a month or so each year. But my blogs important if just for an aide memoire of what we did. Through my blog that we can find out what we actually did. One of the problems when you can’t even remember what you had for breakfast and I’m sure when we’re sat in the old folks home, drooling and waiting for the grim reaper it’ll come in even more handy.

Here goes with a picture blog to remind us, no rants or raves, just pictures with some captions.

And to see just how bad the weather can be click here –
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Well there’s no daily blog on this trip as I’m just too busy, so much to do. Just see my typical week here which helps explain how busy we are and why we love Park City so much.

Plus I’ve managed to recapture the joy of reading, admittedly mostly non-fiction these days. Instead I’ve just done the main photos from our summer in Park City and then Paul and Mels wedding week in St Louis. Sadly in no particular order.

I realised how important my blog was to us when I tried to remember what we’d done last time we were in St Louis. It was only through my blog that we could find out what we’d actually done and all the photos were of. One of the problems when you can’t even remember what you had for breakfast.

Here goes with a picture blog to remind us of a most awesome summer, no rants or raves, just pictures with some captions.

Not many new pictures this week so I’ve selected the best from our two months here in paradise.Wendy has a cold and is just a constant sniffle and nose drizzle.

I drove down to the gym for a workout. Then dropped Wendy at the supermarket.

Yeah….. Sunday and no vegetables. Instead the ultimate in junk food as at last I get Kaisserscharm for my tea. Nothing else just Kaisserscharm – it’s an Austrian pancake like dessert. I really love desserts but try to avoid them as they are so fattening – see being healthy – however I’ve decided that one night a week I’m going to have just a dessert for my tea. Bring on the Macaroni pudding next week.

More Netflix and a luscious bottle of Cline Zinfandel. Stagger to bed as I had to drink it all by myself.

Excitement as Apple announcement today. Big decision do I replace my old iPad Pro with the new iPad Air Pro, iPad 11″ Pro or keep my 3.5 year old 13″ monster? Good trade in values at the moment ($270) so very tempting.

Well the announcement was a black screen of disappointment. Too much snowflake crap, just California on steroids, full of holier than thou PC, goody two shoes intentions and constant mention of culture. Apple TV+ is still a twinkle in someones eye. I had such great hopes of them finally offering a one service for all rather than having to have so many different services. Why don’t they stop messing about, buy Netflix and consolidate it all in.

Wendy has yet another cold so she stayed in all day. Meanwhile I had a marathon 2.5 hour Pickleball session. I borrowed someones paddle as mine wasn’t making that consoling sweet spot sound. Really liked it and sound was more rewarding. Don’t think it improved my game though. I was cream crackered.

Home to a Jacuzzi and beer, followed by Netflix and some Midwinter Nights Dram. Nearly finished it.

Pop down to the PCMarc, just around the corner from us, as they now have Pickleball most mornings, but alas there was no one there. Very disappointed.

Wendy’s off out shopping with Marilyn. She drops me off at the gym so they can have the car. Of course they could always have walked! I’m afraid Wendy’s caught the American disease – why walk when you can go in the car.

Have a good workout. Managed to survive that elliptical torture for 20 minutes. It really do seem a great exercise, especially on my dodgy hip. Follow through with a coffee at Starbucks then catch the electric bus, well not so electric these days as someones smashed the charging station so it’s back to harmful diesel – am I bothered. Then another walk from Fresh Market – alas no free Sushi, again.

Wendy and I go round to look at number 130, our potential AirBNB for next summer. It’s fine and will be great for next summer, especially as it’s just round the corner on the Racquet club. All we need to do now is sort out the deposit.

B&M and Helen and George come round and we troop off to Sammies in search of grub. Just love their Chivito sandwich. Then it’s back to our place for drinks. The ladies sink down some Basil Haydn Dark and then I finish off the last of the Midwinter Nights Dram. A great nightcap. I suppose I’ll have to wait until next winter for a refill.

Lazy start.Try and sort the deposit on 130. Drop Wendy off at the CC and then return to watch the treacherous loons arguing over BREXIT and screwing us.

Off down to Pickleball. Really enjoy this and will miss it when back in the UK. So much I need to do to improve, especially get up to net. Never mind perhaps my new book will help. AT least my serves seem to be improving. Really need to get in more serve practices and play against the wall. So far the wall always seems to win in the end.

More Netflix in the evening and no alcohol.

Finally get to my target weight of 182lbs. That’s 11lbs lost since we arrived, despite eating well and plenty of wine, whiskey and bourbon.

Lazy start, then we’re off down to The Apple store in Salt Lake to pick up my ne iPad Pro and trade in my old (nearly 4 years old) one got $270 trade in against my new iPad. Service in store was great. Ended up buying a case at Best Buy in Kimble junction. New ones really fast, a smaller more handle able size and the case is thin and light and protects both sides.

I went to the gym in the afternoon whilst Wendy had her nails done. Just love that elliptical machine. It’s a great workout, up to 30 minutes now.

Pop in the liquor store to get some brandy to take home, they’ve got two new ones I’ve not tried. Miracle is they also had some High West Manhattan that B&M have been trying to get hold of. Bought a bottle to help Bob recover from his shoulder op. Probably better than any of those crazy pain killers they give you.

Then it’s one of my favourite for tea, a carnitas burrito from Chubasco’s.

Another alcohol free TV night.

Ten pin bowling in the morning.

We’re child minding so we pick Angela up from school and then Wendy takes her to the CC with her for the afternoon. Whilst Im go down to Pickleball for the afternoon.

Home for a quick shower and then we’re off down to Hearth & Hill for the TGIF. Just have a swift drink and then we finally get to go Giordottis with Helen, George, Mark and Judy. I enjoyed the meal – OSSO Buko – but Wendy wasn’t so impressed. Their Chianti was luscious and couldn’t resist a glass of Fonesco Bin 27 port to finish the meal off along with am espresso. Great evening, good food, wine, company and great intelligent conversation.

Lazy morning packing and getting ready to leave. Wendy’s cleaning like a banshee.

Hal and carol pop round to say goodbye then we’re off to B&M’s for dinner. Bob’s rotator cup surgery seems to have gone ok, but his arms in a sling for six weeks. We’ve got Bob some proper medication, a bottle of High West Manhattan. Much better than Oxycodin. Psychedelic, hallucinating drugs.

Great meal, company and of course a Midwinter Nights Dram to finish off the meal. We’ll really miss them but we’re back on 1st June. Can’t wait.

Lazy start to the day. Don’t need to set off until 10:00 so it’s quite relaxing, until the usual TSA CRAP. But at least I survived the TSA. Always an ordeal. Really need to consider some of Wendy’s propanaol tablets to help me through. Good news is they’re improving, they now only miss 70% of weapons.

On a more positive note, great news Green Book is on the Virgin flight.

Great to just get in the lounge and starting sinning by downing some wine before 17:00.

Flight is very comfortable as Wendy’s booked premium economy seats, and after the Green Book; two glasses of champagne; two glasses of Malbec, seconded from Upper Class as I cant’ stand Syrah; two large Otard brandies; and just one sleeping tablet, I settle down to 5 hour deep slumber. Wake up just in time to watch The Girl In The Spiders Web. Great flight, pretty comfortable.

Chaos at Manchester airport as you now have to go yomping on a root march to the pickup point. Welcome home to chaos.

Well we’re home. Never mind just 4 weeks before we escape to France and only 2 months before we’re back in paradise.

AT least we get to see the grandkids and we’re around if our very pregnant daughter-in-law goes into labour. Anybody would think Wendy was going to be delivering it.

Lazy start then, after lunch, we drive down to Willow Creek, park up and take a walk down the snow track to Kimble junction. Time for a Starbucks.

Pop into the liquor store and come across a bottle of Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye, a blend of Rye whiskey and a touch of Port, very nice indeed. Mellow and quite sweet with no burn.

Then home for a jacuzzi and alcoholic ginger beer, then tea. Italian sausage and American baked beans, awesome.

A quiet night in Bourbon sampling and snoozing over Netflix.

Up early as Angela’s being dropped off by Hal.

Lazy start to the day. Angela’s with us all day and is no trouble. I’m teaching her English and she’s teaching me American.

I go off to the gym whilst Wendy and Angela troop off to TJ Max and the Supermarket. Even at 10 years old little girls already have a highly developed addiction to shopping. I pop down to the Pickleball courts for a spot of practice against the wall, before my gym torture session. Get dragged into playing.

Drop Angela off to her dad at PCMR base. Then it’s off to a St Patrick’s day apres ski party with H&G, held as usual by the PCMSC.

Back home in time for a quiet evening in and finish of a tasty Carmanere.

Lazy morning. Then we both drive down to Salt lake airport to pick up Bob and Marilyn. Drop them off and then drop Wendy off at the bus stop, so I can get to pickle ball. Good afternoon playing pickle ball.

Then it is a quiet alcohol free evening in watching Netflix and that damn Madelyn McCann saga. If they are not guilty then they are certainly guilty of negligence.

Another lazy start to the day. Then Wendy and I drive down to the old white barn, park the car up and walk down to Willowcreek. Then we walk up to the canyons gondola and have coffee and soup around the lovely warm fire pit. Walked back to the car and overall we had a great 4 mile hike, most of it on snow. Followed by afternoon tea on the front deck in glorious sunshine. It is certainly starting to warm up and sadly the snow is melting.

Then I treat myself to a Jacuzzi before getting ready for our dinner guests. Sylvia and David come round for dinner and drinks, we haven’t seen David since last summer. A very pleasant evening all round.

Lazy morning for me. Drop Wendy off at the CC, then off down to Pickleball. Always try and get there early so I can have some serve practice and play against that unforgiving opponent the wall. But usually others turn up early and before you know it you’re warming up or playing. Today we had a younger couple turn up who mainly play tennis. They really shouldn’t be allowed to wipe the floor with us beginners.

B&M pick us up at tea time and we head off to try the Brass Tack up at Deer Valley Lodges. Good start from the Greeter – that’s the person that US restaurants are obsessed with, she greets you and allocates your table. Funny how a lot of Uk restaurants manage to function perfectly well without this role. Anyway as we have not booked she’ll manage to squeeze us in – not surprising as it only about 30% occupied – but in future please pre-book. A totally uncalled for and rude greeting, I’m ready to go into CUSTOMER mode, and either walk our or rip her head off. Totally arrogant and uncalled for. Food and wine was a tad pricey, but there again it was Deer Valley – often misspelt.

Anyway meal was pretty good apart for Wendy’s bland and greasy pasta, but to be fair to them the manger took it off the bill and was most thankful for us bringing it to their attention – top marks for the way he handled it and took the trouble to thank us for complaining.

B&M pop in for a nightcap, to try my Basil Haydn Dark Rye.

Watch the Gunpowder Plot, when the last honest man went into parliament, along with 50 barrels of gunpowder to blow the place up. They had that tasty eye candy from “Silent Witness” in it and munch to my surprise she flaunted her nipples. Mind you she was very young and I’m sure there’s no way she’d be exposing all these days.

Very lazy morning watching the snow – got 3″. After lunch went for a 5 mile walk up to the Silver Star cafe for coffee and back. Sun and clouds a very pleasant walk. Interesting menu, will have to try it one evening.

Evening in watching more Netflix as BBC was being temperamental – software written by 12 year olds with Acne and who need their Mummy to tie their shoelaces. It’s just another National disgrace. Have to wait until tomorrow to see Question Times reactions to this weeks fiasco.

Ten pin bowling with the geriatrics for me and the CC for Wendy.

Then it’s a Starbucks coffee for lunch followed by Pickleball. In two weeks all 3 of my Pickleballs have split in half – cheap. Get two hours in. Just love this sport, will have to go to Burnley when I get home and see if I can play there.

Pop into the liquor store on the way home to pick Wendy up. They’ve suddenly added 3 very tempting brandies, but I manage to resist for now. Buy some Sushi for dinner.

The Schmitt’s come round for dinner. Hal takes me for a spin in his Volta electric car. It really is a pleasure to drive and so sprightly. Driving in LOW mode must be the ultimate for Americans all you need to use is the accelerator and the steering wheel. When you take your foot off the accelerator it slows down, puts the brake lights on and comes to a graceful halt. Fortunately you can still use the brake. Sounds ungodly and quirky but after 5 minutes driving I’ve got used to it and really love it.

Have a lovely evening with them as always. Angelas getting really grown up these days.

Finally get to watch Question Time but it’s a tad disappointing. Meanwhile the chaos over BREXIT continues. Time to feed a few politicians and BBC iPlayer software developers to the Lions in a Saturday afternoon amphitheatre spectacular reminiscent of Roman days.

Yet another lazy start, reading the depressing news back home in the Times. Still at least things will liven up over here with the release of the Mueller report. The talking heads will be in a feeding frenzy and you can bet, dollars to dumplings, that the democrats will be busier than a one armed monkey with two peckers, trying to find some sh.t to nail the president with.

Tootle off down to the gym for an hours workout. Then after lunch we take a walk up to PCMR base to buy some Campos coffee beans to take home. Have a Superior Americana, it is so sweet you don’t need sugar – awesome roast.

In the evening we’ve free tickets to go to the library cinema to see Beale Street. Starts off good but slows down to an arthritic snails pace, with sound mumbled through damp underwear and background noise to drown out any syllables that manage to escape. But it was free and a night out. It’s a great little theatre / cinema and quite quaint how they always have a raffle at the beginning. Saturday night small town America at it’s best, it reeked of popcorn and everyone even brings their own containers to help save the planet. No one cheered, booed or clapped. No National anthem – sad. And worst of all no wine for sale. Next time we go we need to smuggle in our own alcohol as most of the regulars do.

Lazy start again. Have to stay in all morning waiting for the plumber to come and fix the hot water heater. Like all plumbers the World over he let us down and we have to chase him up. Finally arrives at 13:00.

Wendy and I went a walk in the snow up to Campos coffee and back.There’s something quite magical and mesmerising about walking in the snow.

Quite nice to have a hot shower and not have to rely upon a chlorine dip in the jacuzzi – makes you appreciate how these chlorine washed chicken must feel.

Passed on the quiz and had a quiet night in. Question time programme help raise my blood pressure. BREXIT is such joke.

Wendy goes to the CC whilst I pick up Helen and go ten pin bowling. What a 4 year old beats us. Good job we go with the losers credo, “It’s only a game”.

Afternoon I have a good two hours at Pickleball. Really like this game. Then it back home for a quick change before Helen and George pick us up for TGIF. It’s up at Deer Valley. Wow they’ve had some snow up there as we drive through 7 foot drifts.

The house is amazing, complete with a temperature controlled wine room and ski in and out. Must have been in the $20,000,000 bracket and I overheard the owner saying they only get to stay there 35 days a year. Serious money.

Lazy morning.

Drive down to Kimble to buy some shorts. Mine stink.

Afternoon I go to the gym – no excuses. Their lateral exerciser is awesome although very tiring. Manage to survive 10 minutes. Great skiing exercise – hang on I’m not skiing this year.

Netflix night in and book our Japanese shore excursions. They’re going to cost a fortune – great way to fritter away our kids inheritance and hopefully a great way to experience Japan.

I have a Pickleball lesson at 10:00. This low bent knees ready for action position sure is good exercise on your hips. Too many women playing. They spend most of their time at the net gossiping and arguing the toss. Just play, it’s only a game. Learn so many new things. Too many really, it’s all about remembering them. Key thing seems to be practice against the wall.

Meanwhile Wendy has gone shopping and is having her nails done.

Home for a quick shower and turnaround.

Meet Hal, Carol and Angela at Wassatch state park for a snowshoe up Epperson and then down to the Huber farm and back. A pleasant 3 mile workout in sunny weather. Thankfully it’s 10 degrees warmer down at Wassatch.

Then it a coffee at an eclectic coffee shop in Midway. Followed by dinner at Mercantile. Food is the best I’ve had since we’ve been here, sorry have to modify that or Wendy will divorce me. Best I’ve had at a restaurant since we’ve been here. Would definitely go again.

Back home for a Netflix evening. Nearly finished The Last Kingdom.

Lazy morning then Wendy and I take a 5 mile stroll, along the rail trail, up to PCMR base for a lovely Campos coffee. Their Superior blend espresso is unbelievably sweet and rich. Mind you it’s not cheap. Then take a stroll back. Overall a good workout.

Afternoon is Pickleball for me. A great 2 hour workout.

Evening is spent booking the rest of our shore excursions on the Japanese cruise. Certainly not cheap, but a once in a lifetime opportunity to fritter away our kids inheritance.

Wendy goes off for brunch with her “Girlfriends” from the CC whilst I exercise 2nd Amendment rights at the gun club. Try a Smith & Weston .22. Ammo is a third of the price of 9mm. There’s no kickback, just like firing my Sig Saeur P320 air pistol. Great little target practice with a 1911 style automatic.

After dinner we both do a 3 mile stroll down the rail trail and then pick Angela up from school. Angela’s gob smacked that she has to walk back to our house – wot no car! Her school has an amazing amount of Apple Macs and MacBooks. Angela teaches me American.

Helen and George come round for dinner and drinks. George has a black eye and is missing a tooth from a ski crash where two of them collided. No one was at fault just one of those both on the same trajectory accident. I think the other guy was really a snowboarder just on skis for a day. A real mess but lucky it wasn’t so much worse.

Wendy is off to the CC. Whilst I take a walk up to PCMR base to get some of that awesome Campos Superior blend coffee. Pop into Cole sports to see if they have the Eider jacket in the blowout sale. Yes they do and it’s reduced to half price. As my Mum would have said “you were meant to have it”.

Lunchtime I sin and watch the loons in parliament flush us further down the toilet.

Afternoon is Pickleball. Great opportunity to take out my frustration on the loons.

It’s a real treat for tea tonight, I get a Chimichanga’s from Chubascos secret menu. Have a pleasant chat with the Ukrainian girl who serves me.

Evening is a quiet night in with Wendy ranting on about BREXIT. Never known her get so engaged in politics, she’s even signed up to the BREXIT party site.

Lazy start again.

We both do a 2.5 mile Yak Trak down the rail trail. It’s such hard going in the snow, exhausting. Would have been so much easier with snowshoes on.

We’ve only gone a 100 yards down the rail trail when a big naked backside squatting over her snowshoes greet us, as this old woman pees on the middle of the trail. Didn’t even have the courtesy to pee off the trail. Reinforces that wise old adage – never eat yellow snow. Wouldn’t have been so bad if she been some fit eye candy, but alas more of a blobby. Anyway we wished her a hearty “GOOD MORNING” in our best British accent. I suppose we should have added “cold out today isn’t it”.

After lunch Wendy goes with Barbara to her first Knit and Stitch meeting with PCMSC. A gaggle of women knitting, knattering and komplaining. I pop down to the gym. Get in some pickleball practice serves and then tackle the gym. That elliptical machine is real hard work – so it must be doing me good.

Hang on what’s this for tea. I know I agreed to a salmon stir fry but nobody mentioned all these vegetables, including the dreaded brussel sprouts – it’s not Sunday! Next time I’ll go for bread and water or starve.

Quiet night in. 2nd day without alcohol. Need it to cope with Wendy ranting on about “The Great British BREXIT Sellout”.

Wendy is still ranting and raving over the great BREXIT treachery. You think my rants are bad, they’re not a patch on Wendy’s vitriol. Why she’s even signed up for the BREXIT party. She’s even talking about marching, yellow jackets and all. Thankfully some peace and calm is restored when she goes to the CC whilst I go ten pin bowling.

Afternoon is a marathon pickleball session. I get there early to get some serve practice in but then there’s only a few of us so no chance to sit out and rest.

Pick Helen and George up and go to TGIF a the Jeremy Ranch golf club. Not one of our favourite locations and certainly one to avoid their bar food. Last time we were here we eat in the restaurant upstairs with about 20 others – members and guests only. Can you believe that apparently they complained that there were too many. How enterprising of them.

Go out for dinner to Loco Lizard. Must be over 6 years since we’ve been there. Food and service was good.

Lazy start as usual.

Then we both catch the free bus up to Deer Valley for coffee / lunch followed by a walk in the snow to Campos coffee at Park City mountain base. At least this time they have some stock in so I buy an expensive bag of their Superior roast. Wendy catches the bus home whilst I grab some more exercise and walk.

Then at 16:00 it’s the CC Volunteers appreciation party. I escort Wendy there, but sit it out playing on my phone. It’s nearly all women and at the end of the day I’m not going to freeload as I’m not a volunteer.

Then we’re off to the 17:00 quiz down at the Legends bar with B&M. As usual we’re pretty hopeless. Mainly modern media questions and music. I’d not even heard of the people mentioned. By half time we’re coming last.

Set off for dinner at the Double Tree hotel. Menu’s not that enticing but the burgers good. Given the size of the hotel surprising to see we’re the only 4 in there. Rest of the evening is a quiet night watching, ranting and raving over Question Time and then we both manage to fall asleep over the Last Kingdom.

I’m off down to bowling with the geriatrics, AKA The Newcomers. My score seems to be gradually improving but far from stunning. It’s a typical rowdy, cheering, high fiving and clapping bowling session. If I ever go bowling in England and behave like this I’m sure I’ll be tossed out on my ear.

Then it’s coffee at Starbucks followed by a couple of hours pickle ball along with the other geriatrics. A few of the women are bossy USA matriarchs. Best avoided. No fun. Think they know it all. Best keeping your own council and look to team up with people who laugh and smile a lot. They need to remember the losers creedo, “It’s Only A Game”.

Call at Chubasco for my first Carnitas Burrito take away. It’s awesome. Turns out they do Chimichangoes, just too dam lazy and inefficient to put it on their menus – more lost opportunity.

Evening in again falling asleep over “Last Kingdom”.

Lazy start. Then we drive down to Kimble, park the car at the supermarket and have a walk to the Levi Outlet store and back. Unfortunately I could do with a new pair of jeans. What a nightmare it is, too many choices and most of those I finally decide I like don’t have my size in stock – now there’s a surprise. Finally find a pair I like, they’re not hanging below my crutch and best of all have button up flies. Sadly they don’t pull up to my chin, but guess you can’t have everything.

Walk back up the hill for more exercise, fun while it’s snowing, so much better than walking in the rain.

Then back home to do battle with iMovie. It keeps crashing, yet more crap software probably written by a spotty 10 year old dyslexic who can’t tie his own shoelaces.

Then it’s off to M&B for dinner, along with George and Helen – Pappa Murphy pizza – awesome.

It’s my first 2 hour Pickleball lesson in the morning.

Lunch time we’re off to Hal and Carol’s for Angela’s 10th birthday. I think we’ve been to her every birthday since she was two. Have Quesadillas for lunch and take a birthday cake. Wendy’s going to add these to her repertoire.

Then more Netflix in the evening.

Lazy start for both of us. Wendy drives down to B&M to do yet more shopping with Marilyn. What do they find to buy.

I leave about an hour later and walk down to B&M to pick the car up. It’s a 4 mile, 90 minute walk, in snow. Should have put my yak tracks on, by the time I get there I’m exhausted. Walking in snow is as exhausting as walking in sand.

Drive down to Kimble for a Starbucks and then off to Pickleball

After an hours Pickleball I’ve had enough.

Arrive home knackered. I’m pretty sure it was having to go to the supermarket for some drinks thats exhausted me.

Quiet night in.

Finished all my nerdy IT projects so need a new project.

After a lazy start we both set off for a snowshoe on La de dah. It’s all up hill going out and then of course all downhill coming back. Sunny day with awesome views and a great workout. As Bob would say “I wonder what the poor people are doing?” How lucky can we be.
Wendy went for lunch with her “girlfriend”, Sylvia, while I went shooting. Had my favourite 1911 Springfield. Feels like a proper gun. Tried a 9mm version of the sig safer 320 the other days. Similar to my air pistol at home. It was a nightmare. Black sights make it difficult to aim but worst of all was all the cartiridges shooting out into my face. Thankfully I had glasses on.

In the evening we have friends round for drinks. Great end to another awesome day.

Forecast is for another 20″ of snow over the next few days – we live in hope. Looks like I’ll have to defer getting my bike out until this storm passes.

Lazy start to the day as usual. Desperately seeking a new nerdy project to keep me out of trouble and maintain the levels of anger and frustration with software – once a nerd, always a nerd. People, especially Wendy, struggles to understand why I enjoy programming so much as I’m constantly battling with it. The psychologist’s have an explanation for it. Like a gambling addiction, it’s the random rewards when you crack a problem and get it working. In my mind it’s a better way of keeping your mind active than crosswords or Sudoko.

Wendy sets off for the CC while I set off for the gym and Pickleball. Get all the way down there and realise I’ve forgotten my trainers – just one of the many benefits of being a geriatric, but so much better than the alternative – so have to drive all the way back. No time for the gym – any excuse. Couple of hours Pickleball, but really need to work on my serve – so many times it’s illegal.

Hot waters packed up. Albert comes round and diagnoses the problem as a faulty thermocouple. Arranges a plumber to pick up the part and come round tomorrow morning to fix it – we live in hope, as I’m sure plumbers are the same unreliable cowboys the World over.

I have a jacuzzi instead of a shower. If chlorine washing is good enough for chickens, then it’ll do for me.

B&M and grandson come round for dinner and drinks.

Up and out early to go snowshoeing with Joe and Donna. We go up Robs trail, about 1,200 feet elevation and about 4 miles. Use the Yak Tracks instead of snow shoes. First halve is a rapid ascent in Donna’s wake then take it easy in the rear with Joe. Despite it being all uphill I don’t even break a sweat, colder than a brass toilet seat in the Yukon. The Yak Tracks just about make it.

Bob picks up Anna and Leon to go skiing with them for the morning.

In the evening Hal, Carol and Angela come round for dinner.

Anna and Leon set off for a days skiing with Carol and Angela.

We have a lazy morning. Then I walk up to the CC with Wendy – she’s volunteering there for the afternoon. That’s my exercise for the day.

Finally manage to display the glyphicons and control the column width in my CRUD web site I’m writing. It’s taken hours to identify which elements of Bootstrap are causing the problem and which CSS classes work. Nerdy stuff but so much more fun than crosswords or sudoko.

Then it’s off to the gun club for some target practice with Joe. Use a 9mm 1911 Springfield. A joy to shoot. The only disadvantage is the sights are black so on a black target it’s not so good but on a light target it’s amazing. Moral of that is to only ever use it to shoot white men.

Jamie comes round to collect the table that Janelle’s getting rid of.

In the evening Anna and Leon take us out to dinner. Go to the Blind Dog for sushi. Getting in training for our Japanese trip. Leave the choice of the myriad of options to Anna. Raw fish, pretty tasty. Mind you it gives me the squitters, although there is some blue crab in there so perhaps that’s the cause. Need to experiment ready for Japan. Great meal, the Cline Zinfandel was awesome and great company. Yet another fantastic evening here in paradise.

Lazy morning.

Lunch time Wendy goes to help out at the CC. I walk down the trail from Peaks hotel to Starbucks at Kimble. Exactly 5 miles and pretty exhausting in the snow without YakTraks. Catch electric express back up to meet Wendy at the CC and for a lift home. A good 6 mile walk.

In the evening it’s poring down with snow. Pick B&M up and head off down to the PCMSC AGM at the golf club. Cowboy evening theme with a meal. Pretty good evening but pass on the line dancing.

Wendy’s having kittens about the snow so we leave pretty early to avoid getting too snowed in.

Pick up Helen and we go bowling with the other geriatrics from the Newcomers. A good morning and even a respectable score. Then it’s Starbucks.

Afternoon is the CC for Wendy whilstI get in a couple of hours Pickleball at the Basin Rec. It’s awesome. Win 4 out of 6 games.

In the evening we’re all off down to B&M’s for dinner. Ravioli with Bobs awesome tomato sauce and Italian sausage (Wendy needs to add these to her shopping list). Not forgetting wine, whisky, espresso and good company.

Up at the crack of sparrows take Anna and Leon down to the airport. Yes, another trip to the airport.

Afternoon we take B&M down to Wassatch State Park to christens Bobs new snow shoes. Do the Huber trail. To be fair we could have walked or YakTraked it but it was B&M’s first outing so we did it for fun – even Wendy snowshoed.

Then seek out a coffee followed by a trip to the sportmens warehouse and that good old all time Saturday afternoon favourite Walmart – you know the place where the crazy people go.

The evening’s our first quiet evening in for over a week.

Lazy start. Then off snowshoeing up to the Bear Hike, aka Snow Top. The usual root round was 3 foot deep snow and no idea where the trail was so we went clockwise, out and back. Better in the snowshoes, only took us about 50 minutes.

Then in the afternoon we picked B&M up and went to the apres ski. Not many there, a quiet do. Remembered to take our own food back!

Quiet night in. Finished off the wine with a spot of sushi and a great alcoholic ginger beer.

Lazy morning again. Recovered Kurt’s wedding photos from Google Plus before they got deleted and started work on a revised photo gallery web page.

Dropped Wendy off to have her nails done, then she was having lunch and shopping with M. More “want” less “need”.

I went to the gym and then played nearly two hours pickle ball. It’s awesome, just wish I could play better.

Then it’s a quiet night in watch Netflix series with French subtitles.

Lazy start. Then I set of for a 3 mile walk in the snow whilst Wendy does the shopping. I’m Hotter than a road lizard walking up a hill backwards carrying a bucket of slobber. Perhaps I really don’t need my ski pants, fleece, wooly hat and anorak on – it’s too warm, cruelty to snow.

Meet Wendy back at the supermarket. A bottle of Bourye just screams out “Please buy me” from the liquor store shelves. Temptation to buy this limited edition, 96 point score Bourbon, is just too great.

Then in the afternoon I go down to Salt Lake archery with Joe. No one else from PCMSC is interested.

In the evening B&M and Mike come round for dinner and drinks of course. Sample some of the Bourye – it is truly awesome.

Lazy start again.

Then it’s a 3 mile walk into town and back. Wendy goes to the CC.

Afternoon is shooting with Joe. Try an assortment of weapons including a rather “Make my day” style revolver. I think its the worst performance since I’ve been here. Must say the Springfield 1911 never lets me down.

A quiet night in for a change.

Up early after more fitful sleep.

Then Wendy and I are off snowshoeing around Round Valley. Takes more energy putting them on and off, than the hours snow shoeing. It’s freezing cold and blowing a gale, but we just about survive.

Now with two snow shoe trips under my belt I think I can safely advise on the following three rules:

1 Slacken off all your gear ready to put on in the comfort of your home.

2 Take a pair of thin glove to wear whilst trying to put them on.

3 Last, and the most important, be the last in the group to get the benefit of compacted snow. Breaking trail is for pioneers and the eager young.

Evening we’re out for dinner with Joe and Donna at a new place called Hearth & Hill. I enjoyed my meal, but the menu was weird and sparser than strip clubs in Tehran. Expensive for what it was. Acid test, wouldn’t go back.

After a lazy morning I’m off to join the gym and get some exercise. Really nice gym and free Pickleball with my membership, all for $36 a month.

Oodles of snow today – proper weather.

Wendy was at the Christian Centre all afternoon.

Joe couldn’t make the gun club but I ventured forth. Despite the snow I made it all the way to the gun club car park and was defeated by 2 foot of snow. Too lazy to clear it – I thought they had more oil in the can than that.

Laurie and Mike come round for drinks after dinner. A pleasant and fun evening comparing travel sagas.

Wendy and I set off for more snow shoeing. Problem is that there’s that much snow, most of the car parks haven’t been cleared yet. Can park at Round Valley but it’s howling a gale and seems so cold. End up at Willow creek and spend just over a hour doing the loop there, half of it’s tracked the other half isn’t. A really good workout. Wendy’s powfagged. This seems more energetic than skiing – no gravity benefit.

In the afternoon I go down to Salt Lake to try out the indoor archery range. Sadly you can only rent out recurve bows, no compounds. It’s a challenge and a tad more work than a recurve. One good thing is my target hasn’t too many holes it so I can use it another time.

Then it’s home for a quick change before setting off to the Blue Boar for a valentines meal with Janelle, Mike, B & M. I’m designated driver so no alcohol. Pleasant meal in awesome surroundings with good company. They have an awesome collection of antique crossbows on the wall. Driving back is a nightmare of rain, then sleet, then snow. No street lights. No cats eyes. White lines are obscured by snow and slush.

Lazy start to the day. It’s been raining overnight and it’s all frozen up. A death trap out there, just sheet ice everywhere – slick as the colonials say.

Wendy’s off to the Christian centre and I’m ten pin bowling with the Newcomers. Then in the afternoon I get to play Pickleball at the gym. What fun it is. Tennis / badminton / table tennis for geriatrics. I’m only a beginner but no one cares, it’s just a bunch of older geezers having fun. After just over an hour I’m cream crackered. Sadly have to go and pick Wendy up, but I’ll be back.

A quiet night in for a change. By 20:00 we give up trying to watch TV and go to bed. Then I wake up and fritter away two hours on the internet.

Mountains had 8″ of snow overnight, thats 20″ in the past 48 hours. Wake up to a sunny snowy landscape – awesome. Back to sub zero temperatures, thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster. And there’s no sign of temperatures above zero for the next 10 days, plus plenty of snowy days.

I’m off to the gun club for my weekly fix. Try a Canik TP9 with red dot sights. Wow, makes you realise how much your hand shakes. Only problem is it takes awhile to zero in the sight and worst of all makes me think I’ll have to give up drinking.

Then I walk up to Freshmarket and back to meet Wendy doing the weekly shop and to go to the all important liquor store. Have to get stocked up, they’re closed for the next two days.

In the evening we’re off to B&M for dinner with them and Janelle and Mike. Bobs cooked his awesome eggplant Parmigiana. I’ve been looking forward to this for the past 6 months, best food I’ve had all year. Great evening.

Anna and Leon arrive about 22:00.

Lazy start to the morning. Then we’re off down to Wassatch State Park to meet up with the Newcomers for a Snowshoe. It’s disorganised chaos. There’s only one other light bulb changer (man) the rest are women. No one seems to know who is leading or where they’re going. Then we keep stopping to wait for the slow comers. You can tell how bad it is, at one stage Wendy’s leading and setting the past – lost and leisurely. Never mind we get a good 2 hours exercise.

In the evening B&M along with Janelle and Mike come round for dinner. Ironically Janelle and Mike are the owners of this place, we tell them to make themselves at home. Good food, good company and of course good wine.

Unbelievable Anna decides she’s going to take a day off skiing – must be getting old – and go to the Outlets of course.

Then they hear we’re going snow shoeing and decide to join us. We drive out to Wassatch State Park and take the two mile trail to the Huber homestead. It’s just a perfect day. Trail is crispy and Wendy manages without snow shoes but the rest of us use them for a workout. What a good workout it was.

Then it’s back for a quick lunch followed by the inevitable trip to the Outlet stores. Wendy cons me into going by telling me they have some thermal vest – a shore sign I’m a decomposing geriatric. They don’t have any. I’ve be well and truly duped into a shopping expedition. Nor does any of the other stores. I find it somewhat ironic that they all have these vests that “keep you cool”, none that brag about keeping you warm, yet here we are in a sub zero ski resort!

Then back home and get changed for Ten Pin Bowling evening. There’s about 13 of us but we can only get a lane for 8, but we cope. Then it’s off to the Red Rock Brewery for dinner. We despatch an advance party of those not bowling to get a table – just typical they don’t accept bookings. Despite the hordes everywhere it’s not a bad evening.