Update - Vegas!!

Time for a little update! Not so long ago, I zoomed out to Vegas for the weekend to spend some time with my Dad!! It was a wonderful trip, and we had a lot of fun as we always seem to do!!

Of course, it was way to short, and I would have loved to have stayed there longer with him, however, work called me back to the city...

We stayed in the Flamingo hotel, and our view looked out onto their gardens, which, if you look closely in the above pic, you can see the pink flamingos through the trees!

And in the pic on the left is my cool-as-you-like Dad!! We had a blast, and we both needed a good 'get away from it all' to a sunny warm destination. 

And of course, as usual, we played a ton of roulette, and although lady luck wasn't going crazy for us, we didn't do half bad! Through all my playing, I left with $20 more than what I went with!!!

This Weekend!!

Ah yes, it's that time again, where I run away from this cold snowy weather to a warm 70 degrees of Las Vegas desert heat... mm, not bad!

This Saturday morning, I shall be relaxing at the Flamingo's Garden Buffet with my wonderful Dad (after jumping the line because of his platinum card!!) And we'll chat away, and look out onto the Flamingo's in the garden as they bask in the sunlight...

Hm, not a bad way to spend a weekend I would say... in fact, I'd say, I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Lucky Stars..

Hiiii.... yes, I know, the regularity of my posts has well, left little to be desired...

Anyways! I'm back, and all has VERY thankfully found it's way back to being normal and good again.

Over the past week I've hopped over to Michigan to see my Dad and my Sister (who's been over from England). It was so very good to see them both, I was glad to find them both with smiles on their faces, and to join in with that comforting security a family can bring... at the end of the day, there is something so wonderful being surrounded by people who would go to the ends of the earth for you, if you needed them, if you asked them to. My family is so priceless like that, I thank my lucky stars to have them all.

Above is a purdy pic of my Sister, Kathryn, it snowed a ton in MI and it was our job to shovel it off the driveway - but not without a few snowball fights and snow angels!!! You'll see Dad's dog Rufus in the background, who has a taste for eating the fluffy white stuff as well as rolling in it!!!!

So posts will be coming thick and fast again soon!!

Light Of The Moon...

In my mind, this is where I am when I hear this music...

I just got off the phone with my Dad, and sometimes he'll play the piano for me while I listen. I absolutely love it...

My most favorite, which he did play, is Claude Debussy's 'Claire de lune'. It's a stunning piece. One that warms my heart in so many ways... It also reminds me of when I listened to him play it at Christmas, which I enjoyed so much. I can see Dad now - and his smile when's he's finished...

My Dad!!

Chair Ladder, South Cornwall, UK

So I decided I'm going to do a lil shout out to my Dad!

Even though we're only an hour or so away from each other by plane, I wish we were closer, and I could see him more often than I do (the next time will be the beginning of March! I can't wait!)

My Dad is a great rock climber, and he loves it! He travels all over the US and England with his friends on climbing trips, hitting one rock after another, with Rufus in tow when possible!

Dad used to climb before he met my Mum, and I'm so happy he's gotten back into it so much - it really makes him happy!

This year I'm hoping he'll be making a climbing trip to The Gunks, so he'll be close for a NYC visit!!! Fingers crossed!!

       

Ripple, Enchanted Rock, Texas High Exposure, The Gunks, New York

        

Brinton's Buttress, Devil's Lake, Wisconsin The Gunks, New York

Christmas '08!

My Dad!

And Rufus!

Okay, here's my Christmas post, as promised! 

I went to Michigan this year to spend the holiday's with my Dad. He's got a dog called Rufus, a black Lab and German Shepherd mix. I remember the day we picked him up (three and a half years ago now!!) - cute little thing he was too, and he's still just as soppy now! It was a lot of fun going back to see them both, and I had a great Christmas! For the first few days I was there, and for most of my visit, it snowed A LOT, which I LOVED!!!!

Below are some snowy pictures - Dad shoveling the driveway for the tenth time, and yes I did help too!! Rufus, bounding around in the snow in the backyard!...

Dad and SNOW!

SNOW! And can you see Rufus back there?!

Before my arrival, Dad invited friends over for a little Christmas party on the Tuesday as I was back, which was a lot of fun getting ready for and the evening itself was very enjoyable!

I got to talk to Dad's friends Bruce and Larry about some similar interests and our views on the world - it was a relief to talk to some like minded people! Conversation flowed effortlessly, people were enjoying themselves, everyone was relaxed with smiles. Larry's Girlfriend Jane was amazing on the piano, and played for us all.. it was beautiful!

Above is a picture of Dad as we were preparing all of the goodies to eat, Rufus of course hanging around for any scraps! Below is the set table - although this doesn't show all of our creations and this photo doesn't do it justice! Dad and I spent the night before deciding which cracker should go with what topping - and how much topping was needed - there's nothing like some taste testing!!!

Since I was last in Michigan, which was two years ago, Dad had gotten himself a Piano. He'd talked about doing it for so long, and while I was living there too, so last year when he told me he had finally purchased I was thrilled!! 

There wasn't a day that passed where Dad didn't have a seat and practice, and it was so good to lean back and listen to, I throughly enjoyed it! He's getting pretty good too!!

So, above and below are some photo's of Dad on the Piano!

When I arrived at Dad's I was totally thrilled to find he'd gotten a Christmas tree and decorated it ready for the holidays!! It looked great - twinkle lights and all!

While I was there, he brought out the snowman I had made at school so very many years ago, I must have been under 8 years old or younger! Dad and I thought he looked rather dashing sitting under the Christmas Tree! And three silver painted pine cones, which I also remember from my childhood, to keep him company!

Mr. Snowman and Silver Pine Cones!

Ready for a game!

Christmas day soon arrived, I realized the last time I had been in that house for Christmas was when I was 8 years old!! It was a lovely relaxing day too, Dad and I made our Christmas dinner of Chicken, roast potatoes and parsnips, broccoli, stuffing, brussel sprouts, and cranberry jelly - Yum! 

With full stomachs and a food coma on the way we relaxed in the heat of the wood fire, and a little later played a game of chess! And even if Dad did win - I like to think I gave him a run for his money!!

Dad's picture of me by the fire!

When I remember the neighborhood from my childhood, there weren't so many big houses at the end of the road between school and my own home, but over the years these developments popped up and around. Some fetching a million dollars or more, which surprises me.. cookie cutter houses with a massive square footage...

One of these houses near Dad's never fails to impress on the Christmas cheer! And although it's not a million dollar abode - I'm sure their electricity bill gets pricey!!!! Ha!! It is great to see though, and right at the end a road, you can't miss it!! Merry, Merry Christmas!!

It was a great holiday, and with lots of laughs - including one or two when we took Rufus on a walk in the snow, with it still coming down on top of us! Dad and I got thigh deep in the stuff!! Rufus had to jump out of it just to fall right back in! Time to turn back to home! Soon we were covered in snow - or at least I was after Dad pushed me into too!! 

Oh! Lots of fond memories!!