Beware of addons

This is why I prefer all inclusive cruises liks Regent Seven Seas

The Real Cost of Cruising - Cruises - Cruise Critic

New string to my bow

Genius Geniaus at work

I am always keen to try something new so when I was recently approached to write a genealogy software review for a magazine I jumped at the opportunity.

I was thrilled to hear back from the Editor today "fabulous, this is spot on. Thanks so much!".

Hopefully this will be the first of many reviews I am invited to write.

I'd better check these out.....

...  before my next trip.

Best free stuff, 2013 edition: The techno traveler | PCWorld

Retrospectives

I need to apologise to the few odd people who subscribe to this blog.  While I was travelling I just didn't have time to post as many items as  I wished - we were just having too much fun.

You may have noticed some posts from days gone by appearing here. There are some memories, people and places that we visited that I want to record for posterity and this blog is as good a place as any for that. Hence, as I have time and the inclination, I am putting up a few posts dated when they happened that will appear in their proper sequence in my list of posts.

Hope these retrospectives aren't too much of a bother to you.

At work in Costa Rica

I couldn't help myself

When I attended the Rootstech Conference in Salt Lake City in March I indulged in a spot of graffiti.

Whilst on a comfort break I found a handwritten note attached to the door of one of the cubicles. It stated "Out of service. Toilet leaks"

I just had to add a few extra words "So do I".

I may be Gummy but...

...I have a full set of teeth.

The eleven little people who are dearest to me call me Gummy. When I'm out and about with one or more of the grandkids and people hear me being called "Gummy" they give me a funny look.

The name Gummy came about when my eldest grandchild, who is now 12, was a toddler and just started calling me Gummy - a melding of Grandma and Mummy. All of the grandkids followed suit as they arrived and called me Gummy. Now even some of my kids spouses and the kids friends call me Gummy.

My mother was not impressed when I became known as Gummy, she thought it was a "silly name".

I love being called Gummy, it is a name that is unique to me.

The Final Snap

15 May 2013

On the last day of our magnificent journey we had a 6:00 pm checkout (for a fee - not free) from our airport hotel. We allowed ourselves a big sleepin to try to coax our personal timeclocks towards an Australian timezone so we missed the free hotel breakfast.

What should we so on our last day?  I did not want to travel too far lest our rental car break down and we miss our plane. I realised that I hadn't spent any time in a bookstore during the whole eight weeks of my holiday and I love the big bookshops in the US. Since the demise of Borders the only chain I know is Barnes and Noble.  I also realised that we hadn't visited one of the many Ross stores in Los Angeles - the well stocked one near Farmers Market; how convenient - I remembered that there is a Barnes and Noble store in the Grove Shopping Centre next to Farmers Market.

The Final Holiday Snap - a happy shopper at The Grove

I was quite restrained in my shopping at these venues because our six suitcases back at the hotel were bulging although underweight and the thought of having to squish more treasures into them wasn't too palatable. What I couldn't resist were a couple of DK Travel Guides for my next adventure at the end of June with my daughter.

At the end of a wonderful trip it is always good to have another journey to plan.