Packing those bags!!!!

Well.....this is the hard part. The bags are full so I really need to sort them out. We are going into summer. The 30 C degree days are going to take a bit of getting used to. Not sure what the laundry facilities will be like in LV and LA but surely we will find a laundramat??? With the temps being so high we may go through 2 to 3 changes in a day. The ship has a laundry on each floor but from past experiences doing your laundry on the ship can be quite scary!!! There seems to be unspoken rules....and you darent cross the line or those looks and gestures can be quite nasty. But then on the other hand I have met some wonderful people in the laundry. You tend to get those that say nothing, others that just ask...'is that machine free' and those that love to chat. So it takes a brave person to venture into a ships laundry!!! I remember on our Xmas cruise with the kids whenever it was Blakes turn he would take command and it didnt matter that other passengers clothes were in a line for the next use of a machine.....as far as he was concerned if you are'nt there with your clothes you miss out!!! Quick as a flash his washing was in!! Another day down at work....tomorrow I will do the statements early which will leave 2 days next week for all those other jobs. Hopefully we are in for fine weather here this weekend as the lawns and gardens need attention. I will feel better knowing that they are done...........I have been chatting to an Aussie couple on our cruise thread. (Website for passengers on our ship) They are also travelling with friends, boarding the Princess Dawn in LA, spending a few days in LasVegas, and bugger me if they arent staying at our Hotel which is now the Flamingo. So cut this story short we are all meeting up in Jimmys bar at our Hotel, 5pm on the 7th August for a couple of drinks. So that will be great. We will at least know 4 other people amongst the 2000 on the ship when we board on the 11th. We have also been emailing other couples from Oz and USA that we will meet up with on our first night on the ship. Today at work Neil and Loey (friends of ours)called in to wish us safe travels. They were in LV this time last year and they have given us a few tips on what to do, where to eat etc: They know we are going to love LV.

Just over 1 week to go!!

Each day is flying and the 3rd is getting closer fast!!! Managed to get Vaughan to reach up in the rafters in the shed and grab our suitcases.....They are now sitting in a corner of our bedroom. I must take all the old flight tags off. Looks like Thailand was the last destination. The bags certainly get a hard life as the bumps and scraps are quite severe. I will throw clothes in the direction of the bags and in the weekend we will hopefully dwindle that pile down to just the necessities. We have had -3 degree frosts the last couple of days which makes for a beautiful day but cold nights and mornings. Every weekend for the past 3 months has been full and we have had no free time, so we are looking forward to this holiday. We are hoping to catch up with the Muffs and Sue and Brian this weekend. In fact im looking forward to spending quality time with the Prices as we are all so busy with our lives that we forget to stop and have some fun. Our All Blacks are playing Oz this weekend. Any game between Oz and NZ is awesome whoever wins. That reminds me I must pack my All black gear!!

13 sleeps left!!!

Where has the time gone???? I have been following blogs from Princess Dawn (our ship) and have found them to be really interesting. Everyones interests are so different and have found myself connecting immediately with some of the writers. It appears that the cruise so far has produced lots of highs but also a few low's. We are just looking forward to the relaxation, sightseeing, companionship and hopefully lots of laughter. My list of things to do are dwindling. I have purchased Avomine and Ginger....on recommendation from other cruisers. Hopefully we will not need any but better to be safe than sorry. We have never experienced rough seas so are unsure how we would cope. The weather here has been so cold for so long now that it will be wonderful to feel warm. Temp here today was 12 C. In a couple of weeks we will be in approx 30C. Hope us kiwis will cope!!!!! It seems there will be a few of us boarding in LA. I guess it must feel strange to have passengers leaving and arriving for those who are doing the whole cruise. Almost feel like we are invading their home.....but also must be great to see new faces. We have our youngest son (Blake)turning 20 on the 14th August, so have his presents to organise. Hopefully his older brother and sister will celebrate with him. It seems that we are away for Blakes birthday almost every year as we like to take a break during our winter. But have promised him we will be here next year for his 21st....the big birthday. Just have to organise work to keep ticking over while we are away......we have wonderful staff which should help to let Vaughan let go and relax!!!!

26 Sleeps left.......

Still trying to get my head around this blog space.....think we will just keep it simple. Therefore avoiding any mistakes!!! After much talk about what Vaughan and I want to see and do we have decided on a few activities while in LA and Vegas so have booked some activities and will work around those. Firstly, our flight leaves Napier at 5.55pm and we connect to the LA flight leaving 9.30pm arriving 12 hours later. But now we have a 5 and half hour wait till departing to Vegas. Guess who is going to be ugly after no sleep for that length of time.....poor Vaughan and Brian. When in Thailand last year I asked in a chemist for some sleeping tablets and was given over the counter a card of tablets and told to take just one. On the 13 hour flight home from Bangkok I dont remember much...so whatever these pills are I am guarding them from everyone. They are mine!!!! Vaughan can usually fall asleep in ten minutes on a flight where as I NEVER sleep. So I am hoping that these lovely little pills will do the trick again. So we arrive on the 3rd August at about 8.30pm in Vegas, the next day we have free, then on the 5th we have an early morning helicopter flight to the Grand Canyon. They take 6 people at a time and we fly over the Hoover Dam and actually land on the floor of the canyon, have a champagne brekky and return to Vegas. Takes about 4 hours. We had to give them our weights so have added a couple of kilos. Thought we be better to be lighter than heavier.(any one over 275 lbs has to book 2 seats so think we will be ok!!) On the 6th we have booked a day tour to the Hoover Dam, which is of great interest to Vaughan. While in Vegas we would love to see the show Jersey Boys and hopefully one other. Have decided to leave buying tickets for those until we get there as apparently you can buy half price tickets on the mornings of these shows. In LA we have a Universal tour and a LA sights booked. Between now and leaving lots to do......