allie5
<font color=blue>WARNING! DHL men should be cautio
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2002
- Messages
- 1,572
Part 14 A Quiet Day
Main Players
Allie
Neil
Jessamy (4)
Daniel Noah (2)
Nanny Sylvie
Monday December 20th 2004
Today is going to be a Quiet Day. This does not mean we will be whispering to each other throughout the next 24 hours, purely that we wont be doing any parks. The Pinecone is squished shut, so we think it wise to obey the All Seeing, All Knowing Oracle and keep clear of outside today.
Although we wish for a nice long morning in bed, Daniel blasts that plan out of the water at precisely 6.01am. Actually, Nanny Sylvie did the decent thing this morning and retrieved him.
This still did not constitute a nice lie in, as about 11 minutes later, the sounds of breakfast bowls hitting the ceramic floors can be heard and we think it wise to arise to defuse the situation.
Daniel is in a sprightly mood this morning. The game of Smash the bowls on the floor was the activity he invented to celebrate said mood. Luckily, Nanny Sylvie (being a Nanny of the highest calibre) had seen fit to use the plastic crockery this morn, which saved our Villa deposit.
After a hasty breakfast, we are all loaded in the Jeep and set course for the Florida Mall area.
I am keen to pop into Best Buy to check out the ipods (my Christmas present!). Neil is still unaware that he is getting me one, but rest assured I will let him know soon only 5 more days to Chrimbo!
Leave Nanny and the kids in the car (with a large bag of American Snack a Jack things to stop the wee ones getting bored).
Best Buy is crammed with gadgets, and I love gadgets, so could easily spend the day here. We saw on the news this morning that ipods are this Christmas Must Have gift and very few stores have stocks. We found a feeble display which only contained the U2 special edition and a few minis. The staff are very helpful here (unlike its UK counterpart Currys) and actually KNOW about the stuff they sell.
A very knowledgeable young man leads us round to a big glass cabinet where there is a cavalcade of ipods of every size, colour and description. He clues us in to all things ipodish and I mentally check off that the 40gb photo is the one I want. Hint very unsubtly to Neil that one of these would make a wonderful gift for loving wives. I do, however, for see that my Surprise Christmas Gift this year will only be a surprise to my husband, as Im gonna have to buy the darn thing myself!
By now, the Snack-A-Jack alarm rang (meaning the bag was probably at critically low levels) and we decided on our purchases swiftly. We got another 512 SD card for the camera (bargain $62), Neil bought a CD walkman for work, plus a few sundries. Left the ipod for today. I may ask Santa for it next time we bump into each other
. I feel Santa maybe a more generous spirit than certain husbands I could mention.
Back in the car, trouble is brewing. Nanny Sylvie isnt feeling well. Worse than that, its the I think I might be sick sort of not feeling well. The aroma of the BBQ Snack a Jacks had not done a lot to ease her pain, so we crank up the AC to get rid of the smell.
Debate what to do next. Offer to take Nanny Sylvie home, but she says she is OK. Hmmm, we arent convinced, and dont think it wise to attack the Mall today. Kids have spotted Toys R Us across the street. Rest assured, even though they are both too small to read very well, they are extremely well versed in consumer advertising, and can spot a Toys R Us logo at 500 metres.
Nanny stays in the car with the AC on and we take the kids into the toy store.
Manage to escape, toy free and back to the car to discuss luncheon options. Nanny Sylvie is still feeling queasy, but thinks eating something light may help. Of course, they have an Orlando and Vicinity Dining Expert in the car (yes, me. Egon Ronay or Wolfgang Puck have not just appeared from the glove box) and I suggest Sweet Tomatoes the salad buffet.
Kids make puking noises at the word Salad but perk up when I say there is pizza and pasta. Nanny feels this is a good option, so the course is set.
None of us have eaten here before, but it comes highly recommended, so we are looking forward to it.
Unfortunately, unlike 99.9% of everyone else on planet Earth, I didnt like it here. This wasnt entirely the fault of the restaurant, it was just a bad meal for several reasons. Nanny Sylvie took a turn for the worse as soon as we entered, so went to get a table (she actually left and waited in the car without eating a thing).
The way its set up here is a bit odd. You have to collect certain items before you pay, then there is another section where you help yourself AFTER you have paid.
This being our first visit, we had no idea what was on offer and didnt even know there was another section! It was difficult knowing what to choose as you couldnt return to the Salad part. I paid extra for some chicken for the kids as there was no sign of the Pizza.
OK, you can shoot me, but I hated the food as well. The salad stuff was OKish, but you couldnt go back for more of the bits you liked. A lot of it I found bland. The hot items were horrid. Pizza had no taste, pasta was tepid and flavourless. The bakery items were incredibly dry. I didnt eat one thing here that I REALLY enjoyed.
Kids quite liked it though and in fairness, the price was unbelievable..cheaper than a Burger King and a lot healthier. If we did return, I would at least know the drill and be more prepared, but I dont think this would be on my list again. There, you can send your hate mail to this email address alliesnot@sweetoms.com
Decide to go back to the Villa now as Nanny Sylvie is still feeling unwell.
Put Nanny and Daniel down for naps and Neil, Jessie and I spend quite a nice few hours just chilling. This is one of the first times this holiday that we have just sat and done nothing and its really quite nice!
Daniel awakes at 3.30pm and is grumpy. Nanny is still poorly, so we decide to take the kids out to give her some peace.
Its still really very, very chilly, and even though they beg to be taken to the Magic Kingdom, we compromise and choose Downtown Disney instead.
Its absolutely deserted here, which is a very pleasant change! Little did we know that this was the calm before the storm! The world, his wife, his dog, cousins from Alabama, long lost Aunts and Uncles from Outer Mongolia and the entire population of Japan were at that moment en route to Disney World Resort, Florida. After today, the only place that was deserted would be the arrivals hall at MCO. There would be no-one left to arrive, the world would be here already!
Kids have a blast on the Lego slide, but its too cold to let them play for long. Lure them into the World Of Disney shop to look for one of those big Monorail sets for Daniel for Christmas. Unlike his sister (quite the consumer at the tender age of 4), he rarely asks or wants for anything, but he is so taken with the monorail system we think this would be an ideal gift. Plus, of course, mummy and daddy wanna play with it too! Its great having kids, you can buy all the toys you want and pretend they are for the kids! Yay!
Naturally, they have sold out of monorails and even worse, the CM calls the Warehouse and they too are out of stock. I ask if there will be more in before Christmas and he makes that noise that unscrupulous car mechanics make when asking how much to fix the mysterious rattle on your car. The noise translates (in both English and American) to You Wont Like It, Its Bad News.
Monorails are apparently a top seller at Christmas time and all the parks, resorts and stores are Sold Out. Chances of them being restocked? Slim to None. Oh, well it was a nice idea.
Still manage to find a few monorail items for Daniel instead a big monorail money box and some stickers! Buy Nanny Sylvie a big Mickey coffee mug and Jessie a few pins. Love getting my AP discount here I feel quite special!
Outside, Jessie has spotted two ways to extract more cash from us the little train ride and the carousel. Faff about changing dollar bills into tokens to hand to a person standing next to the token machine. I dont quite see the logic here.
Jessie outruns some twin boys to claim a seat in the main Engine. Nice for her, but the twins go into meltdown that a girl is driving the train and it takes several assorted parents and relatives to diffuse that situation.
Once underway, Jessie waves smugly at the boys (now placed in the rear of the train) and shouts that Girls are better drivers than boys anyway. I groan and hope this doesnt provoke the twins to move, Indiana Jones style, up the train to reclaim the Engine as their own.
Quite relieved when this is all over and move swiftly to the carousel where nothing at all can go wrong. Nothing, except that foolish mummy places daughter on a horse that is static and doesnt move up and down. My turn for a meltdown situation. Refuse point blank to try and cram another dollar into those silly token machines and tell daughter that she can ride the carousel at the Magic Kingdom tomorrow, all day for free.
Jessie soon forgets she is sulking however, when we find the Everything Under $10 Shop. She buys a $6.99 grab bag with some of her money and I have to say there was a lot in there for $7. Fridge magnets, stickers, key rings, pressed pennies and more. Really good value.
Jack Frost is nipping playfully at our nether regions now, so we start to head back. The journey is punctuated with a stop at the Pin Station (naturally) and Maccy Ds for the kids tea. DTD is VERY festive tonight, with Carol Singers and a brass band. There is no sign of the Ice Rink they had here a few Christmases back, though. Thats a shame, I fancied doing a quick Jane Torvill (well, in reality I would slide unmajestically into a big heap, but its nice to delude myself now and then).
Back at the Ranch, Nanny Sylvie is tucked up in bed and asleep. We put the kids down, and they are soundo by 7pm.
Will have to eat in tonight. As we are on holiday, there is no chance of me coming within cooking distance of the stove, so send Neil out to the local Chinese near the Publix. He returns about 2 hours later (popped into the Publix for shopping Neils idea of shopping is two crates of beer, a tub of ice cream and a Key Lime Pie). He also has a very large carrier bag of Chinese takeaway. Enough to feed the whole street actually, but in fairness the American takeaways do things differently to ours back home. Instead of tiny tubs of food, you get massive great enormous tubs of food.
We tuck into Cripsy Shredded beef, General Tsao Chicken, rice and noodles. When we finish, there is still enough to feed an army. For a week. And possibly the following week as well.
Ah, well, a lesson learnt!
Fear not, dear reader, as tomorrow we head back into the Kingdom that is Magical once again. We are about to find out how busy Disney World becomes over the Holiday Season!
Tomorrow: Magic Kingdom, accompanied by Most Of The Population Of the Western World.
Main Players
Allie
Neil
Jessamy (4)
Daniel Noah (2)
Nanny Sylvie
Monday December 20th 2004
Today is going to be a Quiet Day. This does not mean we will be whispering to each other throughout the next 24 hours, purely that we wont be doing any parks. The Pinecone is squished shut, so we think it wise to obey the All Seeing, All Knowing Oracle and keep clear of outside today.
Although we wish for a nice long morning in bed, Daniel blasts that plan out of the water at precisely 6.01am. Actually, Nanny Sylvie did the decent thing this morning and retrieved him.
This still did not constitute a nice lie in, as about 11 minutes later, the sounds of breakfast bowls hitting the ceramic floors can be heard and we think it wise to arise to defuse the situation.
Daniel is in a sprightly mood this morning. The game of Smash the bowls on the floor was the activity he invented to celebrate said mood. Luckily, Nanny Sylvie (being a Nanny of the highest calibre) had seen fit to use the plastic crockery this morn, which saved our Villa deposit.
After a hasty breakfast, we are all loaded in the Jeep and set course for the Florida Mall area.
I am keen to pop into Best Buy to check out the ipods (my Christmas present!). Neil is still unaware that he is getting me one, but rest assured I will let him know soon only 5 more days to Chrimbo!
Leave Nanny and the kids in the car (with a large bag of American Snack a Jack things to stop the wee ones getting bored).
Best Buy is crammed with gadgets, and I love gadgets, so could easily spend the day here. We saw on the news this morning that ipods are this Christmas Must Have gift and very few stores have stocks. We found a feeble display which only contained the U2 special edition and a few minis. The staff are very helpful here (unlike its UK counterpart Currys) and actually KNOW about the stuff they sell.
A very knowledgeable young man leads us round to a big glass cabinet where there is a cavalcade of ipods of every size, colour and description. He clues us in to all things ipodish and I mentally check off that the 40gb photo is the one I want. Hint very unsubtly to Neil that one of these would make a wonderful gift for loving wives. I do, however, for see that my Surprise Christmas Gift this year will only be a surprise to my husband, as Im gonna have to buy the darn thing myself!
By now, the Snack-A-Jack alarm rang (meaning the bag was probably at critically low levels) and we decided on our purchases swiftly. We got another 512 SD card for the camera (bargain $62), Neil bought a CD walkman for work, plus a few sundries. Left the ipod for today. I may ask Santa for it next time we bump into each other
. I feel Santa maybe a more generous spirit than certain husbands I could mention.Back in the car, trouble is brewing. Nanny Sylvie isnt feeling well. Worse than that, its the I think I might be sick sort of not feeling well. The aroma of the BBQ Snack a Jacks had not done a lot to ease her pain, so we crank up the AC to get rid of the smell.
Debate what to do next. Offer to take Nanny Sylvie home, but she says she is OK. Hmmm, we arent convinced, and dont think it wise to attack the Mall today. Kids have spotted Toys R Us across the street. Rest assured, even though they are both too small to read very well, they are extremely well versed in consumer advertising, and can spot a Toys R Us logo at 500 metres.
Nanny stays in the car with the AC on and we take the kids into the toy store.
Manage to escape, toy free and back to the car to discuss luncheon options. Nanny Sylvie is still feeling queasy, but thinks eating something light may help. Of course, they have an Orlando and Vicinity Dining Expert in the car (yes, me. Egon Ronay or Wolfgang Puck have not just appeared from the glove box) and I suggest Sweet Tomatoes the salad buffet.
Kids make puking noises at the word Salad but perk up when I say there is pizza and pasta. Nanny feels this is a good option, so the course is set.
None of us have eaten here before, but it comes highly recommended, so we are looking forward to it.
Unfortunately, unlike 99.9% of everyone else on planet Earth, I didnt like it here. This wasnt entirely the fault of the restaurant, it was just a bad meal for several reasons. Nanny Sylvie took a turn for the worse as soon as we entered, so went to get a table (she actually left and waited in the car without eating a thing).
The way its set up here is a bit odd. You have to collect certain items before you pay, then there is another section where you help yourself AFTER you have paid.
This being our first visit, we had no idea what was on offer and didnt even know there was another section! It was difficult knowing what to choose as you couldnt return to the Salad part. I paid extra for some chicken for the kids as there was no sign of the Pizza.
OK, you can shoot me, but I hated the food as well. The salad stuff was OKish, but you couldnt go back for more of the bits you liked. A lot of it I found bland. The hot items were horrid. Pizza had no taste, pasta was tepid and flavourless. The bakery items were incredibly dry. I didnt eat one thing here that I REALLY enjoyed.
Kids quite liked it though and in fairness, the price was unbelievable..cheaper than a Burger King and a lot healthier. If we did return, I would at least know the drill and be more prepared, but I dont think this would be on my list again. There, you can send your hate mail to this email address alliesnot@sweetoms.com
Decide to go back to the Villa now as Nanny Sylvie is still feeling unwell.
Put Nanny and Daniel down for naps and Neil, Jessie and I spend quite a nice few hours just chilling. This is one of the first times this holiday that we have just sat and done nothing and its really quite nice!
Daniel awakes at 3.30pm and is grumpy. Nanny is still poorly, so we decide to take the kids out to give her some peace.
Its still really very, very chilly, and even though they beg to be taken to the Magic Kingdom, we compromise and choose Downtown Disney instead.
Its absolutely deserted here, which is a very pleasant change! Little did we know that this was the calm before the storm! The world, his wife, his dog, cousins from Alabama, long lost Aunts and Uncles from Outer Mongolia and the entire population of Japan were at that moment en route to Disney World Resort, Florida. After today, the only place that was deserted would be the arrivals hall at MCO. There would be no-one left to arrive, the world would be here already!
Kids have a blast on the Lego slide, but its too cold to let them play for long. Lure them into the World Of Disney shop to look for one of those big Monorail sets for Daniel for Christmas. Unlike his sister (quite the consumer at the tender age of 4
), he rarely asks or wants for anything, but he is so taken with the monorail system we think this would be an ideal gift. Plus, of course, mummy and daddy wanna play with it too! Its great having kids, you can buy all the toys you want and pretend they are for the kids! Yay!Naturally, they have sold out of monorails and even worse, the CM calls the Warehouse and they too are out of stock. I ask if there will be more in before Christmas and he makes that noise that unscrupulous car mechanics make when asking how much to fix the mysterious rattle on your car. The noise translates (in both English and American) to You Wont Like It, Its Bad News.
Monorails are apparently a top seller at Christmas time and all the parks, resorts and stores are Sold Out. Chances of them being restocked? Slim to None. Oh, well it was a nice idea.
Still manage to find a few monorail items for Daniel instead a big monorail money box and some stickers! Buy Nanny Sylvie a big Mickey coffee mug and Jessie a few pins. Love getting my AP discount here I feel quite special!
Outside, Jessie has spotted two ways to extract more cash from us the little train ride and the carousel. Faff about changing dollar bills into tokens to hand to a person standing next to the token machine. I dont quite see the logic here.
Jessie outruns some twin boys to claim a seat in the main Engine. Nice for her, but the twins go into meltdown that a girl is driving the train and it takes several assorted parents and relatives to diffuse that situation.
Once underway, Jessie waves smugly at the boys (now placed in the rear of the train) and shouts that Girls are better drivers than boys anyway. I groan and hope this doesnt provoke the twins to move, Indiana Jones style, up the train to reclaim the Engine as their own.
Quite relieved when this is all over and move swiftly to the carousel where nothing at all can go wrong. Nothing, except that foolish mummy places daughter on a horse that is static and doesnt move up and down. My turn for a meltdown situation. Refuse point blank to try and cram another dollar into those silly token machines and tell daughter that she can ride the carousel at the Magic Kingdom tomorrow, all day for free.
Jessie soon forgets she is sulking however, when we find the Everything Under $10 Shop. She buys a $6.99 grab bag with some of her money and I have to say there was a lot in there for $7. Fridge magnets, stickers, key rings, pressed pennies and more. Really good value.
Jack Frost is nipping playfully at our nether regions now, so we start to head back. The journey is punctuated with a stop at the Pin Station (naturally) and Maccy Ds for the kids tea. DTD is VERY festive tonight, with Carol Singers and a brass band. There is no sign of the Ice Rink they had here a few Christmases back, though. Thats a shame, I fancied doing a quick Jane Torvill (well, in reality I would slide unmajestically into a big heap, but its nice to delude myself now and then).
Back at the Ranch, Nanny Sylvie is tucked up in bed and asleep. We put the kids down, and they are soundo by 7pm.
Will have to eat in tonight. As we are on holiday, there is no chance of me coming within cooking distance of the stove, so send Neil out to the local Chinese near the Publix. He returns about 2 hours later (popped into the Publix for shopping Neils idea of shopping is two crates of beer, a tub of ice cream and a Key Lime Pie). He also has a very large carrier bag of Chinese takeaway. Enough to feed the whole street actually, but in fairness the American takeaways do things differently to ours back home. Instead of tiny tubs of food, you get massive great enormous tubs of food.
We tuck into Cripsy Shredded beef, General Tsao Chicken, rice and noodles. When we finish, there is still enough to feed an army. For a week. And possibly the following week as well.
Ah, well, a lesson learnt!
Fear not, dear reader, as tomorrow we head back into the Kingdom that is Magical once again. We are about to find out how busy Disney World becomes over the Holiday Season!
Tomorrow: Magic Kingdom, accompanied by Most Of The Population Of the Western World.
