October 20th 2007 Western Magic

[Karen Mouse]

HEY FOLKS - JUST NOTICED - 800 POSTS! - WELL DONE!

OK, thought you might like to see a few Berlin photos from the other day. Finally got them onto photobucket so here goes...

The Reistag

Inside the Reistags huge glass dome. The mirrored structure in the centre reflected the glass around the edge. You could walk all the way up to the top of the dome using the walkways around the edge of the dome. Great views but the photos werent too good

The Brandenburg gate

The Berlin Wall. Not much left standing now. Around the city where the wall used to be is now a coloured line in the pavement to show where it once stood. A few bits still stand and a few have been re-erected in tourist areas for people to see.
This is my favourite one

and this one

The Berliners call the people who sell bits of the wall "woodpeckers". They chip small bits off and sell it to tourists, hence the holes.

Checkpoint Charlie

Quite touristy and tacky, but an interesting museum. It showed how people smuggled others out of the East - in suitcases, the boot of vehicles etc.

Next is Berlin Zoo - my favourite - the Panda

and this cute and sleepy bear!

Next is Berliner Dom - the outside:

Please note the green copper dome at the top - yes we climbed up to the top. It was Neils idea! - oh my god - my legs are hurting at just the thought of it.

Inside:

Hope you've enjoyed my whistle stop tour of Berlin.

BYE FOR NOW!

 

[GOS]

Great photos Karen. I'll try and upload some of our cruise to keep us all going.
Heather

 

[Karen Mouse]

Great photos Karen. I'll try and upload some of our cruise to keep us all going.
Heather

oooh yes! - I love piccies...especially if they involve Mickey and Co!

 

[Dyerneeds]

karen mouse.. we loved the pictures. great to see pictures of places we can only dream of visiting.
to everyone dissapointed in their sports teams. try living in north eastern ohio. the indians havnt won a world series in forever and the browns havnt won a championship since 1964. we would like to win one title in any sport just once in my lifetime!! we do have lebron james so maybe the cavs will win it all someday.

 

[Poohbush]

Hi all! We're back from Florida! It was soooo very hot, even broke the record high two days in a row! UGH! We had tons of fun, but have decided to not go in January. My youngest DD (not DH!) doesn't like fireworks. Imagine a 2 year old trying to cover her face, eyes, and ears with two tiny hands all at once. So, if the Pirate & Princess Party is still around, maybe we'll try it in Jan 2008.

I've read all the pages I've missed, and I'm so proud of you guys! I had to read 9 pages! I like "Konked Kruisers." Happy anniversary & Birthday to everyone!

Hey Jo - we were at VWL too. Wasn't the wait time on Friday night for the bus to Downtown Disney just awful. We eventually decided to not go, as we had to leave really early on Saturday. Make sure to try the grilled chicken salad with the apple viniagrette at Roaring Forks. Super yummy!

We're booking Beach Club Villas for our May trip. We'll be celebrating Katie's 5th birthday then. Have to remember to book the Princess b'fast at Epcot. We like that one better than the Princess b'fast in the castle.

We did ride the new Seas with Nemo & Friends at Epcot. It was cute, but the longest line I've ever seen at WDW! The original Living Seas exhibit was better though.

Well, gonna scoot for now. Hubby wants to use the computer now.

 

[Karen Mouse]

karen mouse.. we loved the pictures. great to see pictures of places we can only dream of visiting.QUOTE]

I forget sometimes just how lucky we are with all this history etc on our doorsteps. We take it for granted. My friends used to live in a grade 2 listed building - rather than enjoy the history and character of it all they used to moan cos they couldnt do DIY without contacting the authorities etc first.



Welcome Back Poohbush . Ellis was just the same with the fireworks when he was 2. Now he's a bit older we get him some little foam earplugs that he puts in before they start and he can stand it then.

Post some piccies so we can pretend we were all there too! It sounds like you had fun.

I'm getting exhausted with this half term and its only Tuesday!

Saturday - Museum and central library on a pirate treasure hunt and making pirate hats

Sunday - safari park

Monday - swimming, car wouldnt start and the AA man fixed it, 2 hours of gardening and 2 hours of ironing.

Today - more gardening, painting ceramic mugs, shaker maker, homework and then a childs party 4-6pm! - phew!

Tomorrow - day off - Ellis goes to Nannys!

Friday - anything we havent already fitted into the week so far and planning and baking for our Halloween party on Sat.


bye for now folks.

 

[cntkg1]

Welcome home Tina!! Glad you had a good time at WDW. Jo told us that the weather was in the 90's!! YUCK! I'm not a "hot weather" person except in Florida where the pool is close by. Looks like October can be a busy month at WDW. Last year after our cruise we hung around DTD and boy was it ever crowded. I thought it was only because "Wilma" chased all the southern residents to the north. Please post pictures.

Karen, I think you will need a vacation after Ellis' vacation. Those little guys can keep you busy huh?

Take care all,
Nancy

 

[cntkg1]

Great photos Karen. I'll try and upload some of our cruise to keep us all going.
Heather

Heather, looking forward to seeing your cruise pictures.

 

[cntkg1]

Cass....everything ok? We miss you.

 

[JLDSMD]

I just wanted to post since my count down ticker is to 1 DAY!!!!

I will probably post again tomorrow before we leave (we don't fly until 3:53). We are flying AirTran. It will be our 2nd trip with them, but the first time going non-stop (had to connect through Atlanta both ways last time). Their fares are cheap, but they keep switching their flight times around. I think we had 3 changes for this trip and already have 5 changes for our flight in January (and we're expecting one more in early November).

The weather is supposed to warm up by the time we get down to FL (they had a few days in the 70's the early part of this week). Hoping to get into the pool with DS tomorrow night. We are hitting Blizzard Beach on Thursday for a few hours and then off to MNSSHP Thursday Evening. Then it is off to Disney's Vero Beach for a couple of nights.

Speaking of MNSSHP, Brenda and Linda should be going tonight. Hope they have a good time.

And what's this with Linda, she's been off the boat now for at least a day and hasn't found an internet connection to tell us about it?

Oh well, back to pretending to do some work (yeah, like I get a lot done the day before vacation).

Jeff

 

[Timon]

Cass....everything ok? We miss you.

Thanks Nancy I'm okay. My fingers have all gone numb and I find it very hard to type lately. I am keeping up with the thread, just not posting much. But you'll never get rid of me

Went for another ultrasound at 34 weeks (Friday) and baby Kira is doing well. She is almost 5 pounds and is growing just fine, which is the biggest concern with mom's who have Lupus, so I am thankful for that!! We went to set up her crib last night only to find that we had missing parts Go figure, just when I finally get the energy to get her room organized, I can't

Poohbush, glad you are home safe and sound!!! I hear you about the heat...ugh, ever since I hit my mid 20's I could no longer tolerate any kind of heat. I think after the next trip we might switch our Disney trips to January or February! Can't wait to see your photos!!!!!!!!

Karen Mouse, how wonderful your photos are! I don't think we will ever make it over to Germany unless we win the lotto of course, so it's nice to see your photos!!

GOS, can't wait to see your photos too!!!!!!!!!!

JLDSMD, How very exciting!!!!!!! Have a great time!! (*checks her timer...ugh...350 more days...sigh*)

 

[cntkg1]

Safe Travels Mr and Mrs Jeff. Have a great time!!

 

[Karen Mouse]

Have a great time Jeff and co We'll be going next Oct fo the first time to MNSSHP - another first (along with the cruise!)

I was wondering how Linda has got on too. Cant wait to see her photos.

Cass - I'm so excited to see baby Kira and glad to know you're both still doing well. Not long now! I remember getting the nursery ready for Ellis. The Toy story movie was big then and I painted the nursery bright sky blue with all the clouds as in the the movie. It took aaaaaaages, but it looked great when I'd finished. I used to rest my bump on one of the steps of the step ladder while I was painting!

Glad you liked the photos. Its a lot more expensive (I think) for you to travel than us. We also get more annual leave than Americans do, so we go on two 2 week holidays and a few cheap mini breaks in each year. The Berlin holiday cost us almost nothing. Hubby uses lots of petrol - he travels a lot as part of his job, and then theres my litle micra and hubbys Grand Cherokee aswell so we get through a lot of fuel! - each time we fill up we collect airmiles, so Berlin only cost us airmiles plus £90 for 4 days / 3 nights inc breakfast!
The hotel should have been at least that each night, so it was quite a bargain!

Nancy - yes - school holidays kill me! - just back from Ellis' friends birthday party - somehow I got landed with ferying them all there and back . Perhaps I have "sucker" written on my forehead?!!!
Oh well, ...I survived - just look like this now .
bye for now everyone

 

[JLDSMD]

Safe Travels Mr and Mrs Jeff. Have a great time!!

Nancy,

I was going to wait until I got back but I will give you a clue as to DW's name.

It is so fitting given our earlier discussion. Think of a Johnny Cash song.

Jeff

 

[cntkg1]

Nancy,

I was going to wait until I got back but I will give you a clue as to DW's name.

It is so fitting given our earlier discussion. Think of a Johnny Cash song.

Jeff

Could our "Girl named Steve" be "A Boy named Sue"?? Oooh, I just love riddles!! Hi Sue!!!

 

[JLDSMD]

Could our "Girl named Steve" be "A Boy named Sue"?? Oooh, I just love riddles!! Hi Sue!!!

You are correct!!!

But she prefers to go by Suz.

 

[Poohbush]

Have a fun time Jeff! MNSSHP was sooo much fun! Try not to get too loaded down with candy. Some of the candy stops are hard to find, and quite a long walk around. I'd always find the exits!

Cass - I remember decorating Katie's room. We had a Baby Lion King/Safari theme. Gosh, it seems like just yesterday! And she's almost 4.5 now! Give Kira a nice pat for me!

Karen - know what you mean about taking all the history for granted when it's right out your back door. DH & I were just saying the other day we haven't been to downtown DC in ages. We used to visit the museums all the time, before the kiddies came along. Love the Smithsonian Natural History Museum!

Nancy, how have you been feeling? Here's a hug to say I'm thinking of you!

 

[Karen Mouse]

Karen - know what you mean about taking all the history for granted when it's right out your back door. DH & I were just saying the other day we haven't been to downtown DC in ages. We used to visit the museums all the time, before the kiddies came along. Love the Smithsonian Natural History Museum!QUOTE]

Am I right in thinking you are near the bureau of engraving and printing?
We went there and got a sheet of uncut dollars! They are legal tender if you cut them, but we have them framed. I think we have visited more sites in America than we have our own country!

Nancy, hope you're feeling ok

 

[A fat english gent]

Karen when is Linda loo due home?....

 

[Karen Mouse]

Karen when is Linda loo due home?....

Not sure! - cant be long now

I'm sure she'll check in here as soon as she can with all her news.