Our WDW adventures & Magical Happy Halloween Cruise: Day 14 completed - 01/2010 pg 19

[Disneygrl36]

What a wonderful update!!!! I think it is great that you were able to meet some of your fellow cruisers ahead of time. It was so great for us last year to feel like we already knew some of our fellow DIS cruisers just from our cruise thread. It was such fun walking around the ship & seeing familiar faces already.
What a beautiful area to visit as well. Thanks for all those beautiful pictures. I really want to get to England & Ireland some day.
I can't believe how close your cruise is getting now!!!!!!!!!!! Don't panic.....it will all come together & you will have the time of your life.

 

[anewmac]

HOw awesome to have met "friends" before you cruise. Love the pics you guys took at the top gorgous!

 

[TotallyAngelic]

Suddenly August was upon us, and along with it came the endless rain that is now a typical feature of that endangered species known as the “British Summer!” Now you would think that horrible weather would be the perfect excuse to stay indoors and sew costumes, based on the fact that I now only had just over two months to go and a very lengthy to do list which I had made very little impact upon. At the beginning of August the list looked like this:

To Make:

1.Finish Fish Extenders
2.Pirate shirts x 2
3.Pirate waistcoats x 2
4.Pirate skirts x 3
5.pirate wench tops x 3
6.pirate bandanas
7.Door magnets
8.Mousekeeping envelopes
9.Fish Extender Gifts
10.Halloween costumes yet undecided

To Buy (too difficult to even attempt to make)

1.Pirate pants x 2
2.Pirate Boot covers x 1
3.Corset x 1

On top of this I still had to buy formal and semi-formal dresses for myself and the girls, and 2 tuxedos for the lads, not to mention a squillion other holiday clothing items.

At least the list was written down in black and white and I could see what I was up against, and despite a constant urge to tear it up into tiny pieces and run screaming into the distance, I managed to find some self control from somewhere and hid it under a pile of fabric where it wouldn't be able to constantly taunt me with my lack of achievement. It was around this time that I began to experience cruise related anxiety dreams!

But not to be put off we decided to visit our local(ish) outlet mall on the search for formal gowns: and lo and behold the pixie dust was in the air as a miracle happened: we went into the first shop, Monsoon, the girls each found a dress they liked and the dresses fitted perfectly. This has got to be a first for our family! So two items crossed of the list already, who said this wasn't going to be easy!

August 11th was a very important date – it was the date we had been waiting for – we could reserve our excursions on the cruise!
I was up at 5am in anticipation and after much changing of dates and times I finally managed to book the waverunner tour in Castaway Cay for all 6 of us – this had been my main objective so I was really happy. I also reserved floats for our 2 days in CC, and at this point was thinking about buying snorkels and masks, so I left it at that. I had wanted to book the Fury Catamaran sail for Cozumel, but disappointingly this was not listed, and there were no appropriate slots left for the Rasul spa session I had wanted to book as a birthday surprise for DH – but not to be disillusioned, I considered this a mission accomplished as I had secured the most important thing – the waverunner tour!

August sped by quickly, and before we knew it we were watching the Disney Magic returning through the Panama Canal. It didn't seem 5 minutes since we were watching her sail through it in the opposite direction.

Halfway through the month I managed to force myself to stand on the scales, and was pleasantly surprised as I had broken the 10 stone barrier for the first time in 2 years – I was officially 9 stone and 13lbs! Unfortunately the end of August brought 2 BBQs on 2 consecutive weekends, and I am not entirely sure that myself and a few lbs haven't been sadly reunited. I am determined to try and make a bit more of an last minute effort to ditch them again and hopefully a few more!

Towards the end of the month I managed to produce my first ever clothing item made using a pattern - a pirate shirt - and amazingly enough it actually resembled a pirate shirt. I managed to overcome cuffs, ruffles and collars and ended up with something I'm sure even Captain Jack would be happy to wear, although perhaps only after a heavy session on the rum! Whether DS will be happy to wear it remains to be seen, and as he is only 14 I can hardly rely on the rum!

So that was August – and now we should be able to continue the pre-trip report in real time. Be afraid, be very afraid – you may now be witness to a great deal of stressing, anxiety and downright panic, not to mention considerable bad language, tantrums and more than likely the sewing machine being hurled aggressively out of the window. If you have a strong constitution then please come along for the ride – but be warned that it may just get bumpy!!

 

[anewmac]

So that was August – and now we should be able to continue the pre-trip report in real time. Be afraid, be very afraid – you may now be witness to a great deal of stressing, anxiety and downright panic, not to mention considerable bad language, tantrums and more than likely the sewing machine being hurled aggressively out of the window. If you have a strong constitution then please come along for the ride – but be warned that it may just get bumpy!!

ahhh so much to do stilll... at least you know you have more time them me.. once i leave then you know your down to the nitty gritty LOL

cant wait to see all the costums!

 

[TotallyAngelic]

ahhh so much to do stilll... at least you know you have more time them me.. once i leave then you know your down to the nitty gritty LOL

cant wait to see all the costums!

Drea - are you organised for your trip already?

 

[diberry]

WOW you’ve been busy with all this! How on earth do you find time to write so much plus being chief costume-maker and the little matter of being a working mum??? Your “to do” list is terrifying but I’ve no doubt you’ll get it all done and everything will be perfect! Glad you found the time to write so much – very entertaining as always!

Love your double digits cake!! Well done Taryn & Louise! Love those Disney icing characters on Helen’s cake too!

The waverunner tour sounds great - please take a sackful of memory cards for your camera for everything you squeeze into the time you're away! Only 6 weeks to go now!

Well done on the weight loss (though you’ve already got a lovely figure!)

Looking forward to more info as the date draws ever nearer!

 

[TotallyAngelic]

So September arrived, and the first thing I thought to myself was “Yee ha, we are going on holiday NEXT month !” a happy emotion indeed for about 5 seconds, until it was rapidly replaced by “Help, we are going on holiday NEXT month and I still have SO MUCH to do !” My main objective has been to try and knuckle down to some costume making, and yesterday I made a start on a pirate skirt for one of the DDs. I also had a bit of a session on Ebay, and ordered a tuxedo for DS (14) and a surprise for DH (which I can't tell you about in case he reads this!) and then I ordered some items which will be part of my Fish Extender gifts (can't tell you about that either in case any of my fellow cruisers read this). With all this came a sense of achievement, and a momentary feeling of calm.

We also came to a bit of an agreement in relation to DH and my Halloween costumes – this we had been debating for some time, mainly because of packing issues. Our cases would already be heavily overburdened with 3 tuxedos, 3 formal dresses, 3 semi-formal dresses, 6 pirate costumes (should I ever finish them!), and 4 Halloween costumes for the kids - was there going to be any room for Halloween costumes for DH and myself aswell? In the end we thought – what the heck, we are only doing this cruise once (don't quote me on that) and it's our last big family holiday as a family (don't quote me on that either) and we can always buy another suitcase! Unfortunately the decision to include Halloween costumes will involve more sewing, and a lot more Ebaying to find the right things, but if it all comes together we should look suitably spooky!

The other day I also decided to check out DCL to see if our GTY 12 room had been allocated yet? (I am still keeping everything crossed for an upgrade ). I popped on “My Cruise plans” to see if everything was still as I left it, and I was surprised to see the Fury Catamaran Sail was now listed on the excursions, and so I booked it for the six of us! I also upgraded the Castaway Cay Package to include snorkel equipment hire and bikes, rather than just the floats booked earlier. Realistically, it was highly unlikely that there would be room for packing snorkelling equipment in our luggage, so I will just have to get over the fact that 5 million other people have used the snorkels before us and get on with it!

So now I am off to continue in my desperate quest to find costume items and semi formal dresses for a bargain price on Ebay ...... see you later !

 

[TotallyAngelic]

WOW you’ve been busy with all this! How on earth do you find time to write so much plus being chief costume-maker and the little matter of being a working mum??? Your “to do” list is terrifying but I’ve no doubt you’ll get it all done and everything will be perfect! Glad you found the time to write so much – very entertaining as always!

Love your double digits cake!! Well done Taryn & Louise! Love those Disney icing characters on Helen’s cake too!

The waverunner tour sounds great - please take a sackful of memory cards for your camera for everything you squeeze into the time you're away! Only 6 weeks to go now!

Well done on the weight loss (though you’ve already got a lovely figure!)

Looking forward to more info as the date draws ever nearer!

Thanks DI - I will be taking a few memory cards - in fact the purchase of a few new ones is on my never-ending "to do" list!

I am quite enjoying writing this - it is sort of therapy for me - you know, along the lines of writing things down is half way to the solution! Actually I think it's more like procrastination - writing this means I am not doing what I should be doing at the sewing machine!

The weight loss seems to have hit a dead end at the moment - and I have given up my fast walks until the weather improves - I am very much a good weather fast walker!

And by the way - the small matter of a yet unseen trip report ?????????

 

[crmscotland]

Catching up again!

The 99 day & chocolate Mickey cakes both look yummy. Great to meet up with some fellow cruisers beforehand.
that you got Taryn & Louise dresses so quickly - Monsoon has lovely clothes.

I know there is a lot to do before you go, but you sound organised. Hope you're successful on E-bay.

Meant to add before that l love the info folders DLC sent you.

 

[Hypermommy]

I just read your entire pretrippie to this point (which I shouldn't have done given that I'm at work) and I just have to share a few things with you. First off... I love, Love, LOVE your style of writing! It's so much fun. I feel just like I just sat down across the table from a buddy who was regaling me with the latest news.

I love the way you think about the annual passes. No need to let them go to waste!!! That type of thinking sounds just like my own, which is why King Charming won't let me have any more annual passes.

I love the idea of a celebration cake/party at the 99 day mark. Consider that idea promptly stolen!

The photos from Glastonbury are wonderful!!! Just simply beautiful!!! And I loved the pictures of our wonderfully magical ship making her way through the Canal. That's a trip I definitely have to do one day but will have to wait until my two sons have flown the nest.

Thanks for the fun pre-trippie! Can't wait to read more. Am very much looking forward to hearing how the battle with the to-do list goes. And you will be doing a post-trip, right? Your style of writing is so much fun I sure hope you do!!!

 

[Disneygrl36]

I remember last year about this time when it turned Sept....I was feeling the same way you are now........woo hoo we are cruising Next Month but then will I ever get it all done. I did & so will you.

Can't wait to share in your excitement/stress as the next 2 months tick away.

 

[TotallyAngelic]

I just read your entire pretrippie to this point (which I shouldn't have done given that I'm at work) and I just have to share a few things with you. First off... I love, Love, LOVE your style of writing! It's so much fun. I feel just like I just sat down across the table from a buddy who was regaling me with the latest news.

I love the way you think about the annual passes. No need to let them go to waste!!! That type of thinking sounds just like my own, which is why King Charming won't let me have any more annual passes.

I love the idea of a celebration cake/party at the 99 day mark. Consider that idea promptly stolen!

The photos from Glastonbury are wonderful!!! Just simply beautiful!!! And I loved the pictures of our wonderfully magical ship making her way through the Canal. That's a trip I definitely have to do one day but will have to wait until my two sons have flown the nest.

Thanks for the fun pre-trippie! Can't wait to read more. Am very much looking forward to hearing how the battle with the to-do list goes. And you will be doing a post-trip, right? Your style of writing is so much fun I sure hope you do!!!

Thank you so much for your kind comments - and coming from one of the queens of pre-trip and trip report writing on the DIS it is praise indeed! I really enjoyed the pre and post trip reports written by yourself and KC last time and in a way reading all of the DIS trip reports in the past year was what inspired me to write my own. So what I am trying to say guys is - YOU ARE ALL TO BLAME!

I look forward to photos of your double digit cake - although I can't say I came up with the idea originally - a certain Verity Mason over on the DIS UK board came up with that one, and long may the double digit cake legend live on! (By the way we are already planning a single digit cake - watch this space - although what sort of state of mind I will be in at that time is a very worrying prospect!)

 

[TotallyAngelic]

I remember last year about this time when it turned Sept....I was feeling the same way you are now........woo hoo we are cruising Next Month but then will I ever get it all done. I did & so will you.

Can't wait to share in your excitement/stress as the next 2 months tick away.

Thanks for the words of encouragement Melanie - I remember reading all about your preparations and wondering how on earth you got it all done! I approach the next 43 days with mixed feelings ........ fear and anxiety being the most prominent at the moment!

 

[Hypermommy]

I look forward to photos of your double digit cake - although I can't say I came up with the idea originally - a certain Verity Mason over on the DIS UK board came up with that one, and long may the double digit cake legend live on! (By the way we are already planning a single digit cake - watch this space - although what sort of state of mind I will be in at that time is a very worrying prospect!)

That sounds like a great idea!!! You're going to have one of those sparkly candles and get us some YouTube video, right? LOL

 

[TotallyAngelic]

I remember back in July having some rather unpleasant thoughts along the lines of "because I have looked forward to this holiday for so long, something is bound to happen which is going to cause problems" - basically because the law according to s*d very much dictates that if you are looking forward to something for a very long time, something unexpected will rear it's ugly head and throw a spanner in the works. Lo and behold, we were 7 weeks out from our holiday and the spanner showed up in the shape of medical issues for yours truly. Now I am not going to go into details (for once) as people may be eating, but lets just say the three phrases "womens problems" and "waterworks" and "I wish that I had done those pelvic floor exercises" and leave it at that.

So there then followed a string of GP appointments and various pharmaceutical potions but the problem has so far eluded any form of medical intervention and I remain

a) very uncomfortable
b) very concerned that this condition I appear to have found myself in may well require hospitalisation and warrant a lot of poking and prodding
c) even more concerned that this will impact on my long awaited and eagerly planned for holiday which is only 33 days away.

so ever hopeful that a miracle may happen I continue to plan and prepare, albeit with a little less enthusiasm at times when I feel a bit worse for wear.

Ebay had been a mixed blessing - On the positive side I can shop without leaving the house. On the negative side, I am more prone to making disasterous impulse buys and then having to send things back when they don't fit. I purchased a tuxedo for DS but failed to do the obvious thing of measuring his vital statistics before I bought it. Even though he is only 14, and I ordered age 16, it was way too small, in fact, I swear it was intended for the hobbit community it was that small. So back it went, and I ended up out of pocket almost £10 for the postage in both directions.

However, I have successfully purchased some rather dashing pirate trousers for DH, and some bits for his and DS's Halloween costumes. I have also been desperately trying to win a particular semi-formal dress for myself, but have remained thwarted by last minute bidders who have either bidded over my budget for the dress or who are just much better at last minute bidding (I blame my slow and aged computer). However, there is some light at the end of this particular tunnel, and today the dress was coming up again in my size, but the auction was due to end when I was out, so I just threw in my maximum bid and came back expecting once again to have had my a** well and truly kicked in the bidding wars - only to find that I had won the auction and I now have a very nice semi-formal dress (if it fits when it arrives - remember the law according to s*d is working overtime in my life!)

I suppose I should let you have a look at it now.....oh go on then ........

I just hope it is formal enough for semi-formal if you know what I mean - as a first time cruiser you don't really know what to expect.

Well thats about it for now - I am due at the GP on Wednesday and hopefully one way or another I will get something sorted - in the meantime it's on with the Ebaying and the sewing and the finger crossing that I will make it on this holiday! If you have any spare pixie dust floating around please send it in my direction..........

 

[MICKEY'S DREAMERS]

Dear dear Sarah !! I'm sending all the PD in the world your way !!!

Keep on dreaming and planning !!!
I'm sure you'll make it to this looong awaited for trip !!!

Your dress is beautiful ; I guess it's good for formal and semi-formal nights ... with maybe a different shrug ...
From my past cruises I've seen EVERYTHING during formal nights ... even kakis !! so just wear what you like !!!!!!!!!

I'll keep everything crossed that you can go on your cruise !!
you know how much I have been looking forward to MY trip - so I really do understand how you feel !!!

BUT YOU WILL GO !!!!!!!!!

Love xxx laura

 

[crmscotland]

Sarah, I'm sending you loads of that everything works out for you in the next few weeks.

I think your new dress is really beautiful and will be perfect for your cruise. That was brilliant that you were successful getting it on E-bay.

 

[jns]

Sarah

Hope you get to the bottom of this soon
sending you lots of

Love the dress

 

[LovableGluttons]

Woohoo Sarah!!!


Great trippie!

Trust me, you're WAY ahead of me on getting things ready for our adventure.

More! More! More!

(to the tune of "ole...ole,,,ole ole ole")

 

[Disneygrl36]

Sarah,
Oh dear...........(said in my best Winnie the Pooh voice) I am sending lots of pixie dust to you.
I hope all will go well & that this won't interfere with your plans. Last year right before our trip, I had a gallbladderish like episode & was freaking out too. Please get to feeling better so you can enjoy your Halloween cruise to it's fullest.

I Love your ebay dress. So pretty.

Will be thinking of you & hoping all is well.