Long Thursday
Wednesday night we returned the car at Melbourne airport and they gave us a lift over to our hotel. We were up at 4 AM on Thursday and made it to the airport in time to catch the earlier flight to Sydney. (When we postponed our departure from Melbourne for a week, we could not get on the direct MEL-LAX flight.) The earlier flight gave us an extra hour for the connection in Sydney to the LAX flight, and we needed every minute of it. We were able to get isle seats, about 10 rows apart, and I was in the second last row in the 747. Fortunately the stewardess in that area was a hoot, and considered the seats in the tail to be "the other first class" and treated us accordingly. Her name was "Si"
Arrived in LA on time at about 6:30 AM Thursday (having crossed the international dateline) and had to wait 6 hours for our SW flight at 12:30 PM. The typical SW route was via El Paso and Houston, we arrived at in Charleston at 11 PM and Kylie was waiting or us. We were in bed by 12:30 AM after a 32 hour "day".
Friday was a bit of a fog, we did pick up a rental car and visit Mason (and Kylie and Ryan)
Saturday we took stock of work on the house and received an invoice from the contractor. His bill was about 35% higher than budget and he only had about 1/2 the work done. The price of absentee management.
Sunday we started working on the house ourselves, mainly just cleaning up mess. I told the contractor to finish up the tiling, that Deidre and I would do the rest. Monday and Tuesday we installed a new garage door opener, patched, sanded and painted.
Obviously Tide Hiker was not happy about being abandoned and is punishing us. We tried to change the oil Sunday afternoon only to discover that the oil change pump will not operate. Yesterday the A/C shut down and after a bit of messing around discovered there was no cooling water flowing thru the hull. That took a couple of sweatie hours to sort out. Today we took her over for a pump out and noticed no depth finder. When will it end, I already have a long list.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Melbourne, Australia
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| Marg & Geoff (Bob's Sister & hubby) |
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| Southern Cross Railway Station |
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| Renting bikes by the hour in the CBD |
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| Chinatown for lunch |
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| Signs you just do not see in the USA |
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| I wonder what is wrong with it? |
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| Trams lined up down Swanson St |
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| Wonderful shopping arcades in the CBD |
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| Lots of specialty shops - this one those Russian doll things |
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| So many places to eat |
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| So much more than "big macks" |
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| Where we put our heads - Deidre's sister's house |
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| Lots of public transportation leads to lots of confusing intersections |
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| Here comes the train |
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Back at the boat
Wednesday, July 9
Back on the boat by 6 PM, and all was well. We popped in to see Mason and he seemed to remember us.
I currently consider our life as a series of projects, namely:
Project One: Ky and Ryan's new house
Project Two: Fix up and sell Piping Rock
Project Three: Fix up and lease Yacht Harbor
Project Four: Fix up and clean Tide Hiker.
The closing for Ky and Ryan's new house is scheduled for Monday July 14. As soon as they are out (No pressure, Ky) we can start getting contractors in and fix the place up. The "problem" is that we leave for Australia on Monday 21st. Life without deadlines would be pretty boring.
Monday July 14
The purchase of Kylie and Ryan's house happened this morning. Kylie took the day off, we all worked at the house packing & cleaning. David left for a month in Russia today.
Tuesday, July 15
Moving day. The kids worked like slaves. Deidre and I worked like oldies. Gene and Nelma pitched in too. Big day, very tired.
Thursday, July 17
I think I will go back into the workforce and get a full time job, so I can get some rest! This morning we were over to the house reasonably early and worked till 5 PM - early because we have people coming to dinner!
Sunday, July 20
We leave for Australia in the morning, I lost my wallet sometime yesterday.
Back on the boat by 6 PM, and all was well. We popped in to see Mason and he seemed to remember us.
I currently consider our life as a series of projects, namely:
Project One: Ky and Ryan's new house
Project Two: Fix up and sell Piping Rock
Project Three: Fix up and lease Yacht Harbor
Project Four: Fix up and clean Tide Hiker.
The closing for Ky and Ryan's new house is scheduled for Monday July 14. As soon as they are out (No pressure, Ky) we can start getting contractors in and fix the place up. The "problem" is that we leave for Australia on Monday 21st. Life without deadlines would be pretty boring.
Monday July 14
The purchase of Kylie and Ryan's house happened this morning. Kylie took the day off, we all worked at the house packing & cleaning. David left for a month in Russia today.
Tuesday, July 15
Moving day. The kids worked like slaves. Deidre and I worked like oldies. Gene and Nelma pitched in too. Big day, very tired.
Thursday, July 17
I think I will go back into the workforce and get a full time job, so I can get some rest! This morning we were over to the house reasonably early and worked till 5 PM - early because we have people coming to dinner!
Sunday, July 20
We leave for Australia in the morning, I lost my wallet sometime yesterday.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Indiana - July 7 & 8
Monday:
This morning we picked up a rental and headed into town to Adam's office for a tour. They have moved to space in "Playhouse Square" a quite "posh" location downtown. His office overlooks Euclid Avenue and the big new "street chandelier". Very impressed.
After the office tour we headed west with a 6 hour drive ahead of us. It was pleasant driving thru the farmland - the corn seemed ahead of schedule - "knee high by the 4th of July". We were at our hotel by 5 PM and met Mary and Don (the partners in Euclid partners, LLC) for a casual dinner.
Tuesday:
Don picked me up and took me to the plant, and Deidre went shopping. Don and Mary are great partners and the progress at EP has been great. Deidre picked me up at about 2PM and we headed back east, but diverted to Valparaiso just for fun. Spent the night at a hotel near the Cleveland airport and flew "home" net morning.
This morning we picked up a rental and headed into town to Adam's office for a tour. They have moved to space in "Playhouse Square" a quite "posh" location downtown. His office overlooks Euclid Avenue and the big new "street chandelier". Very impressed.
After the office tour we headed west with a 6 hour drive ahead of us. It was pleasant driving thru the farmland - the corn seemed ahead of schedule - "knee high by the 4th of July". We were at our hotel by 5 PM and met Mary and Don (the partners in Euclid partners, LLC) for a casual dinner.
Tuesday:
Don picked me up and took me to the plant, and Deidre went shopping. Don and Mary are great partners and the progress at EP has been great. Deidre picked me up at about 2PM and we headed back east, but diverted to Valparaiso just for fun. Spent the night at a hotel near the Cleveland airport and flew "home" net morning.
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| Popped in on Deidre's favorite house |
Cleveland & Camping (July 3 to July 7)
Wednesday July 2, 2014
We arrived late on Wednesday and Adam picked us up. Thursday morning we were all in convoy heading to the Allegheny National Park in Western PA. Adam and Kathy have a camper that they tow with Adam's truck. We followed in Kathy's jeep, with the two kids. It was about a 4 hour drive.
The camp site was very nice with lots of trees and plenty of space. Half an hour after we arrived the sky opened and we got very wet, but the weather improved from then on. Another family joined us - with kids the same age/sex as Ruby & Indy. It was good fun. I might have eaten too much. We stayed 3 nights and drove back to Cleveland Heights on Sunday.
We arrived late on Wednesday and Adam picked us up. Thursday morning we were all in convoy heading to the Allegheny National Park in Western PA. Adam and Kathy have a camper that they tow with Adam's truck. We followed in Kathy's jeep, with the two kids. It was about a 4 hour drive.
The camp site was very nice with lots of trees and plenty of space. Half an hour after we arrived the sky opened and we got very wet, but the weather improved from then on. Another family joined us - with kids the same age/sex as Ruby & Indy. It was good fun. I might have eaten too much. We stayed 3 nights and drove back to Cleveland Heights on Sunday.
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| The campsite |
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| Kathy & Ruby |
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| Rest of the campers |
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Arizona (June 24- July 2)
The question on my mind as we picked up our rental was whether 107 degrees and 3% humidity in Phoenix was hotter than 89 degrees and 90% humidity in Houston? I now know the answer.
We popped in on the Piping Rock house on the way from the airport. The tenant had moved out, the place looked in decent shape, although needed some TLC. Continued on to COSCO where we bought a TV and a "free to air" antenna for Anthem. Our TVs are too old to receive digital HD broadcasts. All was as expected in Anthem and we settled in - no water or gas, but we had a hose from the place next door. The water and gas will be connected tomorrow.
Tuesday morning at Dr Dick's where I was prepped for another crown (I must remember to add my teeth to the Family Trust) and then on to a meeting at the house with real estate agents to discuss the "lease or sell" decision. Back to the house we kicked into high gear and made deals with a pool guy, a landscaper, arranged to have the carpets and tile floors cleaned, and made our own job list. Dinner with Dick at Flo's.
By Wednesday we have pretty much decided to sell the Scottsdale house. Renting it out from so far away just seems too much, and the house is now about 25 years old and probably reaching a "high maintenance stage". We will offer "Seller Financing" so we can delay capital gains tax and have some income. Its good to have a plan.
Deidre has twisted her neck and is hurting, so we are now including visits to the Chiropractor in our schedule. I am suffering from allergies and sneezing my head off, looking forward to getting back on the boat. Otherwise all is well, and we are making plenty of progress at the house. Dinner at Bill and Tonni's Friday night was great.
Dr Dick fitted my new crown Monday. Dinner at Kerry and Julians (Aussies) last night. The house and yard at 5451 look good. Lets hope it sells fast. The temp got up to 109 degrees today. Deidre is feeling better, I now have 2 cold sores on my lip.
We fly to Cleveland tomorrow.
We popped in on the Piping Rock house on the way from the airport. The tenant had moved out, the place looked in decent shape, although needed some TLC. Continued on to COSCO where we bought a TV and a "free to air" antenna for Anthem. Our TVs are too old to receive digital HD broadcasts. All was as expected in Anthem and we settled in - no water or gas, but we had a hose from the place next door. The water and gas will be connected tomorrow.
Tuesday morning at Dr Dick's where I was prepped for another crown (I must remember to add my teeth to the Family Trust) and then on to a meeting at the house with real estate agents to discuss the "lease or sell" decision. Back to the house we kicked into high gear and made deals with a pool guy, a landscaper, arranged to have the carpets and tile floors cleaned, and made our own job list. Dinner with Dick at Flo's.
By Wednesday we have pretty much decided to sell the Scottsdale house. Renting it out from so far away just seems too much, and the house is now about 25 years old and probably reaching a "high maintenance stage". We will offer "Seller Financing" so we can delay capital gains tax and have some income. Its good to have a plan.
Deidre has twisted her neck and is hurting, so we are now including visits to the Chiropractor in our schedule. I am suffering from allergies and sneezing my head off, looking forward to getting back on the boat. Otherwise all is well, and we are making plenty of progress at the house. Dinner at Bill and Tonni's Friday night was great.
Dr Dick fitted my new crown Monday. Dinner at Kerry and Julians (Aussies) last night. The house and yard at 5451 look good. Lets hope it sells fast. The temp got up to 109 degrees today. Deidre is feeling better, I now have 2 cold sores on my lip.
We fly to Cleveland tomorrow.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
The Woodlands
June 18-June 23, 2014
David and Jen live in a part of greater Houston called "The Woodlands". It is one of those places in the USA where "everything is perfect". The roads are all "parkway style" with the stores and business screened by landscaping (nice, but makes it hard to find McDonalds), all the houses are impressive and perfectly landscaped, and all the cars are washed and look new.The rest of Houston is not as impressive, and the summer weather is oppressive. It is one of those places that only air conditioning makes livable in the summer. Even so, I brought 7 "sets" of clothing on this trip, and I was thru them in 3 days.
We are visiting for 6 days. The kids are on summer vacation so we have been doing kid things and escaping the heat in the pool. Also, this weekend is Fiona's 5th birthday party, so that will be fun. David and family leave for South Korea in August and expect to live there for three years. They are moving from a 3,700 sq ft house to a 1,700 sq ft apartment in Ulsan, a southern city in the ROK. David works for Exxon and is managing the construction in the ROK of oil facilities being installed on the Russian Island of Sakhalin.
David and Jen live in a part of greater Houston called "The Woodlands". It is one of those places in the USA where "everything is perfect". The roads are all "parkway style" with the stores and business screened by landscaping (nice, but makes it hard to find McDonalds), all the houses are impressive and perfectly landscaped, and all the cars are washed and look new.The rest of Houston is not as impressive, and the summer weather is oppressive. It is one of those places that only air conditioning makes livable in the summer. Even so, I brought 7 "sets" of clothing on this trip, and I was thru them in 3 days.
We are visiting for 6 days. The kids are on summer vacation so we have been doing kid things and escaping the heat in the pool. Also, this weekend is Fiona's 5th birthday party, so that will be fun. David and family leave for South Korea in August and expect to live there for three years. They are moving from a 3,700 sq ft house to a 1,700 sq ft apartment in Ulsan, a southern city in the ROK. David works for Exxon and is managing the construction in the ROK of oil facilities being installed on the Russian Island of Sakhalin.
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| The front |
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| The back |
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| Mum talking to a couple of the mothers |
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| Fiona playing Duck, duck .... Goose |
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