The elevator at Fargo Raddison Blu is high tech.  The control panel is on the outside.  You press the floor you want.  Isobel (the elevator, yes I named her) tells you which car to step into and which side – “Proceed to car 1 to the left front’. When you step inside there is no control panel.  Damn if you chose the wrong floor.  We … Continue reading Fargo to Grand Forks

It’s funny how habits are so ingrained. Even though I’m sitting on the right side of the car I still put my handbag to the right. So I have to step over it to get into my seat. That would be in the left hand drive Buick. The Buick that yells at us if we change lanes without indicating, or get too close to a … Continue reading Minnesota morphs into North Dakota

Today began with a breakfast of champions. Straight from the Bain-Marie at our hotel. Rumour has it, this is egg – beside it is bacon. MoD, who likes to put a positive spin on everything, speculated that the ‘bacon’ was probably healthier than the real thing. Post our brekkie, we headed off to find the mandatory soy latte. No luck, but we did find a … Continue reading Sunday at DL

Today we left Bayport to travel north-west to get to MoD’s school reunion destination. Detroit Lakes. About 2 hours into the drive I regretted my hasty decision to reject the kind offer from our hostess with the mostess, to take some home made muffin roadies. Driving past a number of Starbucks signs we ended up waiting a little too long to get my second coffee … Continue reading Good afternoon Detroit Lakes (DL)

After the morning lounging around looking at squirrels, rabbits, turkeys, deer and two red chipmunks (my first ever siting) – yes seriously, we sit in the pergola and look out at the wildlife that habitats the backyard – we headed off on our Minnesota/Wisconsin adventure. Wisconsin, the home of Laverne & Shirley, Happy Days, America’s dairy land and Cheese Heads. Yep, that’s what Americans call … Continue reading Last day in Bayport

Five O’clock somewhere. That’s what the sign says. Yes it definitely is.  But right now we were in Jimmy Buffet’s Margarita Bar. It was 3pm.  In the Mall of America. Located in Bloomington Minnesota, it is the largest mall in the United States, the largest mall in the Western Hemisphere and the ninth largest mall in the world. 520 retail and speciality stores and 50 … Continue reading Minnesota

Shortbread biscuits dipped in Brocolli and Cheese Soup. Yum 😜 That’s what I am having at the United Lounge waiting to board the plane to Bayport – to visit the relies. Well technically Minneapolis. It’s no Koru Lounge but it’s pretty nice all the same. Not the selection we are used too but definitely better on the waist line cause I can’t over eat.  Although I … Continue reading Goodbye Houston

We found the people of Houston! There they are burrowing away in the underground under-city tunnels. Houston’s downtown underground started as a connection between two downtown movie theatres. Six metres under, it now runs for more than 6 miles – that would be nearly 10km – extends over 95 blocks and includes restaurants and retail shops. Pretty damn cool. Access is via an escalator or … Continue reading Hotel ZaZa, Underground Tunnels and other Houston stuff

Best long haul flight ever. May have something to do with one Temaz and 1/2 restavit. Yep that’s a cocktail. But a necessary one.  My Doctor of 35 years did look at me oddly when I asked for sleeping tablets. I’ve never asked before. He gave me four. Ok Leeton, a bit over cautious, but could work. And did.  Long haul international flights are a … Continue reading Houston!

I’m not sure why I haven’t written since last October. Was I so super busy I haven’t had time to indulge my passion for writing? Perhaps the whole Covid experience, whilst mild for those living in NZ compared to the rest of the world, has sucked away my inspiration.  Maybe I have used my creativity, if you could call it that, to redesign our kitchen … Continue reading Leaving on a Jet Plane……