Back from Cuba!!

I am so lucky to have been able to visit Cuba for the second time, I just love the place! We arrived back home at 6am Friday morning after a week away. As it was our 20th year together and also my birthday, Craig and I took a holiday on our own for the very first time since the girls were born! Kind of a second honeymoon. I admit I had my worries about leaving Jemma and Amber home alone, which is why I didn't write a blog post before we left. You can't be too careful on the internet, or is that paranoid? We kept the number of people we told to a minimum. Even though they are 15 and 17 and very sensible, the neigbours kept an eye on the house and it was a regular school week for them, with just one snow day. Archie was well looked after, the house was tidy and they are now experts at keeping the woodstove going. We were told on our return that they had both been poorly for a few days. Amber even had a fever, but Jemma was a good nurse and took good care of her little sister :)

Our holiday was wonderful, most days were warm and sunny. Staying on Cayo Coco in an all inclusive 5 star resort meant that the food and drinks were in abundance with just about everything you could imagine available. Fresh tropical fruit, salads, vegetables, grilled seafood prepared right in front of us, special cheeses etc. For those wishing to indulge the selection of sweets was spectacular too, including the flambe bananas, just watching the chef cook those was a form of entertainment in itself! We were fortunate enough to get a 'honeymoon' upgrade with a special room actually opening out onto the beach!

The view from our room!

Friendly waiters and bar staff made for a romantic, fun and memorable trip. Walking on the beach first thing in the morning was like being in a different world and just a 3.5 hour flight away from home.

Now we are back things have quickly returned to normal again, with a ton of laundry to catch up on I decided to take the bedding and towels to the local laundromat for a hot wash this morning, taking the pressure off our septic system!

Craig was back at work within a few hours of being home, driving all the way back into Halifax for an emergency meeting! I had a busy full day at work yesterday, now the cafe has re-opened the customers have been flooding in despite the still falling snow :)
We both feel refreshed though and well rested after a good dose of sunshine and romance.

Hazel xx

A LITTLE BIT OF EASTER SUNSHINE :)

We're back home again after a wonderful week away in Cuba. Having had just 3 hours sleep in my own bed following the return flight arriving at 3.30am in Halifax. I opened my eyes at 9am and for a split second thought it had all been a very pleasant dream :) I feel relaxed, very lucky and am already planning/dreaming/saving for a return trip next winter!

This unexpected break really was the perfect tonic, towards the end of a long cold Canadian winter. No housework or cooking for me, cold beer for Craig. Freedom to explore the resort grounds for Jemma and Amber, while being independent 'roomies' in their own space and do some sisterly bonding!

Warm air, a quiet clean white sandy beach, refreshing swimming pools, tropical flowers and plants, attentive friendly staff..... well I could go on but you might never read my blog again!!

The flights were both fine and only 4 hours long, a breeze compared to previous travels to NZ and Africa. The movies shown were Juno (brilliant, but I had already seen it) the return flight showed a film called 'August Rush' very enjoyable and sweet.
Now we are back to reality again (adjusting back to life in a fridge) Just kidding. Our little resident chipmunk 'Oscar' poked his head above ground briefly today to make sure that the grass was indeed still there. Craig found evidence in the barn that the raccoon has returned from wherever she spends the winter. The air is crisp and clear and we have the exciting anticipation that Spring is not too far away now. Archie has rubbed up against all the doorways, jumped on the beds briefly and seems satisfied that it is 'his' home again after spending a week confined to a small (but safe) room in the cattery.
I couldn't resist taking a few supplies of felt and thread along to catch up on orders whilst sitting under the shade of a tree (possibly a little sad to a non-sewing person reading this!)

My huge pile of holiday laundry is washed, dried and ironed, grocery shopping duly packed away in the pantry, so I can catch up on my computer work/play this evening without feeling too guilty.
(I think 3 photos on this post is probably sufficient, otherwise my facebook friends will accuse me of repeating myself)

Hazel xx
(a very happy bunny this Easter)

WE'RE OFF TO CUBA!!!!

I was absolutely 'gob-smacked' (to quote a delightful Northern expression) when Craig announced earlier this week that we were going on a trip to Cuba!
Thanks to his boss giving him a much deserved week of paid leave, Craig decided to 'really' get away from the office (and below freezing temperatures). With just a few days to get ready amidst the utter chaos of teenage excitement, the time has flown and we leave tomorrow!!!
Frantically digging out my forgotten cotton dresses and shorts from the summertime (a somewhat distant memory now) I have been carefully filling a suitcase with necessities; sunblock, insect repellent, aloe vera gel, medical supplies etc etc... I usually like to have a few weeks of planning and a few months of anticipation, but not this time :)
Of course I am soooooo excited myself, but as any busy woman will know, you can't just lock the door and head for the airport. Juggling a couple of large orders, library, dentist, grocery shopping and all the other boring housewifey stuff I have been run off my feet. Archie will be getting dropped off en-route at his friendly cat hotel and our next door neighbours will be keeping an eye on our house, particularly in the event of a storm hitting whilst we are away, don't want to come home to any flooded basement or frozen pipes!
I received a very appropriate and much appreciated birthday gift a couple of days ago. A book entitled 'The Princess Bitchface Syndrome - surviving adolescent girls' Need I say more ? Very informative and a must-read for anyone with daughters in the 13 to 17 age group. Sent to me by my friend Kathy, all the way over in Australia. It had been opened by customs (hence the delay) but was still in the birthday wrapping. The accompanying card is hysterical and bears a significant resemblance to Archie :DWell I had better keep this post short and report back to the keyboard on my return :)
Adios!!!
Hazel xx