just out walkin’

This morning daughter  ‘B’ sent me a text.
“You home, I could phone soon”?
Me: “Yes I am, speak soon :-)”.
Her: “Damn call centre closed – are you on Skype?”
Me:  “No but I can try and download”.
Her: “It’s easy, ok let me know when you are done”.
30 minutes later.
Me: “Still trying, don’t know if I have done it correctly though”.
Her: “Ok I’ll try phoning you”.
(I answer a phone call on my computer which in itself is still weird to me).
Three cheers, we have a one on one conversation which doesn’t cost a cent between daughter ‘B’ in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and her mother in Melbourne,  Australia.

The highlight of her day? See above. How many of us can say that we have experienced something so special that it makes our heart jump out of its skin? What is on our bucket list that would bring us immeasurable joy? I think for ‘B’ this surely has to be one of them.

Walking with a sloth, that was her special experience this afternoon,. Both of them (hubby ‘E’) went for an hours walk to see a very plain and quite boring Zoo in Bolivia (as one does). They saw Toucans and crocodiles and turtles (I think I would happy to see them, for all I look at is a fly crawling on my window as I type) but not a great deal else. Until they saw a group of people standing around and went to investigate. Now ‘B’ LOVES sloths, her sister LOVES them too (okay I am also very partial).

‘B’ had to have this moment, to be one, as close to nature as possible,  to walk beside him/her. She did say she got some strange looks and other people were taking photos of her doing it, but she LOVED it as you can see by her expression.

Especially this candid shot where she got to hold a baby one.

I have never seen her face light up so much (apart from her wedding day that is).

Travelling again – oh wouldn’t it be luverly

Yesterday the 13th of April (well over here it was) daughter # 2 with her hubby of course (because she wouldn’t leave him at home)  left our fair Australians shores (the one that’s girth by sea) if you know our Anthem (which we pretty much all dislike) or is that just me?   Anywho, they have embarked upon a 4 month holiday (yes some can holiday for 4 months through choice)  across the great lands and waters to South America and America.  They left Sydney yesterday afternoon on a 14 hour flight bound for Santiago.  They will be seeing Mucho Pitchoo (that is so not right) it’s Machu Pitchu.  How amazing would that be?? Am I tinsy little bit jealous? Hell yes! But I am also extremely happy that they are able to have this wonderful opportunity and see so much of our world.

Daughter # 2 is an extremely organised young woman, and has given me copies of all relevant paperwork in case of any emergency (no Mumsy don’t stress they will be fine).

She has also provided the keys to her house (probably hinting that housework may be done at liberty whilst she is away). She has also forwarded a …. SPREADSHEET (and don’t I know who will excited when they read THAT word!!) I haven’t yet perused said spreadsheet in-depth, but it lists each plane, bus, car, boat and taxi they will be using. It also lists all the Hotels, Hostels, Guesthouses were they will be staying.  It lists the approximate times of arrivals and departures. (So Mumsy knows at any given moment where they are) hopefully. They have already travelled quite extensively ( but I think this is the last ‘big one’) before they return home to  ‘settle’ (though I have been told ‘settling’ will be another year from now) patience Mumsy, patience.

I have travelled to let me see…Queensland, Brisbane, New South Wales..oh and France twice (yes it’s gloat time) Spain, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, top to bottom of UK (seeing most but not all of it sadly) um erm Prague. I have been to New Caledonia (don’t worry you aren’t missing much if you haven’t been) Bali, Thailand and Vietnam.

Maybe I should write about the places I have been to (sings but I’ve never been to me) though I would have to pull from memory banks and sadly there has been too many withdrawals.

How many countries have you been too? (How is that for a grab at views?) Pretty clever huh (winks). Ok let’s define this a little more. If you have visited another country that you loved – tell me why it was so magical, what made you fall in love with it?

For me (rubs brow frantically as this is hard to choose) and I can’t choose just one. I love England, the castles, the cobblestone roads, the bridges, the thatched houses. I feel I belong there (if I didn’t like the warmth so much perhaps I would be). I love Ireland for its open fields, it’s laughter,  its friendliness and ok its (one heck of an adorable accent). I’ve kissed the Blarney Stone (and yes they do wipe it after others have had a turn). Nothing equals the history of Europe and I adore history (strange but true). Seems my memory banks are opening a little and I feel I could indeed write about my travels…but it’s late and I’m tired and my silly finger with its equally silly arthritis is saying STOP TYPING!

So shall I miss my girl  (and my darling Irish son-in-law) *nods* yes I shall very much.  Do share the magical place you have visited.

Below is the list of the places they are going to (taken from said spreadsheet). Goodnight everyone. x

Destination

Sydney  they have left here

Santiago they have arrived here

Valparaiso

Santiago

Lima

Cuzco

Ollantaytambo

Aguas Calientes

Ollantaytambo

Cuzco

Puerto Mal.

Cuzco

Lima

La Paz

Coroico

La Paz

Copacabana

Isla Del Sol

Copacabana

La Paz

Santa Cruz

Sampaipata

Buenos Aires

Sao Paulo

Iguassu Falls

Sao Paulo

Paraty

Angra

Ilha Grande

Angra

Rio

Salvador

Rio

Miami

Florida Keys

Everglades

Orlando/WDW

St Augustine

Cumberland

Ofekenoffe

Charleston

Savannah

Knoxville

Washington

Annapolis

St Michaels

Baltimore

Philadelphia

New York

Los Angeles

Santa Monica

San Francisco

Yosemite Park

Los Angeles

Las Vegas

Grand Canyon

Los Angeles

Austin

Lafayette

New Orleans

Austin

New York

Dublin

London

Dubai

Melbourne