Universal Studios

When we got to Universal studios we were disappointed to find that the new rolercoaster (the ROckit) due to open summer 2009 was not yet open. However, on heading out of Shrek 4D a park worker announced the Rockit was open for technical testing, the interested parties dashed off like a rocket (pun intended).

The intrepid few - Matthew, Sam, Peter,Andrew and Stuart decided to particpate in the "technical" testing. Now to my mind testing means it is not yet working properly but were they bothered? Nah not a bit. I felt physically sick at seeing the rollercoaster which actually takes you up at a 90 degree angle!


After getting off (they waited over an hour and a half in the queue) Stuart said it was the best roller coaster he had ever been on, one of the things that made it so good was that you had your own personal music track playing while you went round. So they can proudly say they were one of the first people in the entire world to go on that rollercoaster.
Being universal there are always the characters to see, and the boys just had to get a picture with bart!

Universal was an awesome day and the Simpsons ride was one of the best simulators ever!

Magic Kingdom

Well Magic Kingdom is my most favourite Park ever. I absolutely love it, and seeing that magic castle for the first time is amazing. When we arrived at magic kingdom in bright sunshine we thought great, 10 minutes later the heavens opened for about 5 mins. and we were all absolutely drenched, 30 mins later the sun was blazing again and we were dry!

The Villa

The villa we had in Florida was absolutely fantastic, 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and a swimming pool. Car wise we had a 12 seater van and a cheap and nasty 4 seater. Don't ask me what make they were one was white and one was black, what more do you need to know!

Florida

Well, it has been a busy summer, in August we packed our bags and headed off to the sunny climes of Orlando Florida with some friends. There were 10 of us in total. The drama for us however started at the airport parking!
We were asked to leave the car parked outside reception and the key on the front seat, which we duly did. About 5 mins later one of the drivers came onto the coach asking who owned the quasquai! Apparantly it had locked itself - well we thought this was ridiculous, the key was in the car it cannot have locked itself! Sure enough we tried the door and it was locked!!! Panic ensueed as I had not bought my keys (or so I thought!) I intended to leave mine behind so as to not risk losing them in America.
The driver suggested getting a neighbour to get the spare key from home and press the remote down the phone (apparantly that works!). As I was rummaging about in my handbag for my phone lo and behold i found my keys! Considering it was 730 am on a saturday morning I am glad i did not have to ring my neighbour.

Leaving primary school

Today was Alex's leaving assembly before she moves up to High School in September. I have to confess to shedding a little tear as it is the end of an era, no more trekking up to the primary school for me ever again! - well until grandchildren I guess :P

This evening Alex has gone to her leavers barbeque and disco as the picture below shows she really is growing up, my baby is growing too quick!

40!

On Friday July 10th Stuart was 40 years old, as a "treat" for the old codger I booked him a tandem skydive. He absolutely loved it as you can probably tell from the photos below where he does not stop grinning.


Getting togged up

In the plane

Sitting on the edge of the plane 2 miles up waiting to jump!!

Freefalling above the clouds at 130mph!

Freefalling through the clouds

freefalling with the ground getting closer and closer

Parachute opens!

After the skydive we headed up to the green farm Hotel in Thorpe Market Norfolk. I would definately recommend it for a weekend away. We stayed in the paston room.

http://www.greenfarmhotel.co.uk/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

Despite the fact I had a chest infection and spent most of the weekend coughing and spluttering I think he had a good birthday :D

Teenager in the house!

So today we officially have a teenager in the house, Sam is now 13 years old. Trying to get her to have a photo she actually likes is impossible these days so no photo yet!
Mark my words I will get one.

Saturday we are going shopping so she can spend some of the ridiculously large amount of money she got for her birthday - better make the most of it I guess cannot see her letting me come along for much longer. Unless she wants me to pay of course!