Before I catch up on our Dubai trip and Christmas in New Zealand.....

Before I prepare a catch up on our Dubai trip and Christmas in New Zealand blogs, I intend to post about my next trip intentions.  Correctly, actually, our actual bookings.

Last weekend, Ross and I sat at the computer and attempted to align my frugality, his holidays, along with T's holidays.  The net result is that I cancelled out anything exciting for April much to his displeasure and it was not readily appeased with "but you are getting four nights on holiday in Nashville, Tennessee following your four nights at the Gaylord Opryland!"  Needless to say, me trying to fob-off a work conference did not achieve me any points.  Fortuitously, Qatar Airways, who rarely have great airfares managed to extend their flight specials for a few extra hours and I mindlessly searched for flights by European capital expecting nothing to come of it: then out popped Athens as a viable option.  Bang we were flying there for eight nights.

My second best mate for travel bookings (first best mate is www.hipmunk.com) is www.booking.com and I discovered affordable accomodation in an area within a 30 minute walk of the Plaka and Acropolis.  Shortly after perusing many of Rick Steve's Greek travel articles and chatting with a Greek friend, I had made a two night reservation in Hydra to the south of Athens - an island with no vehicles, just foot and donkey traffic.  Methinks I now have a very happy husband!

To touch back on my resolution of being more digitally organised, I have been using google calendar and their labs much more.  Within google, I am able to build a thorough itinerary and attach all booking documents and relevant walking maps.  A key function within the printing section is the "agenda", provided all notes are well filled out, I get a professionally completed itinerary and am able to share the calendar with Ross.  There are "apps" out there that will do this for you e.g. tripit, but for the life of me, I cannot see the advantage of a separate system to that of google and the agenda which will export to many other programmes and apps as required.

As I don't have any photos and it is not appropriate for me to link up holiday bookings etc, I am including some recent home photos below.

Sometimes, you just gotta sit with your mates!

Most of the children are out of sight but with the pleasant weather it is a veritable racetrack and bike park on our street.

Just wait mate!

A new year's resolution that I shall keep to - YEAH Right!

Following a Christmas break in New Zealand and the inevitable "New Year's resolutions", I have come to resolve that I will become more efficient digitally this year.  This is so opposite to my inclinations (digital I mean as efficiency and I are best friends).  It was following my mother asking why I wasn't blogging anymore.  Part of me answered with; "but no one looks at it", but the truth said, "the digital world and my photos, links, downloads and the like are just getting to big for me.  Hence, I resolve to sort it out this year!

Last year, I taught myself to: tailor trousers (included making jigs to assemble a near perfect welt), copy a shop bought shirt, create my own knitting pattern, understand the ins and outs of the Industrial Revolution, set up a decent media centre and thank the GFC (global financial crisis) for making a year of positives in the recovering investment markets.  Last year did not have me sorting out the miriad of technology in the home or trimming down my digital library expansion, needless to say, all of my digital issues are compounding into a problem that needs a resolution.  This year, I shall sort it all out.

Bringing me finally to posting a couple of catch-up posts.

This post was written in November and covers the Merriman Meanderings to Palm Cove just north of Cairns in Queensland, Australia.

Days and weeks turn into months and personal writing via a computer screen into an ethereal world seemed rather pointless especially as many of my posts were mere recordings of activities completed.  t was only after a chat with a friend that I have changed my mind and decided that typing via an electronic device into a world that doesn't really seem to exist is not a bad option for recording some of our activities - especially in the world of travel where I have since discovered we have been searched and located!

Is this a catch-up post.  Yes, I admit it is.  The first of two.  The completion of T and my winter holiday to New Zealand and Australia followed by a short trip to Dubai and survival for the non-shopaholic or thrill seeker amongst us.

Since T has been breathing air, we have taken some holidays with mum.  Just the three of us.  Essentially all works well.  Mum and I are regarded as a couple with T joining us as the under 16 year old "child".  Really it means a twin room with T and me sharing one bed and quiet nights in for the three of us.  This August was little different to previous years excepting for an increased "ease" of travel due to T being that much older.

Palm Cove was our destination, just a short drive north of Cairns.  Both mum and I had been there about 15 years prior and felt it would be a good stay put winter break.  I was acutely aware of the pitfalls of returning to a wonderful destination and how the holiday is less charmed.  Thankfully, this did not occur!  We repeated most of our day trips but on this holiday I had to squeeze in a morning scoot and an afternoon wave jump leaving mum with some happy quiet hotel balcony time.

A key feature for me on this holiday was giving T a longer leash.  She is used to independence within our compound and it works well there.  However, she doesn't quite get my reluctance to let her go when we are staying in a resort.  Following a bit of negotiation and some rules, T was allowed to scoot the same circuit that I was doing on foot.

Another great holiday!

At some airport somewhere (they do all tend to melt into each other now)

My scooter kid - the best travel gadget we have ever had!

Every morning she took off on an agreed circuit, we met at the end of the pier and then we went on our return journeys 

The cable car

We are now lightweight travellers and have not looked back

In front of our tree