Up Up and Away To The Land of the Big 5

Arrived in Singapore - love love love Changi airport, my god I could go on holiday in that airport, free internet loads of duty free shopping, spa's resturants, live game shows, live music and best of all a hotel where mum and I could rest our head on our 6hr stop over, so after scrambling to buy a new digital camera raced to the room, clean, modern ,big wide screen wall tv lge, granite bathroom, fell asleep for what seemed like minutes, up and running to dept gate, onto the lovely Singapore Airlines where I managed to score a row of seats in the middle section of the plane all to myself felt a bit guilty for mum, she had a space between her and the gentleman sitting with her. Landed in Johanesburg - SA - easy arrival no forms to fill out , a guy waiting to pick us up to take us to the Amadwahla Lodge where we stayed for 3 days prior to the start of our intrepid tour, mum and I had had separate cottages made of timber with high grass ceilings very African looking ,big spa baths and gas fire place inside wooden floored interior with masks and african designed linens on the beds - very cold - slept like the dead woke up in time for traditional dinner out of a clay pot on hot coals like a curry stew sat around the fire chatting to the staff, gay Africans chef very chatty - Gran the matriarc of the family business sat chatting too, early night. Next day off to new Virgin Active gym with mum super modern - free internet,tons of great equipment - all glass two storey building 2nd floor looking over the indoor lap pool so while running on my machine - I watched people doing their laps, whole place very well laid out, saunas,spas, cafe, etc... went to lunch outside at a lge resturant/bakering very modern tons of staff,good food. Next day caught up with my mate from the BVI Nicki and her son Tyler - went off to the Rhino and Lion park, got to hold a baby white lion in my arms, saw lots of animals while we drove around in Nicki's car, Nic seems really happing to be back in SA and doing really well as director of a ton of high end resturants scattered all over SA, although one of her resturants had gone on strike and were singing acapela outside a shopping centre we were visiting - thats how they strike there, their voices were stunning like listening to Lady Smith Black Mamboza.

WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?

Hmmm....where do I start, probably at the beginning, I left the BVI at the end August 08 hugging goodbye my beloved Carlton, what a sweet man. Flew onto the US for the pilgramage home to the land of Oz, did my usual stop of a day in LA booked into my LAX Holiday Inn, found out that I still had phone reception from my BVI phone so was able to chat to Carlton with ease so nice to hear his voice. Flew out of LA at 11.20pm for that lovely 14hr flight home to Brisvegas, where I was greeted by my wonderful mum and dad waiting at the arrival gate . Home to the Gap - there was Elle our adorable Cairn Terrier ( a save from the pound) and at the age of 15 looking as sprightly as always. Had 2 weeks to hang in Brisbane with Dad, Elle and meet with Sara and my beautiful God Kids ( Josie, Stuart, and Zali) before heading off to the Continent of Africa - South Africa to be exact but not before discovering that my uterus had been growing some nice little thybroids, of course these things always seem to happen at the last minute, in for day surgery and out days before the long 18hr trip to South Africa......

Bonjour Annecy

I am really excited in July I am heading off for a week to Annecy in the French Alps to see my good Aussie friend Penny and her family who have relocated there. I have never got to that part of France so it will be all new. Well it is that time again - work! Where did my days off go? Managed to squeeze in time with my friends , Debbie is off to Canada at the end of this month so it was great to have a chance to see her before she left. Went to a BVI boatshow party, saw the new Tapas bar at the Dove, got in a couple of swims at Brewers Bay, Cane Garden Bay and Prospect Reef Hotel Pool which is always empty of people. Start a charter tomorrow with 6 guests from the States and Captain Mike ( also American) making the most of today relaxing and watching bad tv....E channel stuff. Talk soon Lisa

Peace and Tranquility = Anagada

What a perfect day today has been, getting paid to loll around watching dvd's, am anchored off the island of Anagada (British Virgin Islands), am on charter with just 2 guests from Texas, they have gone off for the day to explore the island, the Captain, Patrick has gone ashore to meet up with his wife, which leaves me relaxing. Had an interesting day yesterday,went for a walk along and generally deserted beach, only to stumble on a couple making love and butt naked! I deverted my eyes while they ran into the water, had a good chuckle about that. Had a lovely chat with my friend Penny who with her family has relocated to the French Alps, thank God for Skype, it is so nice to be able to catch up with out the phone call costing the earth, on a more sadder note, I lost my wonderful Grandfather Mr. Leslie Archibald Harris at the age of 93, Grandpa you will be missed. Am now waiting for the return of the shore team, will be making coconut crusted shrimp with a thai sweet chilli dipping sauce for appitisers this afternoon, then it is off to Neptunes Treasure Resturant where the guests have invited us to join them for dinner. May even fit in a crappy attempt at pool at Potters Bar after dinner.

Should I stay or should I go?

Tapas at the Dove? or another night of movies, had great plans to go out with the girls,but after finishing some prep cooking for a wedding function tomorrow - movies seem like a good idea, although with the preacher revival going on in town I am fighting a losing battle being able to hear anything on the tv. 9 woman tomorow from the UK here for a wedding, I have been hired to cook for them for a day sail around the British Virgin Islands, should be a nice day, then might pop in and check out an art opening in Main Street, Tortola. Life is good.

American Idol

Who else has this dirty little secret, every year I say this time I won't watch American Idol...again I am sucked in, I was on charter recently on board a motoryacht that had satalite tv hook up, luckily for me our charter guests from New York were fans of the show, they would shout for me to come up to the salon after every commercial break was over, I was running between the galley (where I was prepping their desert) mini key lime cheese cakes with a toffee swirl - in case you wanted to know.
Had a great day with my friend Deb hadn't seen her since the infamous yacht that will remain nameless debackle, poor Deb hung in there above and beyond human suffering, if they gave out gold medals for outstanding performance on a sinking ship she would surely get the gold.

The walk over the mountain to Cane Garden Bay was lovely, we had a chance to catch up and exercise at the same time, a nice light lunch at the Big Banana Resturant, a quick swim in the clear blue waters of the Caribbean, and then off to town for a much needed pedicure, and to finish my perfect day.....American Idol.

Cane Garden Bay

Good morning am off hiking over the mountain of Tortola (land of Turtle Doves) with my friend Ms Debbie off the the sapphire blue waters of Cane Garden bay where today we will be tourists and loll around lunching and swimmng, may even fit in a pedicure just to superspoil ourselves.