Well I wouldn't call this week a really exciting one, but it was a good one. Although I have to admit, a dose of homesickeness kicked in a few days ago. I'm missing everyone, missing good old English Tv and the food. I'd kill for a good old roast right now. I could of course cook one here, but you can't get some of the essential ingrediants here and the veg is very hit and miss.

The weather has been good. Almost too good. I've found that I can't cope in the sun until around 3pm, so that's when I head to the pool. the heat is just too much for me and unlike European pools, there's very little in the way of available shade. The 2 parasols don't open...really useful. The humidity too is a killer. Apart from being overwhelming at times, it's shrunk my clothes!! Can you imagine that??

Friday evening we went out to a local Greek run American restaurant that does good breakfasts, just to see what their evening meals were like. Both of us had had a frustrating day, We had a good meal, and then went out for a walk along the beach.

It was still fairly crowded down there, it being a nice evening, and we hadn't gone far when a crowd were gathering on the shore to see something. It was a baby octopus that had been washed up, only about 6-8 inches across, and it looked like it was attached to a clam shaped shell that was about 6 inches across. At least it appeared to be attached to it somehow. Still need to look that up on the internet. The ONE time we go down and don't take the camera with us!

We walked for a good mile along the waters edge, dodging the odd jellyfish that had also been washed up, and watching surfers try out their skills as there were some good waves coming in. It was fairly dark when we got back, and the city of Deerfield Beach was giving a free concert down where we park, a Blues band, who were ok. There was a good sized crowd, and we just got our chairs out of the car and listened to the music while people watching, one of our favorite pastimes. There were a few small children dancing along to the music, and a few old folks too, plus couples walking along to the rhythm - all good fun.

Saturday saw us headed for the beach again :) The ocean was quite rough and whereas the water is quite shallow with a sandbar normally, this time the water was deeper. It wastoo choppy for me to go in but Tony enjoyed body surfing the waves. I, of course, worked on the tan. We went home, cooked a meal, then went and did some grocery shopping.

Sunday we got up, made some breakfast, then wandered down to the beach late morning. I have never seen the surge like it there, with the waves crashing in and water piling up the beach. Of course we like most people expected the tide to start going out, but instead the waves surged stronger at times, catching people unawares and they had to scramble as water poured all over where they were sitting.

The lifeguards were kept constantly busy with so many people letting their children play near the rocks, and even adults were being swept off their feet as the waves surged in. It was a wonder that nobody got hurt! Luckily we picked a patch of beach behind some low rocks, and although we caught a few sprays of water from time to time, the sand was higher on our part and we never once had water come where we were sitting. Once it was a near miss, but Tony ended up making a small wall of sand to stop any others hitting us, and the ocean took the hint and didn't even bother.

After the beach, we headed home, cleaned up, then Tony fixed us some chicken and salad which was yummy. We wandered out for the evening to Delray Beach, about 15 miles to the north of us, which had a street with some fancy shops and restaurants. Unfortunately there wasn't too much going on, but we did look in some shop windows at some curios, and pass some good cooking smells, and best of all there was a Kilwins there. This is an ice-creamery and fudgery chain from Michigan, which now has quite a few stores in Florida as well. Of course we felt obliged to have an ice cream, well, it would've been rude not to!! We also found a Pub!! Yes, a real English pub...the Blue Anchor. they had a full English menu which we might go back and sample. Of course, if we do, it's bound not to be as good as food at home and I'll be tempted to show them how to do it properly....

So this week I've been checking property agent sites, looking for a flat for when I get home. It's only 4 weeks now until I leave :( I'll stay with Amanda when I first get home and she's checking out properties for me in the meantime. So as well as adjusting to the cold and going back to work when I return, I'll also be moving house again.

I hope everyone is well and that you enjoyed the sunshine I sent over last week ;)

Love d xx