Well here I am at the end of my stay in Florida. I've already started packing and am trying hard not to think about leaving Miami airport tomorrow night (Wednesday).

The past week has been spent between the pool, the beach, eating out and shopping for last minute bargains to bring home. There's a fabulous store here called 'Kohls' or is that 'Kolhs'... no the first way. Anyway, it's a bit like Marks and Sparks, except a lot cheaper! They have some lovely things there for the home as well as clothing etc.

I've been to dinner at the home of one of Tony's colleagues. That was nice. The couple have a brand new house in Boynton that backs onto a lake, which is very close to the Everglades. Of course, the new developments over here all have lakes or are very close to water so there are a lot of pipes underground feeding water through. Well, Desmond and his wife were sat in their lounge, looking at the sunset over the lake, when they saw a 4 foot Alligator swim past...EEEKK!! The gardens are all open plan so if a gator decided to get out of the water, he could easily wander up to your back door. But that's normal life here.

Anyway, back to the dinner party. Desmond is Portugese. His wife Maria is Filipino. Then there was a Russian, his wife was from Uzbeckastan and then Tony and I. Food was interesting. I thought the beef had a lot of bones...turns out it was Oxtail but it was lovely. The conversation centered around the upcoming elections here (when doesn't it?) so I kept quiet for a large part of it. Americans - of all demoninations- talk about their political views a lot easier than we do at home. This of course moved the conversation on to state run health services as Obama has promised this to the Americans. Russian health services were discussed and dismissed as the worst possible place you could ever go. I tried to balance it with the NHS point of view, you know, some good, some bad but wouldn't be without it, but I think I failed to get my point across... must've been lost in the translation I guess. We all talk the same language, but we don't at all.

Tonight we're off to have dessert and coffee with an elderley couple downstairs. Cal and Roz have been here for about 16 years after they retired and moved down from New York. Cal and I chat everyday at the pool and he's taken me under his wing. A few weeks back, it would just be Cal and myself at the pool. Now, there's several Canadians and New Yorkers who own property here and come down for the winter. They're called 'Snow birds'. The local businesses that are starting to struggle, are hoping the snow birds will boost their takings and keep them afloat over the next few months.

I don't think I've picked up an accent during my stay (phew) but I am aware that I've started using American words such as elevator instead of lift and also abbreviating sentances. For example, at home we'd say 'let's go and get ready to go out to dinner ' here they'd say ' let's go get ready to eat' I'm starting to cut words and it annoys me when I realise that I'm doing it!

Well, I guess (there I go again) that's it for my blog. I've had the most wonderful stay here and have mixed feelings about coming home. Obviously I'm upset about leaving Tony here but I'm also excited about seeing my kids again and my friends. I have the dreaded visa interview again next Monday and then a house move on Tuesday. I'm going to miss the weather here but I also can't wait to taste English food again or watch decent TV. I've seen the most amazing things here and experienced some fabulous times. I have some fantastic memories that will stay with me always.

Thank you to all of you who have left messages for me or contacted me by email. You helped carry me along when I was feeling really homesick.

See yawl soon, ya hear!

Love d xx