Parents

Mum and Dad have been here on vacation for the week.

So far, we've been to downtown Rock Hill, downtown Charlotte and Folly Beach.

We're going up into the mountains tomorrow. We had originally planned the mountains for today, but the weather is going to be pants. 90% chance of rain.

Now, I've driven in the rain before (well to be more accurate, stopped in the rain). See, the rain here is unlike the rain in the UK - cue Peter Kay "It's that fine rain that soaks you through". Not here. When it rains here, it really rains.

My parents had an experience of that last night. "What's it like driving in this?" asked my mum..... "You don't", I replied. "Oh." So the trip up to the mountains got postponed a day.

The insects are still relentless in their biting activities, with 4 new bites this week. I've got some afterbite to put on now to fix things though.

Mum and Dad still find it amusing that it's colder inside than outside, and they have an appreciation of the importance of air conditioning. 75 degrees F? That's cooled down a bit then!

Tonight, I've invited Jennifer and Stirling around for a board game evening, which should be nice.

Bowling

Well, the league has finished, and we finished OK in 9th (I think) place out of 12 teams.

I spent my winnings ($55 and 25 cents) on another new ball. This one is more of a fun ball, as it's a leopard-spots finish. It's also only a 12lb (the other one is 14) so a tad lighter. Over the course of the coming months, I'm going to try and improve the game.

Anyway, the busser on the cooker has just beeped, so tea is nearly ready... Time to go now.

Holiday!!!

I know, I know... It doesn't seem like 5 minutes since I was back home, but my Mum and Dad are flying over next Monday for a week and a bit.

We've rented some extra furniture in the apartment for them (and it's staying until the end of November when my sister, aunt and niece fly over). It was delivered on Friday, and I got some bedding from Walmart, so we're all set. They fly in to Charlotte Airport, which is about 40 minutes from here (depending on the traffic of course..) at 6 in the evening. Hopefully the rush hour traffic will have died down a bit by the time I'm coming back, and we'll have a good run back here.

Haven't quite decided what to do then. I guess it's down to them really, and how they feel after the flight. We could stop off at Baxter village (like I did on my first night) or we could go to Sagebrush, or we could just stay here.

We'll see.

F1

Well, Jenson still has a commanding lead after Monza...

It will be nice to see... no, wait, I probably won't see it... er... read about an Englishman winning the championship again.

OK, so Lewis might not do it again, especially if he keeps crashing, but it is long overdue for Jenson.

I only hope that it continues long enough for me to be able to see it again on home turf next season...

Coin Collection

Well I have some good news...

The 50 States coin collection is complete.

I still need three of the territories; US Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.

Special thanks to Dan Brink, who had Puerto Rico, and to Ben Levine for the addition of Maine, both on Friday. Add the 50 States, the 5 Territories, 1 District and the US bicentennial quarter, it's a good keepsake of the trip. Total value of the coins is $15. The binder cost about the same (if I remember correctly) so 30 dollars in total, or £20 in English money.

Well worth it, I think.

Plus, it came with a nice book explaining the origin of the designs on the coins themselves, and the importance of it to each state.

Myrtle Beach

OK, it's been a while since I posted, but there is a lot to update now...

The first of a few posts tonight concentrates on my trip to Myrtle Beach, on Labour day weekend. Don't be fooled by the crappy photo. It was really nice and sunny there. It's just my crappy camera phone.

It was a three and a half hour drive from here, Interstate 77 south to Columbia, then Interstate 20 eastbound to Florence, then some roads through Florence, and then Highway 76 to Marion (these places all seem to be named after women...) and finally, Highway 501 the rest of the way. All in all, a nice drive.

I've been told it would be quicker to go down to Charleston (just next to the border with Georgia, but we might make that trip with my parents...)

Anyway, Myrtle Beach was OK. A bit like Skegness, really. Lots of beach, a few odd folk, and some shops selling T shirts for extortionate prices just because they have "Myrtle Beach" printed on them.

Let's not also forget the unforgettable Sparky's. This place is somewhere along 501, and seems to sell everything you could ever want. Billboards every half a mile or so for 10 miles either side. Seriously!!!)

Anyway, my parents might like a day trip down there, or possibly to Charleston. I'm informed that there are a few guest houses and BnB type places in Charleston, so we might have an overnight down there. And if we get really bored, there's always Savannah just over the border in Georgia.