The Wait Is over!

In this posting – New format; Cayman; States; bub; 

Newbies takes on a new format for 2016 – on the right hand side you will see several pages (DD, JJ, Sierra, Cayman, Offbeat and Obits). Click on them for more detailed news, photos and views.  When you read my Obit in the Obits, you will know Bridget or Sierra has taken over the blog.

Why the hiatus? Take your pick from the following; 

• Lazy
• Useless
• Busy with house sale, move, packing, unpacking, starting a new business, trying to find my way around Cayman (a huge island with a handful of roads)
•  All of the above.    

I have used the pen name ‘Rip Van Kidner’ before (hey, I never said I was inventive as well as idle) and was not surprised to find a conspiracy theory that the original Rip was actually the subject of an alien invasion. So, please add ‘Abducted by aliens’ to the list above. Spot which is the real Rip Van Winkle below.  

Correct answers to idiotatlarge@paradise.com. (Hint. That’s not a real email address.)

https://bibliophilica.wordpress.com

What's all this then?

So, having been abducted by aliens, which felt strangely like a 16-hour flight from Sydney to Dallas Fort Worth we went to (what used to be called) the Texas School Book Depository from where Lee Harvey Oswald shot John F Kennedy (depending on which conspiracy theory you prefer). 

The 6th floor has been turned into a museum and we saw the spot from where the shots were fired and looked directly at where Kennedy was fatally shot (marked inevitably by an 'X' on the road). Somehow it all looked smaller in real life. It is well worth a visit.

(Old) Texas School Book Depository

X marks the spot

When in the Lone Star State (Texas), one has to go to a cowboy shop, not to buy a cowboy you understand but to gawp at the hats, coats etc. (https://wildbillswestern.com/). Here we are after our visit to the store. Honest!  You can tell it’s me ‘cos of the stubble after a long flight.

Texas is famous for its beef, so naturally we went into what the Brits and the Aussies would call a pub, and after we ordered a salad, (sic) spotted the sign ‘Free Beer Tomorrow’. I went back the next day and guess what the barman told me. Winners can buy me a free beer. 

Our thanks to the lovely Eileen who was kind enough to show us around Dallas which we discovered is home to the third-largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the US. (The largest concentration will probably soon be in Ireland where they pay less tax. See the Pfizer/allegan merger.   

For more on the States, click on the States page in the sidebar on the right.

So, now the Newbies find themselves on a small island, Grand Cayman. In much the same way that Australia lies a little to the left of NZ, so Cuba lies between Cayman Islands (all three of them) and Florida, with Jamaica a tad to the right. See under – too easy. By the way, I should say ‘East’ I suppose, but I always get confused with all this East West stuff. As a copper on a motor cycle, I would be directed to Western, arrive in Eastern and wonder what all the fuss was about.

Follow the Arrow to see where we are. 

or a more global view if you prefer

One of the challenges for a serious shopper (read ‘females’) is that there is (apparently) not enough choice ‘on island’. Miami is therefore a necessary destination (ditto for motorcyles). So, when Mrs K flew to Miami with BK for some serious shopping (in search of dresses) which she did soon after we arrived, I got to look after the little one (my dresses were all OK). (Partner Mark was in North Carolina captaining the Cayman 7's team and qualifying for the Hong Kong Sevens next year. Good on ‘yer Mark.) 

Sheila and Sierra

Mind you, saying I was looking after the bub is a stretch. 

The wonderful and thoroughly capable Sheila did most of the heavy lifting, although I successfully changed several grungy diapers. Here the two of them are in full sunglasses bling mode. Wow!

In fact, I am in my own mind at least now a recognised expert on poop (dogs) and bub's (just). Think about that for a minute - life has more meaning the more of the Brown Stuff one deals with.  

I've moved from being full of it to merely collecting it. Progress of a sort I suppose.  

Oh, the bub.  'What of the bub?' I hear you say. What indeed. 

Smart little lady this one - at less than 18 months, she had learned to blame the dog for spilt water on the sofa.  

Here she is doing checking out bra sizes and hanging out with her handsome Mum and Dad. 

For more on Sierra, go to Sierra’s page.

Sierra and DD get along well. Here they are.  For more on DD. go to DD's page on the right.

DD and Sierra

On first arrival, we stayed with Bridget and Mark. We have now found a place to live. It took a while to get the arrow balanced on the roof and the drone in the right position; however, as you can see, I managed it in the end. 

We have a great view out to sea, particularly in the evening.  Thanks DD.

View from the front.

And we sometimes see the great cruise ships passing gently by, lit up like christmas trees. Brilliant.

Cruise ship behind the screen. 

Oops! Didn't allow for the screen.  This is the great cruise passing gently by etc., etc.  Ok, Ok, it's a bit dark, but you can use your imagination. 

Cruise Ship. Honest!

One of the wonderful things about living here is access to the beach where mega hermit crabs plunder the shore in an endless quest for food. 

.

Mega Hermit Crabs

Prior to actually moving in, we stayed at Dawn’s place (thank you Dawn).  The cat is just the friendliest cat in Cayman.  He’d come in after his nocturnal wanderings, eat his breakfast and then settle down for a sleep.  Here he is in his favourite fruit bowl.

Puss in Bowls

Life on an island has its charms. On a recent Monday lunchtime, we went to the newly opened West Bay Diner. Aha!  And nearby, the local guard dog.

Guarding

Next post.

New page for Cayman and Home making.

Chicago visit.