So, its 6 months since shoulder surgery (the second one), 18 months since ankle surgery (3 x 6 get it?) and just over 3 months until Routed @ 66 trip to Cal i Fornieh via Las Vegas. Lets run the slide rule over this holy trinity of events. Shoulder isnt too bad but recovery at 65 is different to recovery at 60. In fact many things are different at 65 than 60….. No golf yet although feel could probably start playing again if so inclined and maybe will in December. The reality though is its hot and dry and the greens have just been renovated so not a lot of appeal. Still go out early a few days a week to rearrange the dust a bit and still the best time of the day
The ankle comes and goes as in one pain is usually replaced by another the next day. It starts first thing in morning when can hardly put weight on foot. Of course improves over the day so simple answer is never go to bed. To say it is a major disappointment is like saying England are doing ok at CWC 23. Seriously, how good to officially knock England out of World Cup and Bairstow gets a golden ball duck. I digress. Looks like a life of hobbling to a degree ahead although hopefully next trip to USA will be a bit better than last trip. I wont be taking a cane at least so will have to rely on my looks alone for sympathy. And so to Routed@66. To say excitement is not exactly mounting is a bit of an understatement. Seemed a good idea at the time and of course will enjoy myself but maybe a bit more of a realisation this will likely be the last solo trip for a few reasons and a pity not to end it in some snow and ice which has always been the attraction of USA in February. Have had some great trips to be fair especially around 2015-2017. The world has changed in many ways and everything is so much more expensive in USA now even before factoring in the woeful exchange rate. Qantas is expensive and quite unreliable of course , with all things being relative. You simply dont book tight connections anymore. You book what you can afford and then wait every day for the dreaded email about flight cancellation or change. Las Vegas at present is a mess with F1 preparations but supposed to return to some normality in December wrt Strip access etc. Of course in Vegas there is usually something big on every weekend and next year am sandwiched in between Superbowl in early Feb and NRL unleashed on first weekend in March. Factor in a Madonna concert and Nascar and it wont be quiet. Los Angeles has a few great attractions – Forever Cemetery, Studio Tours, Griffith Observatory – but also has a lot of problems with homeless and safety in general. Have booked a very nice hotel in Downtown (Biltmore) but the area itself is a little dodgy. Maybe a day trip to Long Beach and hopefully a one day ticket to PGA event at Riviera . Go one of the first two days so make sure see Adam Scott play 🙂 Dont do the $AUD conversion…..dont, dont,dont…..
So no real reason to be gloomy of course but for some reason am and maybe just the inevitable march of time combined with dwindling finances. The early glory days of reduntirement are long gone and reality has sunk in. Speaking of reality check CLP and I put our heads together – but no other body parts touching honest – and decided once again that Cruising (not the Al Pacino movie) is not for us . Actually doubt that movie is either. Two weeks on a boat with same other people for a lot of money doesnt really appeal. As third time we have bailed maybe time to pull up anchor – nautical humour – on that type of holiday. Instead we plan to have a few weeks in Canada next Sept/Oct for about half the price and twice the fun. Apparently Moose Poutine Burger with Maple Syrup is all the rage . Certainly want to be out of USA in general by Nov 2024. That next election is going to be a shit show especially if Harry Potter is still Speaker in da house. And of course Buffoon Bob could be in da Big House. Yeah right
Xmas is almost upon us which means Hot Cross Buns arent too far away. Yay, something to look forward to at last . Lets leave todays whine with a smile
flashman181 