Aaaannnnnnnd TICK! Another country hits the Scotty list. No extra points for Miami as it's a bit of an annual jaunt spot, but one fat new point for Aruba – possibly the scrubbiest island in the Caribbean, with a walk-in cave, a small wind farm and the inevitable donkey sanctuary its greatest claims to fame.
Well apart from the beaches, which were – thank god – pretty stunning. Fecking windy mind you (can see why the wind farm got dreamt up) – so most entertaining watching Janine trying to light a fag in a Force 9 scorching wind – it was almost hot enough to combust the little white sticks itself.
And Miami was a tad thunderstormy, but little did the weather know that we spend 7 hours at a run in the malls, so it could do little to dampen the credit card bashing and consumption of Cheesecake Factory's finest hot chicken wings.
Quite bizarre to be sitting in the bar at the Mondrian Hotel (next to some massive black fella, bling-ed to the hilt, from – I'm guessing - American Idol, bemoaning the judges 'disrespect' for his voice), while we were watching the Olympic Opening ceremony. Like most people, crapping ourselves in case it was a shambles – and then feeling brilliant when it actually looked – pretty damn good! Various amercians managing to swivel round on their bar stools to take it in – am sure most fo them thought they were watching old US historical figures (isn't all history about America? Sorry Margo) but what the hell. We did a good job!
So, a top week all round. First decent sun in ages (maaaan, that feels good), a suitcase bursting at the seams with clothes in unspeakably large sizes, including some token exercise gear and only the dog-end of a cough now, not too bad for me as these suckers usually hang on in there for about 6 weeks at a time.
Still massively gutted to have lost my new I-phone (yes, skillfully managed to slip it from my linen trouser pocket on the tube I think) – and am being given the right run-around my the evil strong-jerking bastards at O2 Insure. So – email me if you want to get in touch as I am text-less! Just about to send them the 4th bit of irritating paperwork – I swear they are just hoping people will give up, they make it so damn hard to make a genuine claim.
Here's hoping to be back in comms by the end of the week.
Love to all, S.