18 September - Final day shopping

Wake alone again although I guess actually, I wake with Mr Snorry Head again, although, truthfully, he has made his presence felt by me this time, as my throat is a little sore! After beginning the update of the diary notes, Pat arrives and it is tea and coffee time, followed by showers and dressing.

So, what shall we do today? Given that there could well be a little space still left in the cases (well when we get them packed, we are sure there will be) – we decide on a final day’s shopping.

Our first stop is Walgreens, but the after sun that we were after is no longer on offer. We buy a few bits and then head next door to Publix which is a supermarket. The idea here was to price the tobacco – but they don’t seem to stock it – so Pat grabs some cigarette papers anyway.

Jump back in the car and it’s off to the Premium Outlets again – stopping at Hanes again as its socks for Pat and nix for Lou! It’s a quick whiz around the outlets – stopping to buy the odd bit – but nothing major (Toys’R’Us didn’t have the Lego Death Star – mores the pity…) and finish in the Nike store grabbing another pair of sandals.

As we are driving past, we head back into Publix – to grab some bread and milk just to see us through to the end of the holiday which is fast approaching – in fact far too fast. We load the car, head back to the Fountains, and it’s not even lunch time yet! Although not much of a rush – we might have done it quickly, but we were definitely taking it easy, we are however a little hungry.

Looking in the fridge, and it becomes bacon sarnie time – although this will be last one for me, as that is the end of bacon (does that make it the rind then? – ED). Once again lunch and a couple of cups of tea/coffee and coke and we are ready to face the rest of the day.

We go down poolside – as we arrive it is still very sunny, but over the course of the next hour it becomes overcast – and then the dreaded loudspeaker tells us to evacuate the pool area. So, we pack up, and go back to the apartment, only for the clouds to disappear for a few minutes making me think why? Then they return with a vengeance – and the heavens open – BIG TIME! Only once again the storm comes and goes (what just like an old man - due to the weak bladder? – ha ha – ED), and sunshine returns.

We watch a few other residents return poolside and given the clear skies and sun and the temptation of the (bar? - ED) the pool, we also return, almost to exactly the same loungers, and the it’s afternoon playtime (what nap in the sun for the old fogies you mean? -ED).

What appeared at one point was going to be a washout of an afternoon become a very chilled and relaxing wonderful use of our time. It is almost a shame – but after quite a few hours – well it is beginning to darken – not because of a storm but the lateness in the day, we decide to head back to the apartment.

Although we have been in the water a lot swimming quite a bit, OK doggy paddling a lot in my case, Pat wants a lovely spa bath and a cup of tea to enjoy while the bubbles soothe her back – only when we try and turn it on – nothing happens again! (A very temperamental spa if you ask me – ED). I decide to report it in the morning, as truthfully the last thing we need in for an engineer to turn up as we are getting into bed!

We cook dinner, pizza, and chips for me – and pockets and salad for Pat. Clean up the mess, filling the dishwasher, a quick drink and ciggy, and then settle down for the last ever episode of Penny Dreadful, which is very good.

final drink, and a quick read – and sleep arrives fairly quickly.