.. November 2014 ..
Hello and welcome to our recollection of November 2014. Or is that MOvember 2014?
Things are getting busy again. We seemed to have spent most of the month either at the pool, in the sea or fundraising! Although the fundraising did involve a bit of fun!
We had a couple of visitors pop in. The kids swam fast in the pool, and Dave grew stuff on his face.
 |
| The start of the month |
Girls in New York
Michelle and a bunch of her mates headed to New York for the weekend. They met up with a few others who have travelled from various locales, including Tonya, who used to live here but now hangs out in Vancouver. They had a blast - a bit of shopping, dining out in a different restaurant each night, touring around the sights on foot and bikes during the day and generally catching up with each other. One afternoon they went to a show, Kinky Boots which was really good and then when they were walking back, they passed the theatre for The Elephant Man and happened to come across Bradley Cooper (amongst a big crowd) after his show - that was almost more exciting that watching the show!
Lisa, Tonya and Michelle headed to Battery Park to look around the new World Trade Centre and general park area, then happened on some bikes that could be hired - after a bit of a challenge to figure out how they worked, they rode around for about an hour and managed to get up onto the Brooklyn bridge - Michelle almost got them run over by taking them on the road rather than the cycle bridge - oops! It was a bit colder than Lisa and Michelle were used to so they abandoned the bikes as soon as they could find a drop off stand and went home to thaw out. The next day was glorious, so Tonya and Michelle took the bikes again and headed off to Central Park. This time of year is amazing there - gorgeous autumn colours everywhere. The park is huge - loads of people running, walking, cycling and skating throughout but it didn't seem full at all - a fantastic place to hang out.
The weekend went by too fast - the girls had a great time catching up and there were quite a few zzzzzs on the plane coming home after 4 late nights in a row...must have taken another week to recover!
In the lift on the way home after a couple of wines at dinner...
 |
| Let's take a selfie! |
Rockefeller centre & Xmas tree arriving in background
This pic cost $6!
View from our front door - right in Times Square - very handy
 |
| Two days later these guys were dangling from the ropes - you may have seen it in the news. |
What a great idea - you can hire these bikes and pick up and drop off anywhere in the city where there are stands - a great way to get around when you have limited time! We went around Battery Park and Brooklyn Bridge one day, then Central park the next
A nice horse and cart ride in Central Park
The ice rink at the Rockefeller centre was popular
The ice rink in Central Park just opened but we ran out of time to have a go, as we biked around the entire park instead, stopping for a few pics along the way
Yes, we saw Bradley Cooper for real!
Cool restaurant but terrible drink!
Out on the town after dinner
Pirates Week 5k Sea Swim
Pirate's week comes around every November. That's when everyone dresses up as Pirates and they have parades, fireworks and all that. We actually missed most of the normal Pirates activities, mainly due to swimming events, or training for them.
 |
| Getting ready for the start |
The swim coach (who has just moved to New York) had made the 5k Sea Swim compulsory for any 11 and overs, which meant Jake would be doing his first. Sam would be doing her second, as her first was in Aruba in some very challenging conditions back in April. She had vowed "NEVER to do that again..."
But the conditions were near perfect. Cloudy skies and flat sea. Although a storm seemed to be looming.
 |
| They're off! |
We didn't take too many photos during the race because we didn't know who was who and they were also too far away. Sam improved on her Aruba time and came in in about 1 hour 15 minutes.
 |
| Jake's arm makes it to the finish in a good time of about 1 hour 31 mins. The rest of him wasn't far behind. |
 |
| That is a smile... |
 |
| Not sure what that is. |
That afternoon (after Jake has a nap!) Jake and Dave headed off to Spott's Beach for a Spit-Roast pig. Sam stayed home to study before heading off to a school friend's birthday party. A couple of friends had been at Spott's since earlier in the day getting things started.
 |
| Looking good! |
The following day was a holiday, so we headed to the beach again. This time, Governor's beach.
The following weekend we found ourselves back at the beach. Our good mates Tonya and Russ (From Vancouver) soon arrived and we had a good catch up with them. Although Michelle had just spent the previous weekend with Tonya in New York!
 |
| Bombed! |
Spanish Wine Night
The swim club ran a fundraising Spanish Wine night at one of the local restaurants. They'd paired six wines to go with the dinner. A bunch of us got together and formed two tables. A girls table, and one for the boys.
 |
| The (departing) Swim Coach and Dave |
The wine was pretty good and the food as well. They also ran raffles and auctions and other money-sucking activities. It was a fun night and everyone seemed pretty happy by the end of the night.
 |
| Another swim Coach and Dave |
Back to the beach again. This time it was with Sam's good friend Sami, who now goes to school in Florida. Her family still lives in Cayman. They don't see each other that often, but make the most of the time together when they do!
 |
| More selfies! |
 |
| Progress...although the sun seems to be bleaching a few hairs! |
Pirate's Week Swim Meet
Yep, more swimming! This time in the pool for the Annual Pirate's Week Swim Meet.
It went over four days with the Thursday night being the longer distance races. Sam did the 1500m and Jake did the 800m. Both came out of it pretty well, with respectable PBs (although neither had done that distance before in a meet so it was always going to be a PB).
 |
| The meet was raided by pirates! |
 |
| Some pillagin' about to take place. |
 |
| Jack Sparrow 'imself pops in. |
 |
| Jake stares down the opposition. |
 |
| He's off! |
 |
| Sam's turn! |
Some good race times for both Sam and Jake. PB's in most events. After four days they were pretty tired, but they had done well!
 |
| The evil stroke-and-turn Judge keeps an eagle eye on the swimmers, clipboard at the ready! |
MOvember
"Yes!" cries Michelle. "This month is nearly over!"
So, after a month of cultivating his face, it was time for the show-down at the Movember party.
Another good event with some great costumes, and moustaches to match!
See the pics below.
 |
| Photo shopped.... |
 |
| Hulk Hogan won the Mo-Sista award. |
 |
| Adam (Kiwi) of BVI fame makes an appearance |
 |
| Noice... |
 |
| This guy won the Man of Movember prize. |
 |
| The New Swim Coach! (on the left...) Click HERE for the rest of our photos from November |
Next Month:
Sam travels to Gainesville - for a swim meet.
Dave travels to Gainesville - to bring them back.
Michelle does the half Marathon (hopefully!)
Jake does the Kids event.
Maybe a Christmas party somewhere.
Then we are off to New Zealand (18 Dec - 1 Jan)!!!
19/20th Dec in Wellington
21 - 24 Dec in Waimate
25 - 30 Dec in Queenstown
31 Dec in ChCh
Fly out on the 1st!!
