This is the final stage of our epic journey. We fly to Las Vegas tomorrow from Rorotonga in the Cook Islands. As we come towards the end of the fantastic trip we agreed Parker can drop the M’Lady title and call me Penelope or Penny for short.
Everything was going to plan till we landed in Aitutaki, claimed the luggage and found the wheel had snapped off one of the suitcases. This made manoeuvring the luggage into cars and up to the accommodation difficult to say the least. He had been whinging since the start we had too much stuff and the cases were too heavy. At each country I chucked out all the laundry to ease the burden. Still he moaned. So when the
wheel fell off (courtesy of Air Rorotonga) he thought this an ideal opportunity to sling the lot in to the nearest skip. Fortunately there weren’t any. Once settled in to our hotel at Moana Beachfront I asked the handyman if there was any way to fix it. Within the hour much to Parker’s chagrin it was back in full working order. I gave the handyman our address in UK and told him come over with all his family and stay at our house for a month. That’s how grateful I was for his hard work and consideration to my plight. Parker was a bit stuck for words??
Couple of days later my leg decided it was bored will all this exercise. We had travelled the island on the local bus visiting the two interesting places that had shops. Not much walking though so it was quite relaxing. The hotel is on the beach and has a couple of restaurants nearby. The problem started with the beach. I can’t do sand and the ebb and flow of the tide knocked me over in to a large lump of displaced dead coral. As I went down I twisted my hip and wether it’s OA, my recent Hip replacement, Sciatica or PMR useless muscle fatigue I don’t know.
We had walked a good ten minutes along the beach to check out tonight’s dinner options. We reached Charlie’s Beach Bar where Parker had to haul me off the beach like today’s catch and on to the bench whilst we waited till it opened. Parker was then sent back to the hotel to get the Rucksack and fill it up with drugs. I had to wait all on my own with only a pot of tea to sustain me whilst he was gone. I was extremely distraught at this point and knew the only way to get through it alone was by eating cake. Parker had preempted this by taking the money with him. As he returned he saw I was faint with hunger. We had breakfast three hours ago and I was in danger of collapsing in to a saggy grey sack of empty flesh and bones. I then had to convince Parker that if I didn’t eat the cocktail of drugs I have swallowed to get me mobile again wouldn’t work. This was the hardest part. He would have to go up to the counter and speak to a person to order food. So much was my need to eat lard and sugar in copious amounts we had to wait ten minutes till I could limp to the counter (5 yards away) and place an order. Along with my Meds Parker thought it wise to bring his Kindle as we were in a WiFi hot spot. Recognising it might be some time before I could hobble back to the hotel he downloaded a book to make it much easier to ignore my pathetic writhing about in agony display. This ploy worked well and also provided entertainment for the other customers. So I am now back in the room fully drugged up with a nice supply of Tetleys. I decided Parker can have a good hour to himself before it’s time to wash and dress me. He was very happy when he escaped on to the balcony and will no doubt find a good hidey hole at shower time so I can sort me self out.
Hopefully everything is back to normal tomorrow for the trip to Las Vegas. He so fortunate to have a kind and caring employer like that what I am. I just think he doesn’t fully appreciate it??
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Estellemac
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Good to know you are both enjoying your holiday. What on earth was Parker doing allowing you to fall over and then leaving you without cake for so long? Some retraining needed I think. 🙃
He has been suitably admonished and making up for it. He’s getting a bit too familiar since I let him drop the title M’Lady. So a bit of a slap back in to place is needed here. Once I am on home turf that is.
Your so right!! I am upside down. I have had three incidents so far. The others are healing quite well. Thin skin is an annoyance. I feel so much better now I understand the phenomenon.
So well done both for undertaking such a trip; it gives us encouragement to dare!
I chuckled at the thought of being hauled up the beach like “today’s catch”, a furrow in the sand behind. Sounds like Parker had a great time but I think that on return he needs to reflect on operational weaknesses like not carrying a full tool pack, an array of light, yet nourishing, snacks and retrieval equipment. I advise the reinstatement of M’lady because the over familiarity obviously impaired his vigilance.
You invited the handyman and his entire family to stay with you, at your home , for a month! For replacing the wheel on your suitcase!! What was in your case of drugs? CBD oil??
Also you have allowed your factotum to become very familiar with you, Penny indeed! You will find yourself dining off a single chop at this rate.
Lovely journal of your amazing adventure, I enjoyed reading it. I hope you are ready for more today,
Just me usual staying alive drugs unfortunately. I have now locked the said suitcase open as I fiddled with the combination code. I have done YouTube for a solution but my thumbs gave up and I bought a padlock. I did think of giving the handyman my last HR persons address as she made me go to ACAS to get her off my case. But I might have been tracked with that one.
OH!!! I want a Parker.........even though he might get a bit familiar and need a slap from time to time!!! But keep a tight rein on him in L Vegas - or give him a very limited amount of pocket money!!
I am safe on that score. To spend money he would have to communicate with other humans and he’s hasn’t completed the training for that yet. He did do well in the Aus and New Zealand where we stayed in B&Bs. The hosts would address him directly with a question and he had to answer. All be it with the minimum amount of words but it was a start. He wasn’t direct open or honest either so that was nice.
Loved reading of your adventures in Aitutaki. Brought back memories of our visit there on a fabulous trip in 2006 ( before PMR and various other health issues struck). I recall a wonderful boat trip in those turquoise waters stopping off at amazing beaches for swimming and snorkelling. Back on the boat after lunch we had crab racing on the deck of the boat.. Hilarious, or was it just the copious amounts of wine that made it seem so? Happy days.
Enjoy the rest of your adventure and making memories for a lifetime.
The snorkelling with giant Trevelly and wading across the lagoon to One Foot Island was amazing. No alcohol needed. Lovely BBQ on the beach. But we did reminisce that night watching the sunset on our balcony with a nice chilled Chardonnay.
3 nights then back to UK. We have Cirque de Soleil show Sunday “0”. R Then Monday the Grand Canyon Helicopter Trip. The kids inherit the house if we don’t make it back. We’ve blown the rest of our savings on this.
Hi Parker and Penny on your last legs - it's what you said? I've been eagerly awaiting your next episode, bit like a TV sit-com. I thoroughly enjoy reading your travel antics with the clothing being the best I've ever heard. I cannot believe how far you've travelled in your condition - you deserve a medal! Your sense of humour serves you well.
So you promised a months holiday to the chap that fixed your suitcase? Goodness were you high on the local dope? Hope he didn't speak English, or any of his family, or you might be inundated one day with the whole extended family on your doorstep! - what will Parker say then - if a for sale sign goes up you'll know why!
We once had rather a large suitcase which I thought was lovely at the time, the biggest case I've never see the like of since, and it was tartan! Before pred so no excuse. Needless to say the handle came off at the start of the journey to Dominican Republic for our son's wedding. When we got to our bus (couldn't call it a coach) it had the biggest crack right across the windscreen that you had to look round to see ahead. There seemed to be a delay in setting off and when I looked out of the window my prized suitcase, with a crowd of men looking at it, stood there defiantly - I felt so embarrassed - I pretended not to know....with no handle they couldn't lift it so dragged it and threw it in the hold between them. Needless to say it got ditched and we bought 6 large holdalls as didn't sell suitcases - Moral - don't ever buy an extra large suitcase, it's false economy! We didn't ditch our wedding gear.....
I think it's hilarious your story - you two could star in a sit-com which I'd happily watch. My OH is a miserable t..t at the best of times and he knows it - with pride I hate to say...
Enjoy the rest of the hol and we wait to hear how the last leg goes! Tell Parker he's doing a wonderful job!
Our Craig has changed the locks on the house and rented it out so we could be homeless when we get back. Or have to move in to Daves next door. He is a trainee Parker as he’s just retired. He is looking after all things Pigeon for us.
I am amazed that nothing more than fatigue and few achey painful muscles. On 10mg at the moment and holding steady but taking it steady. I know when I’ve had enough and say so now.
I have come to terms with packing now and have two normal size suitcases at home. These big uns are going to the charity shop with the rest of my wardrobe stash at home that I don’t need either.
Congratulations to newlyweds :3 What about your son's wedding? What was it and how it went. I had my wedding there as well. And it was magnificent. Could you, please, PM me photos. I'm just wondering whether we and your son had the same photographer. Because the only decent one we found was this one pinkfilm.org/puntacanaphoto....
The wheel just fell off again!!! His visit is cancelled. Though the case did at least 10 miles from T3 to T7 for the Las Vegas connection. Then jobsworth the bag checker couldnt ignore the 2 lb over the the 23 allowed though one was under by 2lb. So we had to switch it all around. We had 4 hours to make the internal connection and got there 30 mins before the gate closed. Oh what a chuckle we had as the fatigue set in and we wanted to kill each..
You're kidding..... Just use your Kalma on that jobsworth... that's what we/I had to do on the outbound with our ginormous case......you'll need 6 months to get over this.......at least you can chuckle - love it...
We stayed in the Cook Islands on our way back from our NZ holiday in 2009.
When we checked in at the airport, we were ushered through to departures, a grassed area with picnic tables!!😂😂😂 Before that we had to collect some small pieces of driftwood that my hubby had secreted in his suitcase from NZ. They removed them from us on arrival!! Lol It was a great place to chill after 4 weeks touring NZ and always brings a smile to my face!! Thanks for reminding me.
I have loved reading about your travels. You are quite hilarious about your husband.You appear to have been quite well, really, when you think of how much you have done.Now, all that sorting out at home.Well done!
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hip, leg, butt pain---flare?
Update to Unexplained Thigh, Knee and Leg Pain
Leg reflexes =0 & weakness in. Legs
