A Bonanza of a week ...!

So, not long after we arrived I signed up with Tavelzoo for notifications of local deals and offers.  A few days later,  I saw an offer for 50% off a 90 minute horse ride at McDonald Ranch in Scottsdale.  That would be something different I thought.  Something we could all do together whilst also getting to see a bit of the local landscape.  So after a quick check online to read previous reviews - all looked ok -  I phoned and booked us in.  This by the way was in complete contrast to Mr B, who would have umm-ed and ah-ed for 2 days, checked all the health & safety regulations ... twice ...  spent an hour working out when it could be planned into the schedule over the next two months and then finally, when all of his thorough research had been completed, discovered that the offer was now sold out ;)

I booked a Saturday evening trail ride, and luckily, we were blessed with the perfect weather - clear blue skies, sunshine and cooler temperatures - only in the mid 80's - perfect.  Once we arrived and checked in, we were given the usual disclaimer to review and sign & shown where to select our 'optional' helmets.  I was thinking that maybe I wouldn't wear one as I detest hats of any kind, but one look from Mr Health & Safety told me that that wasn't even going to be an option **sighs and rolls eyes**, so after finally settling on the one with the least amount of flies buzzing round it *uggh*, we were ready.  Once the other members of the party had arrived ... whiney woman in yellow cardigan (no wonder we were surrounded by flies **tuts**) and Japanese girl with high pony tail who spent 10 minutes wondering why she couldn't get her helmet on, **snort** we were assigned our horses.  Mine was called Maddie, Ethan was on Taz (hopefully not named after the cartoon character) and Mr B was partnered with Joey ... and yes, predictably, we heard him utter those immortal words as he climbed into the saddle ... "How you doing?" ... and yes ... we did cringe. 

Whilst the trail was a bit monotonous (quite frankly one cactus looks like another after the first 5 minutes) and the only wildlife we saw was a couple of jack rabbits, it was a surprisingly comfortable and relaxing ride and my horse was very well behaved (unlike the one we did a couple of years ago in Montana when I was in agony after the first 15 minutes ... and for 2 days afterwards!).  All in all a very pleasurable way to spend a couple of hours especially as we were also rewarded with a stunning sunset as we made our way back to the ranch. Beautiful!

By complete contrast, the next day we spent a fraught afternoon at IKEA buying furniture for our new house ... and yes, it is exactly the same shopping experience as in the UK.  Same meatballs, same annoying little pencils, same collection system where when you do eventually manage to find what you were looking for, you give yourself a hernia trying to get it onto the bloody trolley!  Of course, that's all before you discover that the top of the desk won't actually fit in the back of the car without collapsing both of the back seats and unless you strap teenager to the roof on the way home, someone is going to have to come back and get it .... and it wasn't going to be me  ... and breathe!

We were also finally reunited with our goods and chattels this week as our container from the UK was delivered.  Part of the service with the relocation company is that as well as packing everything for you when you move, they also unpack everything at the other end (carefully stipulating though that they will not put anything away in cupboards, but leave it on counter tops etc.)  Brilliant, I thought.  I will have everything put away in no time!  All went well at first as I worked alongside Dennis in the kitchen, putting away china as he unwrapped it ... piece of cake!   What I had not factored into the equation though was the fact that the remaining three members of the crew, (all lovely guys but looking like they belonged to the weirdest punk-metal-country boy band ever) having unloaded the rest of the container faster than Billy Wizz on speed, were now also unpacking boxes in every other room in the house and pretty soon every available surface was covered with 'stuff'!  Aaaaarrggh! 

I soon began to feel completely overwhelmed, and when I saw them approaching the stack of boxes labelled 'arts & crafts' (think gazillions of tiny buttons, crystals, glitter & ribbon, not to mention enough paper to cover the Grand Canyon ... topical I thought ...)  I was completely freaking out!! Especially as we had yet to buy any furniture for the study/craft room and therefore had nothing to put it away in!  Nooooooo! .... STOP!!!   

They seemed only too pleased with my suggestion that they just left the rest and we would unpack them ourselves later (funny that) and after assembling the remaining furniture before you could say 'izzy wizzy let's get busy' (what? I grew up with Sooty & Sweep, OK?!) they were soon on their way leaving us surrounded by a sea of brown.  Gulp! Fast forward three days and whilst by no means 'unpacked' we are getting there, and at least I can now see the basins in the bathroom!  (Meanwhile Ethan has helpfully busied himself testing the wifi and running experiments to see how long various episodes of Friends take to load on Netflix ... cheers)

On a serious note though, if I have learnt anything over these past seven weeks it is how little we actually need to get by on a day to day basis.  We have all managed perfectly well for close to 2 months with the contents of a suitcase and a large holdall each, and whilst it is lovely to be reunited with all our belongings, the amount of 'stuff' we possess without which we could function perfectly well, is really quite obscene!  This really seems to strike a chord at the moment when every day it seems we are watching news items where families have lost everything they own due to the devastating tornadoes that seem to be never ending for some parts of the country at the moment, and those affected by the earthquake in Nepal. 

Time for another trip to the charity shop I think (or Goodwill as it is known here)!

Thanks for dropping by and hope to see you next week ... same time, same bat channel.