So training is over with. Tomorrow (Saturday) we sign on our new ship. That is Royal Carribiean, Liberty of the Seas. It is the biggest ship in the water anywhere right now and we really lucked out to get it. Hopefully, all things go to plan and we wil lnot be on there too long as we will get our own ship. This training has been tough at times, but alot of fun. Ive learnt a shit load and met some really great people. All in all, fantastic. A new day tomorrow and a new ship and a new cruise line. Cant wait!

You have no idea how much money is sitting on all of those easels. Neither did we at the start of training but we do now! And its not a small amount, and thats the stuff we trained with

The Team (nickname "Genesis" God bless you Gorden) hard at it; Lunch that is. Although we only got 20 mins a day, so we derserved a little bit of time to ourselves!

The weather did start nice each day although It didnt tend to last

So beautiful, sunny Miami.......... er better rewrite that one. Since we have been here (12 Days) its rained every day, and im not talking a little shower. Im talking full on english winter, "dont go outside as you might as well jump in a swiming pool you will not get as wet" weather!

The view your seeing is the view from the gallary across the lovely Miami Lakes ;)

Its Memorial Day today in the states (a bank holiday that we dont have) so we actually got a day off. Its been an intense week since we have been here. We're expected to learn alot. Not only what we had to learn before we came out but also another 40 artists since we got here. Thats totalling 50 artists we have to know about! Were doing our best and studying hard but it takes it toll. We actually went out for a few drinks last night at the Dorel Ale house near by. We we're hoping for a good night but it turned out to be a big bust. Back at training tommrow and this is where it steps up a notch as we will be actually doing moc auctions with the best auctioneer Park west has ever had. No pressure there then.......

So why have I just posted a picture of a jumbo you may be asking. Well we as you can see we are staying in a hotel right underneath the flight path to one of Miami's busiest runways....... and I kinda like the shot. Plus I havent been able to get out anywhere else to take any other pictures. Roll on Thursday and the end of training

Who said training would be intense???

Wow......I knew we would be working hard during training but the after hours study is a killer. Like Paul said no time for anything......I made us finish at 11pm just so I could watch tv for an hour and catch up a little on here. Roll on Sunday 5pm and we actually have a day off :o)

Ok, my free time is already quickly running out before sleep calls. We'll be back in a few days with more updates. Until then - positive thoughts for us would be nice x

I really want to do a nice post, take some lovely photos and tell you all (cos I know so many people are reading this ;) ) whats going on out here right now.  Honestly its 11pm, ive been studying since I woke up this morning, barely had time to scratch my arse and all I want to do now is sleep.  Once we get through this crazy week and hit the bank holiday on Monday, we will both try and do an all round catch up.  Until then, I hope we make it!!

So we are out of the country and back in the States. On the way out of the U.K we flew through the rather impressive if very commercial Terminal 5. As you can see early morning obsession for Starbucks coffee certainly rivals where we are going. Our flight was uneventful and we landed 8 hours later. Immigration for the first time was a breeze and the hardest thing of the day was waiting an hour for the hotel shuttle. We're now in the hotel trying not to fall asleep so we can get ourselves back on U.S time. We will have a full day ahead of us studying tomorrow and then meet and greet tomorrow night.

So our last night out in the Country and we went to the Dogs in Romford. We had several drinks, several bets and a good night had by all. However the conclusion I can happily draw from this evening is twofold. One; I am useless at betting on the dogs, and two; Im very glad about it! It could become very expensive very quickly, especially with my apparant lack of skill when it comes to choosing a winner. It got to the point last night that everyone else would wait till I had bet and then do the opposite! Thats how much my luck was against me. 13 Races not one winner. Claire and Colin managed a couple of winners but nothing to scream about. Nevermind. We will have a quiet day today, repack for the last time to make sure everything is where it should be and then Monday morning we will be getting up early to get to Terminal 5 at Heathrow. Next time I make an entry I will be in Miami

On the way home we passed by the cottage (the one painted white) that I grew up in from age 4 to 10. Serious deja vu. Funny, the place all seemed so small! Got to admit though, the memories that came flooding back were all good. Whether they were rose coloured memories or not, I don't care. I'm gonna stick with the warm feeling inside and stay happy with that!

Bye Bye Scotland. Just under 6 hours later and we've left Fort William and we're back in Southport. To be honest it was a fantastic drive. I probably left the speed limit behind on many an occasion but the car was well worth the risk. Great clear roads, almost all the way. I have to say though, why is it most men are genetically engineered to get road rage at the slightest aggravation? A guy I will never see again over took my car at what I thought was a very innapropriate moment and suddenly Im MAD MAX! Thankfully I have a wife that calmed me down and stopped me from killing the both of us!

Made it to Southport in great time......sitting having a nice chilled glass of wine...one of many tonight perhaps???? Wishing however the weather was as nice as home, all having bbq's at home and it's really cold here. But I can smile and say we will be in sunny Miami in 5 days....not to make anyone jealous of course.

All set to go

Well, that's the packing done and we're almost on our way.....why is it that us females always take things "just in case"?? Anyway, just about my whole belongings in 2 suitcases and it's time to move on from sunny Fort William. It's been nice but time for a change of scene so come on Southport and Essex.... 

So Uncle Paul takes the kids out in the Garden and tried to entertain them for an hour. Thing is kids have a way of tiring you out and this was done through spinning around while trying not to drop a child! The scary thing is; im thinking by the time I have kids and they are this age I will be at least pushing, if not running towards or past forty years old. I better start at the gym again now to get myself ready for the extra exercise!

My favorite shot of the morning. The last one, just as I was walking back to the house. I turned round and noticed this. Not too bad a shot if I do say so myself........ Well for me anyway

Just a few miles to the right and the sunrise would have been perfect! Still nice enough as it was

I am going to miss these views when I head back to Southport. Although hoping for some nice new places to see on the ships as well

Finally did it; after 4 weeks in Fort William I had to get up and see one sunrise before I Left. It was worth the wait! Although the Sun was quite selfish and didnt come up over the Mountins like I was hoping for

The Locals will be glad to see us go!

First Post, just to say up and running. We're getting ready to go back to ships on the 19th of March for our new jobs. We have a training course in Miami first and then join our new ship a week later. We don't know which cruise line we're going to or where in the world we will be seeing. All we know right now is we're excited and can't wait to get back out there