LAFADEAWAY - Just to say HI!
 

Hi LA,
Just wondered how you are getting along? Hope you are getting back to normal after your trip.
Have I missed your report or is that still to come?
I know you were happy with your camera, but I am still unsure about that one as it hasn't a
viewfinder - how did you find that? And how did you get along with the battery problem?

Best Wishes
Maudie

Hey Maudie! You haven't missed my report, I just haven't posted it yet. I've been completely overwhelmed with work since I've been back and now all my family is starting to arrive for my MBA graduation next week. Chances are, I won't be able to get to it until they are all gone, so it may be another week or two (I know GPanda is going to start enforcing that penalty soon, yikes!).

We love our new camera (Panasonic TZ1), although I haven't downloaded the pictures and viewed them on my computer yet or tried printing any. Hopefully, they will turn out nice. Not having a view finder was never an issue and neither was the battery. It never even came close to running out of juice on us, but we did charge it every night. I'll be sure to post a link to our pics once I get them uploaded (we have over 1100 of them!).

Well congrats to you getting your MBA that's a fantastic achievement and enjoy your celebrations.

Glad to hear about the camera - all the things I have read say to turn off the LCD and use the viewfinder to conserve power so I was curious to see how you went but it doesn't sound like it was a problem at all.

Will look forward to your report and seeing all those photo's. I think Gpanda should grant you an extension!

Maudie,
GPanda already granted me an extension due to me being so traumatized about returning to work and all. It's bound to run out soon though :) Things are getting a little better in that regard. I've just decided to show up and not really do any actual work for a while. I've been surfing the South Pacific for a possible 10th anniversary destination and just doing the minimum to get by each day. Pathetic, I know, but I'll get over it eventually.

The camera has some power saver options that turn off the LCD after a few seconds, but we really never even needed to use that. The battery life is great!

don't worry about gpanda....he is all bark, or, rather make that a yip, and no bite...

Great thanks for the info on the camera, it is sounding better all the time.

Glad you have found a way to get through the days - sounds like a positive to me!

South Pacific sounds wonderful - our daughter just landed her first job (she has been studying to become a travel agent) at Air Mauritius. We have been pouring over all the brochures and there are some fabulous places to stay - just perfect for an anniversary. But I guess a long way for you to go but if you get a chance look it up.

Wow, I didn't even know where Mauritius was until I just looked it up. That is quite a ways away, but I bet it's nice!! I've been trying to pick between FP, Fiji, or the Cooks. I've also toyed with Palau and even the Maldives, but those two are both really far and really expensive to get to. We've been to Tahiti and Moorea already. Decisions, decisions...

Well that is a hell of a decision! I have always fancied the Cook Islands for some reason but they all sound fantastic.

See, you are over your jet lag already! Well done.

And I am just trying to plan our long service leave for next year - 8 weeks in Europe!!! Our first time and oh so many wonderful places and things to see. We have decided on Amsterdam (for me to see the tulips) Brugge (for me to eat chocolate), a week in Denmark staying with friends, a week in London, the Norway Coastal Voyage and 10 days in Switzerland before we fly home to OZ.
Don't you just love travelling!

Yep, having a trip to plan always seems to take the edge off of returning from the last one. Your trip to Europe sounds awesome. I have yet to make it to Europe, so that's got to be coming up in the next few years.