Britain Comes to the USA??

The Earl of Grantham’s impressive library/study. 

Credit: Courtesy of © Carnival Film &

 Television Limited for MASTERPIECE

Can you believe a US congressman has decorated his office to imitate [well sort-of] Robert Crawley 's study in Downton Abbey? Guess he fancies himself an Earl to be addressed as Lord?? And yup, it has created a scandal and his resignation.

OK, you can also buy stuff (I do mean STUFF) to fix up your home like Downton.  Whatever next!

Last Saturday was the 4th Annual Great American Grunt Hunt (including  Hogfish) and Fish Fry.  Hook a fish, enter the competition (by weight) and then have your fish fried and served up to the public for $7. Youth fish too.  First prize is $500 if you want to have a go next year.

Attractive? Hogfish, the grunt is grey and ugly!

Here's a totally different type of critter, trotted out (or should I say hopped out?) in our lobby for Easter.  S/he looks a bit 1960's hippy to mini me.  My neighbour feels the desire to prick him with a pin and put this rabbit out of his misery!

Spring has definitely arrived and everything is in bloom - including this Australian Bottle Brush which in Florida grows as a tree and in our London garden a bush no higher than my knee!  Apparently the leaves have a lovely fragrance if crushed - so I will have to go crushing. And Spring brings out the GALS (Giant African Land Snail), which have invaded Florida, for all those tasty new leaf morsels; they grow as big as a rat and can eat through your house walls, hence they are considered the most dangerous snail in the world!  Bigger than mini me, we fortunately haven't met one yet!

source: altereddimensions.net

Spring Break (college kids going wild escaping winter by coming to FL to party) hasn't impacted us too much on our stretch of the beach, however, all ages have come out with their 'toys' to play - on the beach, in the sea and in the air. Life size me has been venturing into the ocean (just before stingray season starts) and hears there are sand dollars tickling underfoot on the sandbar just offshore!  The gulls too get in on the action soaring and bouncing on the air currents.

Skim boarding in the surf

Kite with
sound effects

Ultralights, sometimes in pairs cruising the beach

Fast seaplanes

Sad to miss the solar eclipse --not visible here--it got good news coverage in the UK.  But we have been watching planet Venus nightly for months.

The local blog has just sent us a "Weather Alert" as follows 'Rain Chances on the Rise.' Life is tough on the beach!