Having an SLR camera can be a problem at times. Not a problem if you purposefully go out to take photos, but in the 100F (40C) heat that we are having, a weighty camera slung over your shoulder just adds to the discomfort.
Enter Office Depot. We had gone there to find card to print new business cards, get a birthday card and assorted other things. There was a little compact canon (purse size) camera VERY reduced in price and it caught our eyes. 16.1 megapixels, only 5 x optical zoom, which I can live with (this is for tourist photos, afterall) but it has 1080 Full HD video!! that was the seller for Waz. It is a Canon Elph 110HS Power Shot. I used to have a film Elph ears ago...I called it my 'Spy Camera' because it was so small...took great photos too!!

They didnt have a new one in a box, so we bought the display model with an extra 10% off. Pays to ask!! lets just hope it works just fine. We have it on charge right now, then we can go and test drive it. It is supposed to take excellent night time and low light photos. You might get to see the results of that.
You will have to forgive the poor quality of the cell phone night time photos I took. Didnt have time to mess with the settings, so just pointed and shot, when we were at the Kemah Boardwalk the other night. The old wooden Roller coaster is amazing. I dont think I will go on it though. If you look hard at the photo, you will see the blur that is the people going past:)

no, not this one....

 or this one...

The brown thing that looks like a fuzzy caterpillar, top left ...that's the roller coaster going down:)

Sorry about the other photos...I cant seem to erase them. Enjoy the full moon next to the coaster structure!

 

Back to the camera...

I have a small camera back in NZ which we put into the storage locker, so I viewed this expense rather sadly, but I know I will use it much more often if it is at hand and takes better photos than my cell phone.

 

Waz has been slaving in the bowels (well, the Head, actually) of the ensuite for the past week. We picked up the part we were waiting for yesterday, and he installed it this morning. And he reinstalled it, and reinstalled it. n further inspection, sweat running down his face, he found a hairline crack in yet another part. Aieeeeeeeeeee! Looking for the correct part we made an executive decision. Take off the new parts he had just installed, keep them for future use if necessary, and lets just go and buy a whole new toilet! We had priced them on the internet and gasped! yes, not cheap..but this is a boat, remember, lol.

Well, we went to another Marine store...Blackburns...today, instead of West Marine, and got a price $20 less than WM. We know WM doesnt have our electric toilet in stock, so we just went with the one we found.

Buying this toilet means we cannot afford a new bar fridge for the Fly deck. We dont know if the one on the fly deck works, yet, but if it doesnt, then we have a problem. I have no space in the small galley fridge for any drinks. Bottled water is a necessity.We will drink it warm!

One much get one's priorities right!

 

I took a few photos of the interior this morning...Sorry, I didnt clean up before taking them, but you can see the space isnt huge.

Warren isnt happy with this photo...says he looks six months pregnant:)

I am standing on the steps up to the Galley to take this pic.

Note the kiwi cushions!!! The red ones have Pohutukawa (Ohia Lehua for the Hawaiian readers) blossoms on them. The cabinet on the back left is where the TV is supposed to go, but as you can see, it makes a perfect 'catch-all'.

 

Can you see the NZ decal on the door...upside down!! well, we keep being told we are from DOWNUNDER!

The Chinese laundry over the Cockpit, and the hatch to the engine room on the right where the white door is open.

 

 

To take this photo, I am standing at the foot of the stairs going up to the Gallery and the Pilot-house. galley is on the left, black fridge with microwave over it, and dinette to the right of the wheel...in next photo.

Dinette seats four people.

 

 

We didnt bring a lot of things, but our Lamb and Kiwi were important inclusions in the luggage!

The pilot house

 

The galley.

Speaking of which...time to make some food for dinner. Vege Burgers on Olive/Parmesan Foccacia with mozarella, tomatoes and lettuce...and maybe an egg:) Yum!