Sept 19: Hi Terry-girl!! I’m on the countdown now…3 sleeps…yikes!! Such a different trip to pak for than Camino…a few shorts and tee shirt. The Dill and I have stuff strewn around everywhere, and today feels like a good day to pull it all together. I have prepared Dill a little about the ladies we will be travelling with, how some of them love each other differently but he insists love is simply love so he has no problem…and I agree! You gotta love the little Cuke, his heart is so pure. I’m sure they will love him too. He has even traded in his hikers now for a pair of….Gerkinstocks!! Photos to follow! Hope your still feeling better, sit back and relax, we’ll take the 12 hour hop for the team, and lets explore another spot in our wonderful world. Glad your coming along again, makes me happy to know your there. Hugs and all our love…let the games begin! Jill & The Dill
Jill & Dill: Wishing you another safe and eventful trip and lots of stories to share. I know how much we enjoyed your earlier trip and I can hardly wait to see what the two of you get into. I am sure Pickle is running around trying to figure out what to take and what to leave behind. I think 1 Super Hero cape should do it! Have a fabulous time and travel safe my two friends. Enjoy all that it has to give….hugs. Terry
GUESS WHAT!!
Sept 22: Good morning Mom!!! I have hardly been able to contain myself over here because so much has been going on!!
Today is the day Jill and I are leaving for Bali and I am so excited to go and see, and thank you for letting me go with Jill again. We will see all, tell all, and report back…just like a tiny Camino. Well you won’t believe this…my new friend Jean Pierre…(he’s French) made me my very own Gerkinstocks!! to wear on the trip. He said my hikers were all wrong so…see? He said the idea came to him over a glass of wine! Not sure where he found the beautiful little cork soles, but I had a little juice tear I don’t mind saying! He is a real nice man, even tho he has a kind of scary hook (I couldn’t resist a play on it tho).
I will try to be good, like you would want me to be, but Im so full of beans mischief feels close at hand Mom! Jill says the ladies we are going to see are full of beans too so I will fit right in. I mean Wild Women…what do they expect!
Well Mom, Jill needs me to pak up my little knapsack so don’t forget how much I love you! One Giddy Gerkin…too cool for school!! xoxo Your little Dill
HEY! Sept 26
Just thought I would send a little note, as I see the Dill has taken to e mailing you directly…no problem, but I suspect he is playing Candy Crush at nite also, and I only have so much data! We are settling in nicely, Dill is resting…well with Terry Travels actually so you can see how well he is settling in!
So I wanted to just reassure you, as I have the Dill that yes there is a volcano about to erupt but that we have had our itinerary changed to steer clear of that area and there is a plan B which involves a boat and train to get us off the island in the event of smoke hampering the planes. Pic tossed and turned all nite feeling anxious…there were a few tears…I gave him a wee drink of wine just to settle him so I just wanted to send this note quietly while he is napping with his new friend. Otherwise he has been into the flora and fauna as you can see, poolside, and learning his currency with Heather.
They all love him as I knew they would…so its Wild Women – and Pickle! He needs to keep his pants on so no one gets wise he isn’t a Wild Woman. I told him…if anyone asks…I’ll handle it! Heading into an epic adventure…volcano and all! Keep well Terry-girl…love you and miss you. Your forever travel partner Jilly
BALI DAZE: Sept 28
Just wanted to check in and tell you we had a most magical day today! This morning we visited a coffee plantation and our daring little Dill got a chance to….and did! drink “poop” coffee! Thats right…poop coffee!! Little wild Civets eat the coffee beans…poops it out and they make coffee out of it, so Pic sucked it up and had a drink with all the other Wild Women!
We also got our picture taken at the coffee plantation and the Dill could pick any sign he wanted to hold and so you can see which one he chose. Your little Gerkin loves you so, he said he just wanted you to know that. A Dill after our own hearts hey.
After that we hit the cycles…before the poop coffee had a chance to react on Pic, and rode for miles thru the villages…Pickle was in his glory, going’ for the gusto, waving and high five’ the locals. Our Dill is over the moon that you let him come Terry-girl!
AND…Pic has a surprise for you, which I won’t spoil…he is so enjoying getting the phone and e mailing you direct. Our Dill I growing up hey! Anyway keep well, love you and will write soon again. Can’t hold the Dill back on this adventure…can’t stop the wind! Your forever travel partner. Jilly
MOM!! YOU WON’T BELIEVE IT! Sept 28
Hi Mom! You can’t guess what happened to me today Mom! I have made a friend! One of Jill’s new friends brought her little friend “Ronnie”, who she was keeping hidden cause, well, we didn’t actually pay and all, but when she saw I was on the tour, she introduced me to Ronnie. Ronnie doesn’t brush his hair and he’s a bit scary Mom, but he is a friend for me and I am so excited!!
Jill and her new friend Dusty had a beverage and Ronnie and I got a chance to play together.
I can’t wait for tomorrow…oh, the places we’ll see, the things we will do…I’m so excited for tomorrow and seeing my friend…pretty sure I can’t sleep, so Jill says I can stare at the ceiling with her.
Love you Mom…I’m rite off to bed so this day can be over and I can see Ronnie again!! Yours forever…Super Pickle South!! PS. Jill says she likes Ronnie too!
YESTERDAY Sept 30
Hi my Terry-girl! Well another travel day done, and I’ve got good news and bad news to report!! The good news is we had an amazing jungle walk for most the day yesterday. Pickle was in fine form…eager for a new adventure…and in the jungle yet!
So off we go, heads held high, the Wild Women and Pickle…Ronnie stayed home cause he was clowning’ around and his mom got mad! It was a beautiful walk, but it had just rained before and unfortunately leeches tend to come up from the jungle floor and wouldn’t you know it …poor Pic got one in his little Gerkinstock! I picked it of and well he was horrified, and yes, there were tears, but all the Wild women gathered around to comfort him. After that he didn’t trust me to keep him safe so he rode with our leader Cat to the jungle end.
He was worried Ronnie would find out he cried, but I told him Pic, any of us would have cried if we got a leech on us, and not to feel ashamed at all. I had to tell you this Terry, in case of infection, I told Dill, then how will we explain this one!! Sorry Terry-girl…I’ll be more careful, he just got ahead of me on the trail so full of Gerkin glee he was!
We got to have a wee boat ride at the end, Pic took a deep breath and shook it off as best he could…such a hearty little trooper. Everyone loves him so (he’s just like his mom). Steppin’ up the precautions Terry-girl…won’t happen again! Love you. Your forever travel partner, Jill
PICKLE GOES TO YOGA Oct 1
Hi Mom! I wanted to tell you I am fine and happy, but I had a bit of trouble, and I’ve cried twice but I’m OK now! I got a leech, I think Jill told you, and yesterday Ronnie got to go snorkelling because he’s older, and I had to stay home. Jill said we had to step up our game on keeping me safe but I wanted to go with Ronnie. Jill said when I’m old enough I’ll be able to go too. It didn’t help that Ronnie came home and said he saw Sea Cucumbers! Jill said he rubbed it in, and that’s not nice. Anyway Mom…I’m learning yoga! Jill takes me, and see, I’m a natural!
Look at my poses! Here’s me…Pickle plank, and downward facing Dill!!
Then we said Ommmms for ourselves, for a special person (I picked you) and for the world. I am loving yoga!
Oh, here’s Ronnie, he wants to bury me in sand…Jill said no but we can build a sandcastle!! Gotta go Mom…Love you! Your Gerkin on the Go!
ANOTHER DILLY OF A DAY! Oct 2
Hi my Terry-girl! Yesterday was another wild and wonderful adventuresome day. Our spirits were high, Pickle got to bed early and was rarin’ to go at dawn! Up we dashed for a 3 hour hike to a monastery on a mountaintop.
The Dill has taken up a wee meditation practise Terry, and here he is…our little Pickle of prayer. Shanti, shanti, shanti, peace, peace, peace is his little prayer for the world.
Your Dill has such a big heart Terry-girl. He just wants everyone to love each other as he does. Well, and when we got home, as promised, Dill got to build a sandcastle with Ronnie!!
He was so excited to see his friend. PS (Ronnie’s going bald at the back and needs a comb-over Dill confided…lol!). He shared his sunglasses cause Ronnie thought they were cool so now Ronnie is “too cool for school”.
Dill might have talked Ronnie’s ear off but he couldn’t help it, he so wants to be Ronnie’s BFF forever! Can’t stop him, our Cuke wears his heart on his sleeve, bless him. Bye for now Terry-girl. Stay well. Your forever travel partner Jilly
NOT TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL!! OCT 3
Mom…it’s me…you won’t guess what’s happened!!
Jill held a surprise, for yesterday…I’ve attended school!!!
All the kids loved me! I was so excited!! Even the teacher loved me!!
We sang Old McDonald, Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes, and I got to lead! I couldn’t understand them but who cares!! We just loved each other, just like you taught me, your Dill of Delight!
We didn’t really learn too much cause it was my first day, but I paid attention, said thank you, and didn’t squirm in my shorts, just like Jill said. And because I was so good today guess what else?? Jill thinks I can try my hand at Pickle pictures!!
She thinks I’m ready and I won’t drop the camera or let her down in any way. I love Jill and I love you too Mom! I’m one pleased Pickle!! Your forever Gerkin…Pic
HI HI Oct 5
Hi My Terry-girl. Here we are!! I hope you have not worried about us. Pickle and I have left the beach and journeyed waayyyy into the mountains with no wi fi. He was afraid you would worry for his life with the volcano and all so I stopped here at a cafe to catch you up and reassure him you know he is well. We were upgraded to a villa at Pemuteran and I do need to report Pic was so excited I caught him dangling from some of the artwork Terry, and he had to have a little dilly of a timeout.
He felt bad…I couldn’t stay mad…and all was forgotten!
He means no harm Terry, hope you won’t scold him when he gets home! He was so excited to go swimming with Ellen, and out dolphin watching with the Wild women too!!
He and Brenda are getting along well, like a house on fire as you can see.
Well we are off to river rafting Terry-girl…know we are safe, and we love you very much. Our spirits soar!! Your forever travel partner…and your little Gerkin gad about!
THE DILL OF DIVINE! Oct 7
Hi Mom! I just wanted you to know I have been to an Ashram!! Jill made me my own sari so I could go in and me…your Gerkin…has been blessed by a Guru. I am so excited and feeling The Dill of Divine!!
Guru told me to keep on my spiritual path…and so I shall!! He said to bring peace I must be peace…and I am. I am imagining all the people living life in peace every moment now Mom! I got this thing…I wanted you to know I will devote my life to it!! Or at least this week!!
We went by car to Prana Diwi in the mountains and I got car sick…it was so windy. The Wild women gave me a wee grain of gravel but I was embarrassed and went rite to bed! Jill said not to feel bad…anyone can have a pickle pukie on a windy mountain road. Anyway mom, I’m in a mountain jungle and feeling better today!!
I’m seeing everything again and my heart is full!! I’m giving you a hug with my heart mom…keep feeling better! Love your Pickle-boy!
PICKLE PHOTO SHOOT Oct 8
Hi My Terry-girl. Well we’ve settled into our jungle retreat, and Dill was eager to begin his lessons in photography.
Trouble is…he wants to be in all the photos!! And hang from the outdoor shower.
I don’t want to say attention deficit here…it could be he was into the sugar again!
He’s poking into every inch of the retreat, and I can’t guarantee he’s going to be ready to handle the camera for our trip to Greece Terry. AND he’s taken to wanting to carry the cell phone full time now! I thought I’d better check that one because he won’t usually carry anything, and what do I find?? Pickle selfies!!!
God help me Terry, pretty sure I’m doomed! I’m REALLY missing you. Your forever travel partner Jill….and selfie Dill
TEMPLE TIME Oct 9
Hi my Terry-girl! The best of times for your little Pickle’s grand adventure in Bali continued today as the Wild Women surprised he AND Ronnie with a trip to Batukau temple…from the 11th century.
The boys rushed into surrong and sash, and up the mountain trail they went, their spirits high!
Your Pickle of purity told Ronnie…let’s pray for all the people to live together in peace…and so they did…right there amongst the offerings!
Ronnie confessed later over tea his tummy felt all warm and he rather liked this being kind thing, and even stopped calling Dill pukie cukie, over the car sick incident!
Seems Pickle has that power for good now and he wants to use it! May the force be with him Terry-girl! See you soon now my forever travel partner! Jilly
LOVE IS LOVE. Oct 10
Hi Mom. It’s me… your Dill here in Bali, and I’ve got something to tell you Mom. This is our leaders Cat and Veronique, and well, there married mom…to each other!
And here’s Terri and she’s married to Vessie, and Dusty’s partner is Sarah! They’re gay.
I’m gay too mom, but like happy gay, but I’m not a lesbian cause well…I’m a Dill. Jill says sometimes girls fall in love with girls and boys fall in love with boys and boys and girls fall in love with each other like you and Dad did. Jill says love is love and the heart wants what the heart wants but some people don’t like it when boys and girls don’t just stick to loving each other. I love Jill and she loves me but we aren’t lesbians because it’s not that twitterpating kind of love and you know, I’m a Dill too. Hope your not confused Mom. I jut love everyone like you and Jill do…simple, so I’m not confused! Love you Mom, Your happy and gay, but not lesbian Pickle-boy.
MORE NEWS! Oct 10
Mom, mom!! I have more news!!! I’m home and you won’t guess what! Ronnie is coming to stay with me for awhile!! Like in Nanaimo, cause Ronnie only lives in Duncan and his mom Dusty said he could!! Like a sleepover for a few days! We flew on the plane together…Ronnie told me to go in the overhead compartment to see if I could breathe but Jill said no, so we had supper and watched movies,
and when it was over we went rite back to the Accent Inn where we started and yes!! Rubber Duckie was waiting there rite where I left him and I showed Ronnie how to have a ride!!
Now we’re back on the mantle at Jill’s safe and sound, full of stories and memories, and well, love too, but we aren’t lesbians Mom. We’re BFF’s forever.
I know I’ll see you soon, Jill says keep feeling better and psstttt she says we’re going to the cottage together…I get to meet the 6 pak!! Can’t sleep, can’t sleep!!! Yay! Your loving Pickle South
THAT’S A WRAP!