8 July 2007…I am actually once again on the Eurostar to Paris… meeting tomorrow in our Paris office. Who knew I would be visiting Paris on such a regular basis.. Some people have it really tough.. Anyway, I have been writing, just haven’t posted it. So, here is a catch up…
Can you believe it? I am once again on a plane to Istanbul! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine going to Istanbul twice in a year --- boy life can be amazing!
So, to catch up… Where has the time gone.. It is mid June and I will have been here a year in August. I was last at home in May, both for a staff meeting and Mother’s Day… It was good to be home, the whistling three year old, my adult children, the Brook girls + Teya, Sally and Paul, Larry and Em, Chris and Steve, Jess and John, Mike and OOO Olivia … the new “love of my life,” Macklin (he loves me too!), but best of all I was able to celebrate my brother Neil’s 50th birthday with all the Kelly’s minus Chris and Steve who were in Oklahoma with Ben… even the infamous Danny Kelly and his wife attended. A good time was had by all!
End of May (I have lost track of the days…) My friend Sally’s daughter flew in from Africa… boy did she have great stories and pictures to share. She started her trip off with three friend in Kenya then she went off by herself through other areas, landing So. Africa. She is amazing.. She had a short layover before going back home but we had a ball. We went into London, went to the British Musuem, Buckingham Palace, Picadilly, Covenant Garden …. Had a great early dinner in a traditional pub.. lots of fun. We spent a whole day talking, drinking champagne and looking at her pictures… just could not have been more fun!
On June 20, my 57th birthday… yes, I am getting older looking…don’t feel any different inside.. it is a shame because the mirror and what others see is not really what’s inside.. Oh well, everyone gets here eventually….
Anyway, my handsome nephew Patrick (Neil and Di) arrived with his friend Scott for the first leg of a grand tour of EMEA!! He and I share this birthdate… Oh he was only 22, but still, we had a great time. I picked them up at the airport, we dropped their stuff at my house and went to the train for the trip to London. We were planning on seeing the play ”Wicked” hich has become one of my favorites… I have seen it twice.. so we got our tickets and had time so we walked to Buckingham Palace, had a great dinner at tappas restaurant and then to the play… after the play (yes, they fell asleep during the first part but then coffee at the break got them through the second half. They enjoyed it. We then walked from Victoria Station to Picadilly Circus and then into SoHo where we hit a pub and a drink. Both boys seemed to really be enjoying themselves. We rode the “drunk train” back and then back to my house by about 1:30pm (see, I can keep up)… the next day they went into London themselves armed with a list of things to do and a map of how they would get it all done. That Patrick is very organized. Anyway, the stayed until Saturday the 23rd then off they went to Amsterdam, last I heard they were in Prague, “having the time of their lives” to quote Patrick. Their trip includes, London, Amsterdam, Munich, Prague, Croatia, Rome, Lake Como…and more, but all in one month! Pretty impressive.
29 –June -2007
I am once again on the Eurostar returning from Paris. A meeting with an agency and the Seagate Retail Marketing Manager was the reason for the trip. Since Joe was visiting, I thought he would enjoy the visit to Paris… What was I thinking??
To begin the trip:
First of all, it took too long to get to the train (Waterloo Station)… we had a driver who was taking us there. Joe could not believe the traffic… this sucks… (his favourite phrase!) We arrive at the train station and he gets something to eat, so he is a little happier… but, those seats were so uncomfortable! His legs were just too tight!. We finally made our way to the bar car where he was much more comfortable because he could stand and have one beer after another until we got into Paris…
Arriving in Paris:
Ok, so now, I know he is going to be impressed! Wrong! Oh, it was such a long walk when we got off of the train, … why did I bring an umbrella? … he wasn’t going to carry it!... As we worked our way through the crowd to the main part of the station… he seemed to really begin to take in the Parisan atmosphere… until… we took a right to the taxi line… What the hell!!! The line was unbelievable. It wrapped around twice and then extended beyond the entrance almost to the front of the building. I thought he was going have a stroke! All kinds of dramatic sighs, tongue snapping.. You know, Joe at his patient best! He suggests we just start walking and try to catch a cab.. I know better and tell him it is best to just wait it out, after all, we have no where to go except our hotel! He does settle down and accept that we are now on Parisan time… 45 minutes later, we finally get into a cab. The driver speaks no English and has no clue where our hotel is, even after I show him the map… “Oh my God!” Joe exclaims… I then tell him to head towards the Louvre… He doesn’t know what I mean… Joe says… “Louvre”… loudly to the cab driver…The cab driver patiently keeps looking on his map to find our hotel… Joe then roles down his window and folds his hands over his chest, closes his eyes and lays his head back. Thank God!
Finally the cab driver figures out where to go and proceeds to drive. Joe is making noises and complaining about the traffic, not even looking at his surroundings! As we are getting close to the hotel, he exclaims,” I have to take a piss so bad..” Gee, I guess four beers go through you pretty fast! Anyway, finally we get to the hotel and Joe jumps out while I am arranging payment and receipts…He proceeds to grab our bags from the trunk and slam it down so hard the car moves and the poor driver looks at me in fear! Oh my god… what a start!
The hotel:
In an effort to enhance my knowledge and experience in Paris, I chose a three star hotel (I prefer 4 star). This hotel was in an area quite close to the Louvre and shopping… close to Notre Dame… Well, the hotel is a small one (35 rooms)… ok, we check in. The night clerk is a very nice black man who spoke English with a combination French and So.African accent, which meant it was very hard to understand him. Joe found a toilet, and I checked us in. We proceed to the elevator which was originally constructed as a dumb waiter, I am sure. Joe and I squeezed in with our bags under our feet. We were told to go to the 4th floor and then through the door up a flight of stairs to our room… As we made our way up the dark, carpeted stairway… Joe looks at me like I am the worst person in the world… “Where the hell?...” he says. Ok, this is what made it a three star… anyway, we get to the top floor of the building to a dark hallway. Luckily, I have been in these type of hotels and know that there are usually light switches by the doorways… sure enough, we turned on the light and could see that the 5th floor consisted of three rooms, ours at the back. We open our door to find what looks like a double bed (I specifically asked for two beds!) Again, my experience has been that they try to make these rooms look like they have a double bed but it is really two beds pushed together… Thankfully, this was true… Ok, Joe “tisked” at this… Oh, we had a window… it overlooked the four cornered inside space between buildings where the air conditioning (yes, we had aircon) vents and various other pipes…very charming! I decided we better head on out to eat or he was going to flip!
First night in Paris:
Directly across the street from the hotel entrance was a sushi restaurant. Joe suggested we go there…fine I said, not wanting to search for a restaurant with him. So we enjoyed an excellent meal of sushi and sake… his mood was improving. He commented on the bathroom in our room…”that bathroom in our room is OK”.. well that was positive!
After dinner we decided to walk around the neighbourhood and I wanted him to understand where the Louvre was in relation to our hotel so he could check that out in the morning while I was out at my meeting across town.
The hotel is located near the back of the Louvre, close to the Saint Eustachia Church, in a great area full of restaurants, bars and cafés… Ok, so he is somewhat impressed. As we start to walk, he tells me that his feet and legs hurt. (On Monday he had done a run in my neighbourhood and then took the train into London and walked all over the British Museum.) …Now, I think, this isn’t going to work… you really have to be able to walk around Paris! Oh brother!
Ok, so we walk around to the front of the Louvre, along the Seine. You can see the Eiffle tower, all lit up, he is a little impressed… but his legs really hurt… We head back to the hotel because he needs the toilet again… once back at our hotel, I decide to get on line and do some work. It is now 11:30pm. He decides he is going to go back out and have a drink but because he is tired, he said he would be back soon. He takes the cell phone (my extra one, I forgotten my work one…) I give him the map and the room number so he will be able to find his way back…
As I am finishing up my emails, I notice that it is 1am… hmm, I think, he has been gone an hour and a half, he must have found a good bar. I go to sleep… wake up at 2am… hmm… no Joe. Well, he is an adult, not to worry… try to go back to sleep, nap a little, expecting him to arrive at any time… 4am… no Joe.. ok, now what to do.. I don’t know the phone number of my extra phone because it is programmed into my other cell phone that I left at the office…Bars don’t close in Paris, he will be back soon though.. 4:30, 5:00, 5:30am.. Now I start to worry… has been arrested? Did he get attacked and left on the street? Did he hook up with some French girl and go off to her apartment…(no, I knew it wasn’t that… he wouldn’t talk to French girls..,) anyway, I guess I will wait until 7am because I can call one of my UK friends who know my extra cell phone’s number…
At 6:30am I call down to the front desk because I am going to ask if someone might have seen him when he left so I can search in that directions… the kindly desk clerk said, oh 504, your son is on his way up…
Thank God!
Sure enough, Joe stumbles in… he got lost! He tried to get a cab but the cab driver kicked him out (because he didn’t know where the hotel was…) no, I think it was because Joe was too drunk and probably belligerent! Anyway, Joe said he kept saying… the Louvre… and the cab driver didn’t know what he was talking about! Joe got lost, walking all over the place on those sore feet and with those bad legs!
2nd day in Paris:
So, now I have to get up and go to my meeting with about two hours of sleep, my heart pounding for the better part of six hours… yes, I was in great shape. I leave Joe a note that I will meet him back at the hotel at 5:30pm… knowing full well, he would never leave that room for the rest of the day, but I was trying to be positive.
I had to meet my colleague at the train station so that we could travel to the meeting together. She carried my forgotten phone with her. Thankfully.
Once we finished the agency meeting, I thought I would call Joe and check in… It was about 3:pm… Yes, you guessed it, he was still asleep! No Louvre or sightseeing for him.
Once I got back to the hotel, about 7:30pm, he was once again sleeping… He had gotten up and gone out and had something to eat and then went back and laid down. We walked to a restaurant suggested by one of the people I had been meeting with. It was good. Joe didn’t have much to say except that he did not like France. Mostly because he doesn’t speak the language. He said the women are beautiful, but he doesn’t speak their language.
The original plan was to come back to the UK on Saturday night from Paris, giving us two full days together to do sightseeing in Paris… Well, you know, all the lines you have to wait in, the traffic, French people don’t speak English…his legs and feet hurt so he can’t walk… he only has a week vacation.. Joe wanted to go back the UK asap. So we rescheduled our return for Friday, at noon.
Not sure whether he will ever return to Paris. He was not at all impressed as I expected him to be… you know, the history major that he is…
Oh well, I am back to Paris in a week anyway for another meeting. As I told him, it was probably good he was with me and wanted to return early. It is the “sales” season in Paris and I would have just spent too much money… As it was, I upgraded us to Business Class on the way back…I didn’t want to hear about his sore legs and feel! He did enjoy the champagne and wine with lunch as well as the extra leg room… believe me, so did it I! It was worth every Euro!!
Once back in the UK he was happy. We got back to my cottage at about 2pm. I had a few conference calls so he rested on the couch. Then he decided he needed to go out, boy so did I!...We had a great walk to a pub on the other side of the “green”… had dinner then went to the pub close to my house and closed the place (11:30pm) Yes, there was a new girl working there who was a very nice, tall, blond… Oh, and she spoke English… We were happy again.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
April -- Busy Times
It has been a while since I have written... mostly because I have been busy, both with work and with travel. A number of people have come to visit and I even got back to the states for Easter with the family! I left off with Jessica and her son Josh....
After Josh left to return to school, Jess and I took a trip to Bath, a lovely old Roman City about 1.5 hours from my home. We had a great time, even took in a “spa day” at the new roman baths that include multi-scented steam rooms, rooftop, outside mineral pools and an indoor whirlpool. Communal bathing at its best… with “swimming costumes” of course... Jessica couldn’t believe that suits were required… I would not have done it if they weren’t… then again, I don’t look any better in a suit than I do naked!! :>)
I had to travel to Amsterdam for work and Jessica came along. She went on a tour of the flower gardens and a downtown walking tour. I finished my work Friday evening and we took a dinner cruise on the canals… It was great! Some of the canals are so narrow that boat barely fit! We saw lovely, lit, bridges, converted houseboats and lots and lots of bikes… Amsterdam is a very colourful city! We even ventured into a “café” where Jessica proceeded to tell all that would listen that we were original “flower children” from San Francisco. A very young man behind the bar handed us what looked like a menu with names on one side and prices on the other. This was the “weed” list... He recommended one that he thought would suit two former “flower children.” We made our purchase and asked if could roll the joint for us. He explained that things had changed since our day and they now have little filters. How helpful!!(I still started coughing… the main reason I am not a “pot head” today!) Anyway, we each took about two hits and decided that was enough. We passed our purchase off to a very nice looking young man at the bar and went our merry way. By the time we got unto the train, we were in full on giggles…Nick called during this time and while I tried to sound coherent, he noticed something wasn’t just right…. “You’re stoned, aren’t you?” he said. (Hey, it’s legal in Amsterdam!) I tried to deny it, but then both Jess and I started laughing like silly little high school girls and it was all over. He immediately called his sister to tell on me… Can’t a girl have any fun??
Shortly after Jess left, I headed home for Easter. It was great to be home. I was very homesick, despite the visitors. It was a short visit but packed with lots of family time and especially Adriana fun. To note, I also met Nick’s new girlfriend, Ashley, another very attractive, trim, interesting person whom he has known since they were freshman in high school. (They met in the Hillsdale Mall one weekend when he and Ben and Andre were hanging out there). She lives in San Francisco and is an event planner for a very well respected destination management company… (They just handled former President Clinton’s visit to S.F.O…
After Josh left to return to school, Jess and I took a trip to Bath, a lovely old Roman City about 1.5 hours from my home. We had a great time, even took in a “spa day” at the new roman baths that include multi-scented steam rooms, rooftop, outside mineral pools and an indoor whirlpool. Communal bathing at its best… with “swimming costumes” of course... Jessica couldn’t believe that suits were required… I would not have done it if they weren’t… then again, I don’t look any better in a suit than I do naked!! :>)
I had to travel to Amsterdam for work and Jessica came along. She went on a tour of the flower gardens and a downtown walking tour. I finished my work Friday evening and we took a dinner cruise on the canals… It was great! Some of the canals are so narrow that boat barely fit! We saw lovely, lit, bridges, converted houseboats and lots and lots of bikes… Amsterdam is a very colourful city! We even ventured into a “café” where Jessica proceeded to tell all that would listen that we were original “flower children” from San Francisco. A very young man behind the bar handed us what looked like a menu with names on one side and prices on the other. This was the “weed” list... He recommended one that he thought would suit two former “flower children.” We made our purchase and asked if could roll the joint for us. He explained that things had changed since our day and they now have little filters. How helpful!!(I still started coughing… the main reason I am not a “pot head” today!) Anyway, we each took about two hits and decided that was enough. We passed our purchase off to a very nice looking young man at the bar and went our merry way. By the time we got unto the train, we were in full on giggles…Nick called during this time and while I tried to sound coherent, he noticed something wasn’t just right…. “You’re stoned, aren’t you?” he said. (Hey, it’s legal in Amsterdam!) I tried to deny it, but then both Jess and I started laughing like silly little high school girls and it was all over. He immediately called his sister to tell on me… Can’t a girl have any fun??
Shortly after Jess left, I headed home for Easter. It was great to be home. I was very homesick, despite the visitors. It was a short visit but packed with lots of family time and especially Adriana fun. To note, I also met Nick’s new girlfriend, Ashley, another very attractive, trim, interesting person whom he has known since they were freshman in high school. (They met in the Hillsdale Mall one weekend when he and Ben and Andre were hanging out there). She lives in San Francisco and is an event planner for a very well respected destination management company… (They just handled former President Clinton’s visit to S.F.O…
Another cool thing is that I got to spend some time with my new grand nephew who was born just the day before I left from the states in January. He is now three months old and I must admit, one of the most handsome babies I have seen. Albeit he is as white as the driven snow… He is, however a happy, sweet child… I actually think he might be in love with me. As I held him, he smiled, looked lovingly into my eyes and tried to talk!! Yes, he loves me!! Olivia, his big sister is also as cute as can be. She let me put him in “her crib” to nap and then decided he needed to be tickled, so she crawled in with him… He is going to have to be a strong kid because she is not going to let him get away with anything!
Steph and I did a "hair bonding" appointment with our regular stylist, Julie, in downtown Santa Cruz. Boy it was good to be home… My brother and sister in law (Dan and Shell) along with Tony, Kelly and Adriana, joined us for a great dinner at Chianti’s across the street.
Saturday was spent letting Adriana pick out a dress for Easter. She is three years old. Her mother and I took her to Macys. She picked out, and tried on at least ten dresses. Some she didn’t like because they did not twirl or they were too stiff or “not right”… she is going to be trouble for her parents… she knows what she wants. We ended up with an adorable blue and white dress the passed the twirl test and included a cap that reminded me of Shirley Temple… She loved the hat too!!
Easter was at Tim and Corrine’s. It was a lovely day and all the Kelly’s with the exception of Matt and Kathy’s family were there. The sun was shining, everyone was in a good mood and Tim made his infamous Gin Fizzes. Coco’s scalloped potatoes and honey baked ham, always the best, were complimented with the pot luck of dishes everyone brought.
My sister in law (Steve’s sister) Diane, had a stroke about two months ago. She is currently rehabilitating in a nursing home in Lafayette. Her youngest son, James, brought her to our Easter celebration. She is in a wheel chair, has short term memory loss, but was genuinely happy to see all. Boy, see what smoking can do to you! (She has been a chain smoker for over 50 years!)
Adriana and I spent a lot of time together. We played croquet in the living room, made a tent with her tunnel, made chocolate chip cookies and watched “Happy Feet” more times than I can remember. I painted her finger and toe nails, helped her sketch in her new drawing book and read from the Princess Story Book… We took the dog to the park, played hide and go seek and went to visit my friends. She is the perfect grandchild!! In between her whistling (yes, she taught herself how to whistle) she told me that I was such a nice grandma and so “butiful.” She told me over and over again, “I love your grandma…”
She is the best!!
While I was home, Steph was packing for her move back to Maui... Yes, again. This will be the third time. She says she can get a better job and will be happier. She wasn’t planning on staying home as long as she did anyway, she said… Anyway, she has shipped our old Explorer to drive over there, packed up everything she owns (which isn’t much) and back she went. She left the day after I did. She says she is very happy. She got to swim in the ocean, eat at her favourite restaurants and smell the sea air. Her cousin Nicole had a baby boy, Jack, and she has been able to spend time with them. She is living with her friend Rachael. Job hunting has been first priority. Knowing her, she will have a job in no time… she says they are hiring everywhere... We’ll see. Her brothers are mad at her for moving back but she didn’t care, she felt she had to go. They’ll get over it.
I also visited my friend Emily who is recuperating from a very serious neck/spine surgery made necessary by a virus that destroyed almost 40% of her spinal cord. She was in surgery for 8 hours!! Now she is dealing with wearing a neck brace, daily I/V doses of antibiotic and painful physical therapy. She has limited use of her right arm and a weakened left arm… Please pray for her, she has a long road to recovery.
My friend Sally joined me for the visit with Emily. She took a break from her latest project, helping her son Matt and his girlfriend Danielle with the remodel of his newly purchased home. (see blog) They have put in new doors, replaced windows and added insulation… Better them than me!! Sally says she won’t be able to travel to visit me until this project is done… I’ll be back by then!
The Noce family got together for dinner in honour of my nephew Virgil’s visit from New York with his six year old son Anthony. It was very fun, but sad, as we were missing Steve. Adriana could not stop flirting with Anthony. She chased him around and around and they were both laughing. It was so good to see the circle of life. It wasn’t so long ago that Steph and Virgil were doing the same thing.
It was so good to be home. My house is withstanding my absence just fine. Tony and Kelly are doing their best to keep things going and do a lot of entertaining which makes me happy. That is what the house is for. I know it is hard for them to live in my house but I really appreciate them being there. At least I have somewhere to stay when I come home.
My friend Barbara returned to the United Kingdom with me. She has never done much travelling and was a bit nervous about the trip… She is doing great! Using her rewards miles from one of her credit cards, she was able to fly “upper class” on Virgin. This means she got a bed and anything she wanted going over. She slept for five hours!! Anyway, we have done quite a bit together and she has gone out on her own. We went into London, (I like to show people how easy it is to take the train and then get on the tube to get around.) For the first time, she and I took one of the double deck bus tours around London. It was very interesting. The weather was perfect, which made the day all that more enjoyable. She made her way to Windsor for the castle tour all by herself. Just today she took herself to London and visited the British Museum, taking the train and the tube…I was very proud of her…
While she was here we took a trip to Paris via the Euro star… such a nice way to go!! I had reserved a package deal through Expedia. Yes, you guessed it; we got bumped due to over booking at the hotel we wanted to stay at (literally across from the Louvre. ) We had to walk several blocks to another, much smaller hotel. At first they put us in room that was so small, that if you wanted open the bathroom door, you had to move the bed…So, in true “Uncle Jack” fashion…we upgraded! We moved to a junior suite that was more to our liking.
Besides shop and eat well, we did a lot of walking and we saw a lot. For me, the highlight was visiting the Museum d Orsay… original Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, Monet, Mamet, Toulouse Lautrec. It was fantastic! Our only problem was that we had spent 6 hours in the Louvre and didn’t realize that two museums in one day were too much. Our “dogs were barking…” as they say. Included in the Orsay tour we had a spectacular dinner in a 16th century mansion and decided it had been a great day.
The following day we took a tour to Versailles… Oh my God! The garish, unabashed show of wealth and privilege… No wonder the French think they are better than anyone else!! That is what it came from… For the last night we took a dinner cruise on the Seine... the food was good and the ambience even better. Along with a strolling violinist they had a strolling cabaret singer who entertained us all night, singing the “Ave Maria” as we passed Notre Dame. Of course, the lights of the city were magnificent.
While I was home, Steph was packing for her move back to Maui... Yes, again. This will be the third time. She says she can get a better job and will be happier. She wasn’t planning on staying home as long as she did anyway, she said… Anyway, she has shipped our old Explorer to drive over there, packed up everything she owns (which isn’t much) and back she went. She left the day after I did. She says she is very happy. She got to swim in the ocean, eat at her favourite restaurants and smell the sea air. Her cousin Nicole had a baby boy, Jack, and she has been able to spend time with them. She is living with her friend Rachael. Job hunting has been first priority. Knowing her, she will have a job in no time… she says they are hiring everywhere... We’ll see. Her brothers are mad at her for moving back but she didn’t care, she felt she had to go. They’ll get over it.
I also visited my friend Emily who is recuperating from a very serious neck/spine surgery made necessary by a virus that destroyed almost 40% of her spinal cord. She was in surgery for 8 hours!! Now she is dealing with wearing a neck brace, daily I/V doses of antibiotic and painful physical therapy. She has limited use of her right arm and a weakened left arm… Please pray for her, she has a long road to recovery.
My friend Sally joined me for the visit with Emily. She took a break from her latest project, helping her son Matt and his girlfriend Danielle with the remodel of his newly purchased home. (see blog) They have put in new doors, replaced windows and added insulation… Better them than me!! Sally says she won’t be able to travel to visit me until this project is done… I’ll be back by then!
The Noce family got together for dinner in honour of my nephew Virgil’s visit from New York with his six year old son Anthony. It was very fun, but sad, as we were missing Steve. Adriana could not stop flirting with Anthony. She chased him around and around and they were both laughing. It was so good to see the circle of life. It wasn’t so long ago that Steph and Virgil were doing the same thing.
It was so good to be home. My house is withstanding my absence just fine. Tony and Kelly are doing their best to keep things going and do a lot of entertaining which makes me happy. That is what the house is for. I know it is hard for them to live in my house but I really appreciate them being there. At least I have somewhere to stay when I come home.
My friend Barbara returned to the United Kingdom with me. She has never done much travelling and was a bit nervous about the trip… She is doing great! Using her rewards miles from one of her credit cards, she was able to fly “upper class” on Virgin. This means she got a bed and anything she wanted going over. She slept for five hours!! Anyway, we have done quite a bit together and she has gone out on her own. We went into London, (I like to show people how easy it is to take the train and then get on the tube to get around.) For the first time, she and I took one of the double deck bus tours around London. It was very interesting. The weather was perfect, which made the day all that more enjoyable. She made her way to Windsor for the castle tour all by herself. Just today she took herself to London and visited the British Museum, taking the train and the tube…I was very proud of her…
While she was here we took a trip to Paris via the Euro star… such a nice way to go!! I had reserved a package deal through Expedia. Yes, you guessed it; we got bumped due to over booking at the hotel we wanted to stay at (literally across from the Louvre. ) We had to walk several blocks to another, much smaller hotel. At first they put us in room that was so small, that if you wanted open the bathroom door, you had to move the bed…So, in true “Uncle Jack” fashion…we upgraded! We moved to a junior suite that was more to our liking.
Besides shop and eat well, we did a lot of walking and we saw a lot. For me, the highlight was visiting the Museum d Orsay… original Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, Monet, Mamet, Toulouse Lautrec. It was fantastic! Our only problem was that we had spent 6 hours in the Louvre and didn’t realize that two museums in one day were too much. Our “dogs were barking…” as they say. Included in the Orsay tour we had a spectacular dinner in a 16th century mansion and decided it had been a great day.
The following day we took a tour to Versailles… Oh my God! The garish, unabashed show of wealth and privilege… No wonder the French think they are better than anyone else!! That is what it came from… For the last night we took a dinner cruise on the Seine... the food was good and the ambience even better. Along with a strolling violinist they had a strolling cabaret singer who entertained us all night, singing the “Ave Maria” as we passed Notre Dame. Of course, the lights of the city were magnificent.
The Eiffel Tower still sparkles every hour!!
Who knew that a year ago I would have been to Paris five times since August... I can almost be a tour guide!!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Happy Mother's Day... yes, it is in England!! We won't be trying to go to lunch today... Lunch on Sunday is a traditional social time in most of Europe. You either have people over for lunch or you go out to lunch. I kind of like it... It is very civilized.
It has been a very busy week. We had a number of collegues at work visit us from the US this week. Aside from the meetings we entertained them for dinner out one night and then I cooked on another, my first true large dinner party... great fun. I even played tour guide, with a trip on the train into London. Picadilly, Trafalgar Square, St. James Park and then a nice pub dinner with a busines associate from SF. All good fun, but tiring.
List of guests to Cleare Cottage the past few weeks include my second cousin, Eliza (Shannon Kelly's daughter) and her mom... great people. It was wonderful having a true chef in the kitchen... also a friend of Nick's who was on spring break from his German studies, Kevin Fox... as they all made their way to different spots, my good friend and her son, Josh arrived... We did a trip to Stonehenge, a train trip to London and Jess and I even went to Mass in a beautiful church, the Immaculate Heart of Mary situated between the Natural History Musuem and Harrods. We just happened past it while Josh and one of his friends from high school visited a pub to get up date on each others lives. It was Sunday night and they had a 7pm service. Well, it was total "old school" mass. The priest wizzed through in 30minutes (including communion). His sermon was a very appropriate one on what Lent really means and how we should look at it as the spring of our religion, not the sorrowful time some make it out to be. It was very thought provoking. Anyway, after Mass we walked past Harrods peeping in the windows because of course it was closed on a Sunday night. We hooked back up with the boys at a cute little restaraunt off the main street and had a wonderful meal, served to us by the cutest Irish boy... then we went to another pub, the "Bunch of Grapes" that was actually an Irish pub, deep in the Kensington part of London... The boys wanted us to share Tequilla shots with them, we declined. I had to work and besides, Tequilla is no longer my friend!!! All and all we had a good time. Jess and Josh went to Paris during the week and returned on Thurs night. Yesterday we went to Windsor and I finally "stormed the castle" with an amazing tour of the state apartments...truly amazing. We were treated to a choir presentation complete with orchestra in St. George's Cathedral... they were practicing. It was fabulous... almost 100 in the choir with at least a 20 piece orchestra... both Jess and I felt very nostalgic, remembering our time in the Mercy choir with Sister Mary Susanne leading us with vigor!! We both felt a spirtitual twinge... Josh of course rolled his eyes at us and wanted to move on... agreeing though that it was amazing. Anyway, well worth the time! We took Josh to the airport this morning as his spring break is over and Jess is staying for another week. We are planning a trip to Bath for a couple of days. I have to be back for work on Wednesday and then on Thursday she is going with me to Amsterdam, as I have to go over there for a customer meeting. She leaves on Saturday. I am off to Denver on April 1st and then home for Easter on the 6th.
Also of note this week, my good friend Emily (of Larry and Emily) is recovering from an 8 hour surgery to remove an abcess on her spinal cord. She had to have three vertabrae removed from her neck and then they put in a rod to support her neck..eewwwh! Larry reported that she is speaking (they weren't sure she would be able to) and they think that it was a successful operation. Please pray for her.. she has had some major health problems lately...
It has been a very busy week. We had a number of collegues at work visit us from the US this week. Aside from the meetings we entertained them for dinner out one night and then I cooked on another, my first true large dinner party... great fun. I even played tour guide, with a trip on the train into London. Picadilly, Trafalgar Square, St. James Park and then a nice pub dinner with a busines associate from SF. All good fun, but tiring.
List of guests to Cleare Cottage the past few weeks include my second cousin, Eliza (Shannon Kelly's daughter) and her mom... great people. It was wonderful having a true chef in the kitchen... also a friend of Nick's who was on spring break from his German studies, Kevin Fox... as they all made their way to different spots, my good friend and her son, Josh arrived... We did a trip to Stonehenge, a train trip to London and Jess and I even went to Mass in a beautiful church, the Immaculate Heart of Mary situated between the Natural History Musuem and Harrods. We just happened past it while Josh and one of his friends from high school visited a pub to get up date on each others lives. It was Sunday night and they had a 7pm service. Well, it was total "old school" mass. The priest wizzed through in 30minutes (including communion). His sermon was a very appropriate one on what Lent really means and how we should look at it as the spring of our religion, not the sorrowful time some make it out to be. It was very thought provoking. Anyway, after Mass we walked past Harrods peeping in the windows because of course it was closed on a Sunday night. We hooked back up with the boys at a cute little restaraunt off the main street and had a wonderful meal, served to us by the cutest Irish boy... then we went to another pub, the "Bunch of Grapes" that was actually an Irish pub, deep in the Kensington part of London... The boys wanted us to share Tequilla shots with them, we declined. I had to work and besides, Tequilla is no longer my friend!!! All and all we had a good time. Jess and Josh went to Paris during the week and returned on Thurs night. Yesterday we went to Windsor and I finally "stormed the castle" with an amazing tour of the state apartments...truly amazing. We were treated to a choir presentation complete with orchestra in St. George's Cathedral... they were practicing. It was fabulous... almost 100 in the choir with at least a 20 piece orchestra... both Jess and I felt very nostalgic, remembering our time in the Mercy choir with Sister Mary Susanne leading us with vigor!! We both felt a spirtitual twinge... Josh of course rolled his eyes at us and wanted to move on... agreeing though that it was amazing. Anyway, well worth the time! We took Josh to the airport this morning as his spring break is over and Jess is staying for another week. We are planning a trip to Bath for a couple of days. I have to be back for work on Wednesday and then on Thursday she is going with me to Amsterdam, as I have to go over there for a customer meeting. She leaves on Saturday. I am off to Denver on April 1st and then home for Easter on the 6th.
Also of note this week, my good friend Emily (of Larry and Emily) is recovering from an 8 hour surgery to remove an abcess on her spinal cord. She had to have three vertabrae removed from her neck and then they put in a rod to support her neck..eewwwh! Larry reported that she is speaking (they weren't sure she would be able to) and they think that it was a successful operation. Please pray for her.. she has had some major health problems lately...
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Marbella Spain
Marbella… Spain
It is a 2.5 hour flight from London. In that time one goes from gray, rainy sky to cool breezes, sunshine and palm trees. It is located on the southern Mediterranean coast, 45 minutes from Gibraltar and a short ferry ride from Tangiers. I was tempted to take the day trip to Tangiers but my friend who went the day before explained that you had to leave the hotel by 6:30am (not good for me) where you board a bus that takes you to the ferry and then you board another bus for the Tangier’s tour where they take you to shops that sell rugs and jewellery. Evidently the sales people apply a lot of pressure and one of my friends bought a rug and another some shirts. I decided that a long walk on the waterfront and swim in the pool was much more to my liking. Good for me because I didn’t even wake up until 11:30am!!
Oh, why was I there? I was there for a Seagate regional sales meeting. All of my colleagues from the sales and marketing teams were invited. Some of my US colleagues were also invited. Teresa King, my work partner for 12 years was one of them. It was so great to hang out with her again. (Did help the homesickness that I have been feeling lately) Also, a surprise, on Thursday night, my daughter’s childhood friend, Chrissie Dahl and her new husband, David Burns, arrived in Marbella, as they are travelling in Spain for the honeymoon. We were able to get them a room at the hotel and they went off for dinner while I attended the last night’s festivities, themed as “White Night.”
We asked all the attendees to wear white and the entire dining room was decorated with black and white table linens, white candles, silver accents, with black lights rotating from the ceiling. It was very dramatic and good fun. The meeting ended on Thursday night, so Friday and Saturday were ours to enjoy.
Chrissie and Dave found a last minute.com condo rental close to Marbella for only 50€ a night for three nights. So, since they are on basically no plan, this was good for them. Teresa and I took advantage of the pool and lounges. I swam in the overly warm lap pool and then laid in the sun, enjoying the sound of a flute being played somewhere below us on the beach. Teresa’s husband John came in around 8:30pm. (They are planning on travelling around Spain by train for the next 10 days.) It was so nice to enjoy one of these resorts that we have meetings at…oh, also, Teresa and I, like true old ladies, went down to the beach and hunted for perfect sea shells. We were able to get quite a few… Teresa says she is going to make wind chimes… not me, I admit I don’t have that much creativity…
Anyway Chrissie and Dave met us at the hotel that night and we walked to old town which is about 1.5 miles for Tappas.. We followed the signs for Tappas and ended up at a traditional Spanish restaurant where we enjoyed traditional Paella, fresh steamed prawns, meatballs, octopus salad and a wonderful potato dish. To compliment, we had a good Roja wine (Spanish Merlot) and a light Blanca bottle. All in all a great Spanish meal… eaten on Spanish time! By the time we got there it was 10:30pm… they like to eat late. We walked back along the sea and got back around 12:30pm, you have to love that Spanish time… at the hotel several older (older than me) couples were dancing to salsa music…
Loads of fun…
It is a 2.5 hour flight from London. In that time one goes from gray, rainy sky to cool breezes, sunshine and palm trees. It is located on the southern Mediterranean coast, 45 minutes from Gibraltar and a short ferry ride from Tangiers. I was tempted to take the day trip to Tangiers but my friend who went the day before explained that you had to leave the hotel by 6:30am (not good for me) where you board a bus that takes you to the ferry and then you board another bus for the Tangier’s tour where they take you to shops that sell rugs and jewellery. Evidently the sales people apply a lot of pressure and one of my friends bought a rug and another some shirts. I decided that a long walk on the waterfront and swim in the pool was much more to my liking. Good for me because I didn’t even wake up until 11:30am!!
Oh, why was I there? I was there for a Seagate regional sales meeting. All of my colleagues from the sales and marketing teams were invited. Some of my US colleagues were also invited. Teresa King, my work partner for 12 years was one of them. It was so great to hang out with her again. (Did help the homesickness that I have been feeling lately) Also, a surprise, on Thursday night, my daughter’s childhood friend, Chrissie Dahl and her new husband, David Burns, arrived in Marbella, as they are travelling in Spain for the honeymoon. We were able to get them a room at the hotel and they went off for dinner while I attended the last night’s festivities, themed as “White Night.”
We asked all the attendees to wear white and the entire dining room was decorated with black and white table linens, white candles, silver accents, with black lights rotating from the ceiling. It was very dramatic and good fun. The meeting ended on Thursday night, so Friday and Saturday were ours to enjoy.
Chrissie and Dave found a last minute.com condo rental close to Marbella for only 50€ a night for three nights. So, since they are on basically no plan, this was good for them. Teresa and I took advantage of the pool and lounges. I swam in the overly warm lap pool and then laid in the sun, enjoying the sound of a flute being played somewhere below us on the beach. Teresa’s husband John came in around 8:30pm. (They are planning on travelling around Spain by train for the next 10 days.) It was so nice to enjoy one of these resorts that we have meetings at…oh, also, Teresa and I, like true old ladies, went down to the beach and hunted for perfect sea shells. We were able to get quite a few… Teresa says she is going to make wind chimes… not me, I admit I don’t have that much creativity…
Anyway Chrissie and Dave met us at the hotel that night and we walked to old town which is about 1.5 miles for Tappas.. We followed the signs for Tappas and ended up at a traditional Spanish restaurant where we enjoyed traditional Paella, fresh steamed prawns, meatballs, octopus salad and a wonderful potato dish. To compliment, we had a good Roja wine (Spanish Merlot) and a light Blanca bottle. All in all a great Spanish meal… eaten on Spanish time! By the time we got there it was 10:30pm… they like to eat late. We walked back along the sea and got back around 12:30pm, you have to love that Spanish time… at the hotel several older (older than me) couples were dancing to salsa music…
Loads of fun…
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Joe and Dominque and So here's what I have noticed.
... Pictures of Joe and Dominque... Week of Feb 4-10
Joe and Dominique just left today, I am so sad! We
had a great time. Joe even drove the car to Windsor. He loved the Pubs... I think they went to one at least every day. They really saw a lot in their short time here.
On his birthday we went into London, on the train,... visited Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, the catholic cathedral, Westminster Cathedral (very cool), had dinner at a tapas restaurant and went to see the play, Billy Elliot... then back in the tube to the train and home. Next day we drove to Stonehenge... got a little lost, but finally made it there, easy trip home... (you can imagine Joe when we were lost!! He actually did pretty good but we had a navigation system, a map and internet directions and we still got lost.. my fault, really... but now I know where Anover is..) All in all, a good day... On Monday they went into London on their
own and didn't get back until 11:30 (Pub closed...), they went on the London "Eye", a huge enclosed ferris wheel that sits on the Thames and provides fantastic views of London... We went to Windsor for dinner...
expensive but fun (they treated me.) On Wednesday we back into London via the train and tube. We went to the Natural History museum and then to a pub for dinner and then a play at an old theater in Picadilly Circus... 39 steps, a lot of fun.. 4 people do the whole play...
we got tickets at the half price place.. Anyway, fun again. Thursday it snowed!! We were housebound. I worked and they went out for a walk and hit two pubs in the travels... Joe loves those pubs. They had a good day. Yesterday they took the car and rode into Windsor, just missing the castle tour by 10
min...parking can be a challenge.. Last night we
went into Marlow for Indian food...
This morning, we got up, they were all packed and we
drove down to Gatwick airport.. Yes, I did shed a few tears on the way home... It was a good week!
Joe and Dominique just left today, I am so sad! We
had a great time. Joe even drove the car to Windsor. He loved the Pubs... I think they went to one at least every day. They really saw a lot in their short time here.
On his birthday we went into London, on the train,... visited Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, the catholic cathedral, Westminster Cathedral (very cool), had dinner at a tapas restaurant and went to see the play, Billy Elliot... then back in the tube to the train and home. Next day we drove to Stonehenge... got a little lost, but finally made it there, easy trip home... (you can imagine Joe when we were lost!! He actually did pretty good but we had a navigation system, a map and internet directions and we still got lost.. my fault, really... but now I know where Anover is..) All in all, a good day... On Monday they went into London on their
own and didn't get back until 11:30 (Pub closed...), they went on the London "Eye", a huge enclosed ferris wheel that sits on the Thames and provides fantastic views of London... We went to Windsor for dinner...
expensive but fun (they treated me.) On Wednesday we back into London via the train and tube. We went to the Natural History museum and then to a pub for dinner and then a play at an old theater in Picadilly Circus... 39 steps, a lot of fun.. 4 people do the whole play...
we got tickets at the half price place.. Anyway, fun again. Thursday it snowed!! We were housebound. I worked and they went out for a walk and hit two pubs in the travels... Joe loves those pubs. They had a good day. Yesterday they took the car and rode into Windsor, just missing the castle tour by 10
min...parking can be a challenge.. Last night we
went into Marlow for Indian food...
This morning, we got up, they were all packed and we
drove down to Gatwick airport.. Yes, I did shed a few tears on the way home... It was a good week!
Feb 19, 2007
Well, here we are... mid-Feb... I have already been here six months! My job is very challenging. I am enjoying it very much. The people I work with are great... they think I am a crazy American. Every day they laugh at something else that I comment on or don't understand.. Who knew a "jumper" is a sweater? Who knew that a "jacket" potato is a baked potato wrapped in aluminum foil? What about pronouncing the letter "z" zed? ... and they tell me I don't know how to spell... they put "s" where we put "z," and "u's" for no reason... oh well, we are getting used to each other. They are very quiet people and I think I shock them by being "out there"... I am sure they go home and say, you aren't going to believe what she said today...
My little house... oh sorry, "cottage" is adorable. I am very comfortable, even with guests. It is a cute little place with three floors. Bedroom, bath and office on the second floor, (first floor if you are English). Guest room on the third floor,(second floor if you are English)
...From my front room window I watch people riding horses, walking their dogs, groups of people walking and talking. Most where "welly's" (big green rubber boots) because it is very muddy on the "green."
The neighbors are very quiet. Everyone keeps to themselves except on Thursday's when each of the two middle cottages drag their garbage cans through my backyard (garden) to put out front for collection, and then back in again on Friday. It is so funny, it happen's, but no one seems to run into each other... It is funny to see someone dragging their garbage can past my kitchen window... We just wave to each or nod...
There is a house next to me that is not connected to our cottages. It is called the "Farside Cottage." Bob lives there. He lives alone in a good sized four bedroom house. He is a work-aholic. He has been very helpful to me. He helped me de-scramble my DVD player (it would only play UK movies) and he helped me get my wireless set-up. He is really the only one that talks to me (probably because he isn't connected...) He is actually the only one I have seen outside.. he rides his bike... He has just taken off for a three week vacation to New Zealand where one of his best friend's just moved.
I have been to the local pub a few times. Once with my sister-in-law Shelley and then once with Joe and Dominique. The food isn't bad but it smells like smoke and I don't like having to shower after being there. The people in that pub are not that friendly either, but it is close. There are lots of other pubs, so I am sure I will find one that I like. Joe and Dominique went to quite a few while they were here and enjoyed them. I have actually gone to some really cool old pubs with the people at work for lunch. (usually on Friday's)
Driving is going fine. Only one ticket so far... they have CTTV's every where... no police, just camera's. The biggest problem is parking... the spaces are so small, even my small car is a challenge... I need to lose weight just to be able to get in and out of my car in a parking garage. (I am not kidding!) Parallel parking is difficult from the right side... people are always laughing or honking at my attempts. Luckily I have sensors on my car. I really like my cute little blue BMW. It has a navigation system, bluetooth for my phone, parking sensors and I can play my IPod through the radio. Of course I don' know how to use most of the stuff but it is fun. I only have 800 miles on it... I have had it for four months but I really only go to and from work.
Traffic is the same as the US... too many cars, too many trucks... rrr trucks, I hate them!! They drive even faster here! The funny things are the roundabouts on the "dual carriage ways".. it is like being on hwy 17 and then you have to slow down, go through a roundabout then get back on hwy 17. Wierd. They even built overpass roundabouts... Oh well. They are very considerate drivers unless you go too slow, then they pass you like it is the Indianapolis Speedway... The freeway signs are very big... with large arrows so you can figure out where to go... I guess there are a lot of old people driving around!
The weather isn't bad... a bit gray at times.. Not too cold. It snowed the week that Joe and Dominique were here. We were told not to drive anywhere that morning so we didn't... Oh my God... the news was ridiculus..They cancelled school that day and you would have thought they cancelled school for a month... they had big interviews and discussions about it. It was only one day!! That is how boring a news day is here!
TV... hmmm, I am fairly happy now. I don't watch that much, but now I can watch the new episodes of American Idol, Lost, ER, Boston Legal and "Dr. McDreamy.." so I can't complain, oh also, "Ugly Betty" (watched it for the first time tonight) anyway... they have soap opera's on at night. I haven't gotten into watching them. The nice thing is that they run their commerccials in a very sensible way. You get to watch whatever for at least 30min before commercials and then commercials go for about 6 minutes...
The food... not bad. Fresh vege's and fruits at all the stores, pretty much anything I would want. I have figured out what most things are...chips are called "crisp's" candy is "sweeties" and cookies are "biscuit's."
Take-out is called "take away"... Indian food is referred to as "Curry" and as yet, I have never had anything that I would call curry at an Indian food restaurant... Only food that is so hot, I can't eat it!!
Wine is about the same price over here. I have started drinking white wine (acid reflux...) anyway, I like the Australian Chardonnay. I thrill at the site of a California wine. I even found a bottle of Ironstone (Murphy's) at a local grocery store. I do drink a lot of G and T... (gin and tonic)... and they do ask if you want ice and/or light tonic (diet)... not me, if you going tonic, go for the good stuff...
There is big concerns with obesity here. Jamie Oliver, you know, the "Naked Chef," has made a big thing about school menu's. This year they instituted healthy foods at the school cafeteria's... When one boy was interviewed he said, "... I don't like vege's and fruit and I really don't like Jamie Oliver!!" Out of the mouth's of babe's..
I see a lot of people walking, jogging, riding bikes. You would think it was California. Whatever one might think, these are very active people...
Well, enough for tonight.
My little house... oh sorry, "cottage" is adorable. I am very comfortable, even with guests. It is a cute little place with three floors. Bedroom, bath and office on the second floor, (first floor if you are English). Guest room on the third floor,(second floor if you are English)
...From my front room window I watch people riding horses, walking their dogs, groups of people walking and talking. Most where "welly's" (big green rubber boots) because it is very muddy on the "green."
The neighbors are very quiet. Everyone keeps to themselves except on Thursday's when each of the two middle cottages drag their garbage cans through my backyard (garden) to put out front for collection, and then back in again on Friday. It is so funny, it happen's, but no one seems to run into each other... It is funny to see someone dragging their garbage can past my kitchen window... We just wave to each or nod...
There is a house next to me that is not connected to our cottages. It is called the "Farside Cottage." Bob lives there. He lives alone in a good sized four bedroom house. He is a work-aholic. He has been very helpful to me. He helped me de-scramble my DVD player (it would only play UK movies) and he helped me get my wireless set-up. He is really the only one that talks to me (probably because he isn't connected...) He is actually the only one I have seen outside.. he rides his bike... He has just taken off for a three week vacation to New Zealand where one of his best friend's just moved.
I have been to the local pub a few times. Once with my sister-in-law Shelley and then once with Joe and Dominique. The food isn't bad but it smells like smoke and I don't like having to shower after being there. The people in that pub are not that friendly either, but it is close. There are lots of other pubs, so I am sure I will find one that I like. Joe and Dominique went to quite a few while they were here and enjoyed them. I have actually gone to some really cool old pubs with the people at work for lunch. (usually on Friday's)
Driving is going fine. Only one ticket so far... they have CTTV's every where... no police, just camera's. The biggest problem is parking... the spaces are so small, even my small car is a challenge... I need to lose weight just to be able to get in and out of my car in a parking garage. (I am not kidding!) Parallel parking is difficult from the right side... people are always laughing or honking at my attempts. Luckily I have sensors on my car. I really like my cute little blue BMW. It has a navigation system, bluetooth for my phone, parking sensors and I can play my IPod through the radio. Of course I don' know how to use most of the stuff but it is fun. I only have 800 miles on it... I have had it for four months but I really only go to and from work.
Traffic is the same as the US... too many cars, too many trucks... rrr trucks, I hate them!! They drive even faster here! The funny things are the roundabouts on the "dual carriage ways".. it is like being on hwy 17 and then you have to slow down, go through a roundabout then get back on hwy 17. Wierd. They even built overpass roundabouts... Oh well. They are very considerate drivers unless you go too slow, then they pass you like it is the Indianapolis Speedway... The freeway signs are very big... with large arrows so you can figure out where to go... I guess there are a lot of old people driving around!
The weather isn't bad... a bit gray at times.. Not too cold. It snowed the week that Joe and Dominique were here. We were told not to drive anywhere that morning so we didn't... Oh my God... the news was ridiculus..They cancelled school that day and you would have thought they cancelled school for a month... they had big interviews and discussions about it. It was only one day!! That is how boring a news day is here!
TV... hmmm, I am fairly happy now. I don't watch that much, but now I can watch the new episodes of American Idol, Lost, ER, Boston Legal and "Dr. McDreamy.." so I can't complain, oh also, "Ugly Betty" (watched it for the first time tonight) anyway... they have soap opera's on at night. I haven't gotten into watching them. The nice thing is that they run their commerccials in a very sensible way. You get to watch whatever for at least 30min before commercials and then commercials go for about 6 minutes...
The food... not bad. Fresh vege's and fruits at all the stores, pretty much anything I would want. I have figured out what most things are...chips are called "crisp's" candy is "sweeties" and cookies are "biscuit's."
Take-out is called "take away"... Indian food is referred to as "Curry" and as yet, I have never had anything that I would call curry at an Indian food restaurant... Only food that is so hot, I can't eat it!!
Wine is about the same price over here. I have started drinking white wine (acid reflux...) anyway, I like the Australian Chardonnay. I thrill at the site of a California wine. I even found a bottle of Ironstone (Murphy's) at a local grocery store. I do drink a lot of G and T... (gin and tonic)... and they do ask if you want ice and/or light tonic (diet)... not me, if you going tonic, go for the good stuff...
There is big concerns with obesity here. Jamie Oliver, you know, the "Naked Chef," has made a big thing about school menu's. This year they instituted healthy foods at the school cafeteria's... When one boy was interviewed he said, "... I don't like vege's and fruit and I really don't like Jamie Oliver!!" Out of the mouth's of babe's..
I see a lot of people walking, jogging, riding bikes. You would think it was California. Whatever one might think, these are very active people...
Well, enough for tonight.
Monday, February 05, 2007
I have been loved...
I have been loved…
If there is anything I have realized this year… that is it. I have been loved… by so many. I can’t even begin to thank everyone who has showed their love for me and my family. So many people have helped to make this life after Steve’s death so bearable.
I know Steve would have been very surprised to know (and also very proud and happy) that over 400 people attended the service last year to honor his memory. But even more than that, the love and caring that we have experienced over the past year has been amazing.
Our family, our friends have been awesome. I have been humbled by the attention.
A lot of things have happened in the year since Steve passed away. Nick graduated from college. Tony and Joe both coached winning football teams, Steph helped me move to England… I live in England… Kelly got her AS degree, Adriana is potty-trained, Dakota and Sadie both sleep more than ever!! So… yes, life goes on.
The kids gave me the best gift for Christmas. My niece-in-law, Sara Noce, took a fabulous picture of the family. Whenever I look at it, I see Steve. His persona is so visible in all of them. Even Adriana, whose outward appearance is so much her mother. Her expressions, her personality, reveal the Noce side of her. She has the charism that Steve had, the sense of humor, the compassion and the desire to learn. She is all that her grandfather was, inquisitive, happy, determined, stubborn, funny, and compassionate. She is the gift that has helped all of us get through this sad time.
I thought I would share this letter that Steve wrote to me the Christmas just before Joe was born.
Kathi,
I was thinking of our relationship together the other day and for me to just say, “I Love you” is insufficient. Our life together encompasses so much more. When thinking of all the different factions of our life, a picture of a strong, sound, tall ship came to mind.
The hull of the ship is the love we have for each other. It is the base of the ship, and our life together. The sails are the children we have borne. Even will all the trouble, work and problems, the sails are to maintain and keep strong, they still help the ship move in the right direction.
The wheel and the rudder are you and me. These two parts of the ship must work together to guide the tall ship throughout the waters of life. The ocean currents and winds are the trials and tribulations of life which we have not control over. But with the hull being sound, the sails being strong, and the wheel and the rudder working together, our tall ship can withstand any storm life has in store for us.
Merry Christmas ’79… Love Steve.
…As Steve said then, with all of us working together, “our tall ship can withstand any storm life has in store for us…”
… I have been loved
If there is anything I have realized this year… that is it. I have been loved… by so many. I can’t even begin to thank everyone who has showed their love for me and my family. So many people have helped to make this life after Steve’s death so bearable.
I know Steve would have been very surprised to know (and also very proud and happy) that over 400 people attended the service last year to honor his memory. But even more than that, the love and caring that we have experienced over the past year has been amazing.
Our family, our friends have been awesome. I have been humbled by the attention.
A lot of things have happened in the year since Steve passed away. Nick graduated from college. Tony and Joe both coached winning football teams, Steph helped me move to England… I live in England… Kelly got her AS degree, Adriana is potty-trained, Dakota and Sadie both sleep more than ever!! So… yes, life goes on.
The kids gave me the best gift for Christmas. My niece-in-law, Sara Noce, took a fabulous picture of the family. Whenever I look at it, I see Steve. His persona is so visible in all of them. Even Adriana, whose outward appearance is so much her mother. Her expressions, her personality, reveal the Noce side of her. She has the charism that Steve had, the sense of humor, the compassion and the desire to learn. She is all that her grandfather was, inquisitive, happy, determined, stubborn, funny, and compassionate. She is the gift that has helped all of us get through this sad time.
I thought I would share this letter that Steve wrote to me the Christmas just before Joe was born.
Kathi,
I was thinking of our relationship together the other day and for me to just say, “I Love you” is insufficient. Our life together encompasses so much more. When thinking of all the different factions of our life, a picture of a strong, sound, tall ship came to mind.
The hull of the ship is the love we have for each other. It is the base of the ship, and our life together. The sails are the children we have borne. Even will all the trouble, work and problems, the sails are to maintain and keep strong, they still help the ship move in the right direction.
The wheel and the rudder are you and me. These two parts of the ship must work together to guide the tall ship throughout the waters of life. The ocean currents and winds are the trials and tribulations of life which we have not control over. But with the hull being sound, the sails being strong, and the wheel and the rudder working together, our tall ship can withstand any storm life has in store for us.
Merry Christmas ’79… Love Steve.
…As Steve said then, with all of us working together, “our tall ship can withstand any storm life has in store for us…”
… I have been loved
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
home for the holidays -- highlights
It as great to be home for Christmas. As hard as it was to be celebrating our first Christmas without Steve, I think we did pretty good. Neil and Di had the Kelly Christmas party with everyone on the Saturday night before Christmas.. great food, good people, good fun. It was especially fun to have the cousin "girls" there! Like old times...
For Christmas Eve, Tony organized a dinner at Scoppazi's, our favorite restaurant in Boulder Creek. All of us, my nephew Justin and his wife Sarah, and the Brook family, Lara, Arwin, Lisa, Chana, Teya and mother Janet,(they also lost their father this year) enjoyed our favorite dishes. Adriana and Teya entertained us with Christmas carols and both Janet and I enjoyed the family time. It was great, as it turned out, half the restaraunt was filled with old friends and more family. My nephew Jason, his wife Karen and their kids and Karen's mom and dad, the Knights, the Greene's,the Livingston's and others. Our wonderful nephew and niece Justin and Sarah treated us to our dinner! They are the best.
Christmas morning was a kick!! Every present Adriana opened, she would say, "Oh my goodness!" It is so fun to have children around on Christmas day... It helped us all through a tough time. The best surprise for me was a fantastic portrait of my children, daughter in law and granddaughter, framed and beautiful... taken by my lovely niece-in-law, Sarah..(the best!)
Highlighting my week off was a day with my friends Emily and Larry, where we headed to the city to see the musical, "Jersey Boys." It was awesome! Also, several days with my darling Adriana who kept me running... One day we took a walk on West Cliff with my friends Sally and Linda... They walked, we ran. I had Adriana in the stroller. In order to satisfy her "need for speed," I ran while pushing the stroller, much to her delight! We went so fast her new tennis shoes "burned rubber" and are permanently damaged!! Next baby, Grandma needs a jogging stroller!
I was also able to celebrate my mother's birthday with her and the rest of the family... she was 79 on Dec 30..hard to believe. I only hope I am as active and attractive when I get to be that age!
New Year's Eve was going to be hard... Ok, so what to do...Have a dinner party!! (Tony and Kelly went to the city with friends for the night..) Steph, Lisa, Arwin, Chana, Adriana and Teya..We had a girls party, complete with hats, horns, champagne, artichokes, prime rib and twice baked potatoes..yum, yum. We let the little girls stay up until midnight and blow the horns in the back yard. Adriana said Hi! to Pop, pop, who, as you know, is now the "man in the moon..." It was fun..
The absolute best part of the visit home was the birth of Macklin James Steven Langridge, Colleen and Michael's second child and our first boy grandchild. He was 9lbs, 6oz - 21"...and adorable! On January 12, 2007, Nick and I accompanied Steve, Chris and Jessica to the hospital, expecting to wait in the waiting room...amazingly, we got to look through the window into the operating room where the baby was being born by cesarian section...I saw them pull the baby out!!! Well, only the head, but... it was so cool. We got to see him when he was just 5 minutes old. Colleen did great and Mike was all thumbs up and smiles! It was so awesome to be able to share the family experience. Colleen's sisters' MaryKate, Maureen and her neice Colleen were all there too!! Good times..
The trip back was fine. I now have two house guests, my sister-in-law, Shelley and niece Vanessa who are staying with me until Jan 29. We saw the Tower of London today and next week we are heading to Paris... I think I can be a tour guide now!!
It has been a while...Istanbul before Christmas
Istanbul...quite a surprise! First of all, this is one of the oldest cities in the world. It sits on both sides of the Bosphorus Sea, that separates Europe from Asia. So I was expecting a lot of people in robes, turbins and scarves. On arrival at the airport I was totally surprised to see a very modern airport, clean, easy to manage and not too crowded and most everyone dressed in modern, up to date clothes. As we drove to our hotel, the lights of the city where spectacular. There are mosques everywhere.
In the daylight I was also surprised. It could have been San Francisco. The weather was cool but clear. It is four times as large and has two or maybe three bridges that look like the the Golden Gate, only not orange! It is quite a cosmopolitan city. Big difference, at noon and dusk, prayers are broadcast city wide over loud speakers. Surprisingly no one stops (at least that I could see)... everyone just keeps going about their business. Really a very interesting place.
Seagate is going to have a customer event there next September... Should be fun.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Part 2: London , the rest of the weekend.
We all agreed that we wanted to go to the British Museum. Lindsay went on a Starbucks run and brought us all coffee to get us going. We stopped at the concierge on the way out to see if could get tickets to a play. She was surprised to find that there were three available that evening, third row orchestra, for The Phantom of the Opera. We were thrilled. So off we go to find our way to the museum. The Marleyboned station is located directly out the back door of the hotel. Karina acted as the tour guide, figuring out the correct trains to get us to our destinations. Only two train changes and we would be where we wanted to be. Ok, it was a Saturday. and it was Christmas time… a zoo! People were pushing, people were hurrying, but generally in polite mode. It was easy to get caught up in the hustle. I like moving fast, and you definitely had to move fast or get trampled. Once on the street, we found walking on the outside of the sidewalk, sometimes on the curb, was the best way to move ahead.
The museum was surprisingly non-descript from the outside. Inside, it is amazing!! A main feature is the Rosetta stone:
http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/ixbin/goto?id=OBJ67
Also, the Egyptian artifacts are impressive. Like Karina said, “pots, pots and more pots!”
We decided just to stay downtown instead of returning to the hotel before the show. So… off to Harrods (with a Starbucks stop, of course..) where I purchased a Harrods ornament, supposedly something one must do every year… It was fun moving through the store that is about a block long and three stories high. It is very garish inside but it was decorated for Christmas, so very cheery!
The play is performed at Her Majesty’s Theater located in the Picadilly area of London. The theater was designed in 1896. It is ornate and very intimate. We sat in the third row, off center to the left. Awesome seats!
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/westendvenues/hermajestys.htm
After the show we went to an old pub about two blocks up, off the main street. It was very bright and festive looking so we went in. It was just a little after 10pm and they had stopped serving food :(
We were ok with that, but they stopped serving drinks at 11:30… some kind of law. It was OK because we wanted to walk around and see all the lights and the people hurrying from one place to another. As we got up to leave the pub, we noticed a happy group of people standing at the bar, enjoying their last drinks… It turned out to be most of the cast from the Phantom. The very cute boy who played Raoul, the smitten boyfriend and the girl who played Christine… and other cast members. We engaged in conversation, telling them how much we enjoyed the performance. To make my night, the cute boy asked if I had been sitting in the first row, I said no, the third row. He said, Oh, I remember you, we made eye contact! I was thrilled. I didn’t know that they really did make eye contact. Anyway, quite an exciting end to the evening. We then walked for a long while checking out all the lights and activity. We got ourselves back to the hotel about 1am. Fun, fun.
The next morning we slept in, took leisurely showers and decided to have breakfast in the lovely atrium in the center of the hotel. It was almost 1pm before we headed for the British Library. This a newer building, opened in 1998. Despite the modern outside, it houses some of the oldest and most amazing things. The original Magna Carta, the original Handel’s Messiah, the first written bible, many, many other old documents. It also holds a display of more contemporary artifacts, such as some of the Beatles original song lyrics written on napkins… not kidding! Anyway, a WOW!
http://www.bl.uk/about/history.html
To complete my goals for the weekend, we made our way to Paddington train station and located the correct train to get us back to my house. The Maidenhead station is about a 10 min cab ride to there. The girls were carrying two bags each since they had been traveling throughout Europe for almost three months. We purchased our tickets and had five miuntes to make the train which was at the furthest most track, of course. So, off we ran, Lindsay hauling two big suitcases and Karina and I with the rest. We were comical at the very least. We made the train though with less than a minute to spare. Lindsay used the suitcases as a seat, I found a seat and after a few stops, so did Karina. Again, fun, fun! We made it successfully to the Maidenhead station. It was dark, we had no idea how long it would take and we gotten on the train that stops at every station on the way. After about 45 minutes we reached our destination. I was thrilled. Not only had I gotten a good taste of London, I also was able to make my on the tube and train routes! Yeah…Goals completed!
…More to come ---- London, the “drunk train” and.. a weekend in Istanbul!
The museum was surprisingly non-descript from the outside. Inside, it is amazing!! A main feature is the Rosetta stone:
http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/ixbin/goto?id=OBJ67
Also, the Egyptian artifacts are impressive. Like Karina said, “pots, pots and more pots!”
We decided just to stay downtown instead of returning to the hotel before the show. So… off to Harrods (with a Starbucks stop, of course..) where I purchased a Harrods ornament, supposedly something one must do every year… It was fun moving through the store that is about a block long and three stories high. It is very garish inside but it was decorated for Christmas, so very cheery!
The play is performed at Her Majesty’s Theater located in the Picadilly area of London. The theater was designed in 1896. It is ornate and very intimate. We sat in the third row, off center to the left. Awesome seats!
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/westendvenues/hermajestys.htm
After the show we went to an old pub about two blocks up, off the main street. It was very bright and festive looking so we went in. It was just a little after 10pm and they had stopped serving food :(
We were ok with that, but they stopped serving drinks at 11:30… some kind of law. It was OK because we wanted to walk around and see all the lights and the people hurrying from one place to another. As we got up to leave the pub, we noticed a happy group of people standing at the bar, enjoying their last drinks… It turned out to be most of the cast from the Phantom. The very cute boy who played Raoul, the smitten boyfriend and the girl who played Christine… and other cast members. We engaged in conversation, telling them how much we enjoyed the performance. To make my night, the cute boy asked if I had been sitting in the first row, I said no, the third row. He said, Oh, I remember you, we made eye contact! I was thrilled. I didn’t know that they really did make eye contact. Anyway, quite an exciting end to the evening. We then walked for a long while checking out all the lights and activity. We got ourselves back to the hotel about 1am. Fun, fun.
The next morning we slept in, took leisurely showers and decided to have breakfast in the lovely atrium in the center of the hotel. It was almost 1pm before we headed for the British Library. This a newer building, opened in 1998. Despite the modern outside, it houses some of the oldest and most amazing things. The original Magna Carta, the original Handel’s Messiah, the first written bible, many, many other old documents. It also holds a display of more contemporary artifacts, such as some of the Beatles original song lyrics written on napkins… not kidding! Anyway, a WOW!
http://www.bl.uk/about/history.html
To complete my goals for the weekend, we made our way to Paddington train station and located the correct train to get us back to my house. The Maidenhead station is about a 10 min cab ride to there. The girls were carrying two bags each since they had been traveling throughout Europe for almost three months. We purchased our tickets and had five miuntes to make the train which was at the furthest most track, of course. So, off we ran, Lindsay hauling two big suitcases and Karina and I with the rest. We were comical at the very least. We made the train though with less than a minute to spare. Lindsay used the suitcases as a seat, I found a seat and after a few stops, so did Karina. Again, fun, fun! We made it successfully to the Maidenhead station. It was dark, we had no idea how long it would take and we gotten on the train that stops at every station on the way. After about 45 minutes we reached our destination. I was thrilled. Not only had I gotten a good taste of London, I also was able to make my on the tube and train routes! Yeah…Goals completed!
…More to come ---- London, the “drunk train” and.. a weekend in Istanbul!
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Discovering London
London – it is quite a city.
I was invited into London for a charity luncheon at the Landmark Hotel on Friday, Dec 8th. This seemed like a great opportunity to stay for the weekend in London. I have not really spent any time in London since I arrived in England. This coincided with the return of the Scarborough sisters, Lindsay and Karina, from their travels through the rest of Europe. They willingly agreed to “hang out” in London with me. So the adventure began. I had two objectives, one, to begin exploring London and two, to learn how to use the underground and train system.
The Landmark hotel is a historical hotel located next to the Marleybone tube station in a busy area of the city. It is a beautiful old building built in the late 19th century. It is famous for it’s atrium center. It is a place where people have weddings, gala events, company parties and charity events. It is a five star accommodation.
Before the girls arrived, I accompanied one of my co-workers on a manic trip to the industrial area north of central London after the luncheon. She was in search of the perfect wedding dress for her second marriage. (so not white) A friend of hers had recommended a designer who sold dresses wholesale. Only glitch was that you had to go to the “factory” where they were produced to try one on. We left the hotel about 16:00 (4pm) for a 16:30 (4:30pm) appointment. We purchased our tickets for the underground, heading for the (Can't remember the name...)station. This meant two stops, a change of trains and then four more stops before we made it to our desired station. It is very similar to the New York system, only ten times more crowded! There is no crowd control, people just keep piling in until there is no room to breath!! I don’t think I could do that every day… Anyway, once we reached our stop, out of the ground we go, running up an escalator (yes running… we were late , of course) bringing us at least ten stories from what I think must be the bottom of the earth…( so far down…) Once above ground we notice a brass plaque proudly displayed at the entrance that stated something like, “… in memory of 143 women and children who were killed during WW11 by a bomb that hit this station as they were heading underground to the bomb shelter...” Makes you think…
We called for directions from there and were told to walk about six blocks on the right, turn at the water, go under a bridge and look for the iron gates with the number 43. We made it, in the dark and past questionable characters by 5pm. Unfortunately, the dress was not the “dream dress.” However … the adventure for me was well worth it. I got a good feel of what it was like to work and live every day in London. We made it back the same way we came, arriving back at the Marleybone station at 7:00pm. My friend took a cab to the Paddington station where she caught the train to Windsor, her stop for her home in Sunningdale. I checked into my hotel.
The girls arrived about 20:30 (8:30pm). Being the helpless (yeah, right) females that they are, a young bellman from the back door helped them up with their luggage. Our room was huge. It had a very nice bathroom, appreciated by the girls, who had been in a small apartment in Barcelona for a while. There was plenty of room for them to open their suitcases and show me all the “goodies” they had purchased in their travels. Shopping seemed to be a major part of each city they visited. They filled me in on all that had gone on since I last saw them which was in mid-October. Boy did they have a great trip. Day 1, part of objective achieved.. more to come...
Friday, December 08, 2006
Been in the states...
I was back in the States for Thanksgiving. Once I was home, back in my familiar surroundings, around my friends and family, I asked myself, "What have you done?"...
Returning to the UK was not easy. Once I got here, I have found that it is OK. I still miss all my familiar surroundings, familiar faces, familiar life but it is not bad here. We do what we must do... I am going to spend this coming weekend in London so I will have lots to write about then.
Here are two pictures from our Thanksgiving... 80 people, pretty much all related!
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Monday, November 13, 2006
Nov 11, Armistice Day
I was surprised to learn that we share the "Veteran's Day" remberance with the English. They call it remberance day and they honor veterans of WWI and WWII at 11:00am on Nov. 11th. This year the Queen dedicated a memorial to New Zealand for the 1800 soldiers they lost in WWI and I can't remember the number in WWI but the % was very high. Very few people lived in New Zealand during those wars. Anyway, the memorial looks a little odd on TV, but I am sure it is cool in person. The design includes chards of metal sticking out of a grassy mound with some sort of insignia on each one... I will try to get to see it in person. Anyway, people wear these cute little red poppy lapel pins that old people sell for some charity. It is good to know that we aren't the only ones who appreciate what our veterans have done for us and the rest of the world. (of course, England, Ireland and Europe have way more veterans than we ever thought to have... hello... the Crusades!! oh I could go back to BC with the list.
Anyway, a very cool thing, my cousin shared a piece from letters that my Grandfather wrote to my Grandmother on Armistice Day, Nov 12, 1918, while he is was stationed in France... this true history, albeit my Grandfather's opinion...
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES
November 12, 1918
My Dear Annie,
The old French expression “C’est la guerre” will soon have to sink into oblivion, for the Armistice has been signed and Germany given thirty days notice to sign a peace treaty or have their country devastated the same as they themselves ruined Belgium and Northern France; and no one can conceive of the German people, who, at last, are free agents, wishing to renew hostilities.
Last Saturday night the news reached here that the Armistice was about to be signed, and everyone was excited as only the French can and, from then on, until 11 o’clock yesterday morning, thousands upon thousands lined the streets in front of the News Agency anxiously awaiting some more news, but nothing encouraging came over the wires until about 10 o’clock yesterday when it was announced that the Armistice had been signed and at 11 all fighting would stop. Then the fun commenced and I don’t expect to see such a sight again if I live to be eighty years of age. Everyone nearly went crazy.
Men, women and children were running around kissing each other and shouting, “Vive l’France, Vive l’Amerique”, and waving flags and, every once in a while, a bunch would get together and sing the Marseillaise. Our band started to parade through the streets but they were nearly taken off their feet and, in an hour or so, they returned looking as if the battle of the Marne had been fought all over again. There was as at least four or five thousand people following them, and they surely went crazy when they got within the Headquarters grounds. It was an hour or more before the crowd could be dispersed. All the sirens and church bells and every other contrivance was utilized to make known the good news and it was impossible to talk, much less hear, so about 3p.m.we closed up the ‘shop’ and all went downtown. It was the greatest crowd I want to see, Americans, Frenchmen, Englishmen, Scotsmen, Canadians, Algerians, Brazilians, Japanese, Russians, Greeks, Serbians, Belgians, Italians, Portuguese, Chinamen, and Lord knows how many more, all celebrating the downfall of one nation.
I guess every man, woman, and child in this city turned out, for it took us about an hour to walk four blocks. All the stores, restaurants, cafes etc. closed up and even the streetcars had to stop, for they could make no progress whatever
within the crowds.
Around six o’clock the crowd began to be more jubilant than ever, so, in order to show up favorably, about eight hundred of us marched in columns of squads all through the principal streets. We got the reception of our lives and we had no trouble in securing flags. Everybody was willing to give up theirs and, of course, it wouldn’t be polite to refuse them, so, at the end of the parade, every one of us had at least one flag. The streets were all decorated in bunting and flags and, to our delight; we found that the Stars and Stripes was second only to the Tricolor. These French surely appreciate us and, take it from me, they know how to celebrate. It was our first opportunity to be with them on such a day and, believe me, it will be long remembered. I thought the Fourth of July celebration was great, but it couldn’t hold a candle to this one.
No doubt the States went crazy also yesterday, but I don’t believe that they show it like these people. They are naturally excitable and, given the chance to show it, they can’t be beat. Of course they have much more to be thankful and joyful over than our folks, for it was their soil that was in danger of occupation by the enemy and, yesterday practically meant the ceasing of such dangers, as menaced their country for the last forty years, forever.
This armistice, of course, does not necessarily mean peace, but it is a long step toward that goal, and I don’t believe that the German people, now that they have the government in their own hands, will ever permit hostilities to break out again, for, if they do not accede to the allies’ demands now, nothing short of entire occupation of Germany will satisfy us. The peace conditions are hard pills to swallow, but it is their own medicine and they must accept them.
Who in this wide would could have foretold five months ago what was to happen yesterday? The end came about as quickly as the affair started, and to-night report has it that the Krons-prinz has been assassinated. Now how about the Kaiser?
Everything is going along the same as ever, and this morning found us back on the job as the last of our celebrations was last night, although the French extended the holiday to to-day.
I received your letters of Oct. 13th, 11th, and 10th last night upon my return and, as usual, I was glad to hear that you were all in good health and pray that this letter still finds you the same. We hear a great deal, over here, about the Spanish Flu in the States, but I hope that you and the folks will be spared the ordeal of this sickness. Some of the boys up the line have been hit pretty hard, but it seems to have been checked, thank God.
I also received your clipping showing the pictures of the crowd at Golden Gate Park on the day on which the big affair in which you participated took place. It surely reminded me of the good old days of a year or so ago, but I hope that, before another year passes, I will be able to again look the old familiar spots over.
We are having some fine weather here and yesterday especially was warm for November. To-night it is a little cooler but just enough coolness to make the air fresh and brisk. Up north the weather has been rather cold, but nothing like that down here. Do you wonder why I consider myself so lucky?
Give everybody my best regards and tell them just because the war is almost ‘finis’ they shouldn’t think that no more letters are interesting. Keep us supplied with news and things will along better here.
Hoping that the peace which is about dawning will have risen in all its glory by the time that this letter reaches you (as we now have accomplished our purpose) and that you are all enjoying the of health, I will close.
As ever
Joe
Corp. J. A. Bosque
Pretty cool, this was written almost 90 years ago... he was so descriptive.
Anyway, a very cool thing, my cousin shared a piece from letters that my Grandfather wrote to my Grandmother on Armistice Day, Nov 12, 1918, while he is was stationed in France... this true history, albeit my Grandfather's opinion...
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES
November 12, 1918
My Dear Annie,
The old French expression “C’est la guerre” will soon have to sink into oblivion, for the Armistice has been signed and Germany given thirty days notice to sign a peace treaty or have their country devastated the same as they themselves ruined Belgium and Northern France; and no one can conceive of the German people, who, at last, are free agents, wishing to renew hostilities.
Last Saturday night the news reached here that the Armistice was about to be signed, and everyone was excited as only the French can and, from then on, until 11 o’clock yesterday morning, thousands upon thousands lined the streets in front of the News Agency anxiously awaiting some more news, but nothing encouraging came over the wires until about 10 o’clock yesterday when it was announced that the Armistice had been signed and at 11 all fighting would stop. Then the fun commenced and I don’t expect to see such a sight again if I live to be eighty years of age. Everyone nearly went crazy.
Men, women and children were running around kissing each other and shouting, “Vive l’France, Vive l’Amerique”, and waving flags and, every once in a while, a bunch would get together and sing the Marseillaise. Our band started to parade through the streets but they were nearly taken off their feet and, in an hour or so, they returned looking as if the battle of the Marne had been fought all over again. There was as at least four or five thousand people following them, and they surely went crazy when they got within the Headquarters grounds. It was an hour or more before the crowd could be dispersed. All the sirens and church bells and every other contrivance was utilized to make known the good news and it was impossible to talk, much less hear, so about 3p.m.we closed up the ‘shop’ and all went downtown. It was the greatest crowd I want to see, Americans, Frenchmen, Englishmen, Scotsmen, Canadians, Algerians, Brazilians, Japanese, Russians, Greeks, Serbians, Belgians, Italians, Portuguese, Chinamen, and Lord knows how many more, all celebrating the downfall of one nation.
I guess every man, woman, and child in this city turned out, for it took us about an hour to walk four blocks. All the stores, restaurants, cafes etc. closed up and even the streetcars had to stop, for they could make no progress whatever
within the crowds.
Around six o’clock the crowd began to be more jubilant than ever, so, in order to show up favorably, about eight hundred of us marched in columns of squads all through the principal streets. We got the reception of our lives and we had no trouble in securing flags. Everybody was willing to give up theirs and, of course, it wouldn’t be polite to refuse them, so, at the end of the parade, every one of us had at least one flag. The streets were all decorated in bunting and flags and, to our delight; we found that the Stars and Stripes was second only to the Tricolor. These French surely appreciate us and, take it from me, they know how to celebrate. It was our first opportunity to be with them on such a day and, believe me, it will be long remembered. I thought the Fourth of July celebration was great, but it couldn’t hold a candle to this one.
No doubt the States went crazy also yesterday, but I don’t believe that they show it like these people. They are naturally excitable and, given the chance to show it, they can’t be beat. Of course they have much more to be thankful and joyful over than our folks, for it was their soil that was in danger of occupation by the enemy and, yesterday practically meant the ceasing of such dangers, as menaced their country for the last forty years, forever.
This armistice, of course, does not necessarily mean peace, but it is a long step toward that goal, and I don’t believe that the German people, now that they have the government in their own hands, will ever permit hostilities to break out again, for, if they do not accede to the allies’ demands now, nothing short of entire occupation of Germany will satisfy us. The peace conditions are hard pills to swallow, but it is their own medicine and they must accept them.
Who in this wide would could have foretold five months ago what was to happen yesterday? The end came about as quickly as the affair started, and to-night report has it that the Krons-prinz has been assassinated. Now how about the Kaiser?
Everything is going along the same as ever, and this morning found us back on the job as the last of our celebrations was last night, although the French extended the holiday to to-day.
I received your letters of Oct. 13th, 11th, and 10th last night upon my return and, as usual, I was glad to hear that you were all in good health and pray that this letter still finds you the same. We hear a great deal, over here, about the Spanish Flu in the States, but I hope that you and the folks will be spared the ordeal of this sickness. Some of the boys up the line have been hit pretty hard, but it seems to have been checked, thank God.
I also received your clipping showing the pictures of the crowd at Golden Gate Park on the day on which the big affair in which you participated took place. It surely reminded me of the good old days of a year or so ago, but I hope that, before another year passes, I will be able to again look the old familiar spots over.
We are having some fine weather here and yesterday especially was warm for November. To-night it is a little cooler but just enough coolness to make the air fresh and brisk. Up north the weather has been rather cold, but nothing like that down here. Do you wonder why I consider myself so lucky?
Give everybody my best regards and tell them just because the war is almost ‘finis’ they shouldn’t think that no more letters are interesting. Keep us supplied with news and things will along better here.
Hoping that the peace which is about dawning will have risen in all its glory by the time that this letter reaches you (as we now have accomplished our purpose) and that you are all enjoying the of health, I will close.
As ever
Joe
Corp. J. A. Bosque
Pretty cool, this was written almost 90 years ago... he was so descriptive.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Nice Ride...new car.
Today, Sunday, Nov 12, I took a drive to Brighton. I felt the need to see the sea. (No pun intended.) After a frustrating morning with my network connection, I decided a nice long drive in my pretty blue new car was just what I needed. By the time I left the house it was 2:00pm. I set the "Nav" system to the "Kings Road," Brighton.
In my reference book on England it is referred to as the place where Victorian men would take their mistresses for rendevous. When they wanted a divorce, they would also bring photographers to be able to verify infidelity. Seems a little odd..
It was a very easy ride... south M404, east on M25, southwest M23... about one hour and thirty minutes. After the freeway experience, like Hwy 17, it dumps you into the town of Brighton. Unlike Santa Cruz, this is not a sleepy little beach town. It is very much like San Francisco, the Marina district to be precise. Parks, shops and three to six story buildings, all facing the sea. The buildings all have bay windows, similar to those in the Marina, but I am sure much older. There was some sort of 10k race going on in one park and every field had a soccer (football) game being played.
You wind down through the city until you notice in front of you an open area that is blue... oh there it is, the sea!! There is a wide promenade overloaking the beach area that seems to stretch for miles. A pier supports several buildings, restaraunts, amusement rides, and game areas, similar to the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz but much older and smaller. Down the center of the pier is a covered area painted white, lined with black painted iron benches. Old style street lights line the pier as well. All of this lights up as the sun goes down. As you look back at the city you see rows of hotels, restaurants, stores and apartments all lined neatly across from the promenade.
You can just imagine the Victorian couples strolling along, enjoying the sea breeze, planning the evening, stopping for ice cream or a cold drink.
The wierdest thing of all was that the beach is not sand, it is rocks or I guess big pebbles, like Johnson's Beach at Russian River! That was a surprise.
The sun goes down about 4:30 and everyone was heading towards the beach or the pier to enjoy the sunset. I have to say, it was as beautiful as any I have seen in Hawaii, the Caribbean, Australia, Greece, Spain or yes, in the US... although I will say Kansas has some amazing sunsets!
A nice drive for a dull day... I hate Sundays... and Sundays alone are the worst!!
In my reference book on England it is referred to as the place where Victorian men would take their mistresses for rendevous. When they wanted a divorce, they would also bring photographers to be able to verify infidelity. Seems a little odd..
It was a very easy ride... south M404, east on M25, southwest M23... about one hour and thirty minutes. After the freeway experience, like Hwy 17, it dumps you into the town of Brighton. Unlike Santa Cruz, this is not a sleepy little beach town. It is very much like San Francisco, the Marina district to be precise. Parks, shops and three to six story buildings, all facing the sea. The buildings all have bay windows, similar to those in the Marina, but I am sure much older. There was some sort of 10k race going on in one park and every field had a soccer (football) game being played.
You wind down through the city until you notice in front of you an open area that is blue... oh there it is, the sea!! There is a wide promenade overloaking the beach area that seems to stretch for miles. A pier supports several buildings, restaraunts, amusement rides, and game areas, similar to the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz but much older and smaller. Down the center of the pier is a covered area painted white, lined with black painted iron benches. Old style street lights line the pier as well. All of this lights up as the sun goes down. As you look back at the city you see rows of hotels, restaurants, stores and apartments all lined neatly across from the promenade.
You can just imagine the Victorian couples strolling along, enjoying the sea breeze, planning the evening, stopping for ice cream or a cold drink.
The wierdest thing of all was that the beach is not sand, it is rocks or I guess big pebbles, like Johnson's Beach at Russian River! That was a surprise.
The sun goes down about 4:30 and everyone was heading towards the beach or the pier to enjoy the sunset. I have to say, it was as beautiful as any I have seen in Hawaii, the Caribbean, Australia, Greece, Spain or yes, in the US... although I will say Kansas has some amazing sunsets!
A nice drive for a dull day... I hate Sundays... and Sundays alone are the worst!!
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