We are in Vancouver for a brief visit to Laurie and Sylvia and the grandchildren. Just two weeks is a little short in most ways but it seemed that a short stay might fit in best since L & S have only just arrived and are still sorting out their new life here. They seem happy and adjusting and now have a permanent apartment organised which they are partially moved into. It is on the 29th floor right by Burrand Bridge with truly spectacular views. I wouldn’t like it - I would feel uneasy so high all the time, and would miss the connectedness of more traditional housing. Being so high and stacked like that would make me feel cut-off from the world - a spectator in some manner. But L&S like it - at least for a year maybe. It might get a little overheated in the sunshine - they will have to figure out the best and safest way to get some air flowing through. The city is about as nice as cities can be. It is a great setting with sea and mountains surrounding it. There are lots of things to do and cycle paths everywhere. We have managed to explore just a little - around the city and seawall and around Stanley Park. We just have 4 more nights now - so only a little time to help out and also importantly keep that close relationship with the grandchildren.
We are returning from our winter month’s escape to the sun and fun in El Yaque. This visit has been the first that I qualified as a kitesurfer and that has made it even more fun. Ally and I have kited together for literally hours and my skill level has been noticeably increasing along with all that added enjoyment. A quantitative measure has been my average speed which started out at 15.4 and ended at 19.6. For me the sights and views and overall feel-good feeling of being out there on the water was wonderful. To have the balance of the kite and the power in it from the wind, edging the board, skimming the waves, with my kite in the sky angled with Ally’s ahead, the occasional flying fish … It was simply great. The weather was unseasonably rainy and that had a knockon affect of cutting back the wind. We had a week where there was virtually no wind whatsoever - a very bad record. This might be another aspect of the Earth’s climate changing - a scary thought when considered against the reports of icecaps melting, and sea levels rising. And the other background is the global financial chaos and world-wide recession. Jobs are being lost at an unprecedented rate in my lifetime, billions are being wiped off stock market and property values and the right way to extricate the world from the mess is by no means clear. It too is a scary prospect. So, we return to an uncertain world. But to some very good things. Being home will be good for a while, the winter should be over, and we have Katie’s wedding party in just over one week’s time. It will be lovely to see her and Ben, Sarah and Bev and of course everyone else who will be there. I hope we have a fantastic day and that it completes Katie’s series of wedding celebrations with another memorable and happy occasion.
The nights are hot Hot and so dark when the power is out Like last night. No fans, no air conditioners, No glimmer from the landing security lights. At three in the morning there is no sound But the call of an unidentifiable animal or bird. Then just before first light the birds awake They call with soft songs, short and abrupt More join as the day dawns further It has to be the tropics With such exotic sounds Still new to me and unfamiliar. The light grows and soon the sun is up Brightness pierces the curtains The promise and certainty of a hot day The quality of the light The clean blue of the sky The rustle of the wind Beginning to move in the palm trees. In my minds eye I see the sea, the waves, the island further out From the sound of the wind I imagine the white caps The slight agitation on the surface The flurry of the wind Across the natural smoothness of the water. Another day in this paradise Isla de Margarita A time in my life Of exercise and challenge Growth and achievements Not material success No promotion to consider No meetings and deadlines I have time Love to give and receive Friends and family And a peace in my soul.
The sun has just risen on a very, very cold morning. We are just crossing the coastline somewhere in Sussex and looking down we have travelled over heavily frosted fields and can clearly see dustings of snow. The sky is red - shepherd’s warning … We are off the Margarita to escape the recent spell of sub-zero weather and to lap up sunshine and heat. It is a luxury to be able to do this, though for how long? With the current global economic chaos, the falling value of the pound and the increasing lawlessness in El Yaque this could conceivably be the final journey. Certainly we don’t anticipate coming out here after Easter as has been the case for the past several years. We are now over the continent and it looks even colder down there than it was in England. It is very frosty and clear, but as yet no snow. While we are away we will be somewhat isolated from the world and it’s developments. We will hear the news, the war in Gaza, the gas delivery issues from Russia to Europe, the uncertainty and turmoil in the economy and the awful effects on real people’s lives. And we will have family news. Katie and Ben will be flying out to Thailand in February to be married. Laurie and family will be regrouping their life and almost certainly leaving Mallorca. Sarah and Bev will continue establishing their life together and working out where they will end up with jobs and with their relationship. I am optimistic about my children and the challenges that they will have in the coming year. Laurie and Sylvia have a much tougher and more unpredictable set of decisions and choices to make. I certainly don’t envy them that, or the sheer logistics and upheaval that will be required. I hope that it will work out fine for them soon. And Ally and I will live our fortunate lives and enjoy all the good things that come along for us. We are still so very happy and maybe even more deeply loving each other. It is truly remarkable and wonderful. We savour and value each and every day - and count our blessings and great good fortune.
Such a long time since I’ve written here, since I usually use the old-fashioned method of writing in my notebook journal - on real paper. I’m on my way to London to meet up with Dodie for a pre-wedding ice-breaking coffee. We haven’t met since early 2003 and the idea is to clear the way for a happy and uneventful time at Katie’s wedding party. 5 years is a long time and much has happened since then. And I am quietly hopeful that we will meet with a modicum of goodwill and tolerance. Katie and Sarah both say that they feel Dodie is much better now than she was a couple of years ago, is not drinking too much, and has a new man in her life. I really hope so, and that she has dispensed with the anger and resentment which eats away at you and keeps you looking backwards. This weekend should be a good one for her too, since she is staying with Katie and going to the dress fitting tomorrow. Then next week she is off to stay with Sarah and to go to Jeremy’s wedding. So, my goals are: . Establish a level of comfort between us . See if it is OK to risk Ally and her meeting at the party The tactics are: . Be open and relaxed . Be under-stated and sensitive . Ask only open questions . Be honest and straightforward . Talk about positives of the children I am hoping it will go well - I will be trying hard to make it so.
I guess we are around 38,000 ft and we are heading west towards the New World. This will be a faster journey than the Mayflower or Jacques Cartier’s sailings and in rather more comfort. When we get to Quebec at the end of our visit they will be celebrating the 400th anniversary of the founding of the city. 400 years once seemed like a long, long time. But as I get older then those years seem less like history but more like a time you could reach back to. We have 4 weeks to spend in visiting people and places. If the weather is kind it will likely be very pretty with the autumnal colours and clear blue skies. Whatever the weather may bring we are sure to have a great time, since we always manage to. This time that Ally and I share is so wonderful and happy! And tomorrow I pick up the new guitar - wowee!
I have just cycled from Oxford to Reading having picked up my shiny new Koga. It is definitely lovely and I hope to have many happy miles on it - and not have it stolen ever!
