Summer USA...........

What a wonderful summer but it flew by....whoooossssshhhhhh............

It started with a fab trip to Florida...stayed in the old abode thanks to Julie and for several days Andy and I caught up with Julie, Janet, Jill, Ruth & Chris with our wonderful get togethers. This time it felt different...we were all in different places than we were two years ago. Chris now staying at home and enjoying a writing career, Ruth doing well with her job, Jill embarking on her yoga classes, Julie finally seeing the financial light in the rental market and Janet now enjoying all of her children away from the nest and me, of course, settled in my new married life in London. Whereas two years ago we were in a state of flux ,we now have all apparently settled in to our new lives.

I managed to fit in two days of massage claasses to enable me to renew my massage license and we then sped up to Tampa to spend time with Charlotte and Ian. I loved their new home and the life they have created, immersed in their relationship, Craft Beer and cooking.....idyllic!

The four of us had a blast enjoying their resort pool and Clearwater Beach. The cherry on the cake arrived when Tom joined us for two days. Bliss! We also used is an opportunity to get some great family shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a great time we all had. we discovered Marsh Rabbits...small rabbits that lived in nests near water...we adored the Sandhill Cranes living their lives whilst new buildings pushed them further out of their domain.....we even went for a fungi walk and found Agaricus.

 

It was hard to leave after 4 days but we had to get back to Fort Myers for the Saturday as it was Kelseys wedding.....and what a lovely wedding it was. Thne bridal party looked radiantly happy...Janet looked fabulous in a shocking pink dress and Jim gave a heartfelt speech, amusing, inappropriate and heartfelt...we loved it!

 

Our last day had us bounce between Tampa and Fort Myers in record time trying to determine and secure the flight that would get us home in time for our next round of activities..........flying the weekend of July 4th....we were mad but had no choice AND.we made it home safely,

 

 



My Florida

I have now been away from Florida for two years....in some ways it seems like yesterday and in others like an eternity.

The place where I spent the best part of thirteen years which initially started as a summer get away.

The place where I began a new life as a single mum and raised two wonderful (one a little wilder than the other) children.

The place where I waited to put my first born, Charlotte on her first yellow school bus to Kindergarten on her first day at school. Of course she ran away the first couple of times and I ended up having to drive her the first week.

The place where I used to rollerblade Tom to the beach every morning with his Batman cape flying behind the stroller.

The place where I launched three independent careers.

The place where I bought my first home on foreign soil.... my ongoing project, the home that hosted my parties, Charlotte's parties, cooking marathons, sleepovers, retreats for friends....the home that housed laughter, tears, slammed doors, hysterical giggles, heartfelt conversations and idle chatter.

The place where I made some extraordinary friends, The place that the word family took on a whole new meaning..........family being the friends we love that are tirelessly by our side, embrace our light side and put a protective arm around our dark side.

Florida, my paradise and my prison. I miss you......bits of you......my friends, the sunlit patterns on the swimming pool, the birds, the space to breathe, the heat......

This last visit enabled me to step back and see what I had....what I still have....and know that our memories both past and future will be cherished forever.

 

Too Bogged to Blog.....

I cannot believe I have not Blogged since June! I guess that's the last time I had a chance to breathe. I am also sure it is no coincidence that this was when Andy finished working at Kenwood House too!

I have so much to Blog about....Florida, Henley, Tom's visit, Switzerland, stunning British summer....where do I begin.....well, let me start with a vent :) well sorta.....

Within several days of us being at home TOGETHER, I realized I needed to go out to work...because;

a) This flat ain't big enough for the both of us (Andy sure askes a lot of questions)
b) I have had enough time being the lady of leisure and cannot buy any more clothes
c) I'd like Andy and I to buy a small home in the next few years for our retirement years
d) AND TOM HAS GOT IN TO THE BERKLEE SCHOOL OF MUSIC IN BOSTON

I have decided that my final career move will be a revisit to the world of sales training. I actually was submitted for a great job through a headhunter but the job was shelved for a couple of months as they lost the head of that department (he quit....hmmmm....maybe a sign). Unfortunately, this was after spending two manic weeks preparing for an interview! That whole process showed me that I truly was ready to jump back in to the workforce and am now getting re-certified in a sales methodology which blends well with the Alinean solutions. So, overall, the plan is to move forward as an independant sales trainer and consultant, focusing on an evidence based methodology. Sounds good right!

Whilst the plan is in motion I have continuous interuptions from the fungi fiend (thats the Andy and fungi combo)! With fungi season in full swing, we are busy with walks, gathering and cooking for our events, developing a program for schools AND a survey on Hampstead Heath. Look at all of these mushooms. This was just this morning's bounty and this is almost an every day occurence.

 

On top of that, I am writing "The Small Sales Book for Big Sales".....I will use Chris' route of an e-book and will be thrilled to have that on my resume, regardless of actual book sales.

 

Wish me luck!

Maiden Voyage

So, no sooner than I put last week's post up, we witnessed one of our baby birds fledge. The mum has been back and forth like crazy luring him/her to the nesting box entrance with little pieces of fat that Andy hangs for them. Sitting in the sun, we watched this tiny little head appear and start poking his/her head in and out...after a few minutes they jumped out and landed on one of my dead Ficus trees......here is a pic...

 

 

They stayed there a little while fluttering their wings and getting their bearings....they then dropped over the fence in to the neighbors garden. Maybe just as while they are out of my view as I felt compelled to stand guard over them and scare off any Robins or Blue Jays that came within the vicinity.

 

I feel like a proud Mum!!!

 

Let's hope that nature is kind and let's them survive.

The Birds & Bees

It is all about the birds and bees...literally....we are thrilled to see the sun bringing the busy bees out do their intensely under estimated job of pollinating the flowers.......

 

 

I am laying here in my back garden sun trap on May Bank holiday shared with Memorial Day. Amazing to think I am in London as all I can hear, apart from the very occasional train, are the birds singing. Through Andy's teaching I can now identify lots of the birds by their song along This includes all of our regular visitors...the Green Finches, Gold Finches, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Great Tits and Woodpecker.  I now have the Blackbird and Thrushes worked out too.

 

Quite pleased that the wild parrots are not around as we are holding a protective eye out for our Blue Tit babies. Andy has had a nesting box out for a number of years but this is the first successful year. We did have babies last year but sadly lost them to a cat. This year Andy has secured the nesting box  to the frame of the kitchen window and it seems to have provided the safe start.

 

I made sure I groomed Sophie in the garden as nesting began and I think many birds took advantage of her sumptuous fur to line their nests, the Blue Tits included. I now hear the babies call to their mother bird when she is in the area....more caterpillars please...and I love how the father shares the task....too many mouthes to feed for one alone. Andy has been telling me how their parents feed according to the growth of the babies...start with small insects and graduate to caterpillars..how do they know this stuff!!

 

I am terrified for their fledging....first flight out and want to put a pillow beneath their nesting box...just in case.....

 

I think the most energy I shall use today is a short trip to the fruit shop to buy Loquats....my new favorite fruit.....like a small peach but sweeter and sour at the same time. A glorious pre-summer indulgence....I have planted some pips with great hope......I doubt they will surprise me but I live in hope.....I mean our climate can be similar to South Africa.....hmmmm...who am I kidding....

 

Ahhh.....the simple pleasures....



 

Gardeners!!!

It's official...we are bona fida gardeners....we have lettuce and rocket, the mint has gone mental....the oregano is flaunting it's leaves in true italian style.....the thyme is spreading and the marigolds are singing their spring tangerine song......we even have potatos sprouting.......ahhhh.....life is good!

Mothers Day!

So it's Mothers Days in the U.S. today and Charlotte and Tom surprised me yesterday by sending the most beautiful flowers...pale yellow roses, vibrant yellow tulips and lillies......their smell is mingling nicely with the wild bluebells that Andy keeps me topped up with.....I miss the kids so much!

I am going to go over to Florida for a week by myself at the beginning of June but it will be hard with Charlotte in Tampa and Tom in Fort Myers. Not sure how I will juggle but lots of driving ahead I'm sure.

Today, I have indulged myself with something that would disgust Charlotte, in fact anyone under the age of 40.....I have put on high waisted jeans......gone was that roll of flesh...instantly 20 lbs lighter....wonderful!!!! I should do this more often....I should campaign for it!!! Maybe I will even wear them in Florida!

Spring has been slow, slow, and slow to arrive but we finally got the first bout of warmth last week. We had two warm days where we could actually walk around in a t-shirt....I think I caught the sun on my face even. And finally the trees blossomed.....and the magnolia at Kenwood gave the usual breathtaking display.....just lovely!

We have given gardening a second go this year and have potatos sown and lettuce and herbs securely planted in a big planter that we made out of a palette...very creative. Here are Andy and Sophie watering them.

Because spring has been so late the flowers, trees, plants and fungi are all a month behind which has created a bit of a struggle with Andy's spring forays. The first walk was saved by some unexpected Oyster mushrooms, the second by some late St.Georges, and the third and fourth should now be OK.

Andy is being made redundant in September...the ranger team has been disbanded and he was not willing to take a job in Kenwood House....this man needs to be free to wander...he'd be miserable if he stayed. I think he can work on his fungi full time and concentrate on getting his book completed.

So, as a result, Spring has been very busy with creating new websites for Andy's business. Very time consuming as we had quite an extensive wish list with requiring all the social media 'bells and whistles', scrolling galleries, videos which has resulted is a very contemporary user friendly site which I hope invites more traffic...particular in the area of surveys and corporate events. We also decided to take the London Fungus Group in it's own direction, so that required a website too. Now working on Linkedin Group......I SHALL MAKE HIM SUCCESSFUL...I SHALL, I SHALL, I SHALL!!!!!!! We will just do what we have to do to get it to work.

For the most part Andy and I see the world the same way yet, we had to face one of our first major disagreements....Margaret Thatcher......divisive in life and possibly even more divisive in death which happened several weeks ago. I had a great deal of respect for her....Andy hated her!!!! I dread to think where this country would have been if she had not taken the reins in the late seventies. She pulled it back from ecomonic disaster...she was strong, and resolute with beating back the unions who were crippling the country by bringing us down to a 3 day work week and endless power cuts. She gave people the opportunity to own their own business, buy their own houses and create their own destiny. For the most part she did a damn good job.  It wasnt until her third term that she lost sight of democracy by trying to institute the poll tax and of course, that was her ultimate political demise......I think the big mistake was spending 10 million on her funeral when Brits are being squeezed by the Government so mercilessly at this time.

The other news in the headlines was the devasting bombing of the Boston Marathon. Michelle had just posted on Facebook that Lauren was running and 30 minutes later Andy told me the news. Fortunately our friends were half a block away and safe but must have been terribly shaken....makes you appreciate how random life can be and how we have to appreciate every minute. We watched the 24 hour coverage as the story unfolded, car chases, searches, shootings.....we were stunned!

And so we are now in to May and our first year anniverary approaches....not sure what we will do but as it on a Sunday I would love to go to St. Marys Church and see Phillip.......we shall see.

So now we will watch the blossom bloom and drop and lead us in to summer......we need a hot one!