Liquid Tales

December 2021

Just before lockdown Nov 2020, thinking COVID would be a distant memory, our son in law decided he wanted to take his family to Thailand for Christmas 2021. Both our daughter and son in law are workaholics, our granddaughters both studying but also with part time jobs all needed a holiday. Last time they had a holiday like many people was early 2019 so a break was well overdue. Roger and I were persuaded to come too and with no choice were booked and hooked! I mentioned it to my baby sister and we persuaded her and brother in law to join us. Gary our son in law travelled extensively in the 1990’s and ended up in Thailand with his travelling companions. Some of them stayed in Ko Phangan. Gary made friends with a Thai family and these are the family he still visits today. Ko Pha Ngan is an island located in the gulf of Thailand, and is 65 km from the mainland, between two islands of Koh Samui to the south and Koh Tao to the north. It has an area of about 125 km and is part of the Samui archipelago, a group of islands that includes another 60 islands and islets. Gary uses a flight agent Adam at Dial a Flight, who gets us amazing business class seats for a fraction of the price normally paid. The price we paid was reflected in the number of flights , Norwich to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Doha, Doha to Bangkok, Bangkok to Ko Samumi, then ferry to Ko Phangan. The beach resort of Pinchang was booked, we all had beach front bungalows. Roger and I have visited Thailand many times in the last 25 or so years and love it. We stayed at Pingchan before with the kids so knew we would love the basic chilled atmosphere with very few tourists and just a few backpackers! As time grew nearer it was apparent COVID was not going anywhere soon so all the paperwork began! Gary was like a man on a mission. He checked and double checked but as we got nearer to our travelling date it was apparent we might not make it. However Gary went ahead and started the paper work sending it to myself and my sister to duplicate for ourselves. Then the flights started to change, first times then dates and we had to book to stay over night in Amsterdam to manage our tight connection flights. So ŵe booked the Hilton Amsterdam airport for the first night. Meanwhile we had to apply for a Thailand pass which was basically the same as Verifly – the info needed for our visit to New York in November. This included uploading our passports, vaccines certificates, applying for Thailand COVID insurance, apply for a certificate to be exempt from quarantine. Ordering our return to GB tests. Eventually we got our Thai passport and ŵe moved on to sorting the travel arrangements. Then we were told we had to take PCR tests 72 hours before leaving but as we were overnight in Amsterdam we were worried these wouldn’t be back in time to then extend to the arrival in Bangkok. We also needed to apply for permission to enter Amsterdam! We used Norwich Airport testing centre who were great and probably the cheapest in our area. When we got to Thailand ŵe had to quarantine in a Thai SHA hotel whilst we took another PCR test. Then ŵe could move on to our Ko Samui flights. So another day was a added to our journey. A few days before leaving Omicron appeared and contraction numbers started to escalate. We all thought the same, shall we stay in the uk and maybe get locked down for Xmas or be locked down on a tropical beach! I can tell you my arthritis screamed PLEASE GO! So we did. A last minute scurry round to find someone to house sit and a mummy for my chickens, thank you Janet, and ŵe were packed and off.

Thursday 16 th December 2021.

Roger and I meet Gary, Joolia, Aspen & Logan our granddaughters at Norwich airport. Gary is like a highly coiled spring waiting to be released…. Getting through check in was the first relief , we hear my sister Celia and Mike have safely landed in Amsterdam, their flight from Luton. So the champagne was ordered whilst we waited for our flight. Sadly Norwich airport only stocked one bottle of champagne so Prosecco followed. By the time ŵe got to our hotel in Amsterdam we were cream crackered so ordered rooms service and retired. The Hilton Hotel was fabulous, however it was room service only as the bar and restaurant shut promptly at 5 pm like the whole of Amsterdam. Next morning Celia couldn’t open her case as the keys had been lost! Hilton to the rescue and a burly young man with bolt croppers soon clipped the padlock. Celia purchased a new padlock once inside the airport, Jooles and Gary purchased smart new luggage labels for their smart new cases.

Friday 17th Saturday 18th December 2021

Check in for our flight is relatively easy as we are business class and we head for the business lounge. Time passes quickly, we are soon on board our 15.15 flight to Doha and in our fabulous seats on a Boeing 777-3DZ(ER). We are on Qatar airways QR274 Qsuite seats. We sit in fours. The Gilveys together in one four and Roger, myself, Celia & Mike in the other. Very cosy. The privacy dividers come down between people so you have a table of four to eat and chat. A few glasses of pink bubbles and my fear of flying diminishes! Food is delicious, a multitude of films, I watch Blithe Spirit & The Little Things. Gary reminds me to watch The Beach again with Leonardo DiCaprio & Tilda Swindon which was filmed in Ko Phi Phi Le Thailand. Just the job but I now do not want to go in the sea! A six hour flight we land at 23.00 in Doha, the airport is immaculate, everyone masked, hand sanitizer everywhere. A short stop and we transferred to our 02.20 flights to Bangkok. This time it was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. We sit in normal business seats but are all together in the same cabin. We are given White Company PJ’s and lovely wash bag kits. After a few bubbles and supper we all snuggle down and try to sleep. Woken too early for breakfast I can’t manage mine but Roger of course eats it all. Land at 12.40 local time. Obviously pleased to have tourists return Bangkok airport is relatively quiet, first off we line up as told and sit on readily spaced chairs and show our forms. We are directed through immigration, COVID passport checks, Thai passport checks, collect our luggage, clear customs, visit the immaculate loos, change into cooler clothing and make our way to arrivals to meet the hotel representative who will take us straight for our PCR tests. It’s an interesting drive through the busy city of Bangkok, after twenty minutes or so we arrive at the hospital and are queuing in our transport for the tests. Roger says, “prepare for a brain scrape and throat swab!!!” They let us get out of the vehicles for the tests which are fairly comfortable and quick. Ŵe are given a receipts and told the results will be sent to the hotel within 24 hours. Thank fully Gary has paid for express results to enable us to get our flights to Ko Samui the next day. Ŵe then head for our hotel. Gary has booked presidential suites for us all, I’m needing lessons on how to get these upgrades he manages. The rooms are fabulous. We have a fully stocked kitchen dining room lounge. Kitchen complete with dishwasher and washing machine that have never been used, all up to the minute models. The bed is enormous, The bathroom is gorgeous and before long I’m in the tub having a soak. The views from our window over Bangkok are spectacular. We order some cool beers on room service and hope our tests come back to enable us to explore this fabulous hotel. After a while we ordered some food as we are peckish. 10 pm it’s clear our tests are not coming back tonight so we retire to the dreamy bed. Our tests come back clear at around 23.30.

Sunday 19th December 2021

9.30 Next day we are all repacked and waiting in reception for our cabs to the airport for final flights to Ko Samui. On check in we are given a ticket and told we need to fill in a form online to obtain a QR code. This ends up being a bit of a pain as we have to give a Thai telephone that we can be reached at. As none of us know the correct sequence of numbers for Thai telephones ŵe get a bit desperate to complete this task and Gary has to find an English speaking person to help. We make it by the skin of our teeth and get to the gate for our flight on a Airbus 319-131 to Ko Samui at last. We are slightly taken back that the crew are all dressed in white gowns and masks covering their uniform. The usual meal is not served and ŵe are told to keep our masks on securely. The 50 min flight is soon over and we are instructed to leave the plane and collect our little lunch bag on exit. Samui airport is a cute little airport, it’s all open air and the conveyor belt for luggage is in a covered coconut shy style hallway. Most passengers beside us are Thais but there are two really rude young girls who had no manners and we notice that they treat the crew with contemp. I’m so proud of my grandaughters, they are so polite and completely opposite to these individuals.

More tomorrow – our arrival on Ko Phangang……

Friday 26th November 2021

A last minute change of plans for today, James texts and asks us to pick up cream cheese, lox (smoked salmon) onion and tomato, they will pick up fresh bagels. We walk over to their place where we are to drive to old friend Craig Pogson’s home in Piedmont. A crazy 40 minute drive, far too fast for me, but the scenery was beautiful, trees still hanging on to fabulous coloured leaves as we drive up the coast along the Hudson River. A few gorgeous expensive looking houses along the way. Sadly Craig’s wife was at work but we met his beautiful boys Alexander & Logan and mother in law. It was a so good to catch up with the mad boy Craig who was another of James friends from Gleneagles days…and La Goulue restaurant. His house is built into the side of the shore with breathtaking views of the Hudson. My photos don’t do it justice. A couple of fun hours later we returned to the city. James drops us off at the hotel, thank goodness my feet are having a rest today. We finalise the paperwork for our return flight, start to pack our cases, thankfully I can get all the gifts in that Leslie has given me to deliver back home…. Tonight we are dining at Majorelle on the east side. It’s best bib and tucker for our final meal with Leslie, James and Alexander before we take our flight home tomorrow night. Where on earth has this week gone it’s just flown…

We meet at Majorelle restaurant at 7pm. It’s a beautiful restaurant and one of the best in New York. We have amazing food and wine, lots of laughs, don’t know where the night went but the next thing I know I’m in our hotel and looking at the overpacked cases! Bed 12 midnight.

Saturday 27th November. 2c our last day….

It’s a bright day. Roger walks over to James apartment to watch the Norwich v Wolves match. He thinks it’s crazy that he can watch the game on American TV but not in the UK !!!

I stayed at the hotel, getting ready for the trip home, finalising the packing. Really worried my cases won’t stand the weight and not sure I’m going to enjoy the train home lugging them about.

At 12.00 noon. I check out of our room and store our luggage with the bell boy. Roger arrives back from James’s and we walk a few blocks to the Benoit Bistro for our final lunch of the trip. With us for lunch are Leslie, James, Alexander and dear friends singer/composer David Raleigh (Spotify or Apple Music) and his new hubby Rick. David & Rick got married after 20 odd years together at a star studded wedding ceremony in New York this October. Delayed for a year we sadly couldn’t get there as we were not allowed to travel to the USA in October. We watched the wedding on live stream which was great. It was a black tie event and extremely glamorous. Guests included Billy Porter, (I am a huge fan of his ) the mistress of ceremony was Ronda Ross daughter of Diana Ross. We arrived early at the restaurant very keen to meet up with the boys as I love these two – they came to Norwich and David performed at Joolia & Gary’s wedding 20 odd years ago. The boys arrived bringing me beautiful yellow roses. A great lunch, lots of laughs ( and Vino) over far too quickly. Our car was picking us up for the airport at 3.15 so we had to say our goodbyes to David & Rick and family, very emotional good bye especially the hug from my grandson who tried to lift me up with his hug. We rushed back to the hotel but our car didn’t turn up so hailed a cab and we still made it to the airport on time. As I lined up to put my bits on the conveyor belt for x ray security a very attractive lady appeared from the 1st & Club quick track and to my amazement it was Dame Anna Winatour, that recognisable hair cut, very chic, to think she is only a year younger than me she wear a beautiful pair of very high heeled boots, something I gave up years ago… she looks great. JFK’s Terminal 7 is smaller, not as great for shopping as the London terminal 5 and the shops that there are were unmanned today and roped off. Due to lack of staff maybe…( ha ha Roger got there first). So we were forced to sit at the bar and have another drink!!!Was a good idea as seats were in short demand and the flight was delayed 45 minutes. Eventually we were called row number by row and took our seats. It seems the new norm on BA now they board you in row numbers starting at the back and after landing they ask you to remain seated with seat belts until they call your row numbers. Really great idea – no barging as you exit the plane….The flight was short (6 hours) and it wasn’t long before we were woken for breakfast, just as I fell asleep. Landed just after 8 am GMT. Arrivals was, as expected, extremely busy but the lines moved relatively quickly and we got through immigration in under an hour. We collected the luggage and made our way to the train platform and took the Heathrow express to Paddington station. Then took a quick tube ride on the circle line to Liverpool Street in time for the 10.30am train home to Norwich. I was exhausted by now and not sure where Roger got the strength to keep lifting our cases. Back in Norwich we arrive home to a very warm welcome, my sister Celia and one of her grand dogs Leo, the whippet, made the trip complete. I unpacked got a couple of loads of washing on, mostly Roger’s socks,undies & shirts, I don’t know anyone who wears so many !!! Celia had been to Archer’s the Butchers and picked up a loin of pork. We cooked a roast and settled down to a film and tried to stay awake. Eventually giving in at 9.30pm.

After the Dior exhibition we head back to the car, drive over the Brooklyn Bridge back through Chinatown to Soho to Lure Fishbar, it’s underground, enormous, shaped and designed like a boat with varnished wood panels, it’s packed. We meet up with the Wallick’s, Jim, Cathy & son Eric. James first met Jim when he worked at Gleneagles in Scotland and he happened to be an old friend of Leslie’s. After a lively evening James drives us back & drops us at the corner of our block as we fancy a short walk. We decided to have a nightcap in Tanner Smiths bar next to our hotel. It was quite busy and the DJ played a lot of drum and bass.We watched black and white silent movies of Charlie Chaplin projected onto screens on the back bar which had us in stitches. Bed by 10.30. 9,700 steps.

Monday 22nd Nov. 6c A wet start to the day.

We wake early before 7am, Roger fetches coffee from Starbucks next door, we shower, dress & head for the subway. We take the 1 train downtown to Southferry and walk to the lookout on Battery Park to photograph the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island ferry dock. It’s dry now but very cold with a chilly wind. I am grateful for my full length puffer coat. We turn back and head towards Wall Street, through a fabulous old area called Pearl Street, it’s narrow and dark with old buildings, mainly pubs and bars with the outside seating area now erected all over pavements adjacent to bars and restaurants. At Ground Zero we stop to pay our respects. It’s a very moving experience every time we visit. So hard to believe so many people perished in such a short period. We cross the road and enter the Westfield shopping centre which is massive. We don’t feel in the mood to shop so take the train back to 50th street and find a coffee shop for brunch. Returning to our hotel we rest a while then take a taxi to the kids home – an apartment on the 40th floor where we are shown a display of Alexander quite enormous Lego collection which not only takes up most of his room but most of the dining area too. Leslie cooks us a delicious supper of flounder with capers, roast squash & courgettes & we all relax over a few glasses of Chardonnay. I am suffering from arthritis in my left ankle and plantar fasciitis in the same foot so am very grateful for two pairs of sneakers donated to me by my grandson that he has outgrown. Back to the hotel around 10 pm. 12,413 steps

Tuesday 23rd Nov. Dry sunny 3c.

Awake at 6am. James brings us very welcome Starbucks hot coffee at 8.30 after he drops off Alexander at school. After a slow start we walk to Bloomingdale’s for a spot of shopping. The problem with New York and my daughter in law always reminds me, is that in summer, when it’s very hot outside you need cover ups as inside all store and restaurants have air con and it’s cold. It’s the reverse in winter. You wrap up for the cold, it can be so cold you need to cover your nose and mouth, but inside it’s so very hot. This happened today, it was so hot it was tiring shopping. We leave Bloomingdale’s after buying a few items turn right and head uptown along Lexington window shopping and decide to call in on James’s friend Jason who owns an English bar restaurant on 76th street. Jones Wood Foundry. It’s about a mile or so. Roger samples the beer and I have a glass of rosé. We order a lite snack and are told Jason is in the kitchen but up to his eyes in preparing take out boxes for thanksgiving! Ŵe do manage a quick word with him but can see the amount of work involved so move on and walk back to our hotel. At 6.30 pm we meet up with James and take the subway to 86th street to meet Alexander from his Hebrew lessons. We walk back to Café Luxembourg where we meet up with Leslie for supper. Back to the hotel by 10 pm. In New York all shop & restaurant staff are masked at all times. You cannot get into any restaurant , bar, theatre or shop without showing ID and proof of vaccine. The TV is constantly reminding people to get vaccinated, very slick and informative and are advertising medication to purchase for all sorts of illnesses, we take the NHS for granted, here in the USA everyone has private medical insurance which is very costly. For a family of three medium health insurance is $2.700 a month plus a flat fee per GP visit & that’s excluding dental . 18000 steps today.

Wednesday 24th Nov. 2021. 5c

We wake up late. James brings very welcome coffee. I finish emails, post wages for the Ribs and catch up on this blog. We dress and walk to Columbus circle shops. Roger is peckish so we queue for Tartinery and eventually get a table for brunch. I have an delicious salad bowl of Quinoa, brussel sprouts, avocado, spinach, almonds cilantro & mint. Extremely filling. Roger has pumpkin soup followed by smashed avocado on toast. We walk back to our hotel freshen up then walk to James office, then on to join Leslie & Alexander Radio City to see The Christmas Show with the famous Rockettes. Wow it was so great!!! A straight two hour full on energetic show I’m not sure how they manage three performances a day!

After we all leave and walk to Rockefeller centre to see the Thanksgiving lights. Not all the Christmas lights are on, this happens next week but it’s still beautiful & Roger & I take lots of photos. We walk on the to 72 nd street to Pomodoro Rossi an Italian restaurant a favourite of our grandsons where we enjoyed a superb meal. A stroll home after. 12,520 steps today.

Thursday 25th Nov 2021. 11c. Dry and Sunny. Thanksgiving.

We are awake early again, good job as we need to be on the road walking to see the thanksgiving parade which starts at. 9am. Leslie tells us the roads will be shut, we have seen the barriers being errected all week. Crowds are 20 deep on Columbus circle and we have to divert to get across to the street we need to be on. The floats are fantastic. Parents with children on their shoulders screaming with delight as the balloons and gigantic cartoon characters parade along the street along with marching bands, cheerleaders and magical characters. Street vendors have a field day. It’s all very festive. The atmosphere calm but alive. We make our way along slowly to 72nd street where we are invited to brunch and drinks at Jim & Cathy’s. They have a fabulous apartment close to Central Park with a terrace to view the parade. As I have a fear of heights I stay inside but a managed to take few shots of the parade after a few mimosas!!! An hour or so on we walk back to the hotel for a shower and change ready for meeting the family. On the walk back we notice the traffic lights are being pulled back into position before the roads are reopened. The traffic lights are cleverly errected on swing lamppost post and can be turned almost 90% out of the way of the large floats. The crowds have disbursed now and the roads are full of debris. Men are out with leaf blowers clearing the roads. What seems like thousands of police men & women are helping the cleanup. It’s all very impressively organised . A quick walk back to our hotel to shower and change for Thanksgiving lunch at Orsay on Lexington. This was one of the restaurants James was General Manager of in his first years in New York. He left Orsay to set up his own business in 2007. We meet at 3pm for our family meal. It was so good to see Leslie’s Parents Marcia & Michael and brother Jonathan & hubby Hervê. The restaurant is as we expected extremely busy, the meal delicious most had roast turkey I had the vegi option. We look forward to meeting up again in 2022 for our grandsons bar mitzvah. Taxi home as feet as killing me.

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I’ve been quiet for a while as with everyone life has been quite different. Roger and I have been keeping busy with ‘Safe activities’, we are lucky to have outside space needing attention. Roger has resumed golf, playing mostly with our dear friend Kevin, occasionally with my bothers Martin & Murray. How my father would have loved to play with them all had he been here today…. I have enjoyed being able to complete business admin & bookeeping for both our business and daughter Joolia ( jooliagilveyaesthetics) in my own time, with minimum stress. I also decided to revamp and sort my entire wardrobe and donate to charity, something I may live to regret if my body keeps on growing…. I also joined a group of ladies that socialise once a month. It’s so good just to have that catch up and a good giggle. Roger & I took a trip to London for my birthday treat in August, we booked to see Van Gogh Immersive which was outstanding. The weather was great so walking around London was very enjoyable. We noticed the lack of foreign tourists and many empty office buildings. London still has that exciting vibe for me at any time. Ŵe also booked to see Olly Day at Cromer Pier & Gorleston Pavilion.

We have been desperately waiting for news on travel from the U.K. to the USA. Our son James, wife Leslie live in Manhattan with our grandson Alexander. We haven’t seen them in person since our Father’s Day trip to the USA in June 2019. I never envisaged a gap so long, once a year is difficult enough without the COVID months adding to the delayed visit. The news we had been waiting for came late September and I took a few seconds to book our flight to The big Apple before waiting for a final date from Mr Biden. Fortunately I booked it for late November in case there were issues. So here we are about to leave, after the longest 30 months of my life.

Saturday 20th November. We travel to Heathrow by train on Friday & stay overnight at the Sofitel. It’s actually on the airport so it’s a short walk the next day to check in and we had an early night after a delicious evening meal in the hotel restaurant.

After all the worrying about paperwork, a few frantic calls to my dear friend Jude Gudgin who had previously completed all needed for her grandson to visit her daughter in Boston, we completed the tests and the Verifly questionnaire and we’re able to finally check in for our flight. The flight was completely full but we had good seats in premium economy, the crew were brilliant, obviously glad to be back working, the food really tasty, a gin & tonic each and a red wine with lunch we both relaxed and enjoyed the films. I watched ‘Cruella’ which I loved and after a nap watched ‘Six minutes to midnight’ both excellent films.

As we approached the coast of North America I was overcome with emotion and started to worry that I would not control myself when I saw the children. James knows how emotional I am anyway as he has experienced it over the years every time we visit. We landed at 1400 ahead of time, excitedly disembarked the aircraft and joined the queue for immigration. As we were amongst the first off the aircraft I was not pleased when Roger decided he needed to loo which left us as near the back of the queue as others rushed in front, he seemed ages, i was not impressed. When through immigration we then had a long exasperated wait for our luggage. Half the plane received theirs and cleared customs whilst we waiting for nearly an hour with the other frustrated passengers. I had booked a car service through Booking.com and our concerned driver text me constantly for updates. Eventually the luggage arrived, we were in the car and off the the city. It’s 9c outside. We arrived at our hotel Park Central, recommended by our daughter in law, pleased to say we have a large revamped room with beautiful bathroom and the most comfortable bed ever. An added bonus we are just yards from James office and two blocks from Central Park. The journey from JFK usually takes around 40 minutes but seems to take forever. We checked in at 17.00 . Leslie has booked restaurants for the week as she says it’s so difficult to get reservation, restaurants are fully booked well ahead, we can always cancel if we change our plans. We are booked into ’Marea’ for 18.15 so a very quick shower and change and we are on our way three blocks to Central Park South. We are a tad early so decided wait at our table. It’s packed with very sophisticated people of various ages, we both love people watching but Roger is straight into the wine list and is engrossed when our Grandson approaches us. I will never forget that moment. I had been warning Alexander I wanted a big hug but I was so astounded how much he had grown that I was spellbound. He was wearing a dark jacket and blue check shirt echoing his Fathers and was so grown up and taller than me! Hard to believe he is only Twelve. The evening went so quickly, the food sumptuous and the conversation was full of excitement and catching up . James read us the diary of plans for the week, of course we are here for Thanksgiving but the highlight was our Christmas gift, we are booked to see Radio City Christmas Spectacular with The Rockettes. It’s almost 10.00 pm when we finish so we take our leave and head for bed happy but exhausted.

Sunday 21st November. 11c

8am. We need to be ready for the day as the day is action packed. The guys pick us up in the car, James has changed his BMW for a Porsche Macan since we last came, I am surprised by the space and speed. We head for Brooklyn where we are to watch our grandson in an Archery competition. It’s good to drive through Brookly as previously we have walked. There’s more to see as we head for the neighbourhood where the archery takes place. There are many children of various ages taking part. Alexander is fortunate to have his own very elaborate looking bow, I am informed it is compound bow. As we haven’t had breakfast James walks me to a nearby coffee shops where we have the most delicious coffee and a pasty whilst Leslie and Roger watch the competition start. James then takes Roger to the coffee shop and returns with coffee for Leslie. Alexander takes the competition in his stride, he is very focused. We don’t get the results until later in the week when the scores are counted. Next we leave for brunch in downtown Brooklyn. After we make our way to the Brooklyn museum, Leslie has managed to book tickets for the Dior Exhibit ( excited as I missed it in London) but we are early so take the time to visit the Andy Warhol exhibit on here at the same time. Although I am not a particular fan of Warhol it is very interesting and I take numerous photos. When the time slot is available we head for the Dior exhibition. I have to say it is without doubt one of the best exhibits I have ever seen. I am not only impressed by Dior himself and his designs but the people who design the set and exhibit are so talented it blows your breath away.

FaceTiming my granddaughter tonight at her uni, seeing her doing an artwork game in lockdown – ‘Decorating Traffic Cones’ reminds me of a naughty Sunday at the Mischief tavern in the 80’s it was 31st March . Major road works on Fye bridge made the traffic only single file over the bridge. A couple of my naughty friends and I decided to move some of the road work signs to block the bridge completely and divert the traffic coming into the city left along Fishergate. The next morning we realised the enormity of what we had done and as I peered round the curtains I could see the police, traffic wardens and bus drivers scratching their heads wondering why they hadn’t heard about the diversion in advance! Sadly I cannot show photos of thus naughty night as the photos of said event are thankfully very blurred. It was April 1st!

Another Sunday & these were quite usual occurrences, Harvey Buck would play the Bar piano – a few Beatles medleys enjoyed by all, except the few naughty reprobates, shall I name them , David Flynn & Neil Billig sent Roger on an errand to another bar and Billy Fish took the lid off Our fresh Orange juice dispenser and added 1 Ltr of vodka! The result that night resulted in yet another raucous evening including male striptease show…. Named and shamed…

Before we had these wonderful extended drinking hours that we have now a days, lock ins were legendary! One night we had a staff and regulars only xmas party which went on to the small hours, the doors were locked to stop drinkers escaping….then a phone call on the land line….. before mobiles…. the bobbies were outside…. so the whole crowd were dispensed to all parts of the building including our living accommodation ( to my children’s amusement) to the back patio, the roof on top of the domestic kitchen and so on, every area of the pub except the bar was inhabited. I even found someone hiding the coat cupboard in my fur coat… I’m pretty sure I will get some comments here from those involved. Such wonderful memories and these occasions were not hurting any one, we would never let anyone drive home, our taxi account was colossal but it was worth it.

Apart from the odd occasion I have not been bored throughout this period of uncertainty. Like most people I have missed the social side but mainly lack of travel and being unable to see our children in the USA is the worst thing….sorry I do hark on about it. However on the positive side hearing my hubby Roger on his now weekly telephone calls to his siblings, something he never had time for before, and his cheerful catch up with his mates , just the few close ones which makes me realise how important these dear people are in our lives. The comradeship is really endearing. The jokes flow, the news caught up and golf matches booked ready for reopening, political views exchanged plans for future dinner parties & pub meet ups excitedly arranged.

Mothering Sunday was quiet, our daughter was working at Spire hospital so dropped off a beautiful card and flowers along with boozy chocolates in the week prior which were deliciously inhaled. A FaceTime in the evening with the Yankee Cawdrons was enjoyed, both having received their Moderna vaccines that day and looking forward to being able to visit nearby in laws.

Earlier that day a phone call from a neighbour having spied a lose chicken in a tree in her garden, wondered if it was ours, it wasn’t but belonged to the lovely Janet from up the “posh”road. Roger then spent a couple of hours chasing said chicken around the woods having lost it as it flew off just as he got half way up the very large tree. Not very elegant and certainly not advised for a chap of his years. Janet arrived with a net and some grub but the flighty thing was hiding and did not want to be found. So somewhere in our woods there should be some pretty blue eggs up for grabs. Watch out for Mr fox you daring young hen!

I guess like most people cooking supper each day is now no longer fun. When the nearby Oak bar opens in April I shall be first in the door. Not only because I can see real people but our granddaughter Logan works there so we will be able to sneak a hug when no one is looking. The Oak bar is at the Oakland’s hotel very near to us so we can drink and fall home. Marcus the owner has made a wonderful outside space complete with heaters and rain covers so out will come the big coats, gloves and hats , I shall not move from my table. I shall have verbal diarrhoea I am sure.

The other positive side is having time to walk & talk. Roger and I have walked, talked and laughed more in lockdown than in the previous 50 years. I now know more about him too, not sure it’s all good though!! The cars are clean, every draw in my house is tidy and I’m about to start selling unwanted household items and clothing that has “shrunk” during lockdown.

Another positive is WhatsAp groups, our neighbourhood one has been amazing. We have met people from all walks of life on the Avenue who we didn’t even know existed. My immediate neighbours, we have a once a week zoom which we hope will resume in our homes soon when we are allowed. My cake making has improved through practice. The garden is taking shape after almost 12 years in this house. I am able to make time to copy and record my children’s young lives which will enable me to dump so many albums. We have had our first dose of vaccines, we are heading towards summer and we can finally open our lovely pub on 17th May. Hooray. All in all so many positives.

Today marks 19 years since that terrible attack on the World Trade Centre in New York.

It was a Tuesday – a warm September day. Roger & I were running Catton Old Hall our guest House. We had finished the guest rooms and were prepared for new guest arrivals. I was sitting in the office doing admin. Our daughter Joolia who was heavily pregnant with our first grand child had come over to visit. Joolia & Gary we’re managing the Ribs of Beef for us at that time. It was around 1pm She put on the tv in the kitchen and made a cup for us both. A news announcement broke into the program she was watching. She called me through to what I thought was a film she was watching, it took a few seconds to register! Mum she exclaimed this is New York now … just as another plane hit…. you must call James. Our son James lived in New York and was general Manager of a restaurant La Goulue in Upper Eastside. I called him, he was already at work, it would have been 9.30 am there. He was ok thank God, miles away from the situation. Leslie his partner, now his wife, was due to be at the World Trade Centre that morning for a breakfast meeting! By a sheer twist of fate she missed it and wasn’t there. Leslie’s Father Michael however was downtown and although unhurt had to walk miles back home, dazed & shaken and covered in that awful dust cloud we all remember as all transport was suspended. Shortly after our call to James email and telephone signals then went down. That was the last communication I had with my son until the Friday. We visited New York a few months later. We visited the site, you couldn’t get close of course but close enough, you could still smell burning fuel. We just needed to pay our respects. It was a sight never to be forgotten. We have on our many visits to James since visited the memorial. In 2016 I took my granddaughter Aspen to New York for her 15th birthday. She was eager to visit the memorial. I was touched by her sad but respectful interest in the names of the fallen & we spent several quiet hours there. To think that happened just days before you born! Respect to the USA citizens for the recovery from that unjustified attack.