It’s a dark and wet day here in Plave Vozokany, Miska is having a sleep in, and rather to go and wake her, I am trying to find things to do. A few months ago, I would have been sitting out in the back yard, reading a book, or most likely watching the football from back home, swearing loudly as Spurs let yet another goal in… how times have changed, and I don’t think it could have been more radical in the changes. It has not just been moving back to England, but to move to Slovakia… and then, to be living in a small village in Slovakia. Of course there are things I miss from Newport Beach … this being one of them …

 

And it is great that I do miss such things as the 2 years in the USA have been so important for me and Miska, and we both have such mixed feelings of leaving it all behind. We miss so much of the place and the few friends we became close to. We miss our friend Jeff, and we are sad that as his trial approaches we cannot be there to support him. We write on a weekly basis, and keep in touch with his wonderful sister. We know what is going on, but that is nothing compared to actually seeing him and talking with him, so that makes us very sad.

We obviously miss the weather, and the wonderful geographical wonders California and the surrounds have to offer. We were very sad to have not seen Yosemite, but that will always be there for our return. I personally am very sad not to have put a ‘finish’ to our adventure. To leave in the circumstances that I did, not to say a final ‘goodbye’ to certain things and people… ah well, that can’t be helped. One final thing that I miss is the relationship I developed with my sister DBM. Sounds weird doesn’t it, however, to finally be on the same time zone as her, to be able to pick up the phone her whenever I wanted, and to be able to see her 3 times a year was great. We finally shared the same feelings about home, and living so far from home….. Now, we have to ‘book’ a time when we will both be about for skype.

I am sure you all heard the news today about the Major who gunned down 13 serving soldiers (I won’t go into all of that) but, it did remind me as to one of the reasons I am pleased I do not live there anymore. Again, this does go on in other countries, Dunblane, and Port Arthur and others… however, it does seem to happen in the USA on a yearly basis… that has to tell you something about the gun culture of the USA.

So, that brings me back to Plave Vozokany…. We walked around the village two night ago. It is not a pretty village like those in England, but I feel it does have a certain charm to it. In the surrounding fields, everyday we see some beautiful birds of prey (watch this space because we are going out with our cameras very soon), The old houses, the wonderful smell of the open fires coming from each house as you pass, and a feeling that gun crime and drugs would never come into these homes. I am not naive, I know Slovakia has it’s problems, drugs, gangs etc… but I am 100% convinced, it’s a million miles from LA, California and the USA.

On our walk, we called into see Granny. in her old, scruffy, but always warm kitchen. She was sat there, wearing her shawl, old apron with two other ladies from the village. They were sat with piles of Walnuts (all fresh from the garden) shelling them. Cracking the shells away, and talking at 1 million miles an hour. I sat there, not understanding a word, but I can guarantee they were talking about Coronation Street, or the girl down the road who has started seeing so and so from another village, or the very strange English Guy who was sitting and looking into space as they discuss the world economy … I’ll never know… but what I do know is this, California is a million miles from here, and I am pleased about that. I wanted a new experience.. and here I am…

It looks as if the rain will stay for the whole week-end, I will be able to watch my football, talk to my sister and then get to grips with Past and Present Tense … and that is not ****ing easy I can tell you..

 

Laters ….

After being treated to some of the best cooking ever with Anka supplying meals left right and center, I thought I should at least cook the one meal I can cook.. Chilli !!

As some of you might know, my inspiration to start blogging comes from the very top in terms of the Blogshere, English Mum, http://englishmum.com/ . I am sure this will make her spin in her pink Wellies, as 50% of her blog is all about scRRRRRRummy recipes and foody stuff and my attempt at a simple chilli will make her smile, but tough bollocks, I’m gonna give it a go !!

Also, it is worth noting that the best cook in the world, just ahead of Gordon Ramsay, is my gorgeous wife, Miska. She is not a huge fan of my chilli for two reasons. She is not a fan of my meat … oh er … She feels that I make my chilli too meaty, and it sits too heavy on her. Also, She gets a little fed up with the fact I can only make chilli for an army Squadron… and we end up eating the damn stuff for about 4 days on the trot !!!! I love the stuff, and I can eat it for days.. but she, understandably gets the hump !!!

So… this is what I do, laugh, mock and shame me into your better ideas … I know chilli is not rocket science or the hardest dish in the world, however, it’s bloody lovely !

Onions, chilli and Garlic ….. Chop them all, and add to light oil, and brown it all off…… I don’t make the onions too soft, but enough for them to be brown’d off and they soak up the Chilli and Garlic. Note the onions from the garden !!! I haven’t added huge amounts of Chilli, two reasons, I like to be able to taste my food, not have my ginger nuts blown off, and I am making this for Milan and Anka as well.

I then add the Meat, Beef. Again, browned off with the onions etc, and the chilli soaks into the meat…. I will sometimes add some Worcestershire sauce here, but not today.

Once the meat is browned, I just very simply chuck the rest of the stuff in. Tomatoes, Peppers… after these have been added I wash out the tins from the tomatoes (no, I don’t use them fresh !) and add some stock. I simply use some oxo gravy. I like my Chilli to taste of meat, so I happily add this to the mix. Let it all soak and cook for a long time, as long as I can be arsed to keep stirring it all. I would sometimes add some cheap red wine to the mix as well, and I always have a beer on the go as I cook !!!

Finally, I add in Kindney beans and lots of mushrooms… I always add these last as they can become a little mushy if they go in to early. Ready to serve, however, I still think it tastes best on the 2nd and third day !!!! Miska does not !!!

Ok, here we go trying to explain two new celebrations to me .. both wonderful ideas, and one everyone should embrace in my humble opinion …

Oct 30th has now become a special day for me, it’s my Names Day. I have been aware of this ever since I met Miska, but when we were in the USA she forgot the day really, being away from home it’s an easy thing to do, this year, I forgot it was my Names day, so at about 4pm, after my Slovak lesson, I was greeted by a smiling wife presenting me with small gifts… It’s not as important as a birthday, but everyone has a second ‘birthday’ here is Slovensko. What a great idea !!!! It’s just a day where every Simon in Slovakia and Simone gets celebrated. If you ever go to a put on Joesph’s or Michaela’s names day, you can guarantee the pub will be full of Joe’s and Michael’s !!!.. Go on the 26th Dec…. and ask for Stefan… you get a huge reply ! So, any excuse for me to have a few shots of Slivovica, some cokolada and some of Anka’s fine cakes .. Woo Hoo … everyone’s a winner with this one …. Go look when your Slovensko Name’s day, I’ll raise a glass for you !!!!

On a more serious note, the 1st Nov is a very important day and a family celebration on a different, but very important note. It’s all Saints Day. While America goes all out in celebration with their children of Halloween, which they did incredible well in Newport Beach and I am sure all over the US. The UK barely grasps the idea of Halloween, and really, it’s something as a child really just passed us by, we were far more interested in getting to celebrate the 5th Nov….. The Slovaks, and others I believe, take the 1st to celebrate and remember those that have passed away.

What a special, emotional, and wonderful thing to do. I have not done too well with deaths in my family and certain close friends. I lost all my grandparents before I was 18, I was 8 when my first Grandmother died, losing the others as I can barely remember and my eldest Grandfather passing as I turned 18. Today was a moment to celebrate their lives, remember them, and to think about a special friend I lost when I was only 23, he was 24 and taken so quickly for no reason. The biggest loss was obviously my wonderful Father. I won’t go into all of this now, but to lose your Dad when you are 19 is a huge part and influence in my life. I was so lucky to have a father who was a wonderful role model, who worked hard, and spent the rest of his time with Ma and the 4 of us. Sad, so sad to lose him, for him not to be around to see us all succeed, grow old and to celebrate the victories we have in life. Sad he has not got to meet Miska and to look on my travels and success. I won’t go into my beliefs, but, I am sure I will get to discuss this with him one day (he has got a lot of photos to catch up on !!!!) so, the whole family, children up to the eldest visit, tidy, clean the cemeteries and to place flowers and light candles in memory of those dear departed. The graves are beautiful, the candles burn and people meet and greet. We visited our 1st cemetery in the village, and spent time, lighting candles for Miska’s Grand and gt Grand parents. Very emotional, but in celebration. My Father is not buried in a cemetery, or Church graveyard. He is buried under a tree in a place where we spent so much time as children, a very happy place, and I often walk the dog there, spend a few mins just being there. Now I am far away, I lit my candle, stood for 2 mins and thought of the man I call Dad. Tears flowed for a few minutes, and my new family embraced and fell silent for a min. We then visited graves of brothers, Uncles, Aunts and I was learning my new roots and the history of the family. We ended up visiting 4 cemeteries and seeing 2 sets of family I have never met. As always, food aplenty, Domanca flowing and we got home very tired, but in celebration. As night fell, it was a beautiful full moon, the temperature dropped to well below freezing and Miska and I walked back to the cemetery one more time to see the candles flicker and ‘enjoy’ the silence and wonder the home of our departed family.

Remember when you were 3 years old … remember when you parents first started to teach you your a,b,c’s… now try to remember how you first said ‘a’ …. hard to show in a written blog, but a is pronounced by a 3 year old as ‘a’pple … got it ….

 

Well, I am 100% sure you won’t remember when you first spoke your native language, I certainly don’t. I was born speaking English, (not very well, and VERY badly written)  some of you readers were born speaking American, Australian, Irish and of course my Slovak readers.

I am also sure that some of my readers will be fluent in a second or even third language, I doff my cap to you !!!

 

I am learning Slovak. I have had my first two lessons, and I can tell you, it’s not an easy language to learn. (I am sure my Slovak friends will tell me that English was tough too) However, I feel there is no logic behind the language. I can understand how to pronounce certain letters, soft, long etc.. thats ok, I can cope with that, what I can’t cope with is the ‘male’ ‘female’ side of things …. ?? How am I supposed to know that a Dog is Male, and Spring is female … ?!?!? There is zero logic, and no way I can know this, I just have to learn it !!

Also, for us English speakers it is logical for the words “I am going to Bratislava today” to come in that order, in Slovak (and I am sure many other languages the direct translation is “I go today to Bratislava” .. kinda makes some sense, but alien to me !

 

I am starting to pick up on certain words in conversation, but it scares me how far I have to go. Milan and Anka are very patient with me, and Miska is a saint… however.. Miska cannot be my teacher. We just argue !! Strange, I cannot take criticism from her, and I argue over the logic of what she is trying to teach me !… terrible from me !… however, Miska forgets that in this sense (and in a few others) I am a child, and she tries to make me run, in fact do a marathon, before I can even toddle along. It will help me no-end to be here, and being forced to learn the language, everyone is supportive and my teacher, a 55 yr old from Levice has her work cut out I can tell you. For 8 Euro’s an hour… my god she is a saint to be trying to teach me.

I will give it my all, and I am sure it will click in the future, but for a stubborn, non academic Englishman, they could seriously be taking Greek to me !, in fact, I understand The Clangers better then these guys sometimes !… Question, when foreign speakers hear the English language, does it sound as though the speaker has just rubbed 2g’s of Speed into their gums ?????

So, it’s back to my best teacher, the fella I get on best with and the little man who never loses his patience with me, always smiles, is very happy to go back to “Jeden, Dva, Tre” time and time again, as long as he gets some Cokolada…..

 

 

Ok, As you all know, I no longer live in Sunny California, but have taken the plunge to move here to Slovakia. Most blogs hide behind anonyminity, I respect that, and of course, I would never reveal who my commenters are.. that is their choice. However, with links to Facebook here, It’s fairly obvious who I am, and having spoken to the former Mrs M, I have decided that no longer will the people in my blog be anonymous (again, others who appear in my blog from the blogsphere will ALWAYS remain anonymous , EM, DBM etc …)

Me… well, everyone pretty much knows me as Moon, so that won’t change. I was called it from 2 yrs old

Slovakian life currently is full of surprises, small things, like Slovaks don’t share a double or kingsize duvet, two individual ones ….. I can’t get Coke in a 330ml can !.. At the house we have ****ing Chickens and a bloody noisy Cockerel (who may well up in the soup very soon). Milan has a large garden, with wonderful Paprika, paridika, all sorts of fruits, wonderful Walnuts some of the most amazing pickles you could ever ask for… far better than Tom Goode ever had it ! Soon we will be getting pigs to fatten up for bacon etc (no, I will not be part of that, but thats the life, and I will certainly be eating the bacon)One thing you will never be short of is food, drink and love in Slovakia, puts us English to shame !

Milan (even though he never drinks) makes ‘interesting Wine (Vino) from the Sadovski’s own Vineyard, and Domanca that tastes of Deisel ! .. The Pivo is cold, and the kavu is strong … life is good !!!!

The mountains are a 2 hr drive, so snowboarding is back on for this winter, Hungary and Austria are a matter of a short 1 – 2 hr drive and Croatia beckons

So, here is the B E A Utiful Michaela… Mrs M, Miska or ‘Er indoors’ .. she hardly ever reads the blog, which is good….The most amazing wife a man could ask for !!

And here are the rest of the family …..

Evka and Julius…

Their two boys, Filip and Victor… superstars in my eyes !

Pa Slovak, or Milan …

And you have all met ‘The Vet’ before.. or Domi, and her fella Pavol ….

Finally, I will never be far without a hound.. he is the Barking Mad, Debo of a dog … Benny !

So, there are the people that have opened their hearts to me, welcomed me into this strange country, and given me the start of the hardest, but most wonderful adventure ever.

There will be tears, excitement, laughs, Domanca and many more laughs … I haven’t forgotten Canada, that will be my next few posts, but this is now my new life… hang on for the ride of my life !!

Ha, thought if I put the word “Porn” in the title I might get your interest !!

So, once I avoided any more cakes, no more soup please, refused further helpings of meat, got away from another glass of Diesel (Domanca, just ask English Mum what it tastes like) and managed to excuse myself from the ongoing Sunday chat that all families have ( I really am not that interested in the fact that Grannies neighbours Daughters friend has married outside the faith.. and to be fair, I don’t think Mrs M is too bothered to translate it all either) I managed to get to the sofa and I am allowed to search through the TV channels to see if I can find the Sunday arvo game from the Premiership…. shouldn’t be a worry….

Out of the 50 or so channels available to me, most are in Slovak, some Czech and some, like the Nat Geographic channel are in English. I am assured that one channel will show the footie, just need to flick through an find it.  Like any man, I am an expert with the TV remote, and I am so going through the channels.. nope, Slovak, Nope Boring, Nope Czech etc … nearing channel 31 my life and my future in Slovakia is in the balance. Not quite what you would expect on a Sunday afternoon trawl through the channels. I happen to turn onto a porn channel. I am not talking girls in bikinis with their tops off, I am talking top quality, top of the shelf hardcore pornoraphy !!! I am not prude, and neither is Mrs M. I, like with most of the male population (not together you understand, not really a male group sport that!) have seen a little of this kinda stuff… but, with Granny at 76, Mrs M’s Ma, Pa, Uncle and two nephews, one who is only 6 within 10 feet of me .. well, I think you can understand my feelings ..

Life stands still… in my head, the conversation stops, the TV has decided to turn itself onto full volume, all eye are not on me, the cake or Grannies shocking jumper, and of course, as is always the case… the TV remote batteries are DEAD !!!!!! … well that is how it feels …

I am sure my reactions were near perfect, quicker than Linford Christie hearing the B of the Bang… back to Nova Sport and Wigan are 1-1 with Man City …. not one person has realised that Daz are contacting me to pose next to the new whiter than white advert … and the conversation flows ….TFFT !

Never, EVER paly Russian Roulette with a sat system you don’t know…..

We have taken a couple of days off …. Off what you may ask, after all, we are both unemployed ! Well, we have left Ma and Pa Slovak behind and headed into the Tatra Mountains in the North of Slovakia. This is where Mrs M was born, and she has some close family friends who own a mountain cottage that is open for family. So here we are. I have been this way before, on one of my visits to Slovakia. The weather then was shocking, thick mist and fog, and steady rain. We made the best of our time, visited some wonderful caves, and some equally wonderful cake shops (Slovaks do cakes very, VERY well). We saw nothing of the famed, beautiful mountains… not too worry, they will be here next time. So, last week the weather at home was about 25 Deg C, I was in my Californian shorts and flip flops (Being moaned at my Ma Slovak “you catch your death in just those” (My translation)). So we decided to go and ‘see’ the mountains and spend some time alone up there. Cool by me….

However, the weather turned very wet and cold over the week-end, so we swapped the tyres to Snow Tyres (see DBM, we did it immediately !) and headed off. The wind blew and blew, and as we arrived, snow started to fall. Not that we were too bothered, we had some beer, some nice wine, and a cosy cottage to snuggle down in. In the morning, and after a decent night sleep (finally… another long story !) we woke to find heavy snow outside. About 4 inches, certainly enough to stop London in its tracks for a few days. We wrapped up warm and headed out, but it soon became clear that seeing the mountains was not a great idea. The snow was falling heavier, and the viewing distance was only about 50ft, Not great for trying to see the wonderful mountains !! So, yet again I was scupperd in my attempts to see one of the things Slovakia is famous for….. We stopped off in a local town, found my favourite cake shop and indulged in cakes and coffee… perfect.

Once home, we got changed and set off for another thing Slovakia is very famous for… Hot, natural Spa’s !! As you can imagine, the temp had fallen to just below freezing, so in my shorts (not the budgie smugglers the Germans seem to love) and walked as calmly as a man should and dipped into the beautiful hot Spas. There is something very refreshing of 40 Deg C water with snow falling on your face. I loved it, and after 2 hrs of this we decided to head back, open a bottle of wine, cook a nice roast dinner (well, Mrs M cooked, I open the wine and wrote this !!) and got myself mentally prepared for what will be a very important night.

You all know my love of sports, and it hasn’t taken me anytime to realize the importance of the game tonight. Poland v Slovakia. If Slovakia win this one, they will be on their way to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Big deal to an Englishman, fair point… however, again, one of my mottos in life, and certainly in my travels is “When in Rome, Do as the Romans”.. this means that when I am in a certain country, I behave and become one of them, this applies 200% for Slovakia. So, I am desperate for a Slovak win tonight. Also, with Slovakia playing in the World Cup, it means that they will show all the games here, including England …. So, it works out best for all if they win tonight.

So, for now, Mrs M is reading her book, soaking in the bath, I am tapping away, getting up to date with others on Facebook, Hotmail, Skype and Blogs and cracking open a bottle of finest Slovak beer (Kelt), Luchann is fast asleep, and a happy bliss has settled over this Slovak household.

So, here I am …. Starting a new, scary life in a new country. I am sure you all know, Mrs M is a proud Slovak, and after we departed the USA in less than ideal circumstances, it has propelled us into the next chapter of our lives. We have moved lock, stock and barrel to Slovakia. All very scary, and so far, I have been overwhelmed by the change and the friendliness of my new family and friends. We have bought a plot of land, and we intend, once we have found work, to build our own home and live the life of Slovaks.

So far, it has all gone ok. Ma and Pa Slovak have been wonderful. They are so happy to have their Daughter back home, and as far as I can understand, they seem to be pretty happy to have me here as well. We will be staying with them until we get sorted and have built our home. This means a stay of at least 18 months !, so we will see how the relationship lasts….. They cannot seem to do enough for us, and the one thing Slovaks do very well is hospitality. I cannot sit down for more than 1 minute without being offered food glorious food. The first piece of Slovak anyone should learn is “No Thank You”, otherwise you will be a fat as the house we want to build.

We have a separate part of the house to live in, so very important as we obviously need our own space, and this gives me the chance to have time when I don’t have to try to understand, and Mrs M can relax from her translating duties. Ma and Pa Slovak do not speak and English and my Slovak is very limited. I am lucky that we have Him and Her from ‘Upstairs’ (friends of Mrs M I got to know very well when she lived in Highgate, London). They both speak good English and it means we have friends that we can go and share a beer with, and not struggle with the language. Well, me, Mrs M and Him can have a beer, Her is 6 months pregnant, so she is the driver !!! Also, if you remember from my USA Blogs, we have The Vet here, and with her boyfriend, Dave, I have two more friends that I can talk with, and relax with.

It’s going to be a very tough time, and I know that you cannot make any decision about a new life until you have given it a fair go. I think this will be at least 2 years. To start with, the pressure of not knowing the language will be a real struggle for us. Mrs M will get very tired translating all the time, and also having to do all the organizing. I will be enrolling into Scholl as soon as I can, and living here means it should be easier to pick up the lingo … I hope.

Small things will hit us as well. I can’t buy diet Coke in cans here…. Small thing I know, but…. The food is wonderful, but again, it’s the little things, no cornflakes !bottled water only comes in large bottles, so it goes flat too quickly for me.

Levice, the closest city is not an attractive place at all, very 1970 Communist city, tower blocks from the 70’s, very grey.. not really the picturesque city I want to live in… however, the village where we have our plot of land is a lovely old village, traditional Slovak village, and with Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Prague and the High Tetras Mountains all within 1-3 hrs drive, I think my desire to travel will be satisfied for a while yet. We also have some further afield ideas for travel, including Croatia, Ukraine, Russia and Italy. Apart from Rome, I have seen too much of this side of Europe, and now we are used to long drives, the world is indeed our oyster.

I have lots to catch up on with my blog, stories from Canada, a week being a tourist in my own country, and of course, all the new things that are Slovak.. I have some magnificent pictures from Canada to post, and in time, I will go back and complete all of that. For now, until we get the internet sorted here, I am very limited, and being a blog and Facebook Whore, I am missing the everyday ‘contact’ the internet gives me.

Tonight is an important night for Slovakia. They are playing a world cup qualifier, and if all goes to plan, they can qualify for the World Cup in 2010 in South Africa. This is very important for me as well, it means I will have two teams to support there, and it should mean the World Cup is given maximum coverage here in my new adopted country !

We have landed !!!!

And I will be posting all from the land of Slovensko very soon ……

I need to find an Internet provider and I will be back posting soon ..

They do speak funny though !!!!

Bugger …. I had made a decision to be posting again as per normal, but life has got in the way again …..

With Mrs M finally back with me, we have been catching up (ahem…) and spending time as a tourist in my own country. It’s a marvellous thing, and nothing to be embarressed about…

We have spent the last few days with a short break in The Cotswolds, seeing Stow, Bourton, The Slaughters and numerous English Country villages, and the last 2 days seeing old friends, and walking (very important to walk) around my city, around London. It has been marvelous, and the short trip around England continues with a two trip to see my Brother in Leicestershire. Miska has never been to his old farmhouse, and to see him, his wife and the 4 dogs, 3 horses will be a good trip. We will drive slowly via The Battle of Bosworth to a beautiful Hamlet I know, and have traditional Cream Tea for lunch !!… Onto Timbers for a day of seeing the horses, the manor house who’s grounds he lives on, and I am sure to finish off with a cigar and a glass of port with them both.

We then come home, and start to pack for our flight early on Tuesday morning to our new adventure in Slovakia. (More of that to come)

So, I have  a huge amount of blogging to catch up on. I now have my laptop back, and with that comes access to our photos. I will hop abaout a bit with mu blogs, but I need to tell you all about our trip to Canada and our experinces of a breath taking 2 wekk trip to Vancouver Island, Brittish Columbia and Alaska …. so, don’t give up on me readers….. I’m still here !

Where do you call home ? ..

Where you live now ?

The country you were born in ?

I know where I will always call home, and I am sat here right now……. It’s funny… as my readers know, I have been travelling a fair amount, and of course my two year stay in the USA, and no matter who asks, I’ll always reply, Northchurch, Herts, England is my Home. This house, where I am sat now is where I was born 3hirfiurughis years ago. I have found my way back here a few times, After my year in Australia, after my divorce, before going to America, and once again, here I am. I am very lucky I think I have 4 places I can turn up on the doorstep, and I have a home with my three siblings and here. I am hopeful I have a few others, friends, other family, but for sure I have 4…. oh, plus one now in Slovakia with my in-laws.

We are moving to Slovakia in the middle of October to start a new life. To start with, we will live with Ma and Pa Slovak. Won’t be easy, esp as we can’t talk to each other much, but I know they will make it my home, and welcome us back.

So what makes this my home, well, 38 years for starters, but a home is different from a house. We grew up here as a large family, in a small house. I have been told that when Ma and Pa came to view the house Dad’s words were :

Pa : “ok, if you want the house, we will buy it

Ma : “that’s great…”

Pa : “but, we can’t have anymore children though, 3 is all we can have”

Ma : ” Ah… I have something to tell you …..”

So, with 4 of us, with 5.5 years between us, we came to Treetops. The house has changed hugely, and every change, be it with Pa’s DIY (shocking at times) to extentions, has changed with our memories of the place. Smashed windows from footballs, or stones thrown, and missing their targets (me .. thanks sister R !!).. the changes of the lawns, the front and back… really, everything has been changed, but the memories of the whole house are carried with us.

So, that is what makes it a home, and the feel and spirit of Pa everywhere… makes it very special. The glue that holds all this together … well, the unsung hero of the family, My Ma.

She is nearly 70 now, and how many 38 year olds saunter back in, and spend time not only with their Ma, but with their friend. We annoy each other (she bugs the shit out of me at times !!), but we laugh a lot, we help each other about the place, and we share each others day over a glass of wine, and an evening meal. thats a special quality. She welcomes me back everytime with out question or judgement. She isn’t very sympathetic, which is strange for a nurse, but she is full of love and concern for all of us.

I am not a parent, maybe one day, but I guess thats the maternal instinct… you never ever stop being a parent.. and you will always provide shelter, food and love when your children need it. she welcomes my wife here as her own child, for that, I am very lucky. I guess you should love your children… but you do not even have to like your childrens partners … but Mum does. All 4 of her in-laws are very popular and loved…..

We are lucky Children !!!

So …. Where have I been eh ??? To be honest, I have not been in the mood to sit and blog. Blogs for me are for people to smile about, hear new things about the way people live, and to make you think.. “Hmmm, I’d like to do/think/wear/go/eat/never thought of that …. Not to be a sounding board for ones and troubles.

Life has been tough for a few weeks now, well, about 6 to be honest. I lost my job whilst I was stranded in Canada, and rather to stay a wait in Canada for my Visa, Mrs M and I decided to end our USA adventure, and make plans to return to England, and then finally to go to Slovakia. This was not a decision either of us wanted to make, and not easy to have Mrs M in Newport beach, and me leaving from Canada with only my honeymoon clothes, and of course my golf clubs. I stayed on for a while in Vancouver, hoping my Visa would come through I time, but it didn’t, so after a final round of golf with my great friend Cortes, I followed DBM to Northchurch.

I feel very low about a few things, the obvious of seeing Mrs M go back to our home, and me to leave her to pack all out things, memories, sell cars, sort bank accounts… the list of things to do when you leave a country for good is endless, and Mrs M has had to cope with that on her own. We obviously simply miss each other. I feel a huge empty space of not saying goodbye to friends. Leaving Jeff behind as he is now approaching a huge part of life with his trial, and his wonderful sister Penny. To not say goodbye to two other good friends, T and Cyndy… makes me very sad. To not say goodbye to our home we have put so much time into, spent the first 2 years of married bliss in. To not walk around our beloved Balboa Island, and walk the beach in the sunset for one last time …. There has been no closure, and final part. That’s a huge shame, and has put a small dent it what was a wonderful part of our lives, and was a hugely positive time, with amazing experiences, the best part being married to Mrs M and living the dream.

We haven’t had chance to sit and enjoy what was the most amazing honeymoon in Canada. I will blog about this once I have some time, and I can post some pictures (they are on the other laptop). The memories from there were incredible, the wildlife, the scenery, the occasion, and the time together was perfect. If we had known the stress that was to follow, I guess we wouldn’t have gone, spent all that money…. So, in hindsight, I am glad we didn’t know what the immediate future had in store for us.

So, I flew back, straight into the arms of a loving family. I spent 4 days away with DBM, Sister R and Sir Chili Boy and Ma on a canal barge to celebrate Mum’s 70th birthday, and a rare chance for the family to be together. The following Sunday, Ma had a small party, and it was the first time in 3 years, all four siblings had been together. It was great for Ma to have her children all together, and we had some beers and wine, and a good day was had by all. As you can see from English Mum’s blog, I had a short trip to English Towers in Ireland for her Wedding Blessing. On the way, I stopped to see a great friend in Dublin, and then had the huge lift of a family do.

To see EM, Hubby and her wonderful kids, share some time with the rest of the family from old to young was exactly what I needed, and the 3 days were full of laughs, and many beers in the pub/undertakers. Bert being the star !!! The last few days have been spent in France playing golf with my Brother, Cousin and 4 other great friends. Our 7th trip across the weather, and as always a laugh a minute, and a trip to keep my spirits high.

So, what next… well, we have had some good news, and Mrs M is finally coming home at the end of Sept. From there we will spend some time here in England, giving her some much needed rest. She has had to endure some incredible stress levels, and mentally she is exhausted, so we will have a few days to chill, see some of my family, go to my brothers for a couple of days before we start the next step of this journey of life. It has been very tough, but some huge positives come out of these situations. I have a wife who belies her age of 28, who copes with all this in her stride, knows when to have her down moments, and also when to be strong, and when to kick me up the arse when I need it.

Family as always have been there, and friends always surprise you. Thank you all…….

Slovakia calls us…

Well, I should be here, blogging about our wonderful Honeymoon, seeing the most amazing things, with some great photos. I have managed to getting the photos onto Facebook,

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=133595&id=786443948&l=c3f1cbe5be

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=132853&id=786443948&l=a551cb90de

But, real life has taken over, and the lows soon follow the highs.

In case some of you didn’t know, I’ll re-capped why I am stuck here in Canada. When we left home for Canada, my 18 month visa was expiring, and I had to move my visa from the current visa to join Mrs M on her Visa. Her Visa had been sorted, taken a while as they had to prove her role in her company, and justify that she was running a USA company, and they were employing Americans. Not an easy procedure. So, as her husband (poor girl) I completed all my paperwork, photos, spent the $1700, and had everything agreed with the US Gov’t. However, when you leave the USA, you have to have an appointment with a US Consulate, so they can physically see you, check paperwork, ask you some daft questions, stamp your new visa into your passport and Robert is your mothers brother.

Well, it was about this point life went downwards slope to fuckitsville.

Completed the interview, and at the last minute the girl said, “oh, looks like we have to send your file off to Homeland Security to get your name checked out”……..

I asked how long this would be, she said about a couple of days, no dramas, they would post my passport back to me as agreed. Coolio I thought (should have been thinking cuntybollocks, this could go horrible wrong !) Also, on our honeymoon, we were actually crossing back in The USA. Just going over to Alaska to find Grizzly Bears. I rang them a few days later (the Consulate, not the bears… that would have been silly, you don’t get a signal in Hyder!)….I needed my passport, how long would it be ?

“Well sir, the girl shouldn’t have told you that, it could be today, it might takes some weeks”

me : “You fucking what ?”

So, thats the first bit as to why I am stuck here in Vancouver. Very lucky to have DBM, Mr DBM and Cortes for company, but not great with Mrs M back home. We have been here before. When I first applied for a visa I was stranded here for 3 months, this time we were sure it was a formality, and no hassles.

So, Friday, i get a call from the office, my boss, who I think is a decent bloke, rang me to tell me that they could not wait with the uncertainty, and with current economic conditions, they would have to “let me go” ……

So, thats the shit we are in. nobody has died (well, except Mr DBM’s dad, but thats a different story), and we will get throught it. However, not good, I can’t even get back to the USA to be with Mrs M, try to help sell cars, and try to cuts our costs, and of course to help pay the rent that an Orange County house demands. Unlike anywhere else I have known, there is no such things as redundancy… oh no.. we’ll pay you till the 15th, and feel lucky about that…. so we are screwed.

We are strong, Mrs M is incredibly strong, and we will cope. I will now extend my stay in England, and we will work out what to do from there, but at the moment, I have to get used to the fact, I won’t be going back to the USA for a long time, I won’t be seeing home, and the heartbreaking part, I won’t be seeing Mrs M for quite sometime….

All because the wanky, shitty, ******, Arsebiscuits at the US Consulate decided to “check my name” … they do not realise how they can just fuck up someones life so easily….. but, as I said, we are strong, and everything happens for a reason.

Really too pissed off to blog about our wonderful honeymoon …

 

sorry, but this Visa delay is really effecting us, and my propsects of keeping my job …

 

just crazy how other people just play with your lives …

Go back about 18 months, and anyone who knew me then would have heard all about the stresses and troubles myself and Mrs m suffered trying to get me a work visa agreed for the USA. finally, after 3 months of waiting, away from each other, and days after we got married, my Visa was approved, and I returned to Newport Beach to start our life together in California.

Well, 18 months on, Mrs M has a new visa approved, and with mine expiring, I have to dot the i’s and cross the t’s, prove I am Mrs M’s husband, and I join her on her Visa. All approved in the USA, just need the formality of an interview at the Consulate in Calgary, and Robert is your sister’s brother …..

Well, apparently my name is a bit similar to someone else’s, so my case has been sent to the dept of homeland security, and I am just stranded here waiting for the approval… no time scale, no idea how long it will be. Mrs M has returned back home, and I am very fortunate to have DBM to house me ….. what a joke this all is …. !! I can understand why, for my first Visa it can take time, but this is laughable, and will probably mean I will lose my job. after all, I am due another break at the end of August for a trip home for Ma’s birthday and EM’s wedding, and I cannot and will not miss that. My boss and company can only have so much patience…

so while the wonderful Gov’t decide to ‘name’ check me….. they are fucking abut with my life ……

On a positive note … we are back from our 13 day, 4000km drive into BC, and we had the most amazing trip… over the next few blogs, and via Facebook, I will tell all, and post some of mine and Mrs M’s photos. It was incredible, and we would not have changed one little thing… Canada, esp BC, and the Canadians made our 13 day honeymoon so special. Special mention to the B&B’s in Tofino and Hidden Cove, and to 2 people who we shared many laughs with in Hyder, Jene and Arlene ….. and of course the wildlife, with Monica and Dog Bear being the final highlight.

 

So, get ready for some great pictures, and some poor blogs as I try to explain our visit to Glourious British Columbia !

Mrs M and I are off for a long over due Honeymoon ..

 

Vancouver Island and then to Alaska.. hopefully to see Whales, Orcas and Grizzly Bears

 

Catch up with you all soon

So, after a few hours flying, even less hours getting no sleep in a hotel, a stressful time in the US Consulate, I am nor chilled, in a bar in Calgary airport, with 5 hrs to kill….. The trip has been fairly uneventful. People that know me, will know I ma never late for anything, and I always seemed to time things so I have hours to spare. For two reasons really, firstly, I hate to miss things, and get stressed if timelines are getting close. Also, I think it is terribly rude to be late for anything. A few stresses along the way to get here. Mrs M was stressed at me leaving, just not the best of days to leave her on her own, understandable, but what could I do ? Flights were excellent, on time, and I arrived in Calgary at about 10pm. The only slight troubles started here, and if these are the height of my troubles, then my life is not so bad. Immigration was tough. I really didn’t think it would be an issue, after all, I have papers for my booked appointment at the Consulate, and proof that I am visiting my sister in Vancouver. After a good 30mins of gentle questions, I was stamped in. I will note the immigration people in Canada are always very nice, personable and polite, even with a sense of humour (LAX immigration take note) … it might have something to do with the fact they sadly managed to kill a lost soul in Vancouver about 18 months ago with a Tazar … poor fella…

With the delay, the baggage hall is empty with 1 lone bag sadly whirring round the carouse. That was the strange thing, I had definitely put TWO bags into the system at John Wayne Airport … hmmmm, trouble I feel. So, off I go to report my missing bag, and fill all the paperwork out. I stress, very importantly that the bag MUST get to me tomorrow morning, or they will have to ship it direct to DBM. That actually would have been cool, saved me trying to lug two heavy bags about with me. The guys were nice and promised me it would arrive safely in Vancouver the following day. So, finally, about 12.30am, I get to a room that is about 110F, and try to sleep. It takes me normally about 24 secs to fall asleep, much to Mrs M annoyance (she is normally half way through a sentence when I am counting Baa Baa’s)… so, I finally start to drift off about 1.30am, when my phones goes … fuckers have rung a wrong number, so I cut it off… nope, three more attempts to call me, I angrily answer …..My bag has arrived in Calgary, thought I might like to know !!!! … To be fair to the girl, I had made a fuss about how important it was, so I guess she was doing as asked !

I get up at 6.30, in the cab at 7.20, outside the consulates office at 8am… only 1.5 hrs before my interview (see, I hate to be late). I have a wander around, and discover that the Rodeo is in town. The Calgary Stampede, and every soul is all ‘Cowboy’d” up YeeHaw !… also explain why my Sauna of a room was $120 instead of an acceptable $50 ! Still, I had no choice to go when I did. To get an appointment is like finding a dog that talks … rare. To get one when and where you want it is like finding a dog that talks Norwegian… even rarer !

Interview goes as planned, I knew this time the Visa wouldn’t be an issue, but you still get nervous, have to go through all the checks, and it’s never a nice experience, however, the people here were so polite, with a sense of humour, calm and friendly… (US Consulate at Vancouver take note !) I get back to the airport, and I am re-united with my bag.. lovely.. people have done a great job getting it back to me, I check in.. couldn’t have met nicer people.. wow, this is all going pretty well… and I am all checked in …

Are Canadians always so nice ….? I think so.

I am off away from California for a few weeks… not all holiday, but of course, some of it will be …

I am leaving, on my own on Monday afternoon to head, via Salt lake City, to Calgary. Not a long stop there, but probably the most important. I have to leave the USA, and go for an interview at a US Consulate to have an interview so the re-new my work visa. i am all for making sure immigrants have the correct visas, and deserve to be in any country, but… They have agreed Mrs M, and as her spouse, as long as I can prove I am married, they grant mine. But, I still have to leave the USA and go for interview. This would be ok, but they keep my passport for 4 days !, so what am I supposed to do ?…….

Well, I am very fortunate here, and I have my sister DBM in Vancouver. So, that’s about an hour flight, and I can stay with her, and the Calgary consulate can send it to me there. I can also work from anywhere, as long as I have an Internet connection, so that is all good.

 

During the week-end, I also get chance to spend sometime with DBM, Mr DBM, and we will go for some walks, and she has promised me I will see some bears …..Also, I will get to play golf with my good friend Cortes.

On the Thursday night, 10 days later, Mrs M will fly up to Vancouver, and we will finally head off to Vancouver Island, and then sail to the bottom tip of Alaska for a long awaited, and dreamtof Honeymoon ….. More of that itinery to come…

I think I am a lucky man sometimes, I mean, I have a job, reasonable health and a wonderful, beautiful wife …….

 

As a ‘lucky’ man.. I know that living in  Newport Beach, California is a wonderful piece of luck… we are a 15 min bike ride from the beach … so, this Sunday, we took the bikes down to the beach to enjoy the wonderful ocean. Last week we tried to do the same, because Mrs M’s bike was falling apart, we took the Jeep, and I spent 1 hr steadily losing my temper, teaching Mrs M some wonderful new expressions that even Maxi might not use… and came home …. I seriously inherited my Father’s anger and loathing of trying to park …. 

So, we rode down today, logically, it’s all downhill to the Beach, and we cruised down, and then cycled down the paths to Balboa island, one of my favourite spots in Newport Beach. I am a serious people watcher, and I marvel at a few things…

Thinking : “are they real ?”, ……. ”why would you wear that ?”,……. “do you have a mirror ?”, ……….”you should wear a bra fella? ‘ … etc …. but California is full of the beautiful people right ….. 

So, after a lovely ride, about 15 miles or so, we returned to the beach front, and spread out towels and rested. I am reading a wonderful book I can’t put down, and Mrs M is working on her tan. As I settled, my eyes wandered over the beach, I saw some interesting things….

1 – I must have counted 7-8 girls that were pretty gorgeous.. I even mentioned to Mrs M that one lass have wonderful lady lumps.

2 – 3 guys throwing a football (I know, that doesn’t make sense, but they are American ..).. fit, very healthy, and ripped ….

3 – One group of people had a cat with them on the beach … go figure ….

4 – One of the ‘cat’ group has the fattest arse exposed to the world, I could have keep a mars bar there…. get a bigger costume love, I believe a marquee might suffice

5 – The water is fucking cold

6 – Mrs M gets bored quickly

7 – The sand is very hot

8 – Some people are weird, they go all that way to the beach, and they want to sit within 5 yards of fat people …. walk 50 yrds and get some space

9 – I don’t like people

10 – my wife looks wonderful coming out of a cold sea in a bikini.

11 – Some Californians are stunningly good looking

12 – Some Californians are so fat they have their own Moon

13 – The sun burns

14 – The wind always blows into your face no matter what way your are cycling.

15 – My wife’s ‘lady lumps’ are far nicer than the girl in point 1

16 – Lots of people smoke ‘happy’ stuff at the beach

17 – Americans are very loud and liked to whoop a lot ..

18 – It’s always up hill on the ride home

19 – I burn

20 – Beer is nice cold after a day in the sun

This is mainly for Cortes (he’ll know why..) and EM, as a match for her fabulous recipes ………

 

Mrs M and her Amazing Gulas  (ghoulash)

 

Well… ehmmm… dear All. I hope I won’t mess this up, this is my first blog ever!!!! Moon has been asking me for ages to contribute to his blog. So finally I made myself available and under massive pressure, few gin&tonics I finally broke and decided to do it.. Do what? One of my favorite things ever. Cook.

Before you get excite it, run to fridge, cupboard or even to shop, now is the time to STOP AND READ. This recipe is not a rocket science but it requires time and your attention.  

So here you go…

Facts:

1. Take your time. Send kids to playground, your Mr. for beer and allow yourself at least 3 hours (ehmm you will still have time to have your glass you wine and read a book but make sure you checking regularly what is happening in the pot)
2. Choose  a nice piece of meat. You don’t want 100% lean meat. Gulas needs fat, natural meat fat. But not too much either.
3. Use as much vegetables (including potatoes) as much  meat you use
4. If you are brave enough to do it proper Slovakian way. How? Outside, over the open fire, with big pot, plenty of good beer and wine and bunch of great friends and family.

     

  

 

  

                   5. I ….. I don’t know what else. So lets start.

What do you need:

150 g of meat per person (0.33 lb). Don’t be worried to use a bit more.

1. Beef meat, cut to cubes , half an inch size
2. Pork meat cut to cubes, half an inch size
3. Onion – you need the same amount of chopped onion as much meat you have
4. Dice tomato, I advice to take skin it off. If you can’t be arsed, no worries
5. Chopped red and green bell pepper – don’t chop it too fine.
6. Potatoes –hard to say how much. About one medium potato per person.
7. Salt and fresh ground pepper
8. Gulas spice (dry onion 1 ts , dry garlic 1 ts, paprika sweet 2 ts, paprika chilly 2ts, chilly 1 ts, dry thyme 3 ts, dry oregano 2 ts).
9. Oil

 ts -tea spoon

Beef and pork meat with onion.

 TIP: if you dice onion and you cry like never ever before, place onion into the cold water for few minutes. The onion milk will dissolve in water and you stop crying

 

 

Heat large pot with little bit of oil, once oil is hot (not smoking hot) add chopped onion and fry slowly until onion is soft, glass looking and slightly brown. DO NOT burn it.

Add BEEF meat first (it takes longer to cook beef meat), stir fry until meat change color from red to brownish colour.

 

Once the meat is brown in color, lower the heat to minimum and cover. Cook under lid about 20 min. DO NOT ADD WATER!!!!. Meat will release juice itself. Occasionally stir.

 Once the meat is covered with juice add  pork  meat , stir, cover and cook for another  15-20 min until pork meat release the juice too. Again.. DO NOT ADD WATER.

Add gulas spicy and mix well. After few minutes add boiling water, around 1-2 inches above the meat. Cover and cook until meat is tender.

 

 

 in the meantime, drink wine and  dice vegetables and potatoes.

 

 

Chop one potato finely and rest into large pieces. Once is meat tender add tomato, pepper, finely chopped potato and add more water if needed (water should just about to cover veggie), cook for 15-20 min.

 

 Now add remaining potatoes, salt and fresh grounded pepper and  cook until all is nice tender.

 

Enjoy…

 

Note: there is 100s of varieties of gulas. Some people add beans and sausage (typical Hungarian), some don’t add any potatoes but enjoy it with bread (French stick style bread) or some substitute beef and pork meat for lamb (don’t be scared  to use meat on bones). If you use lamb meat make sure you use equal amount of onion to meat and add fresh garlic. Do not add any veggie. Eat with fresh baked bread directly from  a pot. Everybody will love it.

Well I hope you will enjoy, we did tonight. Let me know how did you get on. And don’t be afraid to ask if you are not sure.

Love,

Mrs. M

 

 

 

Genius ?.. well, yes in my opinion… and this is a sad day.

 

No matter what you may think of Michael Jackson, he and his music will remain with people forever. I don’t buy into this pop star, hero worship. Its music, some very good, most of it pretty average and poor. Some people cannot perform or sing a note, or write a sentence, but they find fame through the ‘talents’ of others and make millions. Some come through the farcical word of reality shows, and have centre stage for considerable less time than Andy Warhol suggested people might have. Some musical writers and performers are well worth the money and fame, and they stay for a lifetime. Their music remains with people, moves people, makes people smile and cry. These people do have a gift, and there are very few of them around. People that can genuinely sing, can dance, perform, hold an audience and have a talent for writing beautiful, soft, hard music. They entertain millions. They are special.

Going on from that, and this is very subjective, and only my opinion, there are a bracket of 3 maybe 4 people / bands that can fall into a class above all of those others. True superstars (a word used far too often) of the entertainment world. These people are icons, not just known in their own country, known by people who listen to music, known by certain generation; I am talking the very few who are true legends of entertainment and music.

The Beatles

Elvis

The Rolling Stones

Freddie Mercury

And finally Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson was a hero of mine when I was growing up. I knew every word of every song from the incredible bestselling album the world had ever seen, Thriller. Only Srgt Peppers was probably better known. The man could not even move anywhere, in any country in the world without millions of fans and press documenting and watching every move.

He was strange, indeed, I think, mentally wrong. I will not go into things that can never be proved, and will always cloud the genius the man clearly is. My beliefs, for what it’s worth, is this …. He never ever had chance to grow up. From the age of 6, being in a world famous band, The Jacksons, with a life of purely performing to so many people, a father who had different plans for his 6 yr old boy that you might have. He never mentally grew into a man, and always had a Childs brain. Just an opinion, and not something we will ever know.

Take a look, and I am sure you will get chance to see the performances over and over in the next few days, look at that little boy who sang “ABC” “Blame it on the Boogie” … what a wonderful little boy, then take a look at the “man” seen recently… How on earth does this happen ???? Just bizarre and incredibly sad.

 

His music will be remembered by everyone in the world. Not just one song, not just one performance, but all of his music. In every country around the world. Never under estimate how powerful a song can be. A song will take you back to a certain place, certain emotions, and I can guarantee, one of those songs will be one of Michael Jackson’s. Only a few weeks back, English Mum mention the showing of Thriller as one of her all time favourite moments.

What can I say, you may well disagree with all of the above, but most of the world will not. Your cup of tea ?, maybe not… you might think of him as strange, unfortunate, weirdo etc .. I don’t care.

His music, his talent, his dancing, his entertaining will never be seen again, and I for one and very sad over that. I will be singing every note to Billy Jean, Thriller, Earth Song, ABC, Off The Wall over the next few weeks as the tributes pour out.

 

So sad that he will leave behind 3 children, but we should be happy that we have been entertained by a true Legend… not a 5 min wonder, who has a pretty face, a good songwriter and great publicity …

 

But a boy, then a man who wrote wonderful pop music, who entertained and wowed millions and will never be forgotten by this 12 yr old boy, who loved every second of Thriller.

We find all sorts in the back yard … Here’s Ronnie …

 

I sell …

I sell for a living. Not used cars kind os selling, but ultimately, I’m a salesman. I sell Accounts Receivable Insurance, Credit Insurance. I broker deals between the client and the Insurance Carrier. Some companies want to insure $2-3 million, my largest client insures about $1 Billion. Not really something you can sell from a street corner, but ultimately, I sell. I get introductions from banks lending on companies Account Receivables (2-3rd largest asset a company has, that is not insured, and lies in the hands of someone else) … see, told you I was a salesman … Our sister company gets me some leads, and my network of people also provide me with potential customers.

The other way I get leads and appointments is by hitting the phones. call after call, trying to get hold of CFO’s, leaving messages, re-calling etc until I get to speak to the person in charge. I invariably get told politely, ‘no thanks’ or rudely.. ‘no thanks’… I get Insurance Companies are crooks, long conversations of interest that ultimately say no.. and I get success.. appointments and policies. the point being that I make the calls, and I do my best to get the results. It’s no fun, part of the job I dislike, but all the same, it’s the job ….

 

So, just recently I have been getting sales calls in the office. that’s cool, I am polite, I know what these people are going through, and we are all just doing a job right …. ok..

So, **** off calling me with recorded, electronic messages when you cannot be arsed to pick up the phone and make the calls !!!!!!… NEVER EVER will I listen, call you back, take up your offer if you cannot be bothered to even call me. I even had a debt collector call the office with an electronic message for somebody I have never heard off ….. Surely this has to be illegal…. just bizarre selling technique…. *****

Stuck on the bloody 405, I was thinking  ..

 

I have circumnavigated the globe ….

 

London – Bahrain – Bali – Adelaide – Sydney – LA – Vancouver – London

 

Have you ??

Following on from a few days back, and the “I Love You” words … I thought I would write this.

I got a message on Facebook from one of my ex’s commenting on the last blog, and we had an exchange of messages. that’s great for me, and we have been good friends for a while, never really had any problems after we split, and she lived about 5 doors away a few years back. It made me wonder if I am unusual… (I know I am in may ways) …

I think, I have a good relationship with every significant ex I have had. that includes my ex-wife. My first ex, well, as I said above, we get on very well as friends. Another significant ex, I’ll call her P.. well, we went out for 18 months, and after a rocky break up, we still exchange the occasional email, and  we are good now. I am great friends with Mrs M’s ex husband…

Another significant ex emailed me just the other day, how she is doing with her 4 kids, husband etc… makes me feel good to hear from good friends ..

My first wife, although we have lost touch, have remained good friends, she has met and likes Mrs M, and I know that we both hold each other very highly in our hearts. I hope she is doing ok, and I would be so happy to meet any new fella she has… crazy people that can’t stand the new man in an ex’s life ..

I understand (and trust me I do, but that is not for a blog) the damage and hurt two people can cause each other, but somehow, I have managed to stay good friends with pretty much all of them. Maybe because I am very happy, so it’s easier… if I was in a n unhappy place, maybe I might be a bit more resentful of ex’s … but it hasn’t worked that way. I obviously ‘loved’ them all in some way, so, to me, they still are special people to me …

I have been thinking about this blog for quite a while, and now I seem to have the time to write it.

 

those wonderful words “I Love You”, always good to hear from someone. So, how often do you say it, and how often do you REALLY mean it ?

I am a big “I Love You’ person, and Mrs M and I probably tell each other a few times a day. It helps we are both the same with our emotions, and very open. I have also found myself over the last few years telling other people who I love exactly that. Since Dad died, I made sure I would start to tell my Ma that I loved her, and being away over here, when I speak to DBM, Timbers and Sis R, again, I make sure they know at the end of a phone call that I love them. Somehow, the death of Dad made me realise that I never told him that. I am sure he knew it, and at 19, I was too interested in playing sports and kissing girls to say it. Wish I had now.

 

I also wonder how many people say it, but don’t really mean it. “Love You” is so easy to say, but when do you mean it, of course there are different types of “Love You”… to you kids, to the smelly dog, to the TV when Robbie Keane scores against Chelsea etc ..

 

so, when and how do you use those words ?

So, to continue our ‘week-end’ away, we left behind the wonder of The Grand Canyon to pastures new for me and Mrs M. this happened to be the 24th of May, and my birthday, and can you imagine a day like this .. see 4, yes FOUR of the worlds greatest places on earth in one day .. The Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion and finally Las Vegas… all in one day .. just amazing.

It was  a very long day as you can imagine. We left the Canyon at 5 am, stopping for coffee in a small town along the way. I mention this for one reason, we all had our morning coffee and the guys had a muffin, but I had my first birthday treat… Chocolate !!!, I don’t give a damn it was only 6 am, I had coffee and my first chocolate since 2008 .. I had kept my new years resolution !!…

Ok, so we had a very pleasant drive upto Bryce. The road climbing high as we followed the River meandering north. The pastures were beautifully green, and I was educating Mrs M about ox-bow lakes and meandering rivers !. We entered the park about 10 pm, and once again, in awe of the wonders of the USA. Bryce is different to The Canyon. The pillars of stone left by water erosion are just beautiful, and impressivebeyond my words. Also, they seem so more real than the vastness of The Canyon. I guess it’s because you are closer to them, and you have some depth perception and can relate to the size of the landscape. The colours were stunning, and we went from look-out to look-out marvelling at the wonders, just a beautiful Park, and a must for any visitor to this part of the world.

We sadly had to leave the park after about 4 hrs, and made the long journey back to Vegas. Fortunately, we had one more visit to make, and that was to Zion. I had no idea what to expect from Zion, having seen no pictures, or really talked to anyone who might have visited there. Well, I have never seen a landscape like it. Try to imagine soft clay, and someone has just scraped a large hand trowel through the clay, creating large canyons, and leaving marks like a large paintbrush with very thick paint. Kind of swirls on the rock faces. The landscape is different from the other parks, as the mountains are solid rock. So impressive, dominating and so powerful. We looked on in awe at this wonderful rocky scene. Apparently, the mountains (a few zillion years ago) used to be huge sand dunes. As a sea came inland and washed over the sand, the minerals in the water mixed with the sand creating a form on concrete, forming these incredible rock formations, and markings that define Zion … WOW, just wow ….

All three of these parks have made me feel very fortunate to be able to see them. I hate to say lucky, because we made our luck to go and see these places, early morning starts, long drives, and some cost, but yes, we are making the best of our chances and living here helps. The Parks are magnificent, truely awesome, impressive, huge, imposing and genuinely breath taking. I have been fortunate to see some amazing places in the world, and these parks are equal to all of those places. If you ever get the chance, you must come and see the amazing American National Parks, they truly move you, and make you stand in awe….

We still had a three hour drive to make Vegas that night, so sadly we had to leave the parks behind and go to the most amazing contrast. Man made, un-adulterated, entertaining man created, neon, fun ! Vegas is all I should hate, but I love it… and in the words of the wonderful Leaping Lemmings machine … Yep Yep Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah……

 

We finished the night on the balcony of the Bellagio, drink champagne, smoking a cigar and watching the fountains, just the end to a perfect birthday…. Thank you Mrs M xxxxxxx

 

Sorry for the amount of pictures, but I cannot chose the best ones … go to my Facebook page if you want to see more, Sorry Baino if I have exhausted your bandwidth …

Yeah … we have two kittens, Salt n pepper in custody !

We caught them both last night, and they have gone off to find a new home, we are very relieved. We did have a big Raccoon about the last couple of nights, and they will attack and eat cats, esp cute kittens, so we are relieved they are safe, and will soon be on somebody’s sofa doing what cats do best …

So, we were having no luck at The Canyon.. we spent more time in the moring watching clouds, some tiny shafts of sunlight, and no bloody canyon. So what else can you do ??, go for some lunch and ask the big fella upstairs, or indeed, the warm bloke lower down.. to help you out …

 

Within 30 mins, look what appeared ..

 

I have no words strong enough to describe this scene, and when we had a rare Californian Condor soar above we, well, maybe we should get some lottery numbers on. The sheer expanse of horizon that keeps changing colour astounds me. Make me feel so very small. You have to keep looking away so your eyes can re-focus, and re-adjust to the maginutde and power of The Canyon… Enjoy these, because the following day amazed me even more …

What am I doing blogging live from the Canyon, when I should be sitting in wonderment of the vastness and creation of the damn thing … well, I would if I could see the chuffing thing. Certain things you can’t control, and the weather is one of those. Having arrived safely from the 8 hr drive, we have been struck with some bad luck, and mist, low cloud and rain has hampered our attempts to see the Canyon.

We arrived after numerous wee stops (Seems as if you are not alone EM with a peanut sized bladder) only for the rain to be coming down, the the Canyon hidden behind a curtain of fog. Such a shame, we managed to get some glimpses yesterday as the weather teased us, and made sure G&T did actually believe us that we had driven to see something, and not just around in circles !

After a shocking nights sleep, they only booked us one room, ’somebody’ snores, and some people do have a peanut sized bladder and insist on using the loo all night … plus the fact the noisiest heating turns on at 3 am ,,, grr, I know I am a light sleeper, but still… I just need some sleep people ! After that night, we were all awake at 4am again, so we though we would try to see one of the wonderful scenes the canyon can offer, sunrise… the noises as the birds and the canyon has as it wakes, and the silence of having nobody there …. arsebiscuits … foiled again by the weather ….

  

 

What can you do ??, just smile, and appreciate the small glances the canyon gives you ….. such a shame, as we know how beautiful it is out there, and G&T just have to believe us. We returned after 4 hrs of coffee drinking, pacing, glancing at the sky … I have learnt some new Slovak phrases for “It’s getting brighter”, “it’s ok”, “we are loving this anyway”, “it’s getting pretty dark over Will’s Mums” …. so we returned to the lodge, G&T and Mrs M recharging the batteries with some sleep, leaving me to be sat here updating from our trip….

 

 

We still have all afternoon for the weather to help us out, if not, well, we will head onto Bryce and Zion, and we know the weather will be good in Vegas ….