Two years without news! I still remember we heard the same words last year; Unless it flies, the time, off and away...and it was 3 4 years ago?
So we learn that visiting Europe has been at last on the agenda, and will stay for a while since I guess Spain (Andalusia/ Al-Andaluz), Corsica
 |
| Corse south of the island PortoVec they say |
You all love skiing, swimming in warm seas, climbing even.... deep-sea fishing.
And you have time left to chop wood, ride planes, cool off in the pool (without falling asleep!); attend weddings and pay visits to new babies, and what else? Re-hirement (s)!!! Where does all that stamina comes from, those incentives of yours??? I DO AGREE WITH YOUR FILLING UP SOMETIMES IN SUNNY PLACES: our last ones: Corsica Ile de Corse, in the mediterranean, and Alsace- vineyards and awesome towns (french german fifty-fifty); our last sunny month before retiring again in Brittany (to endure the season: cheaper than having rain we don't know to get good water and plenty of it, as you know; I admit I could bear it this year, but enough is enough-thinking of Australia we don't have to complain.
We had been in the far-west: Death valley, Yosemite, Yellow stones, Vegas (Céline Dion-that is to pay a visit to our festival, this year; Jordan remembers that night out I'm sure, when he came and I had to keep an eye on 'em; and now the lucky guy is looking through the front window of 737 aircrafts, this is making me proud: in my best dreams, I am racing towards victory, on a white track, escaping wild bears, trained by nice and sweet doggies, with blue eyes, and the people cheering as I pass by: next time I'll add to my dream: oh my god look at this Jordan up there dashing towards K or X ...and my dream will be longer and lighter. Don't tell us next time he is training for march, the planet. I would believe you. Anyway this is something: AWESOME. I do mean it. Hat in the air!
And Marlene needs two more daughters (in law): we know what wishes we have to add to the usual ones: health and occupations and jobs and re-rehirements, and babies, and students, and what else?
Well I agree that I needed a daughter in law and you guess I'm very happy with our Lelia who married Ben before leaving: she is sweet, smart, funny, keen to sports and travelling etc etc They will be wonderful parents; and I guess Skype will help to keep an eye on my grand-son.
Our five grand-sons keep doing well at school, at sports, and are lively, nice bikers, footballers, fishermen, etc..time will tell what their addictions will be, far from nicotine in any case and in the first place. Our grand-daughter is the only female warrior and she is doing well at school and at her favorite sport: twirling. Unfortunately she, they, have to perform in a gymnasium and this is not a good place for us to enjoy their annual show. Of course the team performs sometimes, in some far place more enjoyable for her, but we haven't had the opportunity to go and see. Never atttended any competitions! what a shame indeed! But she is fine and she knows her breton grandpa is no good at any sports.
Well, Pascaline's husband has become a sportsman, he runs. Assia's is footballer and looks after start-up players so to speak. My daughters manage to keep going; but I don't know how they make do with so many boys, and so many screens etc etc Big big big problem for everybody to use at their best all those new data, informations, learnings, and news. Big problem for everyone indeed everyday! And the big solutions are...in the making. I'm confident.
Last year when travelling, we went to India with Marité's brother and his wife, up to Veranassi: Wonderful! People fear travelling to India because of the different cultures we have to interfere with; but I have only good memories. It was a long sought country to visit, a continent! ( we had already been on tour in the south: rural country of Kerala, and big ancient towns, ancient civilizations as well; but it had been an ordeal in a small bus, long hours between two spots; too difficult a transportation on very bad roads. Nevertheless we have good memories of those difficulties. When one gets out sound and sane one can appreciate more what it is like to be a westerner with all our modern conveniences at hand. The north of India is the land of Maharadjas. As you know. We had a guide from the warriors cast. The way the old schemes remain in place and run everyday life; in comparison with the democratic proceedings they work with as well, altogether, makes us feel uneasy. I should not say that: in some ways the same happens in France with the yellow vests and a society that wants to come together but with terrible pressures. We have no better candidate to keep our country going than the one in place now, we wonder if the far-right is going to keep spreading all over Europe. Big solutions to work out. Just to say India is not the terrible place we used to hear of.
Ouzbekistan was on our agenda before. I remind you it was and it is a muslim country, it is not anymore run by the communist party- it has been_, we went there thinking of the silk spots, by road, by camels or dremedals, elephants, in old towns etc and for sure it was a very interesting journey as well; without eating fish but a lot of meat - and good one! Maybe I already told you our big surprise no to see one veiled woman. Free women! Not too bad to have been under communist rule one dare say. So being tought about the prophet at school does not prevent you from living a normal life: the french radicalised people should be invited to visit this country.
Far west states; India; Ouzbekistan; Alsace; Corsica; and Wisconsin of course where we met with our father to be and mother to be and paid a visit to Chicago;
Quick superficial trips abroad.
More comfortable at alsacian's friend or with our team (16 friends) in the vineyard and about castels and visiting famous town in Switzerland Germany etc next to Alsace ( thanks to Simone and Cunny - I miss his first name, as i'm writing ); a great sunny time, all the time_ thanks also to the climate change, if any? difficult not to brace for solutions or preventions if possible.
Retirement you say. Yes it is a good time although- but the same happens with everybody- although we have to forget the past; the good olden days are gone; new good ones are coming up. I still remember it turned out to be difficult to be a doctor with eyes on the screen all the time, sometimes forgetting to listen to a patient, to examine him; always in mind considerations far from the expected medical skills we were supposed to use ( and lot of them are at the hands of computers now, the same as for an aircraft, or anything else; one has to do with it as long as it is possible, and..as long as the programs don't remove our skills, our true remaining skills when they still could be worthwhile using.)
e-bikes: we have bought those new trendy full hd -apart from a puncture, a bug we could await as we are used to nowadays, but a puncture remains a sin!
do-it-yourself: keeping some things in good shape and good function, or replacing, or adding and changing: so many places everywhere in the house not to speak of the garden...
patient-hood: it happened to me to have a trivial operation on my eye which means going from 4/10 to almost 10/10
movies : I can allow watching movies
books: I can keep reading a book until the end;
the new thing is, this century, we are rarely offering books or getting new ones because we don’t read as much as before ; by far; although for me it is my best hobby
etc a few things which take a lot of time, a retired only can work out thouroughly; and I like it (But as days will get longer and the sun more present, I will go outside as much as possible, and if the light is too scarce WE will go off, south, one way or the other!
To summ it up like this: so many things, along decades remainde undone or just superficially done, and put aside for better, longer hours... and here we are, and unable to fix lots of them; new choices!
As I am picking up a few photos I realise I did not tell you anything about Berlin
 |
| trabant cars made it to the atlantic coast |
 |
| the door of Brandebourg |
 |
| remains |
