Life Update - Fact or Fiction?

We have had a wonderful summer travelling through the UK, France, Spain, Italy and now Greece. Mixing a lot of leisure with a little business and renewing friendships and contacts has been great. As I am sure you are aware we undertake this trip most years. It gets us away from the heat plus humidity...and possible hurricanes of Florida.

In keeping with another tradition we are spending part of the Fall at our home in New Hampshire. That affords us an opportunity to catch up with some of Ash's family in Massachusetts and our friends in the north east. We will probably also spend sometime in New York to get our NY fix.

It was rather unfortunate that you ended up having a week of not too nice weather on your trip to our home city. Not the best month to be there. Remember when we went...never at that time. Seems a long, long time ago now and an altogether quite different life. We saw you both in the Mall by the way - a source of some amusement for us...and the places you visited. You are both quite large aren't you. You would fit in well back home - my home that is.

I am not sure you would like NH or Oregon, come to that. You seem to live for the sun and beaches. Probably because you work all the time and have to grab your opportunities. They are altogether different from being near beach-side in Florida or San Diego. If you cast your mind back you will remember that I grew up in the country until I was around 14. I have always had an affinity with the 'great outdoors' hence the time we spend in both places where we can let our hair down (at least Ash can - mine is very short to non existent on top) wear jeans and do whatever we feel like.

In NH we rear horses and ride a lot. We own quite an acreage there, incorporating woodland, some hills and of course grazing. Needless to say we have a staff that look after everything. You never knew of my love of horses did you - one of the most beautiful creatures on Earth in my view. Beat some humans by a mile. Ben loves it there, too. Plenty of critters for him to chase. So, not long now and we'll be there again.

Then we head back to Florida and Naples around the middle to end of October. The weather is good down there then. I guess when you went out there it was for his game and amusement, not like the times we spent. I know you are aware that you backed the wrong horse and to some extent are living to regret it. The rest of you is just resigned to your 'lot', as you have always been.

I remember all the apologies and embarrassments when we first met - on your part, not mine. The feelings of inadequacy that you exuded, the insecurity, the references to your being working class etc etc. At the time and to me, they didn't matter. I thought you deserved better and I was prepared to give it to you. BUT, you went and lived up to all your true standards and the end result was that you lost me...not me you.

I flaunt things to remind you that it was not me that was disadvantaged by your apparent leaving - it was you! I will go on flaunting from time to time and you will go on following what I do because of your mistake and poor decision making. One day you will be on your own...

I recall all that talk of my being boring. Sorry my dear, but it was you and your life that was boring. Just think about it for a moment. I spent most of my early career in the RN - of course I couldn't speak to you about that. So that was out as a  subject of conversation. But I travelled far and wide, let's say. Then there were my travels abroad after the RN and before you. In the 23 years that you had not flown, I had been to so many places, I've lost count. I was careful and aware of your sensibilities as I didn't want you to feel even less 'adequate' than you already were. So, I didn't 'ram it down your throat' so to speak.

The fact is that I have led a full and quite exciting life - quite the opposite to that I portrayed to you. Apart from your sensibilities the main reason I didn't expand my conversation was because I didn't trust you...and I was right, wasn't I. I have interviewed many people and many types in my life and I can recognise a lie a mile off...and I identified yours very quickly.

As to an exciting life - mine continues. Yours? Yours is much more mundane and you don't even have the healthiest of partner by your side.

I've attached a small gallery for your edification. Yes, this is Ash. There's no comparison with you is there....

How can a man not fall in love with that smile...

 Friends and two closer ones ;)  - Home

Drinks and Laughter - NH

Driving the Beamer

But that's life LL. You make a decision and you have to get on with the fork in the road you chose. Not as good as the alternative would have been for you. For me - well as you can see you did me a great favor and enabled me to find my wife. I thank you for that and all the happiness she has brought me over the last 7 years. 

Sadly, you were not the person I first thought you were.

As you can see my wife is a beautiful woman, but more than that she is loyal, trustworthy, loving and devoted to me. All the things you never were......

We will continue to travel it's what we love. Our own homes of course. So thsi year it will be NH and then home to Florida. Following that we fly up to Oregon then down to San Diego. Might even find ourselves in the UK sometime too...you just never know with our lives...as opposed to your apparently 'exciting life' with *******

αντίο για τώρα...that's probably all Greek to you LOL