Mouse or Man?

LL - Or should it be JT...jewelry thief 



Of mice and men - John Steinbeck, probably not a book you have read. It's subject matter is irrelevant in the context of this blog. 

Men - you have had a few in your life. The present one is the probably the least fit and the shortest. Plenty 'of meat on his bones', to use a phrase you liked to use...and then some.. Judging by recent images, he's more Michelin Man or, over here, Pillsbury Doughboy - this version:

No neck, short puffy arms and the torso - well you live with it so will know it...intimately....Not what I thought you would end up with, but I'm not surprised either. Some comments in the reasonably recent past on his commentaries

'His squeaky nasally weegie accent utterly beeling.....'     'That guy is a grade A fud'

Not exactly glowing...and the book....maybe a few English and grammar lessons wouldn't go amiss.

My point, to return to the first sentence, is that some men are mice...and others are men. When did he serve his country, either in action or 'passively' in an Intelligence role? His wealth and the security he offers, if any - is that enough for you? No marriage...no ring (noted)...perhaps no real commitment? A 'partnership' of convenience is the most likely answer. Any man worth his salt would have done the decent thing.

Is a black German car 12 years old the best he can do - manual as well? It's a wonder he can get out of it with anything approaching ease or grace! 

Compare with a 12 1/2 stone man of some considerable wealth, new cars (plural), quite a few homes and who served his country for over 15 years. Who travels widely, doesn't 'work' as such and who married the woman in his life. He is the real man.

You were never good at decision making because you are too impulsive...and it's your impulses that have left you where you are. Not that much of a life is it...

Just more musings from the 'pen' of your favorite author....:)

Ciao...from the sunny and beautiful island of Barbados. Have an ........interesting New Year.

Chilly or Chilli

Well LL, I see it's pretty chilly over there. Here (today Tuesday 9 December) it's in the high 70's, that's around 25C for you. It's our winter so temperatures will drop to the high 60's F shortly. Having said that, this is the place to spend winter wouldn't you say....and you had the chance, albeit 9 years ago now. Must seem like a lifetime to you. I know it does for me and my wife, some of the best years of my life in fact.

So each Friday you head north as you have done nearly every week for 9 plus years. Then, generally, but not always, there's a chilli at the end of it. Not that it looks appetizing. There you go though, the man you recommended a salmon, tomato and prawn dish to once has moved onto much higher culinary skills and heights. You might have enjoyed them too but you decided otherwise.

Has it never occurred to you that FM is unlikely to make it to a full eight decades - I guess it probably has given his size - he will encounter some quite severe health problems in the next 10 years, I am guessing. You must be satisfied or reconciled to that thought. You have always lived your life for the moment rather than look forward. Or, you have looked forward and closed your mind to it. If you had taken just a few chances in life you wouldn't be where you are now. You haven't really moved on at all from when I knew you and you still spend the weekdays apart. Certainly, you haven't married again but then you refused me which was probably the biggest mistake of your life...and you've made a few. More than most, in fact. I guess I only made one and you know what that was.

So, PDC for you next.....again, and again and again. Seems your horizons never stretched beyond Spain, whereas mine encompass the whole world. You could have been on that journey to far horizons and discovered so much. Maybe a lot about yourself in the process, but you decided to remain a small town girl with little ambition beyond your roots. I guess it comes from those very roots and the environment they created around you. That is, you really don't know any different. But, it could have been different except you never had the courage....or the commitment. 

Lines of communication are still open but I doubt you have the courage to make the 'call' so to speak. We are flying ourselves and the family to our place in Barbados for, and over, Christmas so social media will be 'off' for a while. You would be so surprised to learn of all the detail of my life over the last 9 plus year, I'm sure. There's never been a dull moment and I reckon I have traveled further and to more places than I did in the Navy. Talking of which, there's a reunion in London in January so we and some friends/old navy guys and family will be over.

I think that will do for now, but as always here are a few photos for you. The first was taken earlier this year in Cambridge - yes, we still get back there. After all it's where we met and lived for a while until I gained my US residency and citizenship.

The second is Fort Lauderdale - we have recently spent a weekend there. This last weekend was on Sanibel at the cottage, a short drive from Naples as you know....

The last few are from a balloon trip we took whilst in Australia in the hinterland west of Brisbane. So here you go:

Intrigued?

 LL - I know you must be intrigued by my life, even though you don't have the courage to inquire. So to keep you up to date here's a little summary of what we have been up to in the last few weeks. 

Over a month ago we left Oahu, Hawaii and our own jet behind flew to Australia and Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Some time was also spent on the Sunshine Coast, further north of Brisbane. We have an apartment in Noosa apart from the one somewhere near Burleigh Heads. Nothing too precise for you to locate, although I doubt you'll ever get there. 

From Oz we flew to South Africa. Remember you once told me not to visit there. You are so funny sometimes and, I guess, 'small worldly'. We returned home to here in the USA via London. Apart from anything else Ash wanted to do a little shopping. Then we flew out of Stansted in our own jet to Boston where we are now staying with Cas and Liz while John (our staff man here) gets our New Hampshire home organized for Thanksgiving. We will be there tomorrow.

In the meantime I see your life revolves around food, brief weekends and the inevitable visit to a restaurant. Given your limited outlook on life I guess you enjoy what you do but it must pall, even for you. I always thought you wanted an exciting life not one spent with some guy who only has a working class outlook on life. You must have decided that you didn't when you 'joined up' with him 9 years ago.

I wrote this on our plane by the way. Amazing what you can do on your own aircraft...... You'd love it!

I've spoken about Hawaii and Australia before. South Africa was wonderful. Both Ash and I grew up in the country so being out in the 'bush' so to speak and seeing real wildlife and big game roaming the veldt etc was an experience not to be missed. Yes, we did see the 'big five'. Look it it up if you don't know what I am talking about. Suffice to say it beats a bacon sandwich in a wet climate;)

Gathered more material for my eleventh book too. Maybe I should let you know the pseudonym under which I write. I checked out Waterstones whilst in the London and all of them are there to be seen. Sales have been great and there are movie rights to be reckoned with as well.

That trip to Delhi is a doddle. The flight time to Singapore from the UK which I have done many times, is 14 hours and if going onto Oz another 8 hours on top. Get to catch up on movies though!!

As always here are a few photos of our most recent travels, for you to view. There are hundreds more of course.... :))

 One Place We Stayed

 Just a Babe

Bit Scary!

Fantastic!

That Guy Again - Guess where

Enjoy PDC with FM. Can't change the habit of your lifetime with him can you. So much more to see and enjoy in the World.

Be in touch from NH/Fl next.

Ciao

Another Year

LL- Funny isn't  it. I have been out of touch for about four weeks and all I see on your social media is food and drink. What a sad life, if that is all it revolves around. You truly did make the wrong choice and I know you regret it, even if you don't say so.

Let's compare notes. You have an over large man who is in India, incidentally, at present. I'm sure he's OK and is no doubt much more your class than I was. Makes you feel more at ease I would guess. There's the soccer of course which would drive me round the bend.You have your son and grandson although I would guess the latter has moved out - the former. I don't think ever will

I have a beautiful wife who is substantially younger than me, and three gorgeous grandchildren under three. Plus of course two step sons and my own son and daughter.

You work still as does your man and you are both over 60. You merely have weekends together, most times, plus those Spanish holidays. Pretty boring going to the same place for your vacation each year....isn't it?

I am very wealthy. Guess I don't have to say any more on that score. I am fully retired, but am consulted on major decisions as joint chairman with Ash, of our substantial enterprises. Holidays? I travel so much, which I enjoy immensely, that the likelihood of repetition never arises.

I still love you despite everything and the passage of time. It will never be of course and we have now both chosen utterly different paths in life and in lifestyle. It is of course impossible for you to be with me now... but perhaps you might like to communicate, as you have been invited to do before. Don't worry I won't report you! Those thoughts and the other negative feelings have long since passed.

In the 4-5 weeks that have elapsed since your own somewhat mundane and repetitive holiday we have been enjoying some peace and quiet in Oz. I will attach some photos below.

Our grandson (10 months) and his parents Brad and his wife joined us for some of our break. Mainly though, we enjoyed each others company and that of our Aussie friends. I may have said before how much you would have enjoyed it in Oz, but I don't see you ever going there with your man. By the way, his trips to India are a mere bagatelle compared with my roamings...and mine are for pleasure. You truly do live in a different universe to me, although you had your chance to join me and messed it up. Not the best manager of you own life, are you.

You once said that you wanted someone in control but not controlling...maybe you were wrong. You did need controlling, in a limited sense, maybe you wouldn't have made the mess of your life that you have.

Here's a few Oz photos for you... those without titles are self explanatory. Small surprise for you towards the end.

  Our New Penthouse Apartment in NSW

 Apartment

 Apartment

 View from Apartment

 View from Apartment

 One of our Oz Cars

 That man and his Grandson...and another of our Cars

Various  - You Always Sought Proof

A little proof just above of our recent travels If you can't read it - no worries - it can alway be emailed....just say the word.

Ciao bella....and I mean that x

Aloha

Aloha my little friend, or should that be petite friend. Good word friend - you once wanted me to stay your friend. I offered of course and again recently. What with all the water that has passed under the bridge and all, I have no interest beyond a little old fashioned friendship.

You might be glad of it - you never know.

I am sure you have been following me, so just to let you know we are back on Oahu now. Next stop is Brisbane on Friday. We are leaving the 650 (our jet) here and will fly back to Honolulu in November. I know I have left you way behind in life's stakes, but I still think of you and the life you might have had. There was never any need to think of your material life as inferior - it doesn't work like that. I knew you did have those thoughts.

Following me must be a bit like following a dream, but that dream could have been reality, for you. You passed it by for whatever reason, but it was a mistake and I know that you realize that. I suspect that you have rationalized everything in your mind so that you can live within the parameters of what you have chosen and not think about what might have been. Although maybe in the period between closing your eyes and sleep you do just think about what your could have been.

Glancing at your file I see I was joining the Navy when you had just finished primary school. Always behind the curve aren't you and will never catch up, I guess. You could have done of course. Always open to talking, catching up in that way, but I doubt you have the courage.

Well that's all for now. Things to do and places to go....weather is great here and looks great in Oz

G'day



 

Joking

Remember Joe King? And...you thought I was joking. I wasn't he was part of my 'network'. Birds of a feather and all that. Money attracts money and similar word-ology.

Viewing recent 'posts' makes me laugh. 'I like a man with a bit of meat on his bones'. Your remark of course. You have that in spades. No wonder you never let me see a photo back in 2006. His head looks like a flea on an elephants backside. He's enormous!! I really am surprised at you. Not doing too badly in the meat stakes (or is that steaks) yourself, either.

Guess it's all that food you keep taking photos of. The man you left...or thought you had is still 175 lbs (or 12 stone 7 lbs over there). He keeps himself in good shape and that's coming from someone who lives in America!

This sort of sums it up for the two of you :)

We are now in Hawai'i sharing our time between Oahu, where we have a home, and Maui. It's beautiful here, as I have said before, and unlike Australia our next stop no snakes or nasty critters. (Have picked up a lot of US nuances after living here for another 7 years). Did I tell you I used to live on the mainland US back in the 80's, on a posting, and also of course during my Navy days in the 60's and 70's.

You used to think I was American, once, and funnily enough you were nearly right.

Marbella - here are some photos we took earlier this year when we were there. No hotel for us though we have our lovely home  to use. Way out of your range with an infinity pool. From where you are you'd have to look up to me and me, I would look down on you - you can take that any way you wish.

I think that was always your problem - a feeling of inferiority, a messed up life and the attendant insecurity. Have to admit you were a bit of a mess one way and another.

Here are the photos - we know Orange Square well as you are aware:

The next few were taken by a friend this week in Puertu Banus, or PB as I call it. Amusing abbreviation don't you think:

We leave here for Oz next week, not returning home to Florida until November and during that time we are chilling out completely. So no Twitter. Of course you could always ....email LOL.

Ciao

Bored?

LL, is your life full of fun and excitement - never bored?

I doubt it, given your life style, which is a shame really. It could all have been very different if you hadn't played around. From 2006 until to now you must have carved out a rut, of weeks at home and weekends over the border. I am aware that you still work. The result of pension delayed. Same old restaurants, pretty variable weather and his size make for a not so interesting mix.

Then there's the holidays - one in Mexico, one in Goa and one in Florida with poor weather - the rest in Spain. Seems neither of you look beyond limited horizons. Guess you must both suffer from small town syndrome I have mentioned before. As I said before, it would be interesting to communicate again, purely as friends and in a civilized manner.

Quite frankly, after what you once said about boredom, I find it hard to believe that you have settled for what must be the most yawn inducing, repetitive life there could be. Stand back and think about that for while and then think about where you might have been or, in fact, could have been.

I guess you had no idea who or what you were dealing with when we met and spent those two years together. Deceit is a tiresome occupation and you thought you excelled in it. You met more than your match though. It was relatively easy to trace what you had been up to and those little slips of yours just helped it along. It was intelligence and Intelligence training if you can discern the difference there, that enabled suspicions to be confirmed fairly early on. The 'gizmo'? Undetectable and it was switched off several years ago.

Clever things - this one showed every screen visited and saved keystroke passwords., including the main login.

In the meantime, my decision not to reveal my true wealth proved to be a shrewd move. My travels have taken me far and wide since 2005. All over this country of course (USA), our usual summer trips to Europe and our winter trips to the Far East and Australia - we are off to the latter shortly after your Spanish sojourn. Add to that the luxury I enjoy and it makes for an entirely different life. Without my now wife's wealth, I am worth in excess of a sum you could only dream of. I will say that it runs to nine figures and that's not counting the cents!

I never wanted you to stay with me for entirely financial reasons and that is why I held back on the true extent of my wealth. Number 19 was the family home because at that stage my investments hadn't matured - they did in 2006. Funny you missed out by just a few months. That remark of yours about 'will we have enough to live on' was hilarious in the extreme, in the circumstances.

I am positive you have regrets, even though you never had the courage to express them. You weren't brave enough to return and you were hardly brave enough to face me. Not sure why I pursued you in 2006...well I am, I guess and I think you know why in your heart of hearts.

We both have a much more limited life span than we once did. Neither of us knows how long. Maybe it's time you thought on that and thought about communicating again.

Changing the subject entirely we are off to San Diego soon in our new jet. From the West Coast by commercial airline to Australia via Hawai'i. Beats work wouldn't you say. UK seems to have opened a can of worms with that referendum. Interesting times ahead for those English counties on the border.

No photos this time.

Might hear from you but then.... 

.....before I do.

Ciao

Memories....

Just to remind you of what you missed here:

  

Put this one in below, as it shows the 'new' Sanibel Causeway

...and this one as this is the route over the bridge to Fort Myers Beach. I'm sure you remember them both ;-)

Ciao...maybe one day you will have the courage to communicate...but I'm not holding my breath.

PS Thursday should be an interesting day :)