Musings of a Wealthy Man: West Coast~~~~East Coast

May 12 2014

We've had a great time on the West Coast both here in the US and in Vancouver, Canada. Arrived here at Cas and Liz's yesterday via Minneapolis. Heading for our home near Concord, New Hampshire later.

Here are a few photos of our trip. My photography skills have improved over the years and landscapes and people are now one of my specialties in this field. Have quite a portfolio.

Vancouver Waterfront

Multnomah Falls Columbia River Gorge Oregon

BC Previous Trip

Crater lake and Wizard Island near Klamath Falls Oregon

Near Jasper

Grand Canyon Sunset

Crater lake and Wizard Island near Klamath Falls Oregon

British Columbia

Near Victoria British Columbia

Ferry departing the islands near Vancouver BC

Shoreline BC

Vancouver with low cloud

Trillium Lake Near Portland Oregon

Near Jasper BC

Trillium Lake Near Portland Oregon

Not all are recent (note the snow) but they give you an idea of the quality and the beauty of some of the locations we visit. Grand Canyon was a little earlier this year whilst we were in Southern California

Quality - We can't really say that of your 'snapshots', can we, which seem to comprise of food, you and Fat Man. (Must be interesting or a challenge sleeping with him, if you get my meaning).

You used to pride yourself on being 'fashionable' after a fashion but it doesn't seem to be much in evidence these days...more frumpish than vampish, you could say. Mind you there are plenty of shapeless clothes in Primark I understand. We don't have them over here. Ash is more Saks 5th Avenue, Rome, Milan and Paris.... with a few things from London thrown in for good measure.

Whatever happened to the slim woman I 'knew' once...well quite a few times in reality ;)

We are coming over the Pond very soon so hope the weather is looking good in the UK and France (to begin with). Rest of our trip is our usual summer tour of our European haunts. I have stepped back from most of the day to day stuff these days and am enjoying life immensely. It makes a difference having a good and smart (in both senses of the word) woman by my side. She's by my side most nights too maybe a week or so in a year when she's not and I'm quite as active as I was back then. Nothing like a much younger beautiful model to keep things on the up.

Seems you like simple pleasures like an ice cream in the country. I well remember our very first seaside visit to a place ending in 'th'. Bit of a dreary hole but I was well and truly smitten back then and hardly noticed. On reflection, though....

Very little to talk about during the week on social media. Is your life that boring? I thought you didn't 'do' boredom...or 'boredum' as you spelled it.

I remember you saying when you were still writing to me that I was lucky to be able to live here in New Hampshire and Florida. A lot has happened since then for me, all good. No downsides since you were allowed to drift away as just a bad memory. It didn't need to have been like that but you thought you were in control of the agenda and acted according to your set of morals or rather lack of them.

By the way, there's no such thing as luck. What I achieved before you came along, and what I have achieved since, has nothing to do with luck. It has more to do with judgement, risk taking and planning...apart of course from affairs of the heart. There it's a different matter. Having said that I don't think you would have fitted into my world, regardless of whether I met Ash or not. You are at heart a small town, working class girl and I am a worldly, intelligent and traveled middle class guy.

You were lucky ...once...but you let it slip through your fingers. A lot like the rest of your earlier life. I guess impulsiveness was at the root of a lot of it. Always said you were too impulsive - look where it's gotten you....or not, in fact. They say women don't like arrogance, but adore confidence. What I see with FM is arrogance, most times. Me I'm the confident type:)

May 13 2014

Since starting this blog we have made it to our home here in New Hampshire. It's a beautiful day. Trees and forest look great, the horses look great and I just love seeing Ash dressed down in tight Levis. We are riding out later and maybe in....

Ben is loving it, running mad all over the meadows that are empty. Ben is our Golden Retriever in case you have forgotten.

This is a long way from East Anglia and the NW UK. Seems like another life that I led over there. At least one of those lives was a very happy one. You destroyed the other. I guess, in fact I know, you have regrets about what happened, although you will never admit to them. Your life could have been so different, but it seems you wanted to settle for something a little more humdrum and repetitive. It's a shame you did what you did, we were OK together and would probably be much better together by now.

Never thought about it, but perhaps it's a little more difficult to find partners to 'play away' with when you are 60 going on 61. So, you are stuck with FM. Not my idea of a fun partner...nor yours if the truth be known.

You had me all wrong in your mind, maybe because I was still down after losing my wife, but I was not the 'boring' person you once alleged I was, as has been borne out by what I have told you since.

Unless we cross paths in an airport, or perhaps in the Lake District, you will never see me again. In some ways it might be quite interesting to talk again, but you are too much of a coward to do that. I still remember the coldness you exhibited when you handed the ring back...or more likely the fear and lack of confidence and security you suffer from.

It's difficult to convey in words what Ash is like but you get some idea from her photos. One thing, she is nothing like you. Totally and utterly different. More loving, secure, giving, intelligent, confident and of course.....beautiful. She can ride, fly, speaks three languages not including English and has two fine and well adjusted sons.

To keep you up to date, here are a few more photos - some may be repeats from earlier blogs, but I have included them because they are good ones: