People and Places

LL

Having been 'absent' from our main home for nearly 8 weeks, I thought I would take this opportunity to update a few things for you.

Firstly, the new penthouse in Queensland and a few views of it.... and... looking out from it. Needs re-furnishing to our taste, but beyond that it's excellent You would love it there, quite civilized, as you can see from the views.

In addition a few photos of our recent travels as you whiled away a week in one of you usual monotonous haunts. Then onward to our grandchildren which have increased by one, with another due in June.

The property and views:

 Towards the hinterland

 From living floor balcony - it's 360 degrees - looking south

Note the hat

 Note the hat again - see later

 Now for upstairs...

 Second balcony

 Fancy a bath....you won't be overlooked :-)

 From the top

 Looking north

 Time to relax....exclusively.

Guess this would have suited you down to the ground... except it's 20 and 21 floors up. (Can't resist a pun)

Back to that hat. You always wanted evidence so take a look below. Time to update you on the family. Four grandchildren. Two granddaughters for me and two grandsons for Ash...with another on the way, due next year, for me. Long way from when you knew me. Two unmarried children and me recently widowed, back then. What a difference 10 years makes. Although...it hasn't made much difference to your life has it. Same old...as you used to say, except it applies to you. not to me. Pearls and floral dresses say a lot about you too and support my contention that you are now looking quite 'mumsy'. The added weight doesn't help either. Where is that slim woman of 2003? I have added just a few pounds in the same period.

I digress - to the hat....

Same hat as in the penthouse...just for your verification LL.

Onto the grandchildren:

 Granddaughter One

 Granddaughter Two

 Grandson One

 Who has the Florida tan in this one...

Grandson Two

Left holding the baby :)) 

There's that guy again - the one you know. He seems to pop up when you least expect it.

Hope you enjoyed all your drinking and eating in Spain. We enjoy eating....healthily.... here, there and everywhere. You don't need loads of alcohol to relax and enjoy life...unless you are from a certain class of person.

A little more of our travels in another blog sometime soon.

Ciao   - foolish lady

Distant Observations

Pokies, boardies, rashies, schoolies, rego, bottle-o, swimmers, toolies...some of the Oz vocabulary I have learned over the past 8 years. One day I might explain what it all means or... you can Google them!

I guess I ought to start this blog by expressing my sympathies over the events in your home town and the evacuation necessary. I'm sorry to hear that you and your family are being put through it all again, especially the older member.

Naturally, I have to say that if you had made the other decision then you would not be there to suffer this catastrophe all over again. Hope you are able to sort out the insurance this time. Last time you had a little behind the scenes help, even though you probably didn't realize it.

I imagine that you are up to your neck in at present, literally, and there's him swanning off east. Were's your support?

You had more from me in similar circumstances 10 years ago. I needn't remind you yet again that you made the wrong choice - you know that yourself.

A real nice guy, as my wife says, but an implacable foe. Wonder who she is talking about?

We are now in Maui, having left Queensland and it's beautiful weather, last Thursday. Wending our way home to Florida after nearly 6 weeks in Australia. Only two days of rain in that time and one was overnight. Not bad, was it. Temperatures were in the range 28-30C apart from 2 days when it reached 34C. Only here until tomorrow as we are en-route  for San Diego where we'll pick up our own plane and head for Florida, after a little time in California. It's about 4 hours 45 minutes from SD to Naples. So just a morning or afternoon to get there. All seems a long, long way from where you are, I bet...and where you could have been. You were so very foolish.

I note that you made yet another visit to the same place - Pretty Darn Ceaseless, isn't it ;-). No imagination? There's a big wide world out there with many exciting places, even within reasonable travelling distance, with sun, and for a week. You lead a very predicable life, don't you.

You once told me you weren't ready to settle. It seems even after 10 years you are still not ready. You really are a mixed up lady. My offer was totally sincere and from the heart, but you spurned it and messed with my emotions. I'm not surprised that you remain where you were when we first met. Nothing has changed much in your life....apart from weight gain, on both your parts. He still plays away of course. Where he is right now is one 'port of call'. STD, and I'm not talking telephone numbers. Take care.

Since my last blog there has been a happy event in the family in that we have another grandson and also another baby due in June next year. All are a delight to me and Ash. I'll post some photos in the next blog. In the meantime here are some random images of Maui:

Not bad is it. You could have been here, but..........

Ciao

Book

LL 

Thought this extract from a book that is a work in progress might amuse you....


She slept. His left hand was against her bare thigh - his right hand slid down the side of the bed. His fingers so sensitive he could almost feel every thread in the sheet. Cold steel, smooth and almost silky; like the woman next to him, who was sleeping the sleep of deep satisfaction. 

His senses were heightened to an extraordinary level. Not only could he smell the muskiness of her body intermingled with that certain perfume, but there was something else, something in the house that shouldn't be there... and the odor had just reached him. Gun oil - but not from his weapon of choice

He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his right hand clasped around his Glock. Moving swiftly and quietly to the part open door of their bedroom he paused....and listened. Nothing, not a sound - just the ticking of his father's clock in the hallway below. He paused a second listening to that familiar ticking sound when he realized that there was a second sound...of ticking. It almost matched the clock, but was much closer. 

As he glanced down....

Adventures

The first woman he met was in a university town in England. He'd been on his own a while and there were plenty of women out there that were in similar circumstances.

Her name was Joanna and after chatting via a dating site, exchanging some emails and a few phone conversations, he was invited one Sunday for lunch to her small row house - or terrace as they are known in the UK. Pretty well educated Joanna was a slim and relatively tall woman at 5' 7". That day she was wearing jeans cut to the hip and a light shirt, or blouse. She had fair hair and a figure that did all the right things in all the right places.

We got on pretty darn well. Enjoyed a pre-prandial drink in the intimate back yard on that beautiful summer's day. Then consumed a typical English Sunday lunch. We talked and drank more wine. She showed me over the house and we talked a little more. Following her up the stairs was a delight and in no way a hardship - she knew it too. Exaggerating the swing of her hips to emphasize her receptiveness. It was pretty obvious what was to come for dessert.

Upstairs comprised a bathroom - useful. A master bedroom and a smaller bedroom which was in use as an office and study. All told a modest place but beautifully decorated and furnished. Joanna showed me the study and I started browsing her book shelves. They say you can tell a lot about a person from the books they read. Good mix of quality fiction was in evidence with  quite a lot of classical literature and poetry including Rupert Brooke of course. From that the well informed reader will work out the location.

I become  more than a little engrossed in my perusal when I chanced upon a volume whose subject matter was sexuality and women. The volume was more prominent than the others - sticking out from the otherwise neatly serried ranks of more serious tomes. At that point I was distracted from my reading by the rustling sound of cloth in an otherwise quiet house. With book in hand I sauntered out onto the landing to find Joanna in a thin dressing gown in the quite feminine main bedroom.

Sunshine was filtering into the room from two sheer drapes that were gently blowing inwards from the almost full length window. She came towards me, smiled, and started to unbutton my shirt and undo belt. I didn't resist. In fairly short order with my assistance there wasn't much standing between us. Just a very thin dressing gown...and I mean very thin. She went to kiss me then teasingly she turned and faced away from me. In front her on the left side of the bed was a full length mirror - no bedside table. She smiled at me again in the mirror.

Slowly she lowered her gown down over her shoulders until it was at elbow height. This revealed here wonderful breasts. She was undoubtedly aroused in anticipation, as her nipples literally stood testament to that! The gown was lowered further to just below her beautiful buttocks and....then to the floor.

The mirror reflected her hour glass figure and the fullness of her breasts beautifully. A shaft of sunlight shone between the drapes describing a wavering line of gold all the way down her right side. It touched her fair hair and lit it up with streaks of gold then like a golden mercury streamed down her side tracing every curve as it it did.

I put my hands on her upper arms and was rewarded with a little shudder then I caressed her shoulders moving down her back until I was able to stroke her outer thighs softly. Moving to her waist she thrust her butt out toward me. I moved my hand s upward and caressed the sides of each of her breasts which were now more fulsome than ever. My fingers mover to her areola tracing the minute irregularities there but avoiding her nipples. By this time I was ready for whatever was to come....

Her skin was like silk beneath my hands. My hands were warm and she moved them with her hands so that they cupped her breasts. As I fondled her gently she placed her hands either side of the mirror in a way that meant she was leaning forward slightly. The shaft of sunlight now shone between us until it reached my groin and her but which was well and truly thrust in my direction. She gently moved to an fro against me which stimulated her and me even more. The result was wet and warm.

Brief Note

Sitting looking out over the blue and turquoise ocean that is the South Pacific from here in New South Wales, seems a million miles from the life I had for two years with you.

Tearing up and down the country to get there in time for your lunch hour and then discovering a little later your misdemeanours. What a life that was! Not sure what I was thinking back then. Maybe that you might join me for life, but that never happened.

Right in front of my penthouse apartment (only three floors up) is a strip of bush and trees which bind the sand together and prevent erosion by the sea. Cockatoos, Loriqueets etc fly in and out of the bush in an explosion of color, and beyond just over the low treelike is the ocean where each  morning I look out on pods of dolphins swimming up and down just beyond the surf. Not a bad life!

The seafood is so fresh here that it seems to have just left the ocean. Steaks are great too.

That's all for now LL

Ciao

Brief Encounter

LL

Squeezing one in, so to speak LL

By necessity it will be somewhat brief.

32C here, but then it always is. We have partly been the guests of a friend and business colleague during this stay and have had a great time. I thought we knew Singapore but we have been shown many 'corners' that not all discover.

Now it's time to head further east and south toward Brisbane where it is equally hot, being the beginning of summer. Winter in Florida isn't bad at all but we like our home in Oz and the big empty beaches. Something we don't get back home in the States in Fl. They get pretty crowded unless, like us, you are an early bird

The title isn't just a reference to Singapore and our stay. It also refers to you to. After 10 years plus that is just what it seems a brief encounter with someone I once loved and thought was the one for me. Now, with the benefit of perspective, I can see, especially from what you did, that in fact you were the last thing I needed after a long and happy marriage.

However, after an interlude of 'fun and recreation', I did indeed find the lady for me and, when and where I least expected to, as you know. I bet you read these blogs and wonder why I write them. mainly as a reminder of what you lost and to continue to remind you. The life you might have had if you hadn't played around is great as I am sure you reflect upon from time to time, especially in the wee small hours.

Like me you have a lot less life in front of you than behind you and you should be making the most of every day. I doubt you are, but I most certainly am. You said I am lucky - no, I am not lucky, but I am single minded and focused and that is how I have achieved the life I have. It was one I wanted to share with you - once.

Your over the top comments about him, food etc tell me that you are trying to prove that you have a great life. I don't believe that for a minute, from observation and what I am told. By and large it is mundane and repetitive and a good deal of the time you are a 'soccer widow'. Still working and grabbing weekends...no wonder they are 'special'.

I think I told you that my favorite country apart from home, is Italy. Tough decision, set against the others we have homes in, but it wins top place with both of us. Next year we are considering living there for several months. We have lots of friends and we both speak the language. A 'no-brainer' really. Set against what we do, your repeated visits to the same country and places, seems very boring, even if you do frequent places where we have homes. 2-3 weeks there is enough for us.

Then there's your choice in men. Not very good at it are you. What a disaster most of them have been.  I only made one bad choice, didn't I. If they are not totally unreliable, then they are short and grossly overweight, ergo your current choice. Too late now to get it right, isn't it. Too late to find a man who really knows how to treat you and give you a life I once thought you deserved.

Time to call an end to this brief note. We will be 'incommunicado' as far this sort of thing is concerned for at least a month, now. So enjoy the damp, soggy November days and the frosty December ones. We will be spending Christmas back home in Florida...in shorts and tee shirts!

Have fun...and have a nice day ma'am. At that location I said I wasn't going anywhere, and I meant it, I always mean what I say. You had other ideas, and made poor decisions, releasing me from that commitment. Some people....they never ever learn, do they.

Ciao

Absent

LL

I will be shutting down for a while, soon - no tweets, no blogs for a while. Mind you, your social media messages are few and far between these days. Just weekend stuff which sort of sums your life up - just weekends. Nothing else to say I guess and nothing to talk about. Such an empty life.

I guess you can't put comments up, because he would see them and I am guessing you are under his full control, as you have been since day one. I recall that phrase of yours - someone in control but not controlling. You failed there didn't you...yet again. You are in his thrall. I guessed as much when you nearly returned, but couldn't quite summon up the courage. There is so much truth in the saying, that the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the hill.

I was never controlling, clever yes, but never controlling.

Look where I am and look where you are. You should have stuck to this side of the hill.

The reason for shutting down, so to speak, is because we are off to the land of Oz, via here in Singapore etc  - wish you were here? I bet you do. But, you made the wrong choice, as you yourself pointed out. Such a foolish woman. I've met a few as you know but you really do take the biscuit for idiocy. All because you are impatient.

Well, as they say, he who laughs last laughs longest...and I have been laughing non stop for nigh on 10 years now. You had more than enough chances and turned them all down. Through fear, lack of courage or being ashamed of yourself. Who knows, but the upshot is that you missed out on the best and the rest of your life

This is a shot of the rooftop area of our new apartment, where we will be spending some time from next week:

I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

Ciao

Riflessioni

LL

You never used to wear loose fitting clothes, so I guess the reason is as stated in my last blog...chubbiness...you used to be called 'gorgeous' - remember.

I was reflecting the other day on what a mess you have made of your life and it occurred to me that you are, in fact, the architect of all that has befallen you. You blamed the men in your life, but thinking about it they can't all have been bad, which leaves just one other possibility, or even certainty. That is, that it was your behavior that brought about the turmoil; in your life. Until 10 years ago when you were trapped, and I mean that - trapped - in your present relationship, all that happened had your behavior behind it. Now the control is in his hands not yours.

I know you were/are frightened to leave him, not only because of his possible/probable reaction but also bearing in mind you are just about 62. What would you do all on your own. No - you are well and truly stuck where you are. Very foolish when one considers what might have been and what might have been yours.

Two timing guys always results in mayhem and they always find out - whether it's the Spanish named American, or one of your former husbands...or the writer. The results are plain to see from this viewpoint right down to your awful behavior over the baubles. If it wasn't known up to that point, your idea of morality was well and truly revealed then. At least they are, for now, a reminder of what you might have had, had you 'behaved'.

Why do I write these missives? I think you know why. Yes, I continue to 'flaunt', as you once put it, to demonstrate how much you missed out on. Rubbing it in, is as a sweet a revenge as anything else could have been. Nothing more is required.

Food and drink appear to be your fixation these days and, sadly, it shows, even more so on him. I guess his blood pressure and other vitals are not perfect either. In your heart you must have asked yourself about his health and longevity, or lack of it. It seems you will end up on your own again someway down the road. In his case being of a similar age to you, is not to your advantage. Far better to be with a fit guy than a less than healthy, somewhat younger, one. Does he still fire on all cylinders frequently enough for you. Someone you once knew still does.

Rome is pleasantly warm and sunny today, around 22C. Warm enough to enjoy sitting outside at restaurants, with my beautiful brunette by my side. That's right she isn't blonde at all as I once led you to believe. We'll be back in London before too long, but only briefly, before heading to the Far East and onto Australia. That would be a big adventure for you, wouldn't it. One of the best moments in my life was snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. It was a wonderful experience.

Thought you might like to see that guy, you once thought you knew, enjoying his pool in Naples, so here's a shot:

We will miss Thanksgiving back home in the States this year, but naturally will be there for Christmas. Quite a large family now with three grandchildren and another expected before Christmas - all under 5, except Tom who is now 10. Great fun and our children and their other wives/husband and one fiancee. Brothers and sister too from both sides. So as you can see far from being a guy pottering around in a new build somewhere in the UK as you once imagined, life is altogether quite different with a big and great family (and many in-laws) plus of course a large circle of friends from one end of the globe to the other.

Small town girl that you are and small family lady, I think you might just have been overwhelmed by the life I lead. You once imagined I had few friends - you were very wrong. It was just that I didn't introduce you to them. Quite a few were/are in the US of course, so no chance really of your meeting them when we were together, unless I made it happen.

You didn't know it then but 10 years ago the world could have been your oyster. The only reason I decided not to buy a home in your neck of the woods was because I doubted your commitment, morality and ....fidelity. I was right wasn't I. Basically you are a loser and this time you lost all you might have ever dreamed of.

Ciao - stupido, triste e indeciso signora

Espresso e gelati perfetto cielo

Lost Opportunities

LL

You don't seem to be able or willing to 'reply', so I think it must be that the lack of courage you suffer from is still prevalent. Sad really, we would have been great together. You have moved on a few yards and me miles, so you would probably still feel intimidated by my wealth - you certainly were before we parted. You didn't let on too much, but I could tell.

You are a funny lady lurching, as you have, from one man to another and now adding those pounds again as you head towards your mid 60's. You made a real effort in your late 40's but seems to have lost your way again in the years since 2005. 'Mumsy' fashions, a hair style that is dated (it emphasizes the chubbiness in your face) and those earrings you insist on wearing that are too long for your face shape. I guess it's his influence and that of those around him. Nobody has ever told you how to dress properly or apply make up appropriate to you, have they. I know this is a critique of what you look like now but to me you have, as I said, lost your way.

Mind you that has happened a lot in your life, and the one person who could have fixed it you decided to reject...and he's still in love with you.

I closed (complete in your language) on a house in Massachusetts. You would love it - $14m of great real estate. Your guy's place would fit in the garage with room to spare. You were obviously off to Spain recently, now back to face the British winter - part of that rut I mentioned in a previous blog. There are so many places you will never see with him, but many you would have loved if you had stayed where you should. You have to live each day not just weekends and vacations!!

I'm still in London...just. Ash was in Milan a couple of weeks ago for Fashion Week and we met up here in the UK prior to our annual break down under.

I think I promised a small revelation - nothing too world shaking...just that those photos of 'Ash' I posted over the years are not of her at all - they are of another lady that figured in my life some years back. You will never know what Ash truly looks like, will you. Let's just say that she is tall slim, but not skinny; well endowed where it matters, just under 50 (that's her age, not her bust size) very attractive, beautiful and of course very wealthy, as I have said before...and she's American by birth and citizenship. I always land on my feet don't I.


Here's a few photos to show that I don't just take pictures of scenes and beautiful women with my cameras. The trees are in New Hampshire. The little fella, miles and miles away - the other side of the world you could say...

I've included a beautiful woman as well. We don't want you getting bored, do we. I'll leave you to decide whether it's studio shot, or otherwise.

Ciao

Will be 12,000 miles away very soon :)


PS As my penultimate blog mentions, certain items have not been forgotten. Their return would solve some outstanding issues. You know how make the necessary contact. I'll leave it there for you to ponder, but it's back on the 'books' over here, as from this week. Attorney has filed the papers. I'll consider extending it to another jurisdiction or two in due course.