Musings of a Wealthy Man: Points East

Friday, October 6, 2017

Points East

For LL

I go to places you have never dreamed of and will never visit. Last week I flew out to Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine from LHR. Ash took our plane to Paris and I met her there on Tuesday, then we flew here to Monaco for a little R & R.

All a bit different to your life and flights, isn't it.

So to Kiev. I was there for a number of reasons. To visit old friends, some photographic commissions and a little business on behalf of our companies in the US. Visiting old friends should lead you to the conclusion that this wasn't my first visit...and it wasn't. In fact it must be my tenth or more.

I have added some photos, old and new, to reinforce your belief syndrome.

Sadly, I have to say, you have added many more pounds (not GBP ones) and let yourself go entirely since we last sat opposite each other. I believe the last thing I gave you was a single red rose, incidentally. You were into your 49th year when we met now you are approaching 64. Ageing is fine, we can't fight it, but the weight gain is something that is controllable. Now you look really very different and dare I say 'frumpy and mumsy'. I guess that is down to all the eating you were introduced to by your man.

I have never met anyone of his size - horizontally - or his diminutive height. By being with him rather than what you were offered has given me and those around me many a laugh over the years.

By comparison my other half is slim, not too slim, curvy where it counts and tall. Along with her inherent sophistication and taste, there is no comparison with you. Perhaps you were right after all about compatibility...you weren't even the best in that other department, either.

Enough reflection on what you might have enjoyed and why you didn't. We are going home to New England soon. You would love Fall there. It takes your breath away - it takes mine away each and every year and I have seen it for the last 15-20 years. November takes us to Australia and December to Florida, rounding off another year of fun, travel and sun.

I continue all the things I love doing - writing (number 17 nearly finished), culinary activities including a somewhat irregular slot on TV in Miami and Boston, photography, of course and travel. I stepped back from day to day stuff on our businesses some years back, but still stay involved strategically. I don't need money, but I still love the buzz from a good deal or a good gain in profitability. You knew that of course.

You once confirmed all that I thought about your outlook on life when you said that your then new man was a company director and 'journalist', as though it was a very important status. I had to laugh, mainly because company directors are two a penny, and also to describe him as a journalist was just an outright joke. I read some of the stuff he has written over the years and his literary English and grammar is lacking, considerably.

Back to Kyiv and a few photos merely to reinforce your belief: