Here, There and Everywhere

For LL

From restaurants on top of mountains to snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, from the Grand Canyon to India and China, from Milford Sound (New Zealand) to Manhattan - they are just a few of the places and things I have seen and done since you went your way LL. I know you realise that you have missed out big time. All down to what you said " Why do I always make the wrong decisions".

I will keep repeating your words as a reminder of what could have been ... for you.

To emphasise the point, here is a gallery of photos from over the years you missed with me. Just a selection of places - not exhaustive. They are in no particular order, date or place ....

From the 'B's :

Bath to Brisbane via...

 Bath UK

I was 'posted' here twice in two different occupations. Once with the Navy and once in my banking career, briefly.

 Bath UK

Bath UK - who is that guy?

  Bergen, Norway

Taken one cold evening just a few years back.

 En-route to Boston, Mass 

Taken while driving down I-95 from Kennebunkport to Boston. April of this year.

Brisbane, Queensland 

Sarasota, Florida

Singapore

Skyros, Greece

That house, above, has been sold. I now have a different one on the blocks. Too many memories in the old one.

 Milford Sound, South Island, NZ

⬆ 

Queenstown, NZ

⬇

Southern Alps, NZ

Lake Oswego

 and 

Oregon

Pendleton Rodeo (Oregon)

and 

A Man in Rodeo Mood in Oregon

⬇

 Oregon Shore

I drive out to this favorite spot LL and often have a picnic on a good day. About 40-50 miles from Lake Oswego. 

Dallas

Taken from Rick's car last year. Rick is my oil and shale partner and an old Navy buddy (USN in his case).

 Oahu, Hawaii

 Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head, Oahu

 Maui, Hawaii

I have a home here. Another you missed out on LL.

East Coast, Oahu

They filmed part of the movie Jurassic Park in this area.

~~~~~~~~~

I think that will do for now. It isn't exhaustive, of course. Just think what you missed through making the wrong decision. I have snorkelled on the Great Barrier Reef, climbed awesome glaciers in New Zealand (Franz Josef), explored Alaska, walked the Great Wall of China and seen all of Europe ... all the way to the Ural Mountains. Visited Israel, Egypt, Brazil and Caribbean islands and not least been on safari in South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania. That is just a taster to add to those mentioned at the beginning of this blog.

What have you done in the last thirteen years, LL? I make the point because I know you regret in your heart of hearts, both your actions and your decision.

That will do for now. I'm travelling to Denia today...

Ciao

Two I's

For LL

 Intellect is considered to be related to "facts" in contrast to intelligence concerning "feelings". Intellect refers to the cognition and rational mental processes gained through external input rather than internal, which is intelligence.

Luckily, I possess both in equal and quite a fair measure. You hadn't come across that before in a partner. Knowing who your partners were and are, I know it is not immodest of me to say I am streets ahead of them...and you. Thing is, you thought you had met just an ordinary guy when we first came together. What you didn't know fully, or may have guessed, was that I was far from firing on all cylinders.

Because of that you underestimated me, both in terms of your deceit and what you perceived I was. After you left, I always told you that you would have to get up early in the morning to fool me. You failed. To be fair my intelligence was employed in...intelligence when I was in the Navy. It was also employed as an investigator in the banking world for a few years, after I left the Navy. I could (and can) spot deceit a mile off and you were easy to read and uncover.

Part of the tool set in the world I once moved in was disinformation. I spread a fair bit of that around for you, after you departed. My previous status, and the protection it afforded, provided suitable arrangements in respect of the allegations you made against me as well. I never appeared there - someone else did, representing my previous employer. Can't say more, OS and all that.

I also speak fluent French and German, I think I hid that well too. As you know I have since learned Italian for my own pleasure.

After March 2004 and your revelation about your Oxford visits. I felt free to enjoy others. You never knew, which tells you something about my skills, as opposed to yours. I was in love with you back then and you destroyed my love and my trust. After you destroyed my love, there could be no trust of course. Sad really, I could have given you everything you have never had, including my love. Despite what you said about coming back, I would never, ever have left you 'high and dry'. That is not in my nature and never was. I make promises and I keep them.

Your choice of man still makes me laugh whenever I see his image. That, and the fact you had no idea of my real wealth and assets, brings me enormous satisfaction. They say revenge is sweet, but I didn't need revenge - all I needed to do was let you know my lifestyle, the women in my life since you left and also my late second wife. That and a little flaunting was enough to satisfy me along with a little correspondence to wind you up. Oh and smile, laugh whatever, at your choice of partner.

You did make the wrong decision - you know it and I know it. There's you leading your little life of routine and occasional repetitive vacations, then there's me and my life. I don't need to say more, do I.

Maybe one comment...his stomach measurement, or what passes for a waistline, is bigger than my chest measurement and yours put together (they used to be once😜), and what's with the 'dad' trousers. Two bell tents? One leg each. Maybe you get some idea why I laugh whenever I see his image. When you make mistakes, and you've made a lot, you make big ones don't you. The architect of  all, or pretty much all, that has befallen you in life.

It's still not too late - in fact it's never too late ....

On a lighter note here is shot I took while visiting my place on Skyros:

Ciao

Weekend Activities

For LL

How is your weekend going? Usual routine for you I expect. Must check in with my contact (s).😉

It's going swimmingly for me. That's a pun by the way I was watching the lady who has joined me for my sojourn here, swimming naked in the pool this morning. A wonderful sight to behold. No it's not Annie, who was with me in Portugal, she's home in London. It's another woman I know and have known for quite a while.



I recently read an article on Bloomberg about the wealthy (of which I am one). An extract follows:



'Twenty-five million dollars in investable wealth. The kind of money you could afford to see dip into the red for a quarter or three, maybe even a year or two, without breaking a sweat. With $25 million, maybe, just maybe, you're starting to be rich.

Because in this era of hyper-wealth and hyper-inequality, that is simply where rich begins—a ticket, in truth, to the first, lowly rung of rich. For most of the planet, $25 million represents unfathomable wealth. For elite private bankers, it buys their basic service.

Call it economy-class rich. Business class? That's $100 million. First class? $200 million. Private-jet rich? Try $1 billion.'

Best move I ever made LL to the 'Land of the Free' (courtesy, partly, of my late wife Ash). You only have to look at the figures above on the numbers of millionaires to see which country is streets ahead of the rest. I guess our family households account for six of the 7.1m mentioned above. As to the quoted words - well I am in the 'Private jet- rich bracket'. Even in 2008 we, Ash and I, were in $00's million bracket. To think you once said '...are you running out of money P?' You never knew the half of what I had achieved, even when we were together and...you know why.

Naturally, spending a lot of time in New York and London, I have seen pretty much all the shows in the last twelve years (after you left). I think the last one I saw was Book of Mormon - the first after you left, Jersey Boys. They are in addition to various plays and concerts...including (don't laugh) one outdoor one with Cliff (Richard).

I even went to Glastonbury with Ash, for the second time in my life several years ago. The first was with Gill in 1971. I remember David Bowie and Fairport Convention were two of the performers. You would have been 17 - I was 25.

Restaurants. A favorite subject of yours. I reckon I have tried every cuisine known to man one way and another. I dine at a lot of quality fine dining places, but I also know a lot of small unpretentious places that are equally as good. All in all sorts of countries. We own several restaurants - not the chain type - more in the fine dining bracket and also within our hotel group there are others. That and having to cook for myself for a while is what introduced me to cooking which over the years since you left I expanded into a business of its own.

Perhaps you will now understand why I laugh at your restaurant posts. His cooking efforts that you also post are ...well, laughable by comparison. You chose the nag, when you had the race horse within your grasp.

Right now I am looking up over my laptop at the beautiful body that is keeping me entertained and awake here in Marbella. She's lying on a sunbed on the other side of the pool...topless. On that note, as I am finding it hard to concentrate on this much longer, I will say...

Ciao

Change of Tack

For LL

I think LL that you have seen enough of the women I have photographed over the last fourteen years. Consequently, I will give those blogs a rest for a while. As I have well in excess of 200,000 shots, there's no fear of running out. However, I am putting them aside for now.

The main reasons? I have a book to finish, I'm travelling for a couple of months or so - Spain, France and Italy. I have a few photographic commissions to fulfil and need to touch base with the businesses that I am majority shareholder in. Not too busy for a semi-retired guy, am I😉.

I thought it was time to enlighten you a little on the books I write. Basically I run four different characters in an ongoing series, although each can be read in their own right without following any particular order. I write under a nom de plume. I won't be giving you the satisfaction of knowing that though. Successful? You bet. Published in all of the English speaking world, including India and in several other countries. Sales have been astronomical and there's a second movie in the pipeline based on one book. I guess you can imagine the income this has brought in.

I have reference sources, mainly in the States and UK, especially on technical issues and cultural matters. Great team behind me.

I remember you saying way back in 2006 that your man was a 'journalist'. That statement was blown out of the water quite a while ago. As to the books he wrote. Sorry, but his mastery of our beautiful language falls short on grammar, fluidity and punctuation. Showing his educational shortcomings there, LL.

My travels so far this year have included my homes in Florida - Naples and West Palm Beach - New England, mainly at the ranch in New Hampshire but also long weekends on Nantucket. I suppose I should also include a few business trips to Boston and New York as well I have also been over to San Diego, LA and San Fran. Oregon is planned for a visit on my return from Europe.

Overseas trips so far have been the UK and a swift trip to Denmark on business, followed by some relaxation in Portugal and now here in Marbella. I do have a brief side trip to Switzerland, but that is just for an overnight visiting EBACE in Geneva. From here in Spain I will when I feel like it take the short hop in my Gulfstream to France. Carcassonne, Nice and St Tropez call. From there onto Italy. I will update you when I am there.

I like you to know what I am doing (within reason and the bounds of morality!) so that you can appreciate what you missed when you made your decision in 2005 - in fact for me it dates from March 2004 and you know why. I would have had you back at any time until I married, as I said at the time. In some ways I would still have you back - it would change your life, and we are both running out of that.

In between all this I have photographic commissions lined up. Not many but it is an activity I greatly enjoy.

As you might imagine with a multi-million business with interests overseas, that part of my life is complex and very rewarding. I still get a great buzz from it. Whether it is cutting a good deal or seeing the profits roll in, I revel in it. I still remember what you said when I was in the Spanish bank, Caixa Catlunya, where you thought I was arranging a mortgage on that apartment (I wasn't). You said to Steve Jones the guy showing us around that I was in my element. That was one of the few things you had right.

I'll tell you more about the business side of my life in another blog, sometime.

Finally, as you know I acquired a helicopter earlier this year for those short hops. It's great fun. I don't fly them anymore (unlike in my Navy days). I leave that to my pilot.

Here are  a few photos - random ones with a few memories for you ...

The Outlet Stores on Summerlin

A Lifetime Ago - How things Change LL😉

 Hmmm ... used to be Mmmm

View from the Old Place LL

Fairly near where I live in Naples

You may wonder why I have included the photo below. I will tell you. 

When you own un-fenced acres in the US it is common practice to mark your boundary, and warn trespassers off, by marking the limits of your property with painted bands such as this one. This is on my property in New Hampshire.

Ciao...shower and dinner call!

Occupations

Here we both are LL. Retired and enjoying our retirement.

But wait a minute, I am, but I'm not sure you are.

Another minute - I'm not actually 'retired', I have a conglomerate to oversee from time to time. No day to day involvement, but board meetings and strategy. The rest of the time - well, I enjoy myself and these days also enjoy being a bit of a sugar daddy. Photography, TV cook shows, book writing and quite a few other things like my horses, boats and painting (as in artist not a decorator) fill my life, along with family of course.

Mine is greatly expanded, as you know, with seven grandchildren between myself and my late wife, Ash. Our four adult children cover a fair range of occupations, along with their wives.

There's Brad who is on Wall Street handling our various companies finances with his team - he trained as an investment banker. Tom, who was until three years, ago a USMC (US Marines - LL) officer, Steve our IT, media and computer expert and his wife, who is a doctor. Brad's wife is a lawyer and Tom's - well she is special - why? Because she is a Special Agent with the FBI. Love playing with words😁.

I'll be in the UK for three days come Thursday. I have a wedding to attend in Hereford (not the one in Windsor!😊). Remember my friend Tim who was going to collect the baubles for me? Hereford, that should give you a clue as to who I am speaking about and his 'occupation'.

I bet you think I have forgotten the beads - no way - they belong mostly to my daughter and they, or their value, will return one day when I decide to take action. It's a matter of honor and justice. Good thing you don't live in the States - something has been re-instated. Don't want the Limitations Act (US Code 1652) to cut in.

You were very stupid over that matter and in making the decision you did - very stupid. Just think where you could be now. More or less wherever you like, with whatever you want, with a guy who loved you dearly.

When you make mistakes, and you have made more than most, you surely do make big ones.

Back to retirement. I have outlined my life in semi-retirement. What does yours consist of? No need to answer that. We both know it is pretty much the same old thing week in and week out - same with your vacations, more or less, with a few exceptions. You both made me laugh about that trip to Perth (the other one). You never saw Australia, you were merely on the fringes and, as I understand it, barely left the city.

Just as an example, and by way of comparison, I have been each and every year since 2007. Travelling around, exploring and generally having some great times. New companion, sadly, this year, but she is younger, a lot younger than me by over twenty years. You see LL I have no trouble attracting women at all. Someone different with me here in Lisbon, though.

Life is still fun, and filled with 'fun'. Not so sure about your life though.

I was never the boring one - you were. You just didn't/couldn't wait until I had recovered from my bereavement to find out who I really was. As the President would say - big mistake!

 

Ciao - Adiós - Au revoir - Farvel

(The last one is Danish - a clue as to the nationality of my companion here)

╔══ ೋღღೋ ══╗

Pure Quality 

╚══ ೋღღೋ ══╝

Thoughts from Portugal

For LL

Very pleasant here LL. In the mid twenties centigrade. So, nice and warm without being scorching. I know you have never been to Portugal, but you perhaps should as the Portuguese are far friendlier than the Spanish.

Your social media makes me laugh. In nearly every recent post, it is all about alcohol and food. Who do you post those shots for...yourself? For me? If the latter, don't bother. I would be more interested in hearing what you think of where you have ended up, against where you could have been.

And...

...if you think you are rubbing my nose in something through those posts, forget it. I find them laughable...and him.

I'm not sure where you figured in my life. An aberration perhaps, a short term 'nightmare', a dysfunctional female. Whatever you were back then, I fell in love with you. That love sadly has long since dissipated. Diluted down to nothing by the passage of time, and your actions. That hasn't happened in the case of my first or second wife, both sadly passed on. Maybe that tells you something. It certainly does for me.

I never thought of you as having a narrow outlook but thinking about it, it seems you do. From adhering to a small town, through virtually the same vacation destinations year after year (there have been exceptions I know, but few of them) to those repetitive weekends and repetitive restaurants. I would hate that...and you thought I was boring! You got that wrong, big time.

Why do I write this stuff? - to rub your nose in what you missed out on, and to convey how I see things now with the added perspective of time.

You may have noticed that I'm a great fan of the Red Sox these days. That's a change for me, as I hardly followed the sport in the past. Now I'm a regular at Fenway Park, when I'm in that neck of the woods.

There are more billionaires in the US than anywhere. So much so that having a mere billion in assets doesn't get you anywhere near Forbes Rich List. I'm not on the list of course but guess what, early this year I made the club. The $bn club that is. Long way from your life isn't it, and a long way from where you thought you might be if you had chosen to follow me and committed. You have made a lot of bad decisions in your life, by your own admission, but I think you know which one was the worst decision you ever made.

Now Eurovision is over, exploring Lisbon calls. Someone you know was highly amused by this coffee place .....

Ciao

 or should I say....

Bom Dia!

England Visit

For  LL

As I'm here in the UK, as indeed you are, I thought you might like to know what I am up to. Even if you don't, I'm going to tell you because I want to continue to make certain you realise what you missed through your actions and short term decision making.

As you are probably aware, I arrived here from the States just over a week ago. My G650 is parked up down here in the South and, some distance from it, so am I, on the shores of Dorset. Like you i have been enjoying the company of another ...of the opposite sex. Not old, not middle aged and not very young. A woman in her prime you might say and under fifty. In fact a lot younger than that. The weather down here has been great the last few days. Yesterday was around 27C at its peak. This prompted a considerable amount of disrobing on the part of my companion. Pure pleasure to behold...and hold.

Prior to that I spent time in London, some business and quite a bit of pleasure. This time of year is lovely in the parks.  During the past week I have also been in Cambridge - pure pleasure - and it was.

You would love this place in Sandbanks, plus I also have a boat here to tootle around on - Poole Harbour and beyond is lovely. However, you knowingly turned down Florida as a home and then expressed surprise when you learnt I also had a home in New Hampshire. That was your own doing (or undoing). Since then...well it's all history as far as you are concerned and you are history too. But, you needn't have been.

Back to my trip here. I spent a day in Glasgow last week with George, my attorney up there. Then a meeting in Canary Wharf on Monday a week ago. Boring stuff to you - just money.

Come the weekend I will be in Portugal and when I feel like then onto Spain and Italy. It was very sad losing Ash in January but we both agreed life should go on if either of us weren't here and that is what I'm doing, living life. I have lots of friends all over the globe and despite reaching a milestone birthday this year I am fit and very well and indulging in all the many things I enjoy...and others enjoy doing with me.

A free agent LL. You said you wanted to be 'free' all those years ago, but you still aren't, are you. I have two sources in your neck of the woods that tell me you are far from where you might have been...once.

We are out to dinner tonight in the Aston, which she loves. I'm thinking of buying one of the new Bentley's later this year. Fancy a ride? You had a few of those with me back a-ways didn't you😀.

Back to London tomorrow and Knightsbridge.

Ciao

Remember... Carpe Diem