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!