New England Notes

For LL in the UK

Hello LL. I thought it was time for one of my intermittent updates.

For the past few weeks I have been here in New Hampshire on the ranch in the main enjoying Fall and the horses and dogs. A little shooting also. Had a few house guests  stay over too, but not all at the same time.

Last weekend I used the helicopter to pick up a lady friend from Vermont and we spent it alone at my place in Nantucket, Mass. Lots of lovely seafood and a very relaxing time just enjoying each other's company. Come the weekend I am flying down to West Palm Beach, Florida in the jet partly to see BJ's new place (he's retired recently from the Government, US that is) and to stay over a couple of days in my place there before going home to Naples, Fl.

It's hovering around 44F/8C here. Cooling off rapidly. However it's 82F/28C down in Florida so a no brainer really. I'm looking forward to that gorgeous warmth.

I guess it's cooling off over there too. All wrapped up for winter? Perhaps another brief visit to the Costas calls. No comparison to where I will be is it. You were the world's biggest fool when you parted with me. I would have forgiven you (for what are now obvious reasons on my part) and never have left you high and dry.

Time, however, has moved on and our lives are miles apart. You have added weight (and years), although I don't have the former. Up until I married Ash, who sadly passed away very early this year, I would have had you back at almost any time. The grass wasn't that green on the other side of the hill was it. Just mundane, very mundane when compared to the life you could have shared with me.

To quote you ...

'Why do I always make the wrong decisions'

French Meanderings

For LL in the UK

Audentes Fortuna Juvat

Well LL, I thought it was time for a further update as I relax here in Bergerac, France and you grab a short stay in Espana. More of the usual for you of course.

I am amazed how much both of you drink, evidenced not only by your posts, but from sources close to your social habits and hangouts. No wonder both of you are obese...all of those calories. I recall you used to count them at one time. Since joining your overweight companion it seems you have lost count!

I am not averse to a drink either but generally that is quality over quantity. Fine wine, as I am enjoying here, good single malts and fine bourbons. My preference is red wine, but I have savoured some excellent whites during this stay in France.

After a stay in Cannes, I have meandered up to Lot and now travelled slowly west into the Dordogne. You would love it. I certainly do. Great food and wine. Naturally, I have called in on a few female 'friends' and received excellent 'service', as they have. I am here for a short while yet before returning home to the States. Come December, I'm off to Australia as I normally do at this time, albeit a little later this year.

I'll be thinking of your small mundane life, of repetitive weekends and vacations offering little variety. I was looking at some old photos of you from 2003 thru 2005. No comparison to what you look like now. Me, I've hardly changed apart from some added facial lines and very short hair now.

That's all for now. Think on what you missed...

Here's some recent photos of my meanderings:

The Dordogne

Ciao

Observations

For LL in the UK

Audentes Fortuna Juvat

Cannes is lovely at this time of the year LL. I am sure you would adore it, but you would probably need a fashion makeover.

I have some spare moments, not many, but a gap in my engagements here and 'around'. As I have I thought I would record a few observations. 

As you know I was married for thirty three very happy years to my late first wife. Sadly, an equally if different marriage to Ash my second wife ended a little under a year ago due to her passing away. I count myself very blessed to have had two such wonderful women in my life. Perhaps it was down to choices or maybe fate.

In reflecting on my good fortune and my choices, I thought about how you life unfolded as you told it to me. You made choices in marrying your men, but it is obvious that your decision making and judgement is flawed. Your first was a disaster and then in time so was your second choice. Skipping me, to whom you were never committed, you moved onto what can only be described as a physical disaster. When you told me he was a 'journalist' and an 'indispensable' company director, that was more about justifying your decision to yourself than trying to impress me.

If it was the latter, then you failed miserably rather like most of your life. Company directors and directorships are two a penny, LL. In no way is he a journalist and neither is he a competent author. I have read extracts of his books - I had no interest in the subject matter - and his English is shot full of grammatical errors and poor sentence construction.

But these observations are not about him, they are about you. In a nutshell I guess it boils down to the fact that you make and made poor decisions. I will always remember your remark after your actions messed 'us' up. "Why do I always make the wrong decisions P?" That has stuck in my mind ever since.

Of course you made it after the event, so to speak, and your actions couldn't be undone. Even then I was prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt and also not to leave you high and dry as you supposed I might. Even then it was apparent to me that you hadn't met many men who said what they meant and did what they said. I am one of those, but because you are who you are, at heart an insecure woman, you couldn't recognize it.

By dint of your own inaction at that time, your lack of courage and lack of commitment, you missed out big time. To think that some thirteen years have elapsed this very month since then. I have an inkling as to what your life has been like. I still am in contact with two of your friends, both ladies. It doesn't compare with what you might have enjoyed in any way, shape or form.

Happy thirteenth anniversary!! I'm happy very happy, I'm not so sure about you and the rut of a lifestyle that you lead though. As they say here in Cannes ....C'est la vie!