Where's James?

He was last heard of some time ago, publishing wry and highly amusing commentary on the fantasy football.

Now, he's gone weirdly quiet. His brother has called him a few times recently, occasionally and somewhat fiscally irresponsibly from his mobile, and he's seemed a bit preoccupied.

Now we're all wondering if he's just feeling mildly underappreciated for his bon mots and epithets, or whether the work/menagerie has begun to drown him...

JVL1 xxxxx

PS I tried to text you from Hong Kong, to say "This is ace, done Chunking Mansions, cocktails at the Peninsula, Peak Tram, Ocean Park, Star Ferry, Sheung Wang, Foreign Correspondent's Club, Macau (The Venetian... f*ck me!), Western Market, teh Park Lane in Gloucester Road, Chrissie's compact and bijoux flat, Rat Alley, and a bit more. What a funky place! "....

but I don't think it went.

Get in touch, dude!
x

Out and about in Gravesend

So - what did we do this weekend? Went out on our home-made bikes for the first time this year - lovely! But did we go to admire the view, breath in the fresh air, pick flowers and generally relax? Did we 'eck as like! We went pony poo collecting. Yes, you read that right... Pony Poo Collecting. Armed with rubber gloves, bucket and strong plastic sacks, we... well, actually Mariano, scooped up the freshest poo... and some old stuff, 'cause it attracts worms which are great for the soil. They are wonderful little compost makers, which help mix the poo with the soil naturally - so we look forward to truly organic produce later this year. I confined myself to identifying the best poo piles (I know how to have a good time.....) and making friends with a couple of the donators of our bounty. Actually, although this sounds disgusting, or "GROSS" as one of the nosey kids who wanted to know what we were doing called it [city dwellers... what do they know?], horses are completely vegetarian, and these ponies roam fairly free to pick and choose what they eat. There is very little odour - honest. Anyone for salad?

More photos here!

Snippets from Beautiful Downtown Gravesend

Patricia: Now working three days a week in the City for a St James's Place Partner (Jeremy, who constantly tells me how much he appreciates what I do - how good is THAT!) - loving it. No pressure - yet! Got my own desk, rather than parking where I can (great), am surrounded by lovely peeps, and really feeling that I belong, instead of just passing through. Have just completed an inspirational two day PA Masterclass (Time Management, Personal Development, Best Practice) came away refreshed and enthused, having made a bunch of friends all keen to keep in contact and exchange ideas. This gives me time to continue with my French language course and have time for friends, family, garden, house... and me!!

Am also starting to get my head around the Romanian language - determined to be able to converse with Mariano's family. Have kind of spoken with his mother, sister and neices, but a lot gets lost in Mariano's bold attempts to translate. There is an ongoing saga of his ex-wife wanting to make his life a misery, even though she has re-married. We are awaiting the outcome of a Court case she started some time ago to extract more money for their daughter, Patricia, who will be at university for at least another five years. Could all have been dealt with in a much more civilised manner, but she has expressed to wish to see him in prison. Patricia wavers between loving and hating him - there will be things to say to both of them in the fullness of time.

Mariano: Apart from the strain of the above situation, is happy. Enjoys his work and colleagues... and me! Unfortunately was diagnosed with high blood pressure and cholesterol, but steadfastly refuses to takes the prescribed medication. Is determined to right things with diet and excercise. We have bought a blood pressure machine, and (with advice from a lovely Chinese doctor) have converted to a totally vegetarian diet. Loads of salad, vegetables, nuts, pulses, honey, soya milk and yoghurt... and garlic! Mariano makes a truly scrumptious humous (chick peas, a touch of sunflower oil, lemon juice, cider vinegar and masses of garlic), and my variations of veggie stews (more garlic, onions, tomatoes, courgette, peppers, spinach and anything else to hand, oregano, bay leaves, basil, whole black peppers) are going down a treat. Seeds going in as I speak for tomatoes, peppers, chillies, string and french beans, cucumbers, lettuce, radishes, beetroot, spring onions, countless herbs... and anything else we can find space for. All very satisfying... and the good news is that M's BP has come down dramatically. Hooray!

Car (Rojalita): Thank goodness for the RAC - I became a familiar sight in laybys on the A2! Most recent calamity was the clutch going (£280-odd quid) - but now all fixed and she is a little darling. Has opened up our life no end. We still have our old Ford Escort (Rojalina) - it is not as impossible as we thought to get her back on the road... as and when pennies allow.

More to tell, but have taken up quite enough time and space for now. Hope all is well with everyone. Loads of love all round xxxx. Am about to attempt to post some promised photos.

Quake!

Well, that was weird.

Last night at 5 minutes to 1... Bobby and Louis are sound asleep in their beds, and Sam and Chantelle likewise, and I'm enduring another night of insomnia. I'm thoroughly enjoying my fourth episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip of the evening, doing some damage to the box set I bought, when all of a sudden, the bed starts to shake.

In a split second, I run through the options. Perhaps both the upstairs and downstairs flats have coincidentally installed several washing machines each during the day, and by further uncanny chance, switched them all on together on the highest spin setting.

Or aliens are landing.

Or I'm having an attack of some kind.

Then I realise that the tops of the wardrobes are swaying noticeably, and vibrations are shaking the whole flat. I can hear the fabric and structure of the entire block creaking, and I feel a mild anxiety. Obviously the building's not falling down, that would just be silly, but for fraction of a second I'm really annoyed about how poxy unlucky it would be if it was falling down on one of the nights that the boys are staying in it.

By now the shaking's been about 5 or seconds, and I'm really confused. I wonder about aliens again, then feel a bit silly.

Slowly the vibrations subside and in maybe 12 or 15 seconds it's all over. I'm really baffled about what's happened, and go to the boys room to make sure they're not awake and worried, but they're still soundo, and I peer out their bedroom window to look at the river, the Dome, and Canary Wharf, all of which are still there, rather reassuringly. I give them both a kiss, to say well done for their unwitting coolness under pressure. Then another one, as the fleeting image of a big pile of rubble shoots into and out of my head.

Vaguely disconcerted, I lie awake till two then drop off. I should've turned the radio on really, as all would have become clear. Precisely the same thing had gone on at BBC London's studio's in Marylebone High St, rather to the presenter's consternation ...(http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2008/02/27/earthquake_feature.shtml)

So, not aliens then. And not just a Californian phenomenon either...

OK - really fed up now.

Just spent half an hour pasting something (I thought) about life in Beautiful Downtown Gravesend... and it isn't there! Message came up saying something like
"Your contribution has been successful"... but no sign of it. Buggar!!

Hi Ryan!

I did try to log on to your live "Thing" I happened to be in the right place, at the right time, but technology got the better of me. I do hope it all went well. You have an amazing face... I hope it, and you, get the recognition you both deserve.