Blog Post Part A – Visits with daughters

There’s been a gap in our one-sided conversation! It’s odd how I consider it a conversation given I am the only one talking, but I get enough feedback through email, calls and what’s app to feel a flow. 

I’ve been absent because of time spent with my daughters. First, Mads and her partner here on a quick visit to Costa Rica, and then my road trip with Fiona in central California over her spring break just a week or so ago.

Of course, what happens on a road trip stays on the road trip, but there were highlights.

Monterey Aquarium was particularly awesome, and I do mean that we were awed. Fiona's marine knowledge is deep and enlightening. We were there the whole day, with my nephew John, and were never bored or twitchy or fed-up with the multitudes of children (except maybe by the penguins where they were particularly excited but that’s understandable). The jellies were ethereal, the richness of the seascapes fantastic and the sardine schools mesmerising (we did find that little guy swimming against the masses – there’s always one).

We stuck to the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH for those in the know) when we could, taking turns driving. It was great fun to see the many faces of California, and the elephant seal colony just above Cambria was magnificent in spite of the torrential rain and gale force winds. This was during one of those weeks that much of California was living with windstorms or floods or simply closed. At times, I was wearing all of my cooler weather clothing.

As a grand finale, and to celebrate my upcoming birthday, Fiona and I got belly button piercings in San Francisco. It felt right. Well, not the piercing, that was a little uncomfortable, but I am content. No, you won’t see a photo. Who are you kidding? Doing it with a gorgeous 24-year old? That’s not going to happen. We made the decision while at dinner, and yes, there were negronis involved, but we had to wait until the cold light of day to do the deed, so this wasn’t as crazy as getting on a plane to elope on New Year’s Day. Oh, right, I did that, too. Anyway, it’s something I’ve always considered and Fiona held me to my commitment the following day. I must give a shout-out to my cousin Sarah, who even though a year older also sports jewellery in her navel. But of course she has always demonstrated great common sense and been a role model to me, particularly when cavorting in the pubs of northern England at the tender age of fourteen.