I
hope that each of you have had a good week. Mine has been
a week of ups and downs.
It started off good enough with a holiday on Monday, which
was most welcome, but which was a grey, chilly day. I did
get to the stores and do a bit of shopping, but otherwise,
it was home doing my chores, etc.
Tuesday I was off to acupuncture at Northern
College of Acupuncture. It had been a
month since I'd been, as I was in Barcelona when I should
have had my previous appointment. All were glad to see that
my shoulder and back had held up so well, as was I, needless
to say!
The week continued, with some rain, cold, blustery days,
then sunshine, etc. You just never know what kind of weather
to expect, and it can change on a dime.
On Friday morning I awoke and found a message from my dear
friend, Barbara Pick, telling me that her daughter, Katherine
Pick Perera, whom I'd taught in Caracas, Venezuela, had
passed away. What a void she will leave in the lives of
those of us who were touched by her, but what memories we
all have that cannot be taken from us. She was a joy to
know, and she lived life with such zest and determination.
She leaves two wonderful sons as her destiny, and she lives
on in them. We are all fortunate she touched our lives.
On Friday I also had guests arriving. Pam and Gary Stolte
from Arizona
arrived at 6:40pm at York
station from Sheffield.
I picked them up, and then I gave them a bit of a tour in
the car of central York. We took their bags back to the
flat, and then continued on foot to the Royal
Oak for a traditional pub meal, which
they enjoyed. From there it was off to view the Minster
at night, and a drink at the Three
Legged Mare. From there we walked down
to Harkers
for a drink, and then to The
Last Drop Inn. From there we headed home
and for a good night's sleep.
The next morning, we were up and out the door after breakfast,
and I took them to Castle
Museum, and they were going to tour there and Clifford's
Tower while I got my hair cut and my nails done at Lawton
Henry's. After I picked them up from there,
we went and parked, and we went to the Minster. They thoroughly
enjoyed it, as they had the museum and the tower. From there
it was over to the Treasurer's
House, then a walk through town to Merchant
Adventurers' Hall, having stopped for lunch at Bar
38 beside the River
Ouse. We finished up at Fairfax
House, and then I took them out to Castle
Howard, where they were able to see this magnificent
home and it's wonderful gardens. Coming from the Phoenix,
Arizona area, they were quite impressed with the lushness
of the surroundings.
As we headed back home about 6ish, we were discussing where
and what we would have for dinner. It was finally decided
that we would go to the store and pick up some things and
just enjoy an evening at home. We got some pizzas, salad
makings, etc., and back we came. We settled in with some
good wine and beer and watched Eurovision
Sound Contest 2007. We laughed and hooted, as they had
never seen anything quite like this! No, there's not much
that compare with Eurovision Song Contest! It ended about
11, and they got ready for bed, and I headed to my bedroom.
This morning, after a slow start and getting breakfast in
Newgate Market,
we did a bit of walking around in the city, and then it
was back home. They got the rest of their things packed,
and I took them to the train station, sending them on their
way to Edinburgh.
It was wonderful to see them, to have them visit, and so
good to be back in touch with dear friends.
The afternoon has turned damp and cool. I've done the washing,
tidying up, etc., and now just have to wait for things to
dry.
Hope you all have had a good week. All the best.
Love,
