A lovely week! We had glorious weather for most of the week. All the evergreens have tons of spores on them (thank goodness for antihistamines!) and everywhere you look there is a blaze of glorious colors! It's just beautiful to be driving around and seeing all the wondrous colors.

There is a new scheme out from the government for those who were exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1980. The Industrial Disease department is handling this claim, but as there were tons of calls (nearly 400 on Wednesday alone), a number of us pitched in and helped take the calls, and I worked late on Thursday evening, along with others.

Also on Thursday, I took Lynne Gill for her birthday lunch at the Rose and Crown pub. She was off for the afternoon, and it was a good chance for me to catch up with the "other" American at Corries. She's from Philadelphia.

All went well until Friday, 13 May. Teri Rhodes and I went for a delicious lunch that day and had a nice catch up at the Bay Horse pub. The end of the day came, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The York Races had been on Wednesday through Friday, and so the city had been teeming with folk. Now, the races were over, folks would be coming back to town drunk and happy, and ready for a night on the town, and some of us were working late on the calls. About 5:20pm, Jane Stillborn came racing to me and said, "Denny, there's a fire across the street in the Fulford Place flats!" Granted, we'd all heard the sirens, but so often that just means there's a cat in a tree, or something equally innocuous. Well, sure enough, the top floor of one of the center sections was on fire! Well, we stayed there and watched and saw the firemen getting their ladders up in the air, water going on the fire, etc., then the water ceased. I hurried to the other side of the building and saw them unrolling hose all the way to the River Ouse. Come to find out, three of the hydrants weren't working! So for nearly 30 minutes, there was no water on the fire! How terrible! Eventually the water started again, but the fire continued to spread. Many of the tenants came into our building and it became a refuge point. Steve Cartwright did a great job of showing them the canteen, getting out the coffee and tea making things, cookies, etc., pointing out where the bathrooms and showers were. I left a bit before 9pm, and I had been interviewed by the Evening Press, which is our local newspaper. It was so terrible to see those luxurious flats going up in flames. Several of my co-workers live there, and some of them had fire or water damage, or both. What a horrible thing to have happen!

Saturday I awoke and made my way into the city, stopping to drop off clothes for the dry cleaners, then on down to see Louise Meek, my manicurist, and give her some antihistamine tablets, where I ran into Sue, the publican of the Red Lion. She was getting a manicure in preparation for her trip to Spain on Sunday. We had a nice visit. Then it was on to Greenwoods to pick up my bits and bobs for the formal dinner next Saturday. These items were the jacket, formal shirt, waistcoat and shoes to go with my kilt! Then I wandered to the International Market and bought some French butter, bread and cheese, and some German sausage! Next I went to Newgate Market and visited a bit with Teri Rhodes and her parents, who have a stall Thursday through Saturday there. Then, weary, I wandered back home, lugging all my purchases.

Sunday I was up and out of here and to church for 10am. Afterwards, I headed back to the International Market to purchase more butter, but they were out of it! It tastes like old fashioned churned butter. Ummmmm good!!! Then, I came home and changed clothes and drove to Thormanby, where I visited for a few mintues with Gareth Dadd, the new North Yorkshire Councilor, and Peter Gibson. They were just back from a week in the Lake District, and they had a fabulous time and beautiful weather. I walked across the street to visit Pam and Dana who were working in their enormous garden. We visited, and they said they were expecting me to stay for dinner. Dana was making one of her delicious salads, and cheeseburgers. We gorged ourselves, and had a good visit. We will see each other next Saturday at the formal dinner, but it was nice to catch up with them.

I returned to York and researched some hotels. My friends from Stockholm, Elinor, Anders and Simon Mothander, are coming to York in July. As there are 3 of them, I just don't have the room; so they asked me to find a place close by. I first went to St. Deny's Hotel, and while nice and very old fashioned, there is no air conditioning (they might need it in July!), nor could they accommodate all three. Next was the Quality Hotel, which is nice and not far. Then across the street to the Travelodge (they weren't pleasant; so they are off the list){no web link for rude people! CWC}, and finally to the Monkbar Hotel. Very nice, large rooms with all the amenities. So I sent the info. to them, and they will decide what they would like to do.

So that's it! Another week! Take care, all of you.

Love,

Denny