Author: Conversations with Strangers

I like to converse in real time. Sometimes with friends and family, and quite often with strangers - that's you if you're reading this blog for the first time! Thanks for subscribing/visiting.

The Integratron

On By Conversations with StrangersIn Travel/vacationsLeave a comment

P1040479 Breakfast: Just the gentle rustle of the Los Angeles Times, the sight of Chester and Lily snoozing in their respective dog baskets and a brilliant blue sky framing the palm trees outside.

I took a sip of tea and placed my new favourite super sized mug down on the table.  “You know I can’t for the life of me remember what we did on Thursday” I said to no one in particular. Han glanced up from the Calendar section as Eric exclaimed: “The Integratron! How could you forget?!”

Indeed how could I.  We’d driven miles out into deepest Mojave desert, through one horse towns on a Spring So Cal day with the temperature hitting around 28 degrees. 2015-03-05 12.03.45 Parking up amongst our fellow ‘time travellers’ we wandered into a cute garden.  Hammocks, delicate trees just coming into flower, a font type structure on top of which lay various sized stones, and other paraphernalia prettily decorated a stoney dusty fenced-off area.

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The elusive Mr Corrigan

On By Conversations with StrangersIn Food and drinksLeave a comment

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“What do you mean he’s not here?!!!” I shrieked.  “Where on earth is he?!!”

PJ the bartender looked slightly taken aback.  “Um, he’s in Ireland drinking Pina Coladas.”

“What! Doesn’t he care about his London restaurants anymore?!!” I demanded.

Anna sat on the bar stool beside me – just smiling, a bit too smugly I thought.  When she’d suggested a late night viewing of Rubens and His Legacy at the Royal Academy with an orchestra and cocktails, I had immediately agreed.  It was only on arriving at the exhibition and being handed a single pink rose and a matching chocolate that it hit me:  Valentine’s Day.

Oh well, in for a penny, in for an evening of pink and red and all the accompanying schmaltz.

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Wolf Hall

On By Conversations with StrangersIn EntertainmentLeave a comment

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I wish I had Cromwell’s ear, not literally of course, but he seems to know everything – who better to seek advice from?

Last night’s episode had us all over the place as usual, from one location to another faster than you could say; ‘Supreme Head of the Church of England.’

Daylight brings relief, as otherwise it’s rather difficult to understand what’s happening, and one is in danger of losing the plot so to speak:  During the bedroom scene last night – heavy tapestry-like blankets – I found I was reaching for my candle in some sort of effort to get a telepathic message to Cromwell to light a few himself and maybe shed more light on the topic.

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Rainy days and January

On By Conversations with StrangersIn LifeLeave a comment

P1040468.JPGThere’s something about January and February:  Freezing and dank, limited funds and just the general urge to sleep right through these months make it a challenging period.

However,  I’ve started to treasure this time.  Perhaps it’s to do with age, perhaps the desire to live more in the moment, but there’s a lot to be said for taking life at a slower pace.  It’s become a good opportunity to reflect, plan, savour the lengthening of the light day to day, and the gradual weaning off chocolate to more healthy sustenance.

It seems to be nature’s way of letting us ‘be’ of giving us the time to succumb, take stock, re-build and re-charge.   In short a time to embrace a fresh start.

Sitting in the optometrists chair for the first time in seven years, reflecting took on a whole new meaning.  Looking through lenses, responding to the question ‘1 (pause), 2 – which is clearer?’ repeatedly, Sachin took my eyes through their paces.

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