Cheers

I'm off to Chelan Washington USA. The airline we fly cut the London to Seattle flights from 2 to 1 per day. I was really lucky to upgrade to business class with a completely full plane. So I have time to stretch out and think, which doesn't happen very often. I'm thinking about my best UK friend Simon who has done so much for Julie and I, since we've moved to Trinity Gate, Guildford. So Simon Cheers to you. I'm sitting back with my feet stretched out enjoying an 05 Sonoma Meritage red wine. Roast duck is the main course followed by a raspberry chocolate cheese cake. Then I have the stewardess adjust my pillow and tuck me in before I go to sleep. LIFE IS GOOD

Martina

We first met Martina in 1996 when she was a Rotary exchange student from Germany. This was our very first experience of international culture. Martina lived with us for the last half of the school year in 1996 when she was 17. Since then Julie and I have hosted several more exchange students in the late 90's, when we lived in Wenatchee Washington USA. We had no idea at the time how blessed we would be with life-long international friendships that we will always have. Martina has visited us several times, including when we lived in Arizona. In 1997, her name was the very first entry in the guest register at our Lake Chelan cabin. Now only a 1 hour flight away, Martina and Adrian paid us a wonderful visit for the weekend at our Guildford UK home. Martina, now 31 years old is a math and physics teacher in Karlsruhe Germany. Her friend Adrian is British and works as a biologist also in Germany. They are having fun touring England and Adrian's old stompin grounds. We are very lucky to know these two wonderful people and can't wait for the invite to visit them....

Greens Restaurant, Ireland

This was our last stop of the day and a restaurant that was recommended by many. We found the place down this side alley and It was a great place to finish off a busy day being a tourist. Without any rain by the way, is a big bonus anytime in Ireland. So here is my evening meal that kinda jumped out at me from the menu. No it's not the toilet bowl after a bad night out, but my very first meal of Kangaroo. The meat is shipped all over the world to top restaurants, so there are people who like it. The meat was very tender but had a slight bitter taste to me, so it took an Irish Guinness to wash it down. We'll head home tomorrow and I'll start yet another home search. I'm excited as the adventure continues.

Cork City Gaol

This was another interesting stop that we took in the afternoon. We would call (Gaol) a Jail now. This was a jail in operation for 100 years, opening in 1824 and was only used as a jail for women. It was considered a very modern and comfortable jail for it's time but didn't look like a place I would want to stay. I believe Julie would have made a perfect model inmate here but she would have to be "deloused" before entering. We had the same cab driver taking us to these tourist sites. He was a friendly bloke and asked me if they taught English in the American schools. I said yes and that it was required, he then asked why couldn't we speak it. Maybe kissing the Blarney Stone will help our Irish accent.

Jameson Irish Whiskey

After touring the Blarney Castle our next stop was the old Jameson Distillery in Midleton about 30 minutes away. This Distillery was closed in 1975 after 150 years of production. It was very interesting touring the old buildings and learning the process of taking barley through the heating and distilling process all the way to the bottle. This was a great picture of 5 barrels of whiskey with glass ends. This shows the aging process beginning on the left and the oldest barrel on the right after 18 years. As each got older, they turned darker and lost more volume due to evaporation through the barrel. The portion that evaporated is called the Angel's share, so that is why the happiest Angel's are from Ireland. At the end of the tour I was honored to learn the fine art of whiskey tasting. We were given Jack Daniels, Johnnie Walker black label, and Jameson Irish whiskey samples to taste. The Irish won by a mile being very smooth. This is an art that not just anyone can master, and it takes years to learn well. You might not believe it but it came very natural to me and I was given an extremely rare certification as a "Qualified Irish Whiskey Taster." Sometimes we waste a whole lifetime trying to find the perfect job.

The Blarney Stone

To kiss the Blarney Stone has been high on my to do list for over a year. Julie and I did it as you see. You are held while you lay on your back, slide out and kiss the stone upside down. Just a little scary looking down 125 feet upside down. The stone is said to have special powers, and if kissed you will be struck with eternal eloquence and will never be at a loss for words. It will give you the gift of gab. I did this at a very crucial time because I was running out of things to say and certainly a little short on my eloquence. Now all me mates dat no me says I been takin mo better den befo. So I is thinkin it done worked reel good fo me!

Cork Ireland

We sneaked away for a weekend visit to Ireland on Friday. With only a 1 hour flight out of London Heathrow we were in the beautiful city of Cork Ireland before dinner. Cork is a town of 120,000 but a greater population of 380,000. They export farm and dairy products, livestock, and fish. Tourism is also a big part of their trade and is very slow with the today's bad economy. The Blarney Castle, home of the Blarney Stone, is the most popular stop for all tourists which included us. This Castle was built in 1210, and completed in 1446. The castle was occupied by the King of Munster. Here we toured the Castle from the dungeons below to the top.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

This is sequential history for all of you digital geeks; At the 12 th hour, 34 minutes, 56 seconds today the 7 th of August, 09 the time and date will be 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. This will never again happen in our lifetime. I was told to amaze my friends with this bit of trivia. Here in Europe today's date would be 07/08/09. That is day, month, and year. This was quite hard for me to get used to, but makes more sense. We Americans always write the month, day, and year. I know that is seems like I'm running out of worthwhile things to talk about, But that's all going to change real soon. Just wait for the next blog!

Bad Start

We got up early today and I took Julie to the train at 6 30 for her work-day on the road. It was pissin down rain which put me in a bad mood. I came back home to have my coffee and breakfast and watch the news. My eggs blew up in the microwave, so my bad mood got worse. Then I cleaned up the mess and of course I'm out of eggs, so it was toast and peanut butter. Ok I'll survive so I check my e-mail and guess what, our lease will not be renewed in October and we will have to move as our flat will be sold. We haven't moved yet this year so I guess we were overdue. After 5 moves last year this shouldn't be a problem. Now it's not even 9:00 am yet so there is plenty of time today for more adventure. Just a normal day here.

American Baseball

"You want the truth, You can't handel the truth" But you're going to hear it from me...The game that America gave to the world came from England. A diary found in a shed in Surrey County England last year is verified as genuine. William Bray, an 18 th century lawyer of Surrey kept many diaries. One entry in the 1754 to 1755 diary says that he played baseball with friends in my town Guildford, on Easter Monday in 1755. The diary showed that the game was a well established sport and was played by men and women. This was 20 years before American Independence. The boys at my golf club sure had fun digging me with that news.

London Waterloo

Also called the London Station this is Europe's largest train station, comparable to Gare du Nord in Paris. We travel through this station going in and out of London as it services most of south England. Built in 1848 covering over 25 acres the main roof is 520 X 540 ft. From this station there are 21 platforms with trains that feed the south, or you can get on the underground tubes that feed all of London. This station has been a popular site for many television and movie scenes. In 2006 and 2007 many people will remember scenes from The Bourne Ultimatum staring Matt Damon, that were shot here. Last year this station handled over 187 million people. This is a picture I took last Friday inside the station and a shot from the top of the London Eye which is close by. You would not even believe the crowds of commuters in this massive station during rush hour, and even worse when trains run late.