Party time . . .

PARTY TIME . . .
Over this weekend, Sheldon and I have attended two lovely family parties. A wedding and a 4 year old birthday. The wedding was a lovely afternoon - a little thundery but warm - where our friends Laura and Toby were wed in the Shoreditch Townhall. The reception was held in the Museum of Gardening - a disused church next to Lambeth Palace - the Archbishop of Cantabury's London palatial home! It was great fun to end up IN the church for the party rather than the other way around. The Church where we partied is now the Gardening Museum. But it has a couple of interesting residents - dead ones though. Captain William Bligh, his wife Elizabeth and some of his children! What an unusual find. . . He was exonerated apparently for "loosing" the Bounty as it seems he was more interested in collecting specimens of Bread fruit rather than look after his crew. . . His grave now recognizes this fact rather than recognize his governors efforts in Australia or his lost crew!

Back to the parties, Evan, our neighbor's young child turned 4, so we were invited to celebrate a very subterranean party with a few of his friends from the local school and neighbor's. He loved all the subterranean toys and the cake, and the friends! Did I say we are going to miss the Richards family like hell! We off to Greece today. . .can't wait to eat Greek food, sit on and in the Med, and to drink cld Mythos Beer. Very Shirly Valentine!

Empty House Syndrome

An empty house is never a nice house. Today sheldon and I were the last residents to depart from 77 Graham Road . . .well the last at least until the new owners arrive to take over the place where we left off! For almost 6 years, 77 Graham Road has been the home for over 8 people. Freddie, Mel, Erwan, Matt, Eva, Quincy, Sheldon and me - and their partners/boyfriends, girlfriends and friends who regularly stayed over.

77 G has rarely had nights where no-one is in. . . for most of these 9 years the front door rarely is locked. For the last 2 weeks, Sheldon and I have lived at 77 by ourselves after everyone else made plans to leave. Whilst it has been lovely to have this lovely big home all to ourselves, it has been somewhat EMPTY without all the people in it. Sure today we have had removalists, neighbours, and other people dropping in. . . but the rooms are empty and bare. Tonight, Sheldon and I will be living in Q's old room as that is where the bed that we are leaving is located. All the other rooms have barely anything left.

Today as the removalists where packing and moving our stuff to a waiting blue van, I could see so much more promise in this house than I ever did see before we decided to sell. My mind started racing with ideas to improve the property, a little lick of paint, a moving of a wall, a new ensuite in the master bedroom. Sheldon even noticed a few problems with windows and wasps!! Not my problem now! I put my mind at rest. A friend Mark said we have "finished with this project and are starting a new one. . . " so that quickly put my mind at rest as I started forward thinking to building a house and business in Tassie. 77 Graham will be missed. . . if anyone can remember any stories of times at 77 - please post them here - annoymous means you won't have to sign up for anything and can put a non-deplume.

77 Graham - we will miss thee. . . let the new owners take her to the next stage of devdelopment.

Glade Away

This last weekend Sheldon and I attended the Glade Music Festival just west of London near Reading. This was our second Glade weekend and more likely our last. The festival was indescribable for those that did not attend although some of the photos we have might give some idea! We went with a large group of friends, some of whom we know really well and some who we only met this year. Check out the photos.

77 Graham - a home that will be missed by all . . .

77 Graham - oh the times we have had in this house.
Last night we invited the flatties who we have shared 77 Graham Road with over the years. We had a typical 77G style balcony BBQ in the glorious cocktail hour sun as it sets in the west over the German Hospital. The BBQ itself has done an amazing job; it is small but cooks up a storm. I will miss this £7.99 investment. All the flaties except one could come which was great. Our fabulousneighbor'ss bought their wonderful kids and we all had a lovely evening drinking, eating and watching Italy bring the world cup football back to Roma. Good on'em!

77 Graham will hold many wonderful memories for everyone who lived or visited. From the moment that I bought the property I knew it was going to be a friendly happy home. The house has GREAT vibes. Ireliefe that the memories that everyone takes away are good . .

The parties that went all night, the dinner parties, the long chats over tea in thekitchenn, the noise from the road, the music blaring from across the way, the cats crying, thesquirrelss climbing, the doors banging, the pathetic pot plants, the fake fireplace, the cold drafts, the squeaky floorboards, the 38 routemaster, Shahin and Eddie at Cost Cutter, 6 Feet Under, free cloths from Shel, the love, the pain, the laughing, the crying.

If you have any memories - add a comment on here so that we can all remember what fun we had!!

It all happened at 77 and now it is all memories. Cheers to 77 and the friends that sailed within her.

NX

"Under the Tuscan Sun" was a sugary sweet American film that I disliked. Shel and I have spent the last 5 days under the real Tuscan sun. It was totally amazing. We stayed with some friends in the small hilltop town of Chisure, south of Siena in Le Crete region. The views were spectacular, the sun was beaming, the food was brimming with Italian goodness, the wine was spicy and rich, the company calm, relaxed and welcoming. It was the best short European break that I have had in almost nine years of living in Europe. . . of course these lovely events all occur in our dying days. Will we miss these type of holidays soon after we are settled in Tassie. . . who knows? All we know now is to enjoy every last day that we have.

Whilst we were in the region, we managed to drive all over the Tuscan region visiting the Hilltop towns of Montpulciano, Montorigioni, Montalcino, Pienze, Buonconvento, San Gimignano, Sienna, Florence, Pisa. . . to mention but a few. We had two groups of friends from all parts of the world also visiting the Tuscan towns . . . Friends all connected to tassie believe it or not!!

Here are some other pics of the break. . .







We look forward to seeing how Athens and the Greek Islands compare in two weeks time. . .

N and S
XXX