GoodBye 2011

Hello 2012.

A Very Happy Peaceful and Prosperous NEW YEAR

A Grand Night Out

For my Birthday GTB had this surprise for me, we are going to a restaurant for a party.What! surely not, yep. We all piled into Yuras car and drove for about a mile. Typical of this type of place almost unnoticed through the day but jumps into life at night I had been passed it often and never given it a second glance, but here we were the trees glisten with frost the lights all a twinkle a large garish sign over the door proclaiming "Pheasant" this name only became clear when we got inside, for there they were stuffed and mounted all over the place in various flying poses mind you most everything was covered in Christmas lights  and decorations so not a lot showed.

Our table is upstairs on the longest part of horseshoe shaped mezzanine which was perfect, giving us some privacy, the great board surrounded by large comfortable couches with a single armchair at the head for me.

Now I am gobsmacked 15 places set, the table already disappearing under the mass of salads and goodies, bottles of champagne, wine and vodka, fruit juices and jugs of water.

Once everyone had arrived and were seated it was tuck in and drink up time, Phew! multitudinous plates of salads and cold meats are consumed with gusto and vodka, the attentive staff whisking away empty dishes only to be replaced with different ones, conversations gradually got more animated as the evening wares on, yet more food arrived this time hot meats chicken beef and pork accompanied with mushrooms in a cream sauce,as well as a kind of Stroganov and more vodka. Soon the music from down below grew louder as the diners took to the dance floor, Genny and Co could not resist the lure of the rhythms and were soon on their feet, returning to their places as each new course arrived. People are singing and clapping our party as loud and noisy as any. Glasses constantly replenished with Champagne,Vodka or Wine, Toasts to Me, to friends past and present, to Genny our children and grandchildren, a toast for a good life happiness and to friendship were among the many drunk this night.

More noise from below, a floor show? An unlikely looking Santa Clause accompanied by some lithe young ladies kept us entertained. The plates were cleared and more food arrived. Dancing recommenced until another act took to the stage this time a girl doing rhythmic gymnastic ribbon twirling, she was followed by Santa and partner in a not so strictly come dancing display. More music and loud cheering from the floor, Santa had returned and was stripping, that was too much for me and some of the guys, we retreated to the table and had vodka much more betterer. Finally as seems to be traditional at these do's a Belly Dancer. She was pretty good, one of the troupe of girls who have entertained us all night I think.

Finally the Disco starts that's it, all our party with the exception of my mate Voloda and I get on to the dance floor. I watch my Genny dancing laughing amongst her friends, my heart is almost bursting with joy and love for this wonderful woman. On their return I have a small twirl each with Genny Ira and Luda but that's enough. I like watching dancing, doing it, nah! not my thing at all.
We have been celebrating for about five hours, having drunk our fill ate are fill clapped sang and danced  the night away and still there is more to come. The waitress sets the table with tea pots cups and saucers, in preparation for the final part of the night MY Cake.
The usual thing for me is to have a rich fruit cake my Mum was famous for hers, in Odessa this is not to popular but I have been going on to Genny for weeks, as usual she resignedly takes it all in smiles and nods. Tonight she has outdone herself, this wondrous confection arrives. It is a fruit cake but not as I know it, covered in fresh and glace fruits it is a sight to behold, inside is hard to describe a stiff souffle with folded in fruit, cherries, strawberries with cream and sugar stiffened I suspect with gelatin very firm that can be cut with a knife, the base is thin sponge. shaped into two pieces, a seven and a zero brilliant sugary and very tasty.

The party has started to break up Taxi's are arriving Yura is making sure our guests get away safely. Finally all is over except we sit quietly for another few minuets drinking tea and remembering the evening. This is a birthday party I will never forget being a Christmas and Birthday boy I cannot remember having a Birthday Party on my Birthday before. Now I not only had one it was a corker thanks to my lovely wife and family.

I Have Made It

Today is my Birthday Three Score Years and Ten (70) I am well done.
Thanks Mum and Dad my wonderful Parents.
Love to Genny the Beautiful and my Children and Grandchildren .
I think officially now an Old F**t

Day Out With Jane

This weekend we went to visit Cousin Jane. At her suggestion we took a ride out to Windsor for a boat trip on the Thames, it was only a short distance but interesting nonetheless.

 I was rather hoping to get a decent view of the Castle but we went upstream toward the Racecourse and Wier instead.

Our guide kept us well informed on the various points of interest. The Racecourse apparently is situated on an island and is a figure of eight because of the lack of land, Racing started in the 18th Century.

Henry the VIII used to ride there.

Isumbard Kingdom Brunel made a rail bridge over the Thames for his GWR, not a particularly fine example of his art.

There are Bucolic views across the meadows to Eton and beyond, most of the land being owned by Eton Collage.

At the Wier we turn around making our way past an assortment of homes the guide giving us a sort of who's who living or lived in them. 

After much Huffing Puffing Sitting and Stopping I made it to the tour bus, Jane thought we would get a better view of the town from there, as walking is not so easy for me these days I was unanimous in that idea. 

The open top bus took us out as far as Datchet passing through Eton before returning to Windsor, by Eck that sure blew away the cobwebs.

Lunch at the converted railway station well coffee and a sandwich really. Then off to Marlow for another Squiz of the river, by now he sun had decided to take a peek at us, this Autumn light is fantastic, I managed to get a couple of photos before the camera battery died (silly arse forgot to charge it before leaving) the result of my endeavor is below.

A drive through the lanes and beech woods to West and High Wycombe thence home in time for supper.What a lovely day Thanks Cuzz.

Steve Jobs

So much has been written about Steve Jobs recently, I was unsure whether to write this, however a question on the radio set me thinking, Did he effect your life? Indirectly yes he did.

His vision for a personal computer with a graphical user interface or GUI and a mouse helped form the basis for all subsequent machines from a Widows PC to the Mac operating System, this made it possible for anyone to more easily use a computer.

Year 2001 I received my first email from Yevgeniya in Ukraine, it leapt from the screen compelling me to reply, almost 11 years on and we are happily married.

This would not have been possible without a personal computer, My Mac and Genny's PC. Now with iPad, iPhone and Macbook Pro, we are able to easily keep in touch with our family and friends wherever they are.
This for me is part of the Steve Jobs legacy.

Thank you Mr Jobs you did make a difference 

Odessa today

In September of 2009 I had the job of taking back to school pictures at my Grandchildren's school in Odessa, their form mistress made the request and I was happy to oblige. Later in January of 2010 we were to meet next on a train for Bukovel on a short winter school trip. She was great fun coming to our families compartment to share food and drink laughs and games, ever vigilant for the well being of her charges, it was obvious how respected and admired she was.

Today my daughter Ira went to her funeral, This lovely wonderful lady had lost her battle with cancer.

She will be missed by all who knew her
God bless you Arlla.

Oh What a Beautiful Day

Today Genny said we need shopping, uh oh! I thought what fun. 10am saw us bumbling along in the roller skate to Banbury, we did our usual thing when we arrived, Genny going her way and me setting off for the Canal arranging to meet a couple of hours later.

I took my usual constitutional before taking residence at my favoured table at the canal side cafe. A large cappuccino in hand observing the comings and goings of the patrons and the canal boats.

Whats so special about today? Well not a lot really except the sun was so warm the sky so blue even the birds weren't coughing, I had a smile on my face the bones didn't ache so much even had a little spring in my step.

Piccy Problems

I have discovered a problem with some of the Photo slideshows not working properly I am working on it and hope I can get everything back to normal.

It's been a long time

It has been a long time, many days and weeks have passed since my last post.

I have been trying to set up a new webpage and blog, it's been a long process which  is ongoing the site is almost complete but I have not yet put it online.

Since I retired far from having time on my hands, GTB and I have been kept busy with family, shuttling between Odessa and around the UK. A poor excuse for not blogging you could say, well maybe so sorry.
Good news I am officially now a grandfather. My daughter has given me two little guys 21months and 7months, both doing well growing up fast. Of course I am a grandfather by proxy, our daughters have 3 boys, fantastic guys, two have left school one of which is at maritime university in Odessa the other is taking time out before going to Uni later on. The youngest of the three is still at school doing very well, he has shot up over the last year, I had quite a shock when I heard him talking to Genny a few months ago his voice had broken I thought it was his elder brother, it's amazing how quickly time flies the older you get.

So what else has happened? well sadly I had to part with my beloved Chrysler 300c  it had become impractical, we no longer need such a vehicle for ourselves, so it was with a heavy heart I traded it it for a tiny little roller skate of a car which serves our purposes admirably.

Photographically I have been busy, a lot more selective in my images, also I upgraded Lightroom and made a c*** up of the transfer from version 2 to 3  now I have to rebuild my library's not a major hassle, fortunately everything is backed up onto 2 external drives, I want to get another 2tb hard drive for storage, when they are available with a thunderbolt port at a reasonable price. I am looking to upgrade my macbook pro sometime next year that would be a good time to start I think.