One of those days when everything you do gets highest marks, some quite unexpectedly. And you get loads of other pleasant little surprises.
-I had an hour-long conversation with Higher Authorities, which resulted in a promotion (and a nicer-rounded paycheck for the next year). “Clients are being very happy with this job we’ve done, particularly with interiors, thanks to you, and they are going to short-list us for the next county project based on that”. Still blushing.
-a co-worker returned from a business trip and invited me to lunch, because “he missed my birthday”. Apparently, he remembered last year’ marble chocolate cake I brought here to celebrate. I didn’t even recall baking a chocolate cake.
-my sister just won a court case, where she got awarded considerable chunk of money. Yay!!!
-my new shoes were noticed, on separate occasions, by 3 adoring gentlemen. [They couldn't very well come out and say "legs", could they? I feel for them...that was brave enough!]
-my son sent me a very sweet text message. Is he grown enough to not be afraid to show emotion? It was the highlight of my day.
-I got a personal email which I’m going to quote in part here. It concerns these pastries:
“The pastry you gave me was
delicious-a buttery crust with a terrific “filling”
that was especially good as it was not overly
sweet(not that easy to do-most pastry tends to be too
sweet) a perfect amount of currants in each jes’
rounded off the experience- As a friend trust me I
think I could tell you if something did’nt taste quite
right without bieng offensive-your pastry was a
perfect accompaniment to the great meal we had” !! As always-A.
Now I’m going shopping for my upcoming trip abroad. Life is good!
Sounds like a good day, and you’ve still got seven hours left!
:)
-good times, G.
Got two pairs of a very funny “toe” socks for my friends’ daughter. Tempted to keep’em myself!
What country(ies) will you be visiting?
UK, and that’s too big of an island for my 1-week vacation!
Ooh, take a picture of Hadrian’s Wall for me!
:)
I’ll have to google that; if it’s outside of of central London, “I make no promises” (c)
Roman architecture’s answer to the Great Wall of China.
At least bring back some nice tchotchkes. My friend-who I think lived in the Midlands-couldn’t find anything suitable to send the last time she sent me a letter from Albion. I think she’s living in Detroit now, which to me isn’t really a step up.
In any case, enjoy the trip!
:)
thank you, G
what is a suitable tchotchkes for you? Maybe your friend didn’t find anything suitable to her wallet, which is understandable, given the exchange rate. I just learned I’ll have to pay $1 per minute on my T-mobile there, incoming as well as outcoming calls…I think I’ll skip the souvenir part altogether. Having a working phone with me at all time is a necessity, and the British tchotchkes are probably less expensive here.
Ahem, Hadrian’s Wall is rather a long way up north. I mean I know this is a piddling little island compared to the US but, honestly, do look at the map.
Looking forward to welcoming you in London, Tatyana. There are Roman remains here as well and many other things. We may not have the Manhattan skyline along the river but we have St Paul’s and the Tower.
We read that there are cameras on every corner. Big brother watches Londoners day and night. See if that’s true.
Helen – not so piddling compared to the island of Manhattan, and even that one, after 15+ years here, retains some mystery to me!
Besides, who needs maps with so many friends! И вообще – зачем знать географию, извозчик довезёт.
I’ll write to you to the umbrella’s email, your attention – about my schedule.
Looking forward to the trip – and to meeting you
Dick – I promise to check my posture every now and then!
[I'm not leaving till the end of the month. If you have specific requests - places you'd want to hear about, photos taken, etc - i'll be very happy to oblige]
Helen: sent a message to raenorth.
He’ll forward it eventually. By the way, I wouldn’t worry about those cameras. British problems, though big and unwieldy, seem to be routinely exaggerated in the States. I mean cameras run by minions of the state? Just how effective are they going to be? Mind you, eventually, they helped the police catch the fortunately useless would-be bombers of 21/7 and identify the more successful 7/7 ones.
Well, I don’t enjoy being watched, I guess I luck the exhibitionist streak.
The ocean, of course, adds visual effects on how the opposite shores are seen from each other.
That’s funny, the ocean’s visual effects. ;-)
Happy brithday!
“If I’d know you were coming I’d have baked a cake”.
Ah, but you are coming! Hell! how do you actually bake a cake …?
David, thanks – it was very happy, about 3 weeks ago.
How you bake a cake: you tell Tatyana to bake it and bring it with her.
PS
that reminds me of my sister’s visit last year. The day before she was heading back we went shopping and knowing that my nephew loves particular kind of veal bologna I bought 2 links of it for him; she stuck’em into her carry-on. Oh boy, what an alarm it caused at the airport security! They x-rayed my sister and her bags on 3 kinds of machines, subjected her to 1/2hr-long interrogation, etc – they thought it’s a plastic explosive! The head of security finally exclaimed – “I can’t believe it – it’s a f*cking sausage! why would you take a sausage with you on a airplane?” And my sister said – “why ever not? That’s what I kept telling you, and you didn’t believe me!”