A return home, 50 years in the making.....

Before I blog anymore about this trip, I would like to give you the background of it's importance and cathartics.
Every person who had ever met my mother loves her. She is the proof for me that God exists and she is a woman. Time's that I was sick either with a simple cold, or chicken pox, I remember the healing comforting hands of her stroking my brow. Sometime in a fever I would swear it was her wings doing it, because I just knew she was an angel in a mothers body.( but aren't all mother's?) During these times she would tell me stories of when she was a girl growing up in  magical land's called Scotland and England. Stories that including her using her brogue ( that sing song way scottish people have) that would and still has me smile. Exotic food's, well exotic to me being 7, I mean, sourdough bread slathered in butter and chocolate sounded like heaven compared to the Special k crap she had me on. Or still gross food's like 'Black pudding" which ended up being fried blood. My whole existence has been these stories, and my love of everything anglophilic.
I have always wanted to share these experience's with her, but her fear of flying would never let it happen. So I had to come to the resolve to start this blog so she could read of Tim and I's adventures abroad and somehow relive them thru our eye's and words. Imagine what I felt when she did in fact dug down and despite her crippling fear, said she would go with us this time, with my father. They say you can never go home again. They are wrong. My mother was and did go home, while I found mine.
So thank's to Nancy Nystrom, perhaps the best therapist in the world (her office is in Illahee, Bremerton if you ever need one, she is the only one I would ever recommend for anything) and thank's to medical mild stress leveler's, and thanks to my father for being the constant rock to her that he is, we had lift off.

The next blog entries will include everything I got to experience with my mother and I hope you enjoy them. Both thru my eye's and her's, this was the most amazing and healing trip. Thank you Tim for all the planning you did that made this what it was. Also I would like to thank the staff of Sugardaddy's Salon who survived and thrived without us. I could not leave my salon to any other group of amazing people and not worry.

Valentine's Day in Cobham, Surrey

After arriving at our dear families home in Oxshott, we combatted the jet lag with a case.....yes a case, of champagne. The next day after the appointment with an immigration lawyer in Servington, ( Tim was right, I need to fill out the UKM form, and let bureaucracies take it from there for duel citizenship) we got ready to celebrate Valentine's Day at my beautiful cousins restaurant where she works called Strada in Cobham. This was just one of many culinary delight's we encountered in the U.K. Whatever you have heard about british food, you will need to rethink it, it was amazing. Far from bland, my tongue has never been happier......Sorry Tim.
From the vegetarian risotto with soybeans and asparagus, the charred yellow fin tuna, spring vegetables, and beef cheek's, everything was scrumptious. Experiencing  english lovers nibbling their meals exchanging secret glancing made for  fun people watching, and the restaurant itself was beautifully designed. Tim and I loved the odd shaped lighting fixtures and clean lines of the place all the while retaining it's warmth.
I also loved the fact that my parent's now having bragging right's to say they celebrated Valentine's Day in England, how romantic. I will include a supplementary blog regarding this trip and what exactly it meant for us, hell maybe that will be my next one so you can read this with that frame of mind.

Thank you so much dear Lydia for sharing this with us. It was, hand's down, the best Valentine's I have ever had. If you are ever in Cobham, Surrey, England you must try out Strada restaurant. It is right downtown Cobham. The staff is beautiful and friendly, the food is rockin', and they take American Express.( One huge note to those traveling regarding gratuties. They really do not believe in them, more than 10% would actually insult them. So if you are like me, and believe in heavy tipping, you must restrain yourself. They will respect the 10% fully. In fact a lot of the credit card transactions DO NOT include a tip line so you must tell them to add it when you give them the card.)

Stayed tuned: SUMMER 2012

We are planning to spend 2 months across the pond again, July thru Sept! We really wanted to spend christmas in dear Oxshott again with our family the Batty's, but figure we will have a butt load more money to spend if we save that litte bit more for the summer.
The plans are :
1: what our dear girl Lydia calls "inter railing" which we take as getting a train pass and slumming country to country
2: avoiding the Olympics like the plague......unless, I would love to see the horsey stuff being raised watching " International Velvet"
3: Getting my duel citizenship
4: THE FRINGE FESTIVAL in EDINBURGH!!!
5: popping over to Holland and see our loved ones in altmaar and amsterdam
6: maybe squeezing in a trip to spain to stay in Xaviera's spanish b&b

So up til then I will be adding little posts leading up to all this, the flight arranging, getting places to stay, hopefully "apartment by Castle" again, papers in order, all the little vital things you need to do before international travel in case you yourselves are planning something and need help, you can follow the boy's!

Now THIS is a festival of chimes and light's!

If you are looking for suggestions to put on your bucket list, going to Edinburgh Scotland during the holidays, heck, ANYTIME, should be at the top of the list!

From Christmas time to the first of the year, the whole city celebrates what is called 'Hogmanay' It is festivals, carnivals, live music ect. They fence the city off and you must pay to get in unless you already live inside the city or staying there. Unfortunately they charge 3 times the going rates, but when 80 thousand people descend into your city you can. Their goal this year was to get the largest assembled group to sing 'Ol lang syne' and they did it! Good on you!

So we arrived Jan 3rd cause you know I am a cheap bastard, but the carnival was in full swing, and there is nothing like Princes Garden (which is situated below the castle and High Street) all lit up with the multitude of colors and music. From vendors booth's, ferris wheels, bungie balls, this carnival had you covered for entertainment. I am old now so we only did the ferris wheel (I think I am too old for even that, if you remember my success on the 'eye of manchester', I didn't learn my lesson)

The apartment Tim found was called 'Apartment By Castle' and it was jaw dropping amazing. The castle was literally a stones throw from it and right there in view from our window! With 20 foot high ceilings and real ornate crown molding, comfy leather couches and flat screen tv, I was in heaven, the wonderful owner Moira even had real Edinburgh crystal to have our drinks in. From the 2 HUGE bedrooms we could see the boy's school that inspired J.K. Rowling to create Harry Potter, and boys school turned into Hogwarts! More on THAT later! The apartment even had a full kitchen with washer and dryer and dishwasher! Upon arrival she took the time to explain how everything worked, what restaurants had received great reviews from past guests and which tour companies to use. (remember the Timberbush tours in the last post to Loch Ness, her suggestion!) Moira even had a welcome basket that contained coffee, fresh baked bread, tea's, cookies to dunk, and the BEST jelly I ever had! It is called Roses, and its a lime marmalade and I could have mainlined it. She even stocked the fridge with butter, water and other goodies. Only in Scotland I swear to God! We all think we even had a ghost who really liked Destini. (pillows thrown, picture crashing to the floor, nothing scaring, just a 'what's up' from the other side, but what can you expect from buildings 300 years plus old?)

The people of Edinburgh and Scotland in general are hands down the nicest people I have ever met, they even try to get out of your way when walking. I can still feel the 1000 year old cobblestone on my feet where we walked. The history of that stone in imprinted with the bazzilion people who have walked it before you and I swear retains that energy.

The food was amazing, but I think I will post separately on that, it was that note worthy. Anthony Bourdain would be proud, we made quite a dent.

If you have ever valued my opinion and word, then believe this, Edinburgh hands down is the BEST place to vacation (or move to..........) From butch guys with tattoo's in kilts yet no 'alpha' retentiveness, a language spoken in beautiful brogue, food that warms the gullet and NOT depletes the wallet, visual grandeur at every turn, quality shopping for the most discerning diva and smiles and friendliness abounding, Edinburgh, you are my home!

Here is the info for Apartment By Castle if you take our advise and stay there

abc@ednet.co.uk http://www.abc-edinburgh.co.uk Tell Moira we sent ya!

*wink* Julia "diva" Brink

On to Loch Ness

If you ever go to Scotland, and visit Edinburgh, you must visit Loch Ness via Timberbush Tour's and ask for David to be the tour guide. he didn't bore us once, drove beautifully thru the winding scenery, and really made the trip amazing. It started out at 8 in the morning right outside the castle, with roomy seat's. Now if you have any bladder issue's there is no "loo" on the bus, but he does make a lot of stops along the way so it really was no problem. Here is another hint, people line up early right at the office sign, so at first we thought 'Damn' we won't be able to sit together, but here was the thing, he turns the bus around up at the castle and loads the other way, so being at the end of the line turned into our benefit!

You know how some guides really just go thru the motion to where half way thru your screaming 'shut up' over and over again in your head? Not with David, this man truly loves his country and its passion showed thru the story telling, it was almost a comedy show. From Mary, Queen of Scots, to Rob Roy, he brought them all to life.

The scenery was breathtaking. Normally I am the 'yeah it's a mountain, yeah it's pretty, yeah lets get back on the bus' kinda guy. I just could not with Scotland. Maybe because my blood run's from there, but Even Tim and Destini were gasping from the majesty. From frozen loch's (which is a lake by the way, like brun breed is brown bread) wildlife, statue's on top of mountains dedicated to fallen soldiers. Every turn presented something else jaw gasping.

Loch Ness is awesome, the tour dropped us off to take a boat ride on it (yes I stole a rock) that had a full bar, and went up to an abandoned castle and then back. (The whole time your just going 'I'm on Loch Ness, trippy)

Anywho, the tour took around 8 hours with drive time, but David and the scenery made it fly by! Timberbush charged us 38 pounds each and worth every pence! You know how cheap I am and I would pay it again! I cannot wait to tour it with my mom and dad!

*wink* Ruth & Ted Enderle

my 41st birthday at BoomChicago

Tim is the man when it comes to party planning. For my 41st birthday he booked a VIP table at BOOMCHICAGO, a dinner theater show that is part gourmet food and part 'the groundlings' of L.A. The food was awesome and the player's of this show are 'brill' (short for 'brilliant' tim's new british slang he thinks works......please for the love of God don't encourage him, it's cuteness stops by the second 'br'.) Anyway the actors parody of the dutch was un-offesivelessy astute as well as the U.S. and the impromptu stuff transcended language barrier's.

Sharing my birthday was Tim, Destini, Leslie, Sander and one of the most beautiful women I have ever laid eyes on, Crofty (think Angelina Jolie)

Shopping their fashion district was amazing, Leidseplein the square where it's located was filled with massive fashion shops, candies and pastries, cheeses, ect. Cobblestones dating back to the 1500 still carried the shoppers to and fro. *sigh* you don't get a lot of 'to's and fro's' now a'days, and a ice rink (apparently europe loves their ice rinks) busy with locals and tourists alike falling on their rears to techno music (and apparently all of europe loves it's techno, and not JUST the persian cab driver's.)

Just across the square was the famous "Bulldog" coffeeshop. (the location of it might clue you in why so many tourists were falling on their rears ice skating.) For those unaware the Bulldog sells cannabis which is legal to smoke in the Netherlands (and obliviously most of the American and British 18 year old males are aware of this fact, just not they are crap ice skaters) It is totally legit even with its own gift shop. yes I bought the t-shirt. In fact, it host's an On Duty police officer.

The Hotel was the Eden Amsterdam-American hotel, and it was beautiful, with it's fountain to our room with a spiral staircase that led to a viewing window outside overlooking the square. Their staff was awesome, and when they found out it was my birthday, sent up a birthday card with a free drink voucher. Nice Touch, now when in the Netherlands I will recommend the Amsterdam- American hotel to all travelers, and the APEX Waterloo when in Edinburgh, Scotland. One note to travelers though, here the mini bars, which are stocked to the gills with EVERYTHING are electronically monitored so even if you just take something out to look at it you get charged so be careful!

It was the most perfect way to celebrate my birthday, apart from mom and dad not there who would of had a blast, and all my dear "familia" back home (you know who you are) and also I wish Jane, Frank, Lydia and Jacqueline were there as well. But all in spirit.

*wink* Bonnie Langdon

This one's for the girls....

One of our fortunes has been being introduced to the myriad of Jane's friends. One of them is a woman named Jacqueline. Jacqueline is the wife of Graham, both of whom we met at the dinner party Jane threw and where if you remember, Tim helped cook. Graham is a shoe importer. Got your interest now ladies? That's right, the boys hit the mother load. Well, actually Jacqueline hit the mother load. That sounds shallow and bad, which is the furthest from what I intend when I use the term 'mother load'. I mean if your mate is gonna have a profession that you would encourage them to bring their work home, this is it. Carrie from 'sex in the city' would be gagging for it! But before I get into the pictures she let us take of her closet...YES WE GOT PICTURE'S, let me paint you a better picture of this woman.

When you experience being around this woman, the only metaphor that can do her any justice would be, you know that bubble in a glass of Veuve Cliqueot champagne that before you let slip down your throat you let it play effervescently upon your tongue? An effervescence that makes you smile and clink your glass in the celebration of life that is the joy of drinking Champagne, well that IS Jacqueline.

After that dinner where Tim declared her his new wife, she invited us, thanks to the wonderful suggestion of Jane (that woman is amazing) She invited us to see 'the shoe closet' the next day. And no, neither Tim and I could sleep.

That day had Jane pulling into one of the most beautiful homes ( I am trying not to be crass and say mansion, but fine, her house would make Oprah jealous) I have had the fortune of not just driving past looking longing thru the gate, but into the driveway. The circles our dear Jane run's in......I mean, wow, AND she's my blood. (I just can't say enough about how cool Jane is)

Chris Rock has a saying

"Shaquille O'Neil, he's rich. The man that signs Shaq's checks, he's wealthy". Dear Jacqueline kindly let us experience a glimpse of how the kind of man that signs those checks lives. To top it off she is so humble about it. She never once displayed behavior of the type of person who uses wealth to keep others down, or suppressed, or rubbed their face in the station that life has given them. Her home with it's 4 living rooms ALL decorated by her herself, no designers, made mine and Tim's taste look like the "Jaqueline Smith Collection" at K-Mart. (again, we got the picture's.) This is the woman who studied at 'le cordon blue' in France and she cooked for us the most sumptuous meal of butternut squash soup with chives and creme fraiche, hearty bread with the most amazing variation of regional cheeses of the likes I have never had, and a wonderful italian chocolate cake with heavy cream. YUMMERS! To top it off she had those things called cracker's, the gift you pull and it pops open with a fun gift and a paper crown to wear.

Then she took us to the closet.

If you listened closely I swear you could hear cherubs singing upon the opening of this massive closet, revealing row upon row of designer original perfect size 4 shoes. Ones that were original one of a kind, hand painted and designed by Terry de Havilland, or boots (worth 5 thousand POUNDS, not simple dollars darling),made with the softest deer fur, or platforms with asian influence and delicate straps. ON and ON and ON. It was a like a glamorous shoe echo. Ok, I never have wanted to be a girl, but oh, did I want to adopt one, just so I could dress her in these. Of course I doubt that Knuck Knuck, the Himalayan whistle kid I would only qualify for would, have the grace, that Jacqueline did while bopping around!

Thank you so much Jane for introducing your fabulous,( I can't even describe her just as fabulous, she IS the reason the word was even invented,) friend.

On a totally different note, Jane also introduced us to the most amazing new telly show that started here called "The Misfits". If you can iTunes it, take my recommendation and download it. This show rocks. It is the most unique show I have every seen! The writing just floored us as well as the concept! Thats all I will say about that, just do it!

This day has been crazy good. Thank you Jane!

*simon jenkins*