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Saturday, February 04, 2012

A year Ago Today

   A year ago today Dear Sir landed in Pullman, Washington, USA and bussed me softly on the lips inside the tiny regional airport. It was also one year ago we had our first personal assignation after three months of near daily phone calls that lasted as long as five hours! Thank the Goddess for PennyTalk.com which kept us from going bankrupt in order to stay connected across the Atlantic those dark, cold, and lonely months filled with anticipation and longing.
   After nearly eight months of marriage we know we are each other's best mates. We are tailor made for one another. Les is a lovely human being: warm, kind, sensuous, side splittingly funny, with a generous soul and heaps of patience.
   It has not always been an easy adjustment living abroad and living on board. There are a few American things I miss, and I often fail to understand the British outlook and ways of doing things.
   For example, why use five words when two will do? Invariably the British use a string of words to attempt description of something an American will communicate in far less. I was in the public loo at Sainsbury's last week and inside was a baby changing station--which is what it is called in the States.
   Here in England this unit is labeled "Baby Nappy Changing Station," as though one needed clarity on why such a thing specifically exists. As if to say without actually doing so..."This unit is intended for small babies who need their nappies changed. Please do not attempt to change Nanny's ©Depends Adult diaper on this station."
   Another example is the actual name of a local grocery store chain's "Extremely Strong Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese." I had no idea a string of adverbs and adjectives could actually be an official part of the name of a grocery item. Who knew??? Not us Yanks. We have four choices in cheese strength back home: mild, medium, sharp, extra sharp (aged over 18 months).
   As I close for the evening it is snowing outside and a large coal fire is burning deep orange in the stove. We are officially frozen in at Newbold, and while this is a very good spot with close access to water, coal, diesel, groceries, and a bus to Rugby, we are still antsy; hoping for a quick thaw soon so we can be on our way toward Wales and the LLangollen. We aren't in any hurry, but we don't like being pinned down in one place for too long. May the Goddess and the five sacred things (earth, air, fire, water, spirit) hear my prayer for a brief cold snap followed by lashings of mild weather.

6 comments:

John Witts said...

If you think we English have an inbuilt propensity for verbosity, wait until you meet the Welsh!

The Welsh for baby (if memory serves...) is 'babannod'......

But then, listening to Welsh is like listening to a waterfall or classical music.......

Enjoy The Llangollen: I've walked it from the unpronounceable aqueduct to Llangollen itself and would try to describe it, but, er, words fail me..... :-)

John

Hase said...

I am very glad to have found your blog - so happy to find two people living their dream and being soulmates! I hope you will be on your way to Wales soon (I love the place myself very much) and the Goddess will "defrost" you in your recent port as soon as possible! Happy travelling, Silvia

Les Biggs said...

LOL! Hi John,
I know what you mean about Welsh. My maternal grandmother was Welsh. I like to say on their way to Britain, the Celts passed through France where they were disemvoweled. :)
Jaq

Les Biggs said...

Hello Sylvia,
Welcome to our journey. If you enjoy a good love story I reccomend you visit So This is Love at http://truelovefloats.blogspot.com
Our love story begins back in Novmember of 2009 with the first post titled "Cancer and Loss and Depression, Oh My!" Read forward from there to the most recent post.
Blessed Be!
Jaqueline

Anonymous said...

Love the new look, You will love the Llangollen, just close your eyes over Pontycysyllte aquaduct(Said with tongue tip behind upper teeth and breathing out a lot!!!)I don't have a head for heights myself so wouldn't walk over it as I knew half way I would have to crawl back!! Stayed in a lovely B & B there, you will pass it as you go under the bridge after the aquaduct. Telford Inn was nice for food but it has been a few years since I went. Have a great journey. Love Carol (blog Virgin)

Anonymous said...

Oh and Chirk Castle is well worth a visit. Carol

NB Valerie & Steam Train by Les Biggs

NB Valerie & Steam Train by Les Biggs