Jambalaya Diaries: Wednesday, December 12th

If money be not thy servant, it will be thy master. The covetous man cannot so properly be said to possess wealth, as that may be said to possess him. -Francis Bacon, essayist, philosopher, and statesman (1561-1626) 

Hi Ray and Patrick

I warned you I might send some holiday snaps so here they are, showing the rather poor weather we had on Tenerife. Forgive the bathing beauty shot- the only way I could show the beach action where I ran and swam regularly but clearly didn't sun-bathe or body build.

Although we hired a car for the duration most of the mountain sections were by public transport(cheap) and allowed me to see the views- so long as one could fill in 3 hours for the next bus.

We went through 2 umbrellas both blown inside out to give you an idea of the weather. Temperatures low 20s , sea temp perfectly swimmable but not much sun which is unusual for the Canaries at this time of year in my experience.

We stayed in an apartment owned by a Spanish couple who were extremely pleasant and helpful and the village was typically Spanish with as far as we could tell no other Brits. I gave up trying to learn Spanish a couple of years back and even forgot to bring my Spanish conversation book so communication with waiters and owners was very restricted.

Having no English bars I missed the England v Australia and all Blacks matches so I await your verdict Ray.

As you may see from the picture taken in La Oratava the Spanish towns can be very attractive as was La Laguna ( the old capital) and Puerto de la Cruz(despite the rain in both).

The walking in the Anaga mountains looked interesting ( we did stroll on one of the paths) but needed a different walking companion and several hours to complete - typically 3-4000 ft of ascent or descent and say 12km. This on the mountains of little consequence against Mount Teide at over 12000ft some distance from where we were.

On a sobering note Brian and Pat Taylor mentioned yesterday the two major air crashes at the old airport of Tenerife in one of which I lost a college friend and his wife and they lost neighbours. 

 We met an interesting German called Olaf on one of our trips who put us right on JFK, Hitler,Global warming,Football etc- had a slight  accent but coud debate/discuss anything. He suggested we might like to holiday in one of his apartments in the Baltic Sea. Looked a bit cold last time I saw the Baltic.

Came back to some cold weather in England which brings me on to my incident this morning.

Decided I would go on the bike despite signs of a slight frost. Negotiated railway paths and roads to and from Thorp Arch and then 1 mile from home on a local road the bike skidded twice jettisoning me onto the road quite painfully- while travelling in a straight line. Fortunately no cars. My shoulder and back are pretty painful and I am feeling sorry for myself. No more winter bravado for me- back to the exercise bike on frosty mornings. I think the weight training will be on hold for a while too. So I trust you both are being more cautious than me .

As a last thought I have just included a photo of Chris and me on Carnforth station in Lancashire under the station clock which featured in the film Brief Encounter(s) with Trevor Howard- before your time I know.

Hope the holiday is going /went well Patrick. Best wishes Jim

Dear Happy Wanderer,

By the time you bring your warm bones back to the Island Inn I will be a member of the 56 up club, so I marvel once again at the synchronicity of all our lives and all that is. Piccolo mundo indeed!  The fact that Basil F. Stuart-Stubbs was one of your colleagues and early mentors and that you are so obviously a Scandafile lets me drink deep into the certainty of connection, i.e." it blows my mind !" Basil became a mentor to me when I started helping Brenda and Basile create their garden. We became accomplices in our duty to obey "the she who must be obeyed". He always treated me with the utmost respect and I was made to feel like a valued colleague. What I miss the most is his piano playing. When I first started working in their garden, Basil had just retired and was reacquainting himself with piano playing. From rusty first forays to more and more beauty I was witness to Basil's blossoming.as an accomplished piano player. I would plan my lunch breaks so as to best enjoy his playing and was inspired to revive my own musical inclinations...I sing in the church choir and play the guitar (both with enthusiasm but not much talent).

One of my very best friends lives in Aarhus. We hook-up with him and his clan almost every time we go to Europe to visit with Elisabeth's family in Switzerland. I met him in Algeria 30 years ago when I was on my three year around- the- world bicycle trip. He was travelling by bike as well and we shared the road for a month and a half through the desert. He had a rendezvous with his girlfriend (now wife of 27 years) in Egypt so we parted in Carthage Tunisia and I headed to Italy in the late spring with no real plan and certainly no rendez vous. Was I wrong or what? After two and a half months of touring Calabria, Tuscany,the Venetian Coast and the Lake District (Lago di Como, Lago Maggiore), during which time I; worked at a cement factory (for 3,000 lire an hour and the opportunity to flirt with the young raven haired office temp),impressed the hell out of packs of macho cyclists cranking their Campanolo equipped racing bikes by keeping up with the peleton despite 30lbs of travel gear in my panniers fore and aft, (some things do change), and being taught arabic and Shakespeare by a beautiful Italian university student taking a double major in Islamic Studies and English Literature, (out of the mouths of babes), I headed for the "hills of Switzerland" in mid summer. After two weeks of day hikes and mountain passes I arrived unshowered and unshaved in Elisabeth's home town. I didn't know her from Adam, but to make a long story short, she became my Eve. A rendezvous of a lifetime.

I had been on the road for one and half years at that point and I recognized that this gal was something special. It has turned out to be my most understated observation of all time. 

Elisabeth agreed to join me in my ongoing wanderings but being the responsible type she gave three months notice at her job and to her landlord. I spent my time working on a farm on the outskirts of her town (1.5 km from her apartment), became somewhat proficient in Swiss Agri-Speak and reduced my metric mile time down to  under 3 minutes including the time to swipe some flowers by the road side.

We cycled together for one year, the first two months back down through Italy and Greece ( catching the boat from Brindisi to Patras) cycling our way to Athens and then flying to Tel Aviv. After 3 weeks in Israel including crossing the Sinai half way down the peninsula ( I'm a big fan of this 40 days in the desert approach to clarity) we made it to Egypt. We spent the next 9 months cycling through Egypt, the Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. In Tanzania we met up with our Danish friends and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro together along with an intrepid Japanese traveller named Masaki. Years later when I went to visit Jorn and Hanne at her parents place in Copenhagen I was met at the door by a straight-faced older gentleman,(Hanne's father), who greeted me in perfect English by saying "you must be Masaki". The room full of people behind the front door errupted in laughter and the tears flowed. These are the moments I remember.

Thanks for being a part of creating new memories for me and many others.

Happy trails and season's greetings to Corinne,Chloe and you, a prince dressed in a scoundrel's clothing ,often Spandexed and seasonally themed from the house of Husquavarna. Ciao, Stephen

 Hi St Stefano!

Just a very brief reply as I'm still packing! Nevertheless wanted to thank you for your last missive which I will digest more thoroughly and carefully over next few days. Had been meaning to send these snaps along before but life and/or The Sisterhood kept getting in the way! Again, Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year. Cheers, Spandexattore!

P,

Here is wishing you and yours a great holiday, safe travels, and some good
extended rides in the sun.

Give our regards to the Portlandia crew.

Ray and I are out for lattes this morning as you might expect. W  

Hi Giggsterlattenheimer Sprititzerpfeffergeistangstkeit Mann!

I'll have a Soy, Double Green Tall Iced Chai Latte with Mocha Sprinkles and a Rum Tart to go! Just a very, very brief reply, (Are you not glad?), as I'm still packing! Nevertheless wanted to thank you for your good wishes. I'll regale the Portlandians with tales of woe and spilled malt! Had been meaning to send these snaps along before but life and/or The Sisterhood kept getting in the way! (Please forward to Book readers only!) Tell Robo Man over sticky buns that I'll be looking for an Extendo Tether in LA! Again, Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year. Cheers, The Legend of the Headless Chicken of The Islay Inn!

Bon voyage, Patrick. Best wishes to you and Corinne for the holiday season. Don't ride so much that you need another cassette when you return. Prices do seem a bit high at West Point.

    George and I were thinking of giving you an escort out of the city tomorrow  so we can safely hang our bikes up for the winter and go into hibernation

    Merry Christmas, Ray

Hi Raymond!

Just a very, very brief reply, (Are you not glad?), as I'm still packing! Nevertheless wanted to thank you for your good wishes and send along same to you and Sylvia and family. (Christmas cake is ready to go!) Had been meaning to send these snaps along before but life and/or The Sisterhood kept getting in the way! Tell Giggster over sticky buns and your first latte that we'll be looking for you near the tunnel to take you to Ladner! Room for your bikes on my rack but you two will have to ride on roof! Again, Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year, Raymond. Cheers, Patrizzio!

PS: Enjoyed Jim's latest missive! Matt and Catherine popped by last Thursday to wish me Happy Birthday. Sang it at patio door! 

 Pig on the street

At pig & mortar (1529 west 6th) Parallel 49 gypsy tears is the beer of the night and the scotch eggs are flying out the door (not literally they haven't hatched!!) come on down

Carol Riera Hi Patrizio! Sounds like there is never a dull moment, but what else is new with you guys. Say Hello to all the family and give them a big hug and kiss from Bruno and I. One of these days, you guys will have to come and visit again in our neck of the woods. Take care and have a great holiday season and the best to you all for 2013!

Corey WilliamPatrick James Dunn

Healdsberg! Make sure you to stop by Scopa!

• 

  Patrick James Dunn I have already made a reservation, under your name! Sarge left his credit card there first time around so we are really going to enjoy ourselves!!!

  
  
• 

  Corey William Oh perfect!

Malingerer

MEANING:

noun: One who feigns illness in order to avoid work. 

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go.
With toys in every store
  And holly on your own front door!

 

COFFARO CHRISTMAS NEWS 2012

Here is a photo of us with the Seattle skyline in the background. We visited Susie there this past June when the weather was warm and balmy. That was our family trip for 2012, with a Giants versus Mariners game thrown in for good measure. All in all, the four of us had a good year. Dave had successful knee surgery in May, Kate got a job promotion, Susie just reached a quarter of a century with new goals in mind, and Pat celebrated turning 65 years with a Medicare ID card (never thought she'd relish being a senior citizen!).

We didn't make it to Las Vegas, New Orleans or Sicily in 2012, but we're hoping that 2013 will find the four of us visiting one of those locales. My vote is for Sicily or Sardinia (just dreaming), Dave's is for Las Vegas (because he doesn't have to get on an airplane), and both girls want to visit New Orleans (but would be up for any family trip that doesn't involve them having to ride in a car). 

We hope this holiday season finds you happy, healthy and looking forward to another new year to come! 

Cheers, love and best wishes from us,  Pat Dave Kate and Susie