transportation challeges

 i'm

in a cab

with no suspension

and with chinese radio

at full volume.

help.

in other news, the trusty volvo in the workshop for an unexpectedly prolonged stay. i recall i may have dallied with the idea of going carless to reduce our carbon footprint. i see now that it was a misguided thought.

tech facepalm

in addition to constant battery siphoning, my beloved phone:

• fails to auto-switch off
• butt calls my friend (again)
• blocks my other friend on WA, and
• changes my WA profile photo

this has to be its most frightful performance yet.

rainy cocoon

 when it drizzles then it pours

through the day

and the skies are leaden

and i have warm food

and a good book

and all are home

and the dog has peed and pooped

why it's my kinda day

still life - louise penny (2005)

courteous restrained cerebral and able protagonist. courteous restrained and able team-mates. likable and decent supporting cast of suspects. satisfyingly meaty plot lines that march along and get nicely and unhurriedly wrapped up. unfurling in my favorite murder story setting, the laid back (almost english) village. 

jolly smashing good discovery for the start of the year, if you ask me.

and if i cannot get more of her books from the e-library this might be the year i explore downloading my own books again.

s'patisserie, tràng tiền

one of the best food memories of hanoi must be this one. where the chocolate is real and dark and the liqueur is generously sloshed. looking onto the lake too.

la place

non-smoking floor (yesss). "great view of the cathedral" (true). fried chicken the way i like it: breast, boned, unbattered, fried to within an inch of its life (drool). beats the street food romance any time.

notes from old hanoi in winter

6 years after we our visit to saigon, hanoi is:

• like europe's shabby chic, but the lingo is incomprehensible
• and like bangkok, without the extreme squalor 
• peds mopeds cars and vans share the roads democratically
• so the air is thick with gasoline fumes and cigarette smoke
• they like their dogs little and in clothes
• and they really like to sit on low stools at roadsides to eat

when we get back home we will need to re-train ourselves to cross the roads with more respect again.

pane e vino, hanoi

we accidentally wander to the french quarter and have a scrumptious italian dinner.

the trouble with being on holiday, HOM and i tell each other, is that we both do not pack our brains and we just flow with google maps.

bucket list

ladies of a certain age oughtta have one, so here's a starting stab at mine:

• camino de santiago
• playing jazz piano
• playing the chinese flute
• the lake districts

list to be added to!

thought for the day

memories are bittersweet because they were sweet.

vita mutator

thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered... for what Thou dost deny... for storms that i have weathered... for all Thou dost supply!... for pain... for pleasure... for comfort... for grace... for love - august l. storm

sudden flashes of a tender young man who would play music to accompany me

thoughtful self-controlled and gentle, creative enquiring and restless

he grew up honorable and determined and kind

sudden memory of a little girl, saving her school snack to share with me

feisty and fearless and able, chatty and cheerful (and loud!)

she grew up generous and strong and loving

they both have partners now

matched to their strengths and weaknesses

better partners than their parents would have known to choose!

may you fly swift, my children! and soar high! may God grant that we make more memories yet

père et fils

a goodly heritage, by God's grace.

new year's day

 J2 and Ji fly home today.

mum goes off today too.

J1 and Y fly home tomorrow.

the past week has been gloriously full, like a hurricane.