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.