Like you didn’t think I did much but wow! Started New Year joining a mass swim in Wales with Tom’s brother and family and made the front page of the local press, in April Tom organised us a coast to coast ride, Way of the Roses for our sugar anniversary, he even baked a cake and made roses to decorate it, in May my nephew got married so we had a big family wedding in Romania, boy do those guys party through the night, we cut the cake about 4am, in July my stepson graduated from Uni, i wept with pride, in August a group of friends asked me to lead them on A way of Roses bike ride, which led to me running group cycle holidays for a few years, , my close friend was 50 so we cycled Lejog in September and decided in the future Tom and I might do a bit of touring … wonder what happened to that plan eh? And so much more, lots of family visits to us at the seaside, visits to the West end to see my sister in Sunny Afternoon but I never got round to seeing her in Harry Potter! I also met George Conway, he ‘transitioned’ in my bike shop. Poor guy was exhausted. I did make him a cuppa and baked him some energy bars but always regretted not offering him a bed for the night. Thanks George, great idea for a trip down memory lane! And hey, just a few more days and the Carretera Austral is finished and we’re planning on where next !
What a year you had! So you did the Way of the Roses TWICE and Lejog in 2016? Wow! You should think about doing some more cycle touring! 🤣😉
I love that you met Sean Conway too. I cycled with him for about 10 miles and offered him a bed for the night, but he chose to sleep in his tent in a field instead.
I hope you've had a great time on the Carretera Austral.
That makes me feel not so guilty about not offering him a bed, thanks. The following few years I did it about 3 times at least, plus lots more of the Sustrans routes. Got me out of the shop. My mini guided bike holidays were a great escape for me. For some reason we ended up doing them in fancy dress. I remember wearing a tickling stick, feather duster to you and me, attached to my helmet and wandering around Sainsbury’s in Notty Ash with several Diddy Men much to the amusement of staff there. That was the Transpennine , and cycling as a Roman centurion on Coast and Castles, tho by Scotland we all changed to kilts. We’re a mad bunch up North !
2016 was a pretty typical year for us, with work and trying to keep up with the hustle and bustle that Houston is known for.
My husband decided he was tired of the heat and humidity and wanted to move to a colder climate. I doubted his decision because he is a Texan and not acclimated to cold weather.
So he applied for a Montana job.
He would have preferred Alaska, but I put a halt to that idea immediately.
Meanwhile, tropical storm came through and my daughter and son-in-law’s house flooded a month after they married, so they lived with us for awhile until they could get their house repaired and cleaned.
We got accepted for the Montana position and was advised to prepare for a move within sixty days, which meant selling our home, and getting our affairs in order. Ironically, the orders for us to move didn’t arrive until May of 2017. We stayed there almost two years, and we moved from Montana in later 2019.
There is a whole story following that that leads us to where we are now.
So, 2016 wasn’t the best, but we are still here to talk about it!
Wow... you do more in a year than I do in ten! I tend to spend my free time doing lots of inner traveling, but you're reminding me of the importance to strike up more of a balance. It's just as vital for your health to regularly get out and have some fun.
I love your optimism - The "T Word" aspect of that year spoils a lot for me here in the Colonies. That said, I will acknowledge that I read a few of the pages of "Not tonight.." and decided to pry a few bucks out of my wallet and buy the book. To paraphrase Humphry Bogart, "I think it was the start of a wonderful readership". I did take time to look at some of my pictures and found a few the brought a smile to my face. One is my favorite picture of my dog (RIP 😢) relaxing on the deck of our sailboat. I'd love to post it! Anyway, fun post.
Nice writing George but this substack verification code Malarkey has driven me to the brink of insanity for two days. I write the code down then I’m told it is incorrect! If it happens again, I shall have to give you up, grrr…….
Oh no! Did that only start happening two days ago? Have you been doing anything different? New device or different browser? I don't think I've ever had a verification code on Substack. Hope it sorts itself out soon. Let me know if I can do anything to help.
I have had this happen once before and that time was OK. I am using the same device to view your post but it is frustrating when I've paid for Substack and just want to read your post! I will let you know if it ever happens again.
Well, apoarently it was a year of trips! Funny how the brain remembers these things individually but not grouped them. 2016 was a unique year for me but I think it's one I'd like to emulate. I went to Venice on the cheap with my 4 year old daughter, plus my brother and his wife (stayed in a campsite 10 minute bus ride away); visited friends in Germany with my husband and kids; scored a trip by myself to visit family in the South of France; went to Lake Como in Italy for what would turn out to be the last holiday as a 5 (my teenage son met his future wife that Autumn); Sept saw a lot of day trips out before the 4 year old started school; and then in Oct there was the day trip to Boulogne with my eldest daughter and parents plus friends, where we had a trip down memory lane for my dad who'd stayed in a boarding house there with his parents as a boy in the 1950s. He pointed out the house and, as a result of my inquisiveness (read poking my head around the gate), we ended up being invited in, having tea with the daughter of the people that my dad stayed with. This rekindled a family friendship that continues! This trip was also the scene of one of my infamous 'jumps'...
Went to FB. Dialed up 2016, and of course, it starts in December. I scrolled back to April, and the page froze and restarted with a fresh FB screen. I drank a lot of coffee. Complained about American politics. Bemoaned book deadlines. Ten years later, here I am with the same core issues, but with a bigger coffee mug, different dogs, and a much healthier environment overall for the win.
I’ve just looked back through my 2016 photos and realised it was a busy year for friends and family visiting us in France but not a lot else happened.
I went canoeing for the first time, and canoed past some naked sunbathers on a rock
I was in the local paper for offering free English lessons to people in our village . I’m still giving weekly lessons 10 years later…my English grammar is so paling, so I’m not sure they learn a lot but we have a laugh
I had a trip to the Pyrenees with some friends and walked the beautiful Gavarnie circuit. The main memory is being humiliated after stopping in a field for a “comfort break” just as a jeep full of people went by hooting and cheering.
We were invited to a wedding in a chateau in the Dordogne by the father of the bride, though we had never met the bride and groom before. We thought we were just going for drinks on the terrace, but the photographer decided to do photos of the entire group of guests. I had chosen to wear a bright orange top, so I tried to hide at the back, I am sure the bride has wondered who the strange woman in orange was at her wedding.
The highlight of the year was New Years Eve. We were on holiday in Madeira and the chef of our hotel invited us to his mother’s apartment so we could watch the fireworks of Funchal from the flat roof of the apartment block . We were treated like royalty by his family. We had eaten a huge meal of many courses before going, his mother then insisted we ate traditional chicken soup when we got there. A great, but uncomfortable experience.
Thanks for making me look back though, quite an interesting exercise 😁
Love that, Gill. Sounds like a fantastic year. You sound like a serial gatecrasher. Weddings and New Year's Eve parties. Is that something you've continued?
My best ever new year was a party we gatecrashed too after my friend fell in a muddy ditch and needed to borrow some new clothes.
No, I must be slipping! Must see what I can gatecrash this year 🤣
Just noticed predictive text made a very good typo in my last message. I meant to say “my English grammar is appalling “ (not so paling) sums it up nicely 🤣🤣
Hi George,
Like you didn’t think I did much but wow! Started New Year joining a mass swim in Wales with Tom’s brother and family and made the front page of the local press, in April Tom organised us a coast to coast ride, Way of the Roses for our sugar anniversary, he even baked a cake and made roses to decorate it, in May my nephew got married so we had a big family wedding in Romania, boy do those guys party through the night, we cut the cake about 4am, in July my stepson graduated from Uni, i wept with pride, in August a group of friends asked me to lead them on A way of Roses bike ride, which led to me running group cycle holidays for a few years, , my close friend was 50 so we cycled Lejog in September and decided in the future Tom and I might do a bit of touring … wonder what happened to that plan eh? And so much more, lots of family visits to us at the seaside, visits to the West end to see my sister in Sunny Afternoon but I never got round to seeing her in Harry Potter! I also met George Conway, he ‘transitioned’ in my bike shop. Poor guy was exhausted. I did make him a cuppa and baked him some energy bars but always regretted not offering him a bed for the night. Thanks George, great idea for a trip down memory lane! And hey, just a few more days and the Carretera Austral is finished and we’re planning on where next !
What a year you had! So you did the Way of the Roses TWICE and Lejog in 2016? Wow! You should think about doing some more cycle touring! 🤣😉
I love that you met Sean Conway too. I cycled with him for about 10 miles and offered him a bed for the night, but he chose to sleep in his tent in a field instead.
I hope you've had a great time on the Carretera Austral.
That makes me feel not so guilty about not offering him a bed, thanks. The following few years I did it about 3 times at least, plus lots more of the Sustrans routes. Got me out of the shop. My mini guided bike holidays were a great escape for me. For some reason we ended up doing them in fancy dress. I remember wearing a tickling stick, feather duster to you and me, attached to my helmet and wandering around Sainsbury’s in Notty Ash with several Diddy Men much to the amusement of staff there. That was the Transpennine , and cycling as a Roman centurion on Coast and Castles, tho by Scotland we all changed to kilts. We’re a mad bunch up North !
To be honest I'm a little disappointed you haven't opted for fancy dress on your round the world trip. 🤣
2016, the year my wife and I backpacked the Camino de Santiago!
Amazing! That's high on my bucket list. See, 2016 really was a great year!
Hi George,
2016 was a pretty typical year for us, with work and trying to keep up with the hustle and bustle that Houston is known for.
My husband decided he was tired of the heat and humidity and wanted to move to a colder climate. I doubted his decision because he is a Texan and not acclimated to cold weather.
So he applied for a Montana job.
He would have preferred Alaska, but I put a halt to that idea immediately.
Meanwhile, tropical storm came through and my daughter and son-in-law’s house flooded a month after they married, so they lived with us for awhile until they could get their house repaired and cleaned.
We got accepted for the Montana position and was advised to prepare for a move within sixty days, which meant selling our home, and getting our affairs in order. Ironically, the orders for us to move didn’t arrive until May of 2017. We stayed there almost two years, and we moved from Montana in later 2019.
There is a whole story following that that leads us to where we are now.
So, 2016 wasn’t the best, but we are still here to talk about it!
Sounds like 2016 was an important year for you, even if the big move didn't happen until the following May.
It definitely convinced us that we are getting old for all of these moves, all 24 of them so far.
Wow... you do more in a year than I do in ten! I tend to spend my free time doing lots of inner traveling, but you're reminding me of the importance to strike up more of a balance. It's just as vital for your health to regularly get out and have some fun.
I love your optimism - The "T Word" aspect of that year spoils a lot for me here in the Colonies. That said, I will acknowledge that I read a few of the pages of "Not tonight.." and decided to pry a few bucks out of my wallet and buy the book. To paraphrase Humphry Bogart, "I think it was the start of a wonderful readership". I did take time to look at some of my pictures and found a few the brought a smile to my face. One is my favorite picture of my dog (RIP 😢) relaxing on the deck of our sailboat. I'd love to post it! Anyway, fun post.
Nice writing George but this substack verification code Malarkey has driven me to the brink of insanity for two days. I write the code down then I’m told it is incorrect! If it happens again, I shall have to give you up, grrr…….
Oh no! Did that only start happening two days ago? Have you been doing anything different? New device or different browser? I don't think I've ever had a verification code on Substack. Hope it sorts itself out soon. Let me know if I can do anything to help.
I have had this happen once before and that time was OK. I am using the same device to view your post but it is frustrating when I've paid for Substack and just want to read your post! I will let you know if it ever happens again.
Well, apoarently it was a year of trips! Funny how the brain remembers these things individually but not grouped them. 2016 was a unique year for me but I think it's one I'd like to emulate. I went to Venice on the cheap with my 4 year old daughter, plus my brother and his wife (stayed in a campsite 10 minute bus ride away); visited friends in Germany with my husband and kids; scored a trip by myself to visit family in the South of France; went to Lake Como in Italy for what would turn out to be the last holiday as a 5 (my teenage son met his future wife that Autumn); Sept saw a lot of day trips out before the 4 year old started school; and then in Oct there was the day trip to Boulogne with my eldest daughter and parents plus friends, where we had a trip down memory lane for my dad who'd stayed in a boarding house there with his parents as a boy in the 1950s. He pointed out the house and, as a result of my inquisiveness (read poking my head around the gate), we ended up being invited in, having tea with the daughter of the people that my dad stayed with. This rekindled a family friendship that continues! This trip was also the scene of one of my infamous 'jumps'...
What a year! Love the Boulogne story. What an amazing outcome! And all that from a day trip to France?
Tell me more about your infamous jumps!
Ha! Well I've discovered I cannot jump in time with others and end up looking very silly whilst doing it.
Ah yes, I didnt realise you meant that sort of jump. Maybe you're the one who is in perfect time and everyone else is getting it wrong? 🤔
Went to FB. Dialed up 2016, and of course, it starts in December. I scrolled back to April, and the page froze and restarted with a fresh FB screen. I drank a lot of coffee. Complained about American politics. Bemoaned book deadlines. Ten years later, here I am with the same core issues, but with a bigger coffee mug, different dogs, and a much healthier environment overall for the win.
Haha, brilliant. Great to hear you're sticking to your true values.
I’ve just looked back through my 2016 photos and realised it was a busy year for friends and family visiting us in France but not a lot else happened.
I went canoeing for the first time, and canoed past some naked sunbathers on a rock
I was in the local paper for offering free English lessons to people in our village . I’m still giving weekly lessons 10 years later…my English grammar is so paling, so I’m not sure they learn a lot but we have a laugh
I had a trip to the Pyrenees with some friends and walked the beautiful Gavarnie circuit. The main memory is being humiliated after stopping in a field for a “comfort break” just as a jeep full of people went by hooting and cheering.
We were invited to a wedding in a chateau in the Dordogne by the father of the bride, though we had never met the bride and groom before. We thought we were just going for drinks on the terrace, but the photographer decided to do photos of the entire group of guests. I had chosen to wear a bright orange top, so I tried to hide at the back, I am sure the bride has wondered who the strange woman in orange was at her wedding.
The highlight of the year was New Years Eve. We were on holiday in Madeira and the chef of our hotel invited us to his mother’s apartment so we could watch the fireworks of Funchal from the flat roof of the apartment block . We were treated like royalty by his family. We had eaten a huge meal of many courses before going, his mother then insisted we ate traditional chicken soup when we got there. A great, but uncomfortable experience.
Thanks for making me look back though, quite an interesting exercise 😁
Love that, Gill. Sounds like a fantastic year. You sound like a serial gatecrasher. Weddings and New Year's Eve parties. Is that something you've continued?
My best ever new year was a party we gatecrashed too after my friend fell in a muddy ditch and needed to borrow some new clothes.
No, I must be slipping! Must see what I can gatecrash this year 🤣
Just noticed predictive text made a very good typo in my last message. I meant to say “my English grammar is appalling “ (not so paling) sums it up nicely 🤣🤣