Christmas 2007 Letter

It has been a very eventful year for us, with some highs and very low lows. We flew to the UK in January for a quick visit in order to attend the wedding of one of my university friends, Roz Harvey who married one Alan Sermons. The wedding took place at a small church in Hemel Hempstead. It was great to see the people there, some of whom I hadn’t spoken to in about 12 years.

I also decided to resign and leave my job of 12 years at BAC to pursue an opportunity made available to me to become my own boss. It was something that I felt that I was unable to give up and so I left BAC on 15th February. It took a couple of months to set things up and get established, but I am now able to keep a steady flow of work in and out, with quite a few major projects on the horizon.

In mid-February, we added a little dog to our menagerie, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Deaglan Balthazaar. He was a happy little fellow, always wagging his tail and loved everyone he met. Unfortunately, after we had had him for about three weeks, he started to show signs of disorientation and confusion. He was diagnosed with a porto-systemic shunt of the liver, but despite many visits to the vet we were unable to fix him as the problem was found to be untreatable during exploratory surgery. We also lost Loreley to an attack, we think from a feral cat in the area a week before Deaglan, so it was a very sad time for us both.

We have recovered from our losses however, and have acquired another cat, who is all white this time, named Artemis Penelope, who like her first name implies is the goddess of hunting – anything and everything. Despite her rather rotund demeanour, she is very active. In October Bronwyn Anastacia arrived on British Airways from England, another Cavalier, and she is fitting very well into the family. She and Artemis spend many hours running around the house and garden. Mathias is well, but tends to be more sedate these days.

In April, a contingent from Bermuda travelled to Virginia to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the colonisation of Jamestown (1607). The Bermuda Regiment Band and Bermuda Islands Pipe Band played for the Virginia International Tattoo in Norfolk. It was an exhausting visit with not a lot of down time and seven shows crammed into 4 days, with rehearsals for about 4 days before that, private engagements and the like. We rushed from one place to another and even changed uniforms part way through the show. Unfortunately, we never got to Jamestown.
Another trip to the UK in May for Brendan’s wedding to Suzie at a little church overlooking the North Sea in East Anglia. It was a rather chilly day with a NE breeze, but my father, Pete and myself still managed to wear Bermuda shorts as is customary. Brendan wasn’t so brave and settled for a more traditional English look. The day following, Marisa and I travelled to Dublin, Ireland and spent a week driving, bicycling and exploring Dublin and its environs. We drove up into Wicklow and Valleymount where my grandfather was from. It is a reservoir now of course, but the hill tops are probably quite similar. We also made contact with our Irish cousins and had dinner on our last evening with Dermot and his three children, Hugh, Alexandra and Rory at Thalius and Alexandra’s house. On our way back through London we met Roz and Alan for tea at the Savoy and saw Wicked for the second time.

The summer began and Marisa began rehearsals for Dreamgirls in July. The show opened in early October and I was tricked into becoming the crew boss. The stage manager was borrowed from the West End in London and did his utmost to make himself thoroughly unpopular with the crew. Unfortunately when you are working with volunteers you can’t treat them the way you do employees, and especially not in Bermuda. The show went very well and by the weekend of the first week was completely sold out.

In late September, we jetted off to Boston for our anniversary and had an enjoyable time seeing the sights and traveling around Marisa’s old post-graduate stomping ground. We even visited Babson College and met some of Marisa’s former colleagues in the Admin offices. For our anniversary evening, we took a gondola ride on the Charles River, complete with champagne and a basket of cheese and biscuits.

More recently, we travelled to New York to see the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes Christmas Show, which was absolutely fabulous and also a Chorus Line on Broadway. Fortunately, the stagehands strike was over. Marisa and I went ice skating at Bryant Park. Marisa did very well for her first time, in fact she looked like a pro at the end. I was still trying to find my balance. We also went for a walking photograph tour with a local guide who had us stand in the middle of the road in Times Square for photos, a walk through Central Park and on the Brooklyn Bridge, ending up at Rockerfeller Center.

All in all, it has been an eventful year. We have a general election coming up next week and then it’s full speed ahead into the Christmas and New Year season. We wish you all the very best for a Happy and prosperous 2008.

December 9, 2007

Our final day started a bit cooler. We watched a bit of CBS Sunday Morning beforeb heading up 42nd Street to have breakfast. Most cafes were crowded so we happened upon a deli that had a few combos. We both had eggs, french toast and freshly squeezed OJ.After breakfast we added to our suitcase collection and did a bit of window shopping. We had a 12 noon check out so we finished packing, checked out and left our bags with the bellman. We spent the afternoon between Times Square and Fifth Avenue. The temperature was dropping but it didn't stop the crowds. Even the Naked Cowboy was out playing his guitar and taking pictures with people.We split up to do some shopping and met at Ray's Pizza at 49th and 7th for late lunch. The slices were huge. We then returned to the Tudor Hotel to get our bags and a taxi. The trip to JFK was accented with snow. At the terminal, we were sent to use the self check-in. It was such a waste of time. We ended up having to go to the resolution desk to get our boarding passes and check our bags. Getting to the gate and to the plane was uneventful. Taking off proved the problem. We got onto the runway and then turned around and went back to the gate due to an electrical problem. I magaged to read through 4 magazines before we left. I was sob irritated with AA - no earphones, 3 dollars for snacks and no pillows or blankets...

December 8, 2007

We began by having a light breakfast at Starbucks on the way to Lenscrafters to pick up Marisa's glasses. Following this, we went to Bryant's Park and went ice skating. Marisa did very well and in a few minutes was skating around like a pro. It took me a bit longer to become comfortable, but I still looked like Bambi. After this we walked to Macy's and split up for undisclosed locations. We met up again at about 1:30 and after a few crowded minutes in Macy's took a taxi back to the hotel. It took far too long and we ended up 15 minutes late for our walking tour. The tour began at the New Victory Theater and we walked to Times Square. The photographer had us stand in the middle of the street for one of the pictures. We then took the subway to Central Park and wandered around a bit. Neither of us had ever been in the park and even in winter it was very calming. We then took an express train to the Brooklyn Bridge and walked to the centre to take in the New York skyline. From here we had our pictures taken in front of the Rockerfeller Center christmas tree. After this great tour, we walked back to the hotel and then set out to Broadway for a Chorus Line. After a very nice dinner at Charley-Os we walked to the theatre. We had great seats, six rows back. We thoroughly enjoyed the show.We began by having a light breakfast at Starbucks on the way to Lenscrafters to pick up Marisa's glasses. Following this, we went to Bryant's Park and went ice skating. Marisa did very well and in a few minutes was skating around like a pro. It took me a bit longer to become comfortable, but I still looked like Bambi. After this we walked to Macy's and split up for undisclosed locations. We met up again at about 1:30 and after a few crowded minutes in Macy's took a taxi back to the hotel. It took far too long and we ended up 15 minutes late for our walking tour. The tour began at the New Victory Theater and we walked to Times Square. The photographer had us stand in the middle of the street for one of the pictures. We then took the subway to Central Park and wandered around a bit. Neither of us had ever been in the park and even in winter it was very calming. We then took an express train to the Brooklyn Bridge and walked to the centre to take in the New York skyline. From here we had our pictures taken in front of the Rockerfeller Center christmas tree. After this great tour, we walked back to the hotel and then set out to Broadway for a Chorus Line. After a very nice dinner at Charley-Os we walked to the theatre. We had great seats, six rows back. We thoroughly enjoyed the show.

December 7, 2007

We had a slow start to the day because we could - breakfast in bed while watching NBC's morning show. No, we had no plans to stand outside to be seen on tv - it was way too cold (29F). We first went to the UN to see the flags. Then we headed out around 10.30am and only made it up a block and a half because I found the Ann Taylor Loft store. We took the purchases back to the hotel and then caught a taxi to go to Radio City Music Hall.We ate hot dogs from a street vendor while we waited in line. The inside of the building was fantastic and two organists were playing while we waited for the show to start. All we can say about the Christmas Spectacular was WOW!!! The orchestra was great, the effects were phenomenal (we even had 3D glasses) and the numbers were amazing. I don't think we had a favorite part. The toy soldiers were impressive and I was entranced by the kicklines (I could have been a Rockette!!!). The Nativity scene at the end even had live sheep and camels! We left dazzled!We then went to Rockefeller Center and as we looked at the tree it began to snow. We walked down 5th Ave looking at the windows. We stopped in Saks 5th Ave, Cartier and Tiffanys. It was getting tough walking through the crowds so we then went to 6th Ave and began walking to 34th. We visited a few stores in Herald Square and ended at Macys. I got to take a few pictures of the New Year's Eve ball that was displayed on the ground floor. Itbis amazing to see it up close in person!We headed back to the hotel and Aidan got a dinner recommendation from the concierge. The doorman grabbed a taxi for us and we went to DIP, a fondue restaurant. It was trendy with people having coctails and conversation on a Friday nbight. We had a White Cheddar fondue with french bread, broccoli, apple slicesn carrots, raisin bread and cherry tomatoes. It was great fun!We walked back stopping at the pet store and the bookstore. I had to get a heat wrap from the pharmacy - all the walking had my lower back so tight. I actually did yoga before bed to work it out.

December 6, 2007

We left home at about 6:30 to go to the airport. Checked in, through Customs etc and boarded the plane. The flight was quite uneventful and we arrived at JFK on time at 9:55. Our bags were just about the last off. We took a taxi to the Tudor hotel. It was quite cold, about 28F outside. We were unable to check in, so we dropped off our bags and went off to find a Lenscrafters. Marisa had her eyes looked at and discovered that her previous prescription had been too strong. Then we walked around to find a pizza for lunch, although the guy selling Philly cheese steaks on the street looked really good. (Not the guy, the steaks you must understand). After lunch we went to Macy's, who have a spectacular Christmas display and windows. It reminded me of the windows of Hamley's in London. We stopped at various other places on the way back to the hotel where we checked in. The room is cosy, but well appointed. Later we walked to 8th Ave to take our city lights tour. I was glad I brought extra clothes as the best views were from the top (open) deck of the bus. I managed to stay upstairs for the whole ride, but was frozen by the end. We saw the Christmas trees at Bloomberg, Rockerfeller Center and windows of Saks, Macys and others. We also witnessed a Menorah lighting and dance from the bus. Suffering a bit from the beginnings of hypothermia, we had dinner at the Olive Garden on Times Square and walked back to the hotel.