The Philanderer
Friday, July 31, 2009
Ring, ring......
My 200th post, well that's good going........and what a great moment to celebrate it with the news that number one daughter Rebecca, got engaged yesterday in Rome.
John, her childhood sweetheart, proposed in traditional style in a restaurant in Rome. No news yet whether the whole place clapped and cheered but lets hope so.
She is there to meet her mad mates from Oklahoma so I am sure they will all be drinking the local fire water well into the night.....I wonder if they will make it to Jonathans, near Plaza Navarrro it would be a fitting place to go.
John, her childhood sweetheart, proposed in traditional style in a restaurant in Rome. No news yet whether the whole place clapped and cheered but lets hope so.
She is there to meet her mad mates from Oklahoma so I am sure they will all be drinking the local fire water well into the night.....I wonder if they will make it to Jonathans, near Plaza Navarrro it would be a fitting place to go.
Labels: jonathans, plaza navarro, Rome
¶ 12:11 PM 0 Comments
Friday, February 15, 2008
Talking 'bout my Generation
I saw a trailer for a new film last night. Its call 'The Bucket List' and features two old guys working out what they still had to do in life before they popped their clogs. It got me wondering.
I had a list when I was at school identifying bands I wanted to see, and sporting events to go to, and much of that list was successfully ticked off. I got to see The Stones, The Who, Simon and Garfunkel and Led Zep, and went to an England International at Wembley, and the League Cup Final, under whatever guise it was called then.
I never saw Cream, although I have seen the sum of its parts separately since they disbanded, and I have not been to an FA Cup Final as I vowed only to go when Spurs or Argyle actually made it there.
So if I started a new list, what would I put on it?
Well the Cup Final would be a carry over, although I have seen Argyle win at Wembley in the playoffs some years ago, Spurs getting there is a bit out of my hands though, so it would be sensible to include events over which i have some control.
I decided to start learning the piano when I was 40, with a view to being able to go into a pub, lift the lid on the beer stained Joanna and bash out a tune before I was 50. I missed that deadline big time, but am still persevering. I will be able to do it one day.
All golfers want to shoot a score lower than their age, on current form I would need to live into my eighties to do that. It could happen though, check this interesting article out about age expectancy.
Holidays have started to be linked with the bucket list. I want to cruise to Alaska while there is still ice up there, and visit the Indian sub-continent, probably to watch some cricket. Seeing Aussie play in Aus would be good too, although whether they would better the Windies in St Lucia for atmosphere, I am not sure.
I have done an Olympics, and seen the All Blacks in Auckland and attended a Rugby World Cup or two. The kids are all reasonable settled so there is not anything I particularly need to do for them over and above the usual parental bit. It would be good, though, to see a grandchild play or perform on a major stage or sporting arena, something else over which I have no control though.
Culturally, I have done the last night of the Proms a couple of times, but never been to a ballet or opera, Paris or Rome seem good venues to do that in. I have stared in wonder at the Grand Canyon and taken the tram to the top of the Peak in Hong Kong.
So it looks like I need to spend some time getting my top ten together, and then hope I don't find a bucket where a footie should be, in the foreseeable future!
I had a list when I was at school identifying bands I wanted to see, and sporting events to go to, and much of that list was successfully ticked off. I got to see The Stones, The Who, Simon and Garfunkel and Led Zep, and went to an England International at Wembley, and the League Cup Final, under whatever guise it was called then.
I never saw Cream, although I have seen the sum of its parts separately since they disbanded, and I have not been to an FA Cup Final as I vowed only to go when Spurs or Argyle actually made it there.
So if I started a new list, what would I put on it?
Well the Cup Final would be a carry over, although I have seen Argyle win at Wembley in the playoffs some years ago, Spurs getting there is a bit out of my hands though, so it would be sensible to include events over which i have some control.
I decided to start learning the piano when I was 40, with a view to being able to go into a pub, lift the lid on the beer stained Joanna and bash out a tune before I was 50. I missed that deadline big time, but am still persevering. I will be able to do it one day.
All golfers want to shoot a score lower than their age, on current form I would need to live into my eighties to do that. It could happen though, check this interesting article out about age expectancy.
Holidays have started to be linked with the bucket list. I want to cruise to Alaska while there is still ice up there, and visit the Indian sub-continent, probably to watch some cricket. Seeing Aussie play in Aus would be good too, although whether they would better the Windies in St Lucia for atmosphere, I am not sure.
I have done an Olympics, and seen the All Blacks in Auckland and attended a Rugby World Cup or two. The kids are all reasonable settled so there is not anything I particularly need to do for them over and above the usual parental bit. It would be good, though, to see a grandchild play or perform on a major stage or sporting arena, something else over which I have no control though.
Culturally, I have done the last night of the Proms a couple of times, but never been to a ballet or opera, Paris or Rome seem good venues to do that in. I have stared in wonder at the Grand Canyon and taken the tram to the top of the Peak in Hong Kong.
So it looks like I need to spend some time getting my top ten together, and then hope I don't find a bucket where a footie should be, in the foreseeable future!
Labels: All Blacks, Aussie, golf, grand canyon, last night of the proms, olympics, Paris, Rome, The bucket list
¶ 12:23 PM 0 Comments
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
...faces all a glow ow ow ow.....
Rome is a delightful city, particularly when it is bathed in brilliant late Winter sunshine. It was this weekend, and I was fortunate to be there.
The continued 6 Nations rugby had forced me to leave the comfort of my warm cosy bed at 04:45 on Saturday morning and make the short trip to Heathrow. Now, I was not aware that the time was ever 04:45 on a Saturday morning, however, the amount of traffic on the M4 indicated that many others obviously did!
Still we got to Rome mid-morning, and found a very hospitable restaurant for a long and leisurely lunch somewhere near the Spanish Steps, we followed that with a quick change and an evening meal in a posh restaurant near our hotel. Following that we ended with Irish coffee in Harrys Bar, where we watched the world go by before retiring to bed. So much for sightseeing.
The game this year was on a Sunday, although I am sure it always is!! So down to breakfast to find the referee team are staying at the same hotel. We eavesdropped in on their pre-match briefing and learnt that the 'ref mikes' were not working for the Scotland v France game, much to everybodies embarrassment, and that the Italian number 2 was used in so many examples of potential flare-ups that he must be worth looking out for!!
So, more food before the game, then off to the stadium. England ground out a win, although I thought the papers were unkind to them. Their play without the ball was world class, it was just when they were in possession that they lacked a bit of composure. Give them time and I am sure it will come together. Guess what we did then, yep, more food at a restaurant owned by Luigi, as in 'Hey Luigi'.
We fell on our feet here though. He was a mad Lazio football fan, but his son at 9 years old had decided he wanted to play rugby. Dad not too enthusiastic until he found out Lazio have a rugby team. Now his son plays for the U15s and he is in the Vets, both of them are props!!
Nightcaps to follow in a suspected gay bar but that was never confirmed, and up the next morning for home. It took us 30 minutes from landing at Heathrow to arriving back in Chis with our luggage! I must use that as a house selling point.
Oh yes, we did not use a taxi once all weekend, just one tram ride back from the game, and tube and train too and from the airport. Excellent.
The continued 6 Nations rugby had forced me to leave the comfort of my warm cosy bed at 04:45 on Saturday morning and make the short trip to Heathrow. Now, I was not aware that the time was ever 04:45 on a Saturday morning, however, the amount of traffic on the M4 indicated that many others obviously did!
Still we got to Rome mid-morning, and found a very hospitable restaurant for a long and leisurely lunch somewhere near the Spanish Steps, we followed that with a quick change and an evening meal in a posh restaurant near our hotel. Following that we ended with Irish coffee in Harrys Bar, where we watched the world go by before retiring to bed. So much for sightseeing.
The game this year was on a Sunday, although I am sure it always is!! So down to breakfast to find the referee team are staying at the same hotel. We eavesdropped in on their pre-match briefing and learnt that the 'ref mikes' were not working for the Scotland v France game, much to everybodies embarrassment, and that the Italian number 2 was used in so many examples of potential flare-ups that he must be worth looking out for!!
So, more food before the game, then off to the stadium. England ground out a win, although I thought the papers were unkind to them. Their play without the ball was world class, it was just when they were in possession that they lacked a bit of composure. Give them time and I am sure it will come together. Guess what we did then, yep, more food at a restaurant owned by Luigi, as in 'Hey Luigi'.
We fell on our feet here though. He was a mad Lazio football fan, but his son at 9 years old had decided he wanted to play rugby. Dad not too enthusiastic until he found out Lazio have a rugby team. Now his son plays for the U15s and he is in the Vets, both of them are props!!
Nightcaps to follow in a suspected gay bar but that was never confirmed, and up the next morning for home. It took us 30 minutes from landing at Heathrow to arriving back in Chis with our luggage! I must use that as a house selling point.
Oh yes, we did not use a taxi once all weekend, just one tram ride back from the game, and tube and train too and from the airport. Excellent.
Labels: go play rugby, lazio, pasta, Rome, Spanish steps
¶ 5:19 PM 0 Comments
