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Dress this way…
More memories from my lone Californian trip of 1997 There was the night when I was staying in the house and Annie’s trailer flooded (the result of an out of control hose-pipe rather than the weather). Annie must also sleep in the house. Let me take you there. I sense her mother is not happy with this arrangement. This is more than a sense really. As I prepare my own sofa bed and Annie prepares hers across the room, her mother, about to go out on her night shift, walks in and looks horrified. “What are you doing in here?” she asks of the hapless Annie. Annie shrugs. “The trailer…
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Beware – Boeing 747 coming in to land…
Apparently, a number of visitors ‘Googled’ the question: “Where does Dawn French live in Fowey?” They were immediately directed to my post ‘Fowey Royal Regatta – celebrity or not celebrity?’ How funny.
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There’s a scrabbling and a scratching in the barn…
With the cold weather on its way back and snow threatened once again – I have been making the most of the brief respite by getting the spare beds ready for Christmas guests this morning. We happen to have a small barn in our front garden which we converted some time ago and now use as an office and guest bedroom. With a large family, this additional space is invaluable so, this morning, there was I, trekking outside with a pile of bedding and a bag of cleaning materials. As I made my way along the path, I couldn’t help but remember last year when just a week before Christmas,…
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The Grand Ole Oprey House
More from my lone Californian trip of 1997 I cringe in my seat as Annie leaps to her feet (strangely agile now that ‘Timewalk’ is playing) and proceeds to stamp up and down with the best of them. We are in the ‘The Old Oprey House’ in Los Gatos. It was Annies aunt’s idea to come here. I haven’t mentioned Annie’s aunt before so here is as good a place as any. Annie’s aunt Rose lives in Santa Clara. She is a lovely lady and welcomes me into her house with open arms – literally. I receive the biggest bear hug imaginable as I walk through the door. Keen to…
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Snowy December
December has arrived and with it has come the snow. Winter has hit us early this year it seems. As we hurtle towards another Christmas I find I am once again excited with a brand new little member of the family to buy for. Yet it barely seems five minutes since my own children were small and I was traipsing off to the round of nativity plays and pantomimes in which they each starred. Oh those were indeed the days. I recall sitting almost doubled up with mirth as baby Jesus was lobbed into the audience from Mary’s lap during a particularly enthusiastic rendition of ‘Away in a Manger’. In…
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‘Roaring Camp and Big Trees’
More from my lone Californian trip: 1997 The drive to Henry Cowell State Park is quite spectacular. Yes, the scenery is pretty amazing but I am not referring to that. As we drive along Highway 17, towards Santa Cruz, in the rising heat of the day, Annie suddenly feels the need to remove her jacket. “Hey Deb, grab the wheel,” she instructs. “Excuse me?” “The wheel – just grab it and keep us straight while I take this off,” There is no time to refuse, the coat is coming off. Leaning to my left, I grab the wheel before it can spin out of control and hope for the best.…
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Head for the Hills! Meeting Grandma
More from my lone Californian Trip of 1997: Part one – the computer store There is one thing I forgot to mention about my new friend Annie. Since inviting me to stay, she has become aware of a problem with her hip. She assures me she can walk. She just can’t walk long distances. She doesn’t see this as an issue and refused to let me delay my trip just because of it. I first realised it may actually be a real issue a day or two ago when we paid a visit to a local computer store. Annie jumped out of the Van and headed off towards the entrance.…
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The Tomb of Dolls
Location: San José The house is low slung and shaded by trees. A couple of rickety chairs sit on the porch and a cat gazes at us with lazy eyes from the shallow roof, as we walk up to the front door. I have been told a few things about Annie’s mother. I know, for instance, that she works nights at the hospital. I know that she has remarried and that Annie’s stepfather is retired and around the house a lot. I also learn that Annie is living in a trailer in the garden at the moment being ‘between homes’. I am however, totally unprepared for what meets me as…
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The Man-Mountain Sheriff and Me
We have been driving for a short time. “I think we need to stop for Gas,” observes my new friend as we chug along Highway 1 just outside San Francisco.
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Would I do it all again?
Sometimes we surprise ourselves by taking a leap into the unknown. Sometimes life throws up an opportunity too good to resist. It happened to me in 1997. One minute I was just a normal wife and mother of five, the next I was flying 5000 miles across the world to meet someone I knew only by virtue of an online writer’s club, by myself. Ok, I know having five children is not classed as strictly ‘normal’ but you get the picture. What possessed me to do such a thing? Heaven only knows. The opportunity arose and with the encouragement of my husband, I took it. To be truthful, when I…
