The Countdown
On October 11 I will take possession of my new villa at La Costa Glen. I probably won't be there full time until I get furniture and essentials moved down and the Manhattan Beach house cleared out. I am trying to simplify, which is a complicated process. Some furniture and 'things' will go to Seattle where Daisy and Ian, and Bri and David can unload and hopefully use in their new homes. I will keep a little furniture and clothing in the MB house as I will be returning to it from time to time until I am sure I like La Costa. Then I will sell the MB house and start a completely new life.
I want you all to come and visit when you can. I can show you an interesting time in very comfortable surrounding.
Love to you all, Val
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Villa of Dreams
Yesterday Trevor drove me down to La Costa Glen, to make a down payment on my new villa, and select carpet and tile colors. The unit is delightful, with a little patio in the back where I can grow things. (Pictures later.)
The unit is being fitted with new kitchen appliances, new washer and dryer and brushed nickel on the new light fixtures which I prefer to the old bronze color. I should be able to move in on October 11. Very exciting. You must all promise to visit me when I am settled.
Now I have to get busy and sort stuff.
Love to all, Val
Yesterday Trevor drove me down to La Costa Glen, to make a down payment on my new villa, and select carpet and tile colors. The unit is delightful, with a little patio in the back where I can grow things. (Pictures later.)
The unit is being fitted with new kitchen appliances, new washer and dryer and brushed nickel on the new light fixtures which I prefer to the old bronze color. I should be able to move in on October 11. Very exciting. You must all promise to visit me when I am settled.
Now I have to get busy and sort stuff.
Love to all, Val
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Thursday,September 21, 2017h
Trevor and I have just returned from a elightful trip to Ontario to visit my brother and his wife.
We rented a car in Syracuse and drove to Tweed, making the border crossing much easier. We also got to see a bit of upstate New York and Canadian countryside as the leaves began to turn. We had no rain the whole week we were there.
Jon is in good health, Sue is still recovering from a hip replacement but cooked us some of her wonderful pork ribs, and other goodies.
Jon cooks too, and made us English pancakes which I remember from childhood. They are very thin and eaten with lemon juice and sugar.
We visited some of their friends, and went to the O'Hara sawmill which Sue's grandfather homesteaded. It is now a museum and very worth a visit. He dammed the river above the mill which powered the saw, cutting beams, planks and boards for local builders. The Canadians are proud of their rugged heritage and gladly volunteer hours of time, money and expertise to preserve it.
Saturday afternoon we dropped into an outdoor bar for a beer and some excellent music, mostly guitar, harmonica and blues singing - regulars who drop in to perform for the pleasure of making music.
We visited two of their single women friends, both with their own farms, who live alone, but manage beautifully with the help of friends and neighbors.
Jon and Sue live on an isolated parcel of woods with a house of architectural quality sited by a river and rapids that make a delightful flowing water sound when you sit on the porch. Last year Jon built a sauna and hot tub and the year before a garage with an upstairs 'man cave' where he keeps tools etc. it is heated by a wood burning stove, as is the main house. Wood logs are piled everywhere, and he has a power log-splitter to make the firewood. Sue has her studio on the top floor with a view of the river. The whole place is spectacular.
I just got word that La Costa Glen has a villa for me! I have to work fast to move in at the end of the month. Lots to do!!
More later. Love to you all, Val
We rented a car in Syracuse and drove to Tweed, making the border crossing much easier. We also got to see a bit of upstate New York and Canadian countryside as the leaves began to turn. We had no rain the whole week we were there.
Jon is in good health, Sue is still recovering from a hip replacement but cooked us some of her wonderful pork ribs, and other goodies.
Jon cooks too, and made us English pancakes which I remember from childhood. They are very thin and eaten with lemon juice and sugar.
We visited some of their friends, and went to the O'Hara sawmill which Sue's grandfather homesteaded. It is now a museum and very worth a visit. He dammed the river above the mill which powered the saw, cutting beams, planks and boards for local builders. The Canadians are proud of their rugged heritage and gladly volunteer hours of time, money and expertise to preserve it.
Saturday afternoon we dropped into an outdoor bar for a beer and some excellent music, mostly guitar, harmonica and blues singing - regulars who drop in to perform for the pleasure of making music.
We visited two of their single women friends, both with their own farms, who live alone, but manage beautifully with the help of friends and neighbors.
Jon and Sue live on an isolated parcel of woods with a house of architectural quality sited by a river and rapids that make a delightful flowing water sound when you sit on the porch. Last year Jon built a sauna and hot tub and the year before a garage with an upstairs 'man cave' where he keeps tools etc. it is heated by a wood burning stove, as is the main house. Wood logs are piled everywhere, and he has a power log-splitter to make the firewood. Sue has her studio on the top floor with a view of the river. The whole place is spectacular.
I just got word that La Costa Glen has a villa for me! I have to work fast to move in at the end of the month. Lots to do!!
More later. Love to you all, Val
Friday, September 8, 2017
Friday, September 8, 2017
Earthquake, Wind and Fire
Yesterday an 8.1 earthquake shook Mexico, killing a number of people. Tomorrow an enormous hurricane will score a direct hit on Florida.
And the fire? Yesterday at Trevor's apartment complex there was a fire on the top floor. An apartment across the hall from him, directly underneath, suffered major water damage from the sprinkler system. The water ran down the walls, inside, causing the ceiling of Trevor's place to bulge. The hall carpets had to be torn up. Trevor was busy for most of the day, giving access to firemen, inspectors and the like.
An adorable Hollywood actress says its all happening because Mother Nature is mad at Trump, (and his supporters presumably)!
Japan Christmas (continued)
Christmas at 234E was as wonderful as other Christmases, although I did not quite believe in Father Christmas any more. We had a sparkling Christmas tree near the fireplace in the living room. My stocking was hung at the foot of my bed, however, because my parents wished to get another hour or so of sleep. I woke up very early, and in the dim light could make out a large structure that had not been in my bedroom the night before. It was a complete, miniature 'shop' with shelves stocked with little cans and boxes of food, and other items to buy. There was even a miniature balance scale on which to weigh produce, and some pretend money to give change to the customers. My father had had the whole thing specially made, and I was entranced.
Every year, at the very bottom of my stocking there was an orange. This was traditional, because oranges were a great luxury in Britain, only to be enjoyed on special occasions.
Food now, in Yokohama, was getting scarce. My mother used to gather my outgrown clothes and bargain for eggs in the marketplace. Sometimes we would go to Chinatown, which was a magical place of straw hatted coolies carrying pails of all kinds of things, balanced on their shoulders. We sometimes went in rickshaws, pulled by coolies trotting with head down in front of us. They allowed only one adult in each rickshaw, so I would have to decide whether to ride with my mother or father.
I wore gaiters. Little English girls did not wear long pants, but to keep our legs warm in winter we had gaiters. Mine were of brown leather, with a million buttons down the outside of the legs. I had a button hook and fastened each button with great care. We walked to Church on Christmas Day, I wearing my gaiters and a blue coat and hat to match.
We went to a nearby Anglican Church on Sundays, where I attended Sunday School. I remember a very dramatic movie about Christ, but not much else, except that Anglicans had a different ending to the Lord's Prayer. I was taught to say my prayers every night, kneeling by my bed with hands folded. The prayer went:
"Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, look upon a little child.
Pity my simplicity, suffer me to come to thee.
God bless Daddy, God bless Mummy, and make me a good girl, Amen"
As the bombing increased over Britain, my parents required me to add, "God bless granny", and other unfortunate relatives to my prayers.
Yesterday an 8.1 earthquake shook Mexico, killing a number of people. Tomorrow an enormous hurricane will score a direct hit on Florida.
And the fire? Yesterday at Trevor's apartment complex there was a fire on the top floor. An apartment across the hall from him, directly underneath, suffered major water damage from the sprinkler system. The water ran down the walls, inside, causing the ceiling of Trevor's place to bulge. The hall carpets had to be torn up. Trevor was busy for most of the day, giving access to firemen, inspectors and the like.
An adorable Hollywood actress says its all happening because Mother Nature is mad at Trump, (and his supporters presumably)!
Japan Christmas (continued)
Christmas at 234E was as wonderful as other Christmases, although I did not quite believe in Father Christmas any more. We had a sparkling Christmas tree near the fireplace in the living room. My stocking was hung at the foot of my bed, however, because my parents wished to get another hour or so of sleep. I woke up very early, and in the dim light could make out a large structure that had not been in my bedroom the night before. It was a complete, miniature 'shop' with shelves stocked with little cans and boxes of food, and other items to buy. There was even a miniature balance scale on which to weigh produce, and some pretend money to give change to the customers. My father had had the whole thing specially made, and I was entranced.
Every year, at the very bottom of my stocking there was an orange. This was traditional, because oranges were a great luxury in Britain, only to be enjoyed on special occasions.
Food now, in Yokohama, was getting scarce. My mother used to gather my outgrown clothes and bargain for eggs in the marketplace. Sometimes we would go to Chinatown, which was a magical place of straw hatted coolies carrying pails of all kinds of things, balanced on their shoulders. We sometimes went in rickshaws, pulled by coolies trotting with head down in front of us. They allowed only one adult in each rickshaw, so I would have to decide whether to ride with my mother or father.
I wore gaiters. Little English girls did not wear long pants, but to keep our legs warm in winter we had gaiters. Mine were of brown leather, with a million buttons down the outside of the legs. I had a button hook and fastened each button with great care. We walked to Church on Christmas Day, I wearing my gaiters and a blue coat and hat to match.
We went to a nearby Anglican Church on Sundays, where I attended Sunday School. I remember a very dramatic movie about Christ, but not much else, except that Anglicans had a different ending to the Lord's Prayer. I was taught to say my prayers every night, kneeling by my bed with hands folded. The prayer went:
"Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, look upon a little child.
Pity my simplicity, suffer me to come to thee.
God bless Daddy, God bless Mummy, and make me a good girl, Amen"
As the bombing increased over Britain, my parents required me to add, "God bless granny", and other unfortunate relatives to my prayers.
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Lots of excitement. Hurricanes, nuclear bombs, new Royal baby, Dreamers, Nancy in the hospital recovering, incredible third quarter comeback for UCLA against Texas on Sunday.
But for me, mostly boring sorting and packing this Labor Day weekend.
Japan Story
234E The Bluff
When we came back from our 1940 trip to North America everything had changed. We no longer lived in the bungalow, No. 11 (Ju Ichi Ban) The Bluff (Yamato), but moved to a six unit complex, about a mile away. At No. 11 we had a married couple living in the back, to take care of all the cooking, gardening, cleaning etc. Now, no Japanese would work for the despised foreigners. My mother was able to find a woman with an illegitimate child of Japanese appearance, about my age. Jane had bright red hair, was disgraced, ostracized by European and Japanese alike, and was glad to have job. Her name was Jane Savory, her child, Setseko could speak no English. They lived in a room in the back.
I remember cars with big speaker horns driving up and down the Bluff, blaring in Japanese a message of hate against all foreigners. The formerly friendly Japanese on the street would now spit at us, and call us "Baaka".
"What does that mean?" I asked. "Fool," I was told.
I had a very nice room at the end of the hall. The bathroom was a distance away, so I had a 'chamber pot' under the bed, just in case. The toilet was a western flush design, with a big wooden box to hold water, released into the toilet by pulling the chain.
We had a living room with a fireplace, and a dining area but not a separate room, as in No. 11. My father maintained British standards throughout. We ate roast beef, lamb, turkey at Christmas with a knife and fork, but never, never Japanese food. The only rice I ever ate in Japan was rice pudding, which I hated.
"Oh, what is the matter with Mary Jane?
She hasn't an ache, and she hasn't a pain
And its LOVELY rice pudding for dinner again."
A retired couple by the name of Burnie lived in the apartment above. My parents became friends with them, and Mr. Burnie made me a beautiful varnished wooden box with a lid. I treasured the box, and packed it when I left Japan forever.
Chrismas
My father was a Mason, and went faithfully to his meetings wearing Masonic regalia which my mother thought very amusing. It may have been the Mason's, or at his office, but he came home one day near Christmas with a live turkey he had won! Certainly neither Jane or my mother wanted to kill, eviscerate, and pluck the feathers from this turkey. My father disappeared with the cage, to return with a plump, fully dressed bird he had managed to exchange. We had it for Christmas Dinner, along with stuffing, cranberry sauce and all the fixings.
But for me, mostly boring sorting and packing this Labor Day weekend.
Japan Story
234E The Bluff
When we came back from our 1940 trip to North America everything had changed. We no longer lived in the bungalow, No. 11 (Ju Ichi Ban) The Bluff (Yamato), but moved to a six unit complex, about a mile away. At No. 11 we had a married couple living in the back, to take care of all the cooking, gardening, cleaning etc. Now, no Japanese would work for the despised foreigners. My mother was able to find a woman with an illegitimate child of Japanese appearance, about my age. Jane had bright red hair, was disgraced, ostracized by European and Japanese alike, and was glad to have job. Her name was Jane Savory, her child, Setseko could speak no English. They lived in a room in the back.
I remember cars with big speaker horns driving up and down the Bluff, blaring in Japanese a message of hate against all foreigners. The formerly friendly Japanese on the street would now spit at us, and call us "Baaka".
"What does that mean?" I asked. "Fool," I was told.
I had a very nice room at the end of the hall. The bathroom was a distance away, so I had a 'chamber pot' under the bed, just in case. The toilet was a western flush design, with a big wooden box to hold water, released into the toilet by pulling the chain.
We had a living room with a fireplace, and a dining area but not a separate room, as in No. 11. My father maintained British standards throughout. We ate roast beef, lamb, turkey at Christmas with a knife and fork, but never, never Japanese food. The only rice I ever ate in Japan was rice pudding, which I hated.
"Oh, what is the matter with Mary Jane?
She hasn't an ache, and she hasn't a pain
And its LOVELY rice pudding for dinner again."
A retired couple by the name of Burnie lived in the apartment above. My parents became friends with them, and Mr. Burnie made me a beautiful varnished wooden box with a lid. I treasured the box, and packed it when I left Japan forever.
Chrismas
My father was a Mason, and went faithfully to his meetings wearing Masonic regalia which my mother thought very amusing. It may have been the Mason's, or at his office, but he came home one day near Christmas with a live turkey he had won! Certainly neither Jane or my mother wanted to kill, eviscerate, and pluck the feathers from this turkey. My father disappeared with the cage, to return with a plump, fully dressed bird he had managed to exchange. We had it for Christmas Dinner, along with stuffing, cranberry sauce and all the fixings.
Friday, September 1, 2017
Friday, Septembr 1, 2017
The flooding in Texas has been dominating the news. Here the local schools are collecting necessities, kits people can put together for disaster relief. I will see what I can find.
Boxes are piling up with stuff in them for Brianne and Daisy's new homes, and await news of when they can be picked up and driven to Seattle. Trevor and I will be visiting my brother in Ontario from September 13, to 20. After that I will call La Costa and see what they have for me. Once I start being an active resident I can start moving belongings down there, even if they have to stay in boxes for awhile. One step at a time.
On Tuesday and Thursday evenings Trevor and Robyn take volleyball lessons at the MB pier. Fun to watch. Robyn is improving rapidly and Trevor has got his skills back after a two year absence.
Alex goes back to MIT tomorrow after a summer in Paris.
Japan Story
School in Japan
The International School was the school of choice for the English speaking ex pats who could afford it. I dimly remember kindergarten there, and a little curly headed boy called Bruno that I thought very handsome.
When we returned from our summer travels to North America everything had changed. We had to move from the bungalow at No.11 The Bluff to a sem-detatched 6 unit house, 234E, The Bluff. This is today a museum, but that is another story.
Our cat, Brownie refused to be moved. The old neighbors, called to say he had returned, even though our new home was at least a mile away. We tried and tried to keep him but he preferred his old hunting grounds so we finally gave up, and arranged for the neighbors to feed him.
I attended the only English speaking school open, as the war clouds were gathering - a Catholic convent and school run by the Sacred Heart nuns. Because I was non-catholic I did not have to learn catechism. I was seven, the age at which Catholics are confirmed, so many of my classmates would learn to answer questions like "Who made you?". (Answer, "God made me.") I did memorize the rosary prayers, and was quite fascinated that each bead had to have its special prayer. "Hail Mary", "Holy Mary mother of God" and the "Lord's Prayer" that ended differently than the Anglican Lord's Prayer.
There were 45 of us in the class. We sat like little ramrods,and if we didn't the nuns were quick with ruler. The curriculum was rigorous. We learned cursive writing by the Palmer Method, lots of circles across the page, then up and down squiggles, line after line.
We had a singing class, and actually sang in parts, alto soprano and second soprano. We also had sewing class. We were given cut out pieces of white cotton in strange shapes that we had to sew together, French seams, to make undergarments for the immodestly clad natives in Africa.
My father walked me to school only part way, as it was only a short distance from our new home, and I was learning to be 'self reliant.' We put on running shoes and an apron, and ran around in the fenced in court. When the bell rang we put our shoes in a locker and lined up for class.
Every month, the three top students were awarded medals, bronze, silver, and gold.
There was a German girl who came about the second month I was there. She spoke only German so she did not get any medals the first month. By the second month she had won the bronze medal, and by the fourth month she carried off the gold medal, and never missed thereafter. I was a pretty good student, but she impressed me.
I also took piano lesson. My father had been a professional violinist and was an accomplished pianist. He assumed I would inherit his brilliance. I didn't. I would walk to school by myself on Saturday mornings, to take private lessons from a very plain and embittered nun. She did not make me like the piano. One day I was late! That was an unforgivable sin. She was looking away, but as I entered, she looked at me with such fury that her face was purple with rage. Without a word she got up and walked out! I dawdled home so my parents would not know what happened. I never learned if they found out, but the experience haunted me for a long, long time.
Boxes are piling up with stuff in them for Brianne and Daisy's new homes, and await news of when they can be picked up and driven to Seattle. Trevor and I will be visiting my brother in Ontario from September 13, to 20. After that I will call La Costa and see what they have for me. Once I start being an active resident I can start moving belongings down there, even if they have to stay in boxes for awhile. One step at a time.
On Tuesday and Thursday evenings Trevor and Robyn take volleyball lessons at the MB pier. Fun to watch. Robyn is improving rapidly and Trevor has got his skills back after a two year absence.
Alex goes back to MIT tomorrow after a summer in Paris.
Japan Story
School in Japan
The International School was the school of choice for the English speaking ex pats who could afford it. I dimly remember kindergarten there, and a little curly headed boy called Bruno that I thought very handsome.
When we returned from our summer travels to North America everything had changed. We had to move from the bungalow at No.11 The Bluff to a sem-detatched 6 unit house, 234E, The Bluff. This is today a museum, but that is another story.
Our cat, Brownie refused to be moved. The old neighbors, called to say he had returned, even though our new home was at least a mile away. We tried and tried to keep him but he preferred his old hunting grounds so we finally gave up, and arranged for the neighbors to feed him.
I attended the only English speaking school open, as the war clouds were gathering - a Catholic convent and school run by the Sacred Heart nuns. Because I was non-catholic I did not have to learn catechism. I was seven, the age at which Catholics are confirmed, so many of my classmates would learn to answer questions like "Who made you?". (Answer, "God made me.") I did memorize the rosary prayers, and was quite fascinated that each bead had to have its special prayer. "Hail Mary", "Holy Mary mother of God" and the "Lord's Prayer" that ended differently than the Anglican Lord's Prayer.
There were 45 of us in the class. We sat like little ramrods,and if we didn't the nuns were quick with ruler. The curriculum was rigorous. We learned cursive writing by the Palmer Method, lots of circles across the page, then up and down squiggles, line after line.
We had a singing class, and actually sang in parts, alto soprano and second soprano. We also had sewing class. We were given cut out pieces of white cotton in strange shapes that we had to sew together, French seams, to make undergarments for the immodestly clad natives in Africa.
My father walked me to school only part way, as it was only a short distance from our new home, and I was learning to be 'self reliant.' We put on running shoes and an apron, and ran around in the fenced in court. When the bell rang we put our shoes in a locker and lined up for class.
Every month, the three top students were awarded medals, bronze, silver, and gold.
There was a German girl who came about the second month I was there. She spoke only German so she did not get any medals the first month. By the second month she had won the bronze medal, and by the fourth month she carried off the gold medal, and never missed thereafter. I was a pretty good student, but she impressed me.
I also took piano lesson. My father had been a professional violinist and was an accomplished pianist. He assumed I would inherit his brilliance. I didn't. I would walk to school by myself on Saturday mornings, to take private lessons from a very plain and embittered nun. She did not make me like the piano. One day I was late! That was an unforgivable sin. She was looking away, but as I entered, she looked at me with such fury that her face was purple with rage. Without a word she got up and walked out! I dawdled home so my parents would not know what happened. I never learned if they found out, but the experience haunted me for a long, long time.
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