John 2004

My first trip away from Guildford this year was a weekend in France in April, I sailed across the channel with some friends on a 47' yacht. It was very enjoyable and a chance to have a nice French meal and collect some duty free to last me for a few months.

In July I went across to Antwerp by coach through the tunnel. I stayed there in a B&B for three days and had a look around the city. Then I joined the ship Kruzenshtern (see http://www.tallship.co.uk click on "Tall Ship Close-Up" then click on "Kruzenshtern"). I had a very enjoyable week on board and we sailed up to Aalbourg in Denmark where I had a couple of days to look around.

I left Aalbourg on the “Swan fan Makkum” after a superb fireworks display, we had a little wind to sail with for the first couple of days then we had to motor the rest of the way back to Southampton. We also stopped half way in the middle of the North Sea, put the ladders down and went swimming and diving off the ship, it was very enjoyable and the weather was lovely and hot and sunny.

Back home here for August my life was fairly normal managing the three houses, dealing with problems and fixing things. Fortunately there were no significant problems with tenants arising while I was away. And I always find time for a social life and get to as many parties as I can.

In September I went away for a very very enjoyable three weeks holiday in Los Angeles. I hired a car and for the first weekend I stayed with my friend Danny in Hollywood, we did some social events together and went to visit some of his friends. The following two weeks were at the CMEN gathering in a remote resort near Malibu, it was nice and relaxing, I met some friends from last year, spent a lot of time by or in the swimming pool enjoying the sunshine and quite often playing pool volleyball and also went off on a couple of hikes into the hills nearby. As well as the pool the rest of the resort was very pleasant in some nice wooded hills. I stayed in the Hill House, a youth hostel style accommodation; it is about half Km from the pool.

After the gathering I stayed at a place out in the desert called Starland, it is where all the stuff from the gathering is stored till the next year, I helped sort and clean all the stuff in return for four days there for free staying in a White Caravan. While at Starland I took a day out to go to Deep Creek Hot Springs. I went there a few years back, it really is a superb place so beautiful and remote with lovely warm water coming out from the rocks into pools to soak in.

See http://totalescape.com/active/leisure/hotspr/deepcrk.html

Also while at Starland I went out for a day trip to Warm Sands Villas in Palm Springs, some of my friends were staying there so it was good to meet them. I also spent a day with my friend Matrix in Los Angeles, his job is to maintain peoples private swimming pools in their back yards. We visited 22 swimming pools in the one day and cleaned all the leaves, filters and stuff floating on the surface and checked the chemicals to be correct. We then had a nice meal and I stayed with him overnight.

Lastly I spent the final day of my holiday with my friend Danny who I stayed with the first weekend when I flew out we went to a party then I flew home. Life back home has been fairly normal since I returned from Los Angeles at the beginning of October. I haven't been away anywhere and just a couple of times I have been to a party in London or around and about and stayed overnight since I drunk too much to drive home.

All sorts of miscellaneous things have happened, I have helped my friend carry out some major changes to his heating system, I have had lots of friends visit me at home so I have entertained them. I have been out to see my friends at all sorts of places for drinks or meal or chat or fix their computer etc.

There have been no changes of tenants since September but I have three rooms becoming empty before the end of the year and it is proving difficult to find anyone at this time of year. I have a few adverts on the internet and some people have been to visit but nobody has decided to take a room as yet.

Now it is almost Christmas and all the usual things like decorations, and parties etc are taking up my time. Also 2005 is not far away and I am hoping to go to Peru for two weeks in June with some friends.

I hope you have a very enjoyable Christmas. 

Best wishes,

John

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