Tripartate Reunion

The last time we all met together --- in Tanque Verde Ranch , in Tuscon, Arizona, some 5 years ago

So with the exception of young John, in the middle at the back, we are all gonna be together next weekend here in Aegina.

So you have Barbara & Walter from Scottsdale, Arizona and Shirley & Richard from Sheffield, along with Lynda & Me from Aegina, -- now you get the Tripartite connection.

Barbara , Walter and son John

Richard & Shirley

The great thing is that where when you meet someone in foreign lands you often meet nice people and leave wit5h a promise to keep in touch and never actually do but we have actually not only keep in touch intermittently, but even managed to visit Scottsdale to see Walter & Barbara at home.

So this will be a great catch-up with all these guys, with Walter and Barbara arriving in this---

 

 - on the Queen Mary 2 in Pireaus.

And Richard and Shirley will -- we guess-- start their journey in this or one very much like it----

--- ok so maybe not so glamorous as the QM2 but a decent ride to the airport

So where was it we met -- well here actually-- in Tucson Arizona

Where we chilled by here---

 

 

We did some of this --

 

 

Shirley also did some of that--

 

 

And then Richard and family did some of this---

 

and while Walter had some medical issues that stopped the horse riding , he still managed to get up to the outdoor breakfast that we had.

 

as did Barbara --

 

 

I believe that this was a nature walk that she was on but it also could be her organising a Board Meeting of course.

 

We did quite a bit of fine dining as a group with an excellent chef and team and a drink or two in the "Dog House" bar

 

I can assure everyone that there are views to die for in Arizona and we captured some of them--

 

 

-- some amazing sunsets , especially when around the corrals.

 

So that's it , all getting geared up for the visitors next weekend, with a few plans to show them a bit of real Greek culture, and the odd taverna and very much looking forward to sharing "our " bit of paradise with them.

 

Ellada

 

 

 

 

Summer to Remember - Part 4 - The Wedding

Part 4 -- The Wedding

So here it is --- what all the fuss was about---- 2 people in love , going through the ritual of marriage , and we hope the beginning of the rest of their lives together---

 

But of course , this was in the gardens of a villa in Aegina Greece so logistically , a bit more challenging than a trip to your local vicar and then Pie & Mash in the nearest Dog & Duck puck for a few pints after.

 -- what the year of planning was all about

- what the sleepless nights were all about

-- what the watching of every "Say yes to the Dress" program ever made over a couple of years was about

 - what the putting by for the bills to be paid -- see which pot took the most.

 

 - what the formulation of ideas took and what they also bought with them -- good ones that look bad and bad ones that were probably bad - the art is working out which is which

 

There have been so many ideas that we have had to sift through during the wedding arrangement process.

 

 

 Hard to believe that it was over a year ago when we went to visit Mr Saliarelis at the Villa to discuss terms of renting the grounds and took this picture.
This being a man who was President of Olympiacos FC -- he knows a bit about negotiation, good and bad.

 

At the time we were anticipating that the wedding would be in the grounds of the little church across the road from the villa------

 

 

But this was one time when the Greek Orthodox Priest would not allow us CoE heathens to be able to use the grounds of the small church for the ceremony , so it was back to finding the right location within the Villa grounds and in the end I think it was quite magical----

AS a Risk Manager , I was quite proud of my assessments and analysis of what if's and things to ensure are in place but there was one thing when we started this process and in the choice of the August date for the wedding that my Risk Radar did not do more than a cursory glance over and that was the weather on the day--- I mean , it was not until the day before that we started to get a little concerned that maybe on this one day of the month it might actually rain-- like this below----

 

On the morning of the wedding I was awake at about 5pm and this was the sky with a prospect that it was going to hammer down more --- and it did. We are now totally aware that this was one of those situations where we were most definitely, not in control and with this in mind little in the way of a plan B.

 

Whatever rain dances were going on around then they seem to have worked as the sky cleared by mid morning and the rest of the day , apart from some breeze, was quite beautiful.

And if you believe the Greeks when they tell you that it is very lucky if it rains on a wedding day , then of course it must have been meant to be

 

So we were able to have these moments---

 

 

-- Which will always be something special as will everything that took place that was both planned and spontaneous.

 

As will all the help we have had from so many wonderful people.

 

Oh, and until after everyone had left around 2.30am, we never had any of this which has to quite miraculous --

 

 

We believe that someone has the photos of Clare and Pete doing this not once at the Villa but also at the Danae Hotel at around 3 am.

 

So that's it, we've done our bit, the last one is done- the picture below proves that.

 

  

 

So that's official then, and it was great to have  the Reverend Malcolm Bradshaw MBE officiate at both Jonathon & Lynsey's wedding and now this one-- his last official engagement in Greece before heading to Venice in his retirement. Lots feel he rambled a bit but I think he's great -- my type of orator with the linking of Aegina and the Love of these 2 .

 

 

 

 So for us now -- well it's about us. Of course we will always be there, for children , the grandchildren --

-- even those we don't see too often and our friends---

But this is our time and I intend to spoil this wonderful lady as much as I am able for the foreseeable future--- whether she likes it or not.

 

 

 

 

Heading for the hills together, and adventures new.

 

 

Happy Trails

Summer to remember -- Part 3- The People.

People -- The Coming Together or the Gathering

So for a short period this summer there was a mini migration of folk from  -- essentially -- the Croydon & Sutton areas to the Greek island of Aegina, so basically from this ----

 

To this -----

 

 

Look I am sorry but while there might be plenty of days that those die-hard's in the UK can point to as evidence of a great summer, the reality usually ends up being something a little different , and one where those in Greece can point to the 3 days of rain in the summer rather than similar amount of days with the sun in the UK.

 

So when the idea was floated about Terry and the now Mrs Charlotte Campbell getting married on the Island of Aegina in Greece , along comes the logistical question of who of those that we/they and everyone would expect to want to be at a wedding -- as apposed to those who would want to catch a plane and go to a wedding 1500+ miles away and make it a summer break of some kind, at the same time.

 

 

It is a fact that many friends or relations of Terry & Charlotte could not actually make the trip and there were others who had already made plans way in advance to special places that clashed and could not be changed, all of whom may have come had the wedding been in a church around Sutton. However , even with those no-shows there was still the logistics of not only getting some -- 60 people from all over to the island , but also for some major accommodation issues that on the whole were not in the end that bad.

 

If you add to that the fact that as some individuals don't like flying and therefore decided to drive -- well it makes it all the more remarkable.

 

Fortunately for Lynda and me , there were many folk who we had no issue with getting into places such as Giannis at the Electra Hotel ---

 

 

Clean , well appointed and reasonably priced with a very eccentric owner who wants everything to be perfect, which our friends and relatives took over for a fortnight.

 

There was family with J , Lynsey and the Boys with us in Kardia, and Juliet and the family in a really nice apartment round the corner from us in the middle of town.

 

And the Danae Hotel with a large number of suitably aged friends that had the opportunity to take care of one another before and after the wedding with good rates for all here for the wedding.

 

 

Then there were others who rented Villas and houses for the duration , especially as it suited both types of guests.

1. first there were those in a large group who wanted to be sure to be all together in somewhere that gave a bit of Luxury and had enough facilities that meant they didn't have to be out and about all the time and that certainly applies to the Villa Aelia, near Perdika---

 

 

-- Tis kind of living the dream, with the only down side being that it is a fair way from Aegina Town so almost always a taxi to and from. Never mind-- once supplies were stocked up there were some opportunity for amazing Bar-b-q's with views to die for.

 

2. The others was for a place where friends could meet up with family , allowing them to trial the living environment on the island in advance of maybe taking somewhere more permanent next year.

 

Remember the saying -- "Once you have drunk the water in Aegina , you always come back"

 

I love water so look at me.

 

So back to the issues at hand and that is the integration of 60 odd people into an island culture that not all will have experienced or even like. Which brings me to the point that we are all different  -- for Good and for Bad -- new are all born unique and should be accepted for that fact and to allow for our individualism to be able to be shown and shared.

 

It doesn't mean that everyone has to like that from others but we all have a right to it.

Here in Aegina we also have to accept that when inviting over 50% of the guests to come from the Island itself then the mix becomes even more eclectic , diverse and have cultures that can be far removed from the everyday life that others understand.

What you need in the mix are GOOD people and we have had help from a number of those -- like these 2 for instance---

 

 

What Masha and Lee managed to ram into their car as well as fitting Jess in was nothing short of a miracle - well maybe not for their SUV but certainly for Lynda and me -  as was what they took back with them the presents that Terry and Charlotte would never have managed to get home.

 

There was also evidence from a number of people that encourages me that there are still good people about when you need them but always remember this rule-----

 

And the simple answer is that you cant anyway.

 

What you can do is though to try to find the Good in people, even if you don't always feel that you are successful.

This message should be read by anyone who knows me to know that this is what I am like and they will recognise it is who I am---

 

I really like Emerson and one of his sayings from such a long time ago that I have always tried to follow since I first read it over 20 years ago is -----

I have always tried to think a little outside the box and to create better ways to do things -- not for me , although I guess I would benefit from others following . There are always choices to be made in the world , some good and some bad , and without doubt , education and mentors play a very big part as t the choices we make.

I truly believe that the following statement is a fair reflection of the majority of People. I think there are always going to be those that make bad choices due to their personal circumstances and of course there are always going to be those  minority that make bad choices because it is in their make-up and they know no other way.

 

This was written by a young girl who with her sister died in Bergen Belsen in 1945 of Typhus. If someone who suffered as she did at the hands of her oppressors can still think like this there must be hope for us all.

And before anyone jumps all over this page-- well any of those wo might choose to read this -- being and choosing to be a good person has absolutely nothing to do with religion. you do not have to believe in any religion to be good ,it is just  how a person is and what they choose to be like. So you can be good and be religious or be good and be non-religious -- religion does not dictate it. Otherwise with the amount of religion there is around , then the world would be full of good people and it aint that yet by a mile.
 

 I am not sure as to the chances of "Operation Nice " ever being possible in my lifetime , especially when there are those around who have no problems with generating hatred and discontent, but you know what -- if none of us did what is the right thing regularly then this world will become a very bad place -- worse than it is right now.

Old fashioned values -- maybe -- although there is still evidence that these principles are still embraced by some. Is it more prevalent in those of a certain age , who happen to remember when these things were an everyday occurrence rather than by chance and only on odd occasions now.

 

We will never all be like this chap nor am I sure that we should aspire to being a Saint or angel because that would tell me that individuality will have disappeared.

 

What we can do though is extend a hand to those who need help-- to be there for people less fortunate than us and to don the right thing even when no-one is looking.

 

 

 

A lot of what is needed by people are the things listed here below -- Listen occasionally as others may have something meaningful to say-- be careful to communicate accurately and not get misunderstood-- be careful of social media and how you react or how you answer people and for sure do not let the internet become your tool of choice to communicate to people, that just becomes so impersonal and you will end up losing the ability to directly be in contact with colleagues, friends and relations .

 

 

This below might not always be possible but it should not stop the majority of us from trying to be like this.

 

But if you can achieve this then you can understand that you made a difference---

 

 

 

 

Wow , did I ever deviate from where I started.

 

I guess what I am trying very badly to show is that there are a multitude of different people with different ways that they portray themselves, they are in the main good people and we are very grateful to the many who helped and advised in both the lead up to the wedding of Terry & Charlotte and to those helping on the day.

 

Without all of this Lynda and I could not have made it through with some kind of sanity left, so for that we are very grateful.

 

For me though the goodness that I see all the time is from my wife Lynda who just wants everyone to be happy and with regard to the wedding she has always only ever wanted those who came, to leave with the very best of memories and to have had the most amazing time.

 

That's not for us to say but for others that have a view from the day. What I am able to say though is in the following message---

 

 

 

That's us