The Duke of Wellington Wellingborough Blues: Saturday, April 28th!

Flattery won't hurt you if you don't swallow it. -Kin Hubbard, humorist (1868-1930)

Stretch!

Hello Katarina! Trust you are well. Thank you for the list of hotels. At the moment I'm in London but will be off to France on Tuesday, May 1st, [Date has much to do with ongoing, revolving train strikes in France!], to Chabeuil, tiny village south of Lyon, where my bike has been waiting for me since 2013! 

From there I will go to Bern and then to Brno. Should I plan to arrive in Brno on Saturday, May 13th and if so, can I stay in the same hotel, (at my expense, of course), there that is booked for the tour? While I am sharing a room, in Poland, with Matt Garrey, I have not heard whether I have a shared or single room in Moravia. Please advise. Looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio!

Dear Patrick I heard from Fiona that you plan to visit Europe this year, more prcisely Switzerland in May. Please let me know, what kind of plans you have concerning Berne. We would like to see you here in our place, there is enough wine ready to taste! 

Monica and me we are leaving may 4th for Cadaques, Spain, for two weeks for our holidays. Thursday, 3rd of may, I have to hold a discourse at a meeting in the evening. So we wonder, if you can make it before we leave. At any time, we wish you a very fine tour in France and Switzerland! Much love, cheers ! Max & Monica Dear Massimo, et al! How terrific to hear from you, Max! Thanks for the lovely picture of the two beautiful women and their escort! Unfortunately, for me, I will not be in Bern before you leave given our respective schedules. I'm off to France on Tuesday, May 1st. [Date has very much to do with ongoing, revolving train strikes in France!], in same Eurostar train car as friend, Andre, so pleased about that, of course. In addition to a flat in London, Rosemary and Andre also own a gorgeous home in Chabeuil, tiny village south of Lyon, where my bike has been waiting for me since 2013!
 

Once there I have to have some tune-up work done on my bike which I'm hoping will only take a day or so, but have no idea, as of this writing, when this can be accomplished. At the very earliest I might be able to leave on May 3rd but I sincerely doubt that this will be possible given arrangements that need to be made at bike shop. Initially I was planning to go directly to Chabeuil from Paris but Andre's plans changed when he had to go to Victoria to see his elderly mother. Due to severe ice storms in Eastern Canada I was not able to make my original connection to Paris so flew to London next day, April 17th to see friends in England until Andre returned. In fact he just flew to London this past Tuesday. At this stage I'm hoping that I will be in Bern in time to see Eveline and Heinz before they leave for Berlin!

I certainly regret, most deeply, not being able to visit with you and Monica as I was keenly hoping to do so, as with all of our dear, dear friends in Switzerland. You will simply have to give Fiona the key to your wine cellar and she can fill me in on all the details of her parents' lives while we enjoy your remarkable nose for exceptionally interesting varietals and vintages! 

[Have fun! X] Mike, my host, here in London, has very kindly offered to drive me, later today, to Stanwick, about 90 minutes north of where I am staying, to spend an over-nighter with Nicolena and Paddy, lovely young couple Lady Dar and I met in Costa Rica, this past January. We will meet at the local pub there, The Duke of Wellington, around noon and I will take a bus and then train back to Mill Hill Broadway on Sunday afternoon.

Again, thank you both for your generous invitation. Travel safely when in Spain and think about a visit to the Okanagan in the not too, too distant future. Stay well. Fondestos and Cheers to one and all, Patrizzio!

PS: Heinz and Fiona, I will be in touch as soon as I have a definite idea of when I will be able to leave for Bern. Should events conspire to prevent me from arriving before May 9th I will certainly let you, Heinz, know, as this may well figure into your departure for Germany. It trust that this will not be the case but enough disruptions have already happened so far, and I've only just started my trip, that I'm not taking anything for granted!

Pics: Hike in Cornwall week ago Saturday, atop a Medieval pack-horse bridge; With Chloë's friend, Dave, on a work visa here in London, last Tuesday, outside a pub near King's Cross; Chiswick House last Thursday; Selfie there with hosts Penny and Mike; Outside The Royal Standard of England, 900 year old pub in Beaconsfield; Inside with Penny photographing me photographing Mike with our server, Eleni; My hosts in Stanwick, Nicolena and Paddy, inside the Althorp Coaching Inn and then outside; At wonderful dinner, (lamb loin with Panna cotta for dessert), prepared by Paddy that evening, with Marilyn, Paddy's mother who lives in Stanwick as well.

Closed down  E mail until 19 May......so.......hope it warms up......Arv & Sandee Dear Sir Patrick. Thanks for your usual newsy letter and lovely photos. You are always so appreciative and that is great. We know Beaconsfield well and the pub where you all imbibed! Great to hear all going to plan and we look forward to your phone call on Sunday evening. About 8.30 to 9pm.A special service at a village church and houch after. Fondestos. Sir James and Lady Patricia. Hello Chesham! Trust you are both well, Lady Patrizzia and Sir James. Fondestos to you both, dear, dear friends. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hello Patrizzio, How is it going? We hope your travel karma has improved since the delays in Vancouver. Where are you now? Have you been on your bike yet?
We saw this article this morning and thought of you. We hope to get to Scotland and Islay in the near future. What about you? We have had a lovely warm stretch of sunny weather this week. April was very wet as you know. We planted peas, beans, arugula, asparagus, flowers, potatoes, kale, summer squash and more in the valley garden. 

We have a greenhouse that Amira and Ollie rebuilt over the course of several days. G and I washed the glass and they pieced it together. It is quite a feat! It used to be in G’s backyard in Vancouver. We are excited about planting tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, melons etc. when G returns. 

Yesterday George transplanted many seedlings Amira began in the greenhouse next to the house. He is off to Halifax tonight and will have almost a week in New Hampshire with Jake and Amira opening up the cabins at Dundee. I will meet G & Jake in Toronto on the 10th. We will celebrate Jake’s 30th birthday in his birthplace. G and I will stay with friends Kevin and Marie. From there we will go to London to visit my Mom and then G & Jake will begin their drive through the US to BC arriving in about 3 weeks from now. I will spend two weeks with my Mom and old friends.
 

We are looking forward to hearing your travel tales. Enjoy the beautiful scenery, company and food on your journey. Be safe and have lots of fun. Cheers, Whirlygig and Calamity xo Hello Green-thumbed Greenhouse People, aka Calamity and Whirlygig! Simply wonderful to hear from you. Trust you are both well. Very, very impressed with your garden endeavours. Host, Derek, in Cornwall, has a lovely greenhouse and his lemon trees, among many other vegetable and flower plantings, produce fabulous fruit. Hadn't realized that you were going to be traveling so extensively. Sounds absolutely wonderful. Happy Birthday to Jacob-Two-Two when the time comes and hello to Amira as well. Hope things go well with your Mom.

Thanks for forwarding The New York Times article. Coincidentally, friend, Colin, in Vancouver, had forwarded the same one but thanks for thinking of me and my dipsomania! I return to Vancouver on July 10th. Lady Dar is busy marrying people but will drive in for Vancouver Folk Fest that weekend. See you then! Fondestos to you both, my favourite Salish Sea Folk! Stay well. Take care of each other. Cheers, Patrizzio! Hello Pickleball Person!Trust you and The Great Ronaldo are both well. Fondestos to you both, Ski and Ronaldo. Cheers, Patrizzio!