Nick, Jenny Clack's little boy sent his mum a nice letter that she forwarded on for us to see. Like this...!
From: nick clack nickclack@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 06:16:11 -0700
Oh a miracle happened....I found cheez-its here!
I was so excited. Let me paint a picture if I may. I'm strolling through Carrefour, the french supermarket, listening to my Ipod. I've already grabbed almost everything on my list wheatabix, Pita chips, corn flakes, Granola bars, OJ you know the usual. But every time i go into the imported foods section i have this little beam of hope that i'll run across my favorite cheese snack cracker. I'm on my way to get some yogurt, when what should my eyes cast their gaze on? Those tasty morsels of cheesy deliciousness, that's right, Cheez-its. A sheepish grin of victory came over my mug, some might call it a grinch like smirk. The two chinese girls perusing the imports saw my delight at this monumental discovery. They could see the pure joy in my face at the sight my favorite treat from back home. I hastily grabbed two boxes of the robust snack cracker. When the girls saw me snatch the crackers off the shelf, their eyes caught the price, which was of no relevance to me. They could have been charging $10 a box and I would have bought them. I did later do the math, and for one of the small boxes you can buy at the store in the states for like $3.00, i paid $6.00. But it was worth every penny, who cares if i could buy two of my usual delicious meals at the turkish restaurant i frequent, beef Kebab. Or that i could have eaten for almost an entire week of local soups, twice a day, from the stand down the street. The good folks at Carrefour have moved up like 10 notches in my book.
I guess when you're in china half way across the world, to find a little piece of home is pretty nice.
Nick.
*********
I thought, as I read it. "Just a kid who hasn't travelled much" then I thought back 70 years or so.
What a great letter Jen,
Nick seems to have settled in now and is taking it all in stride...and having fun at it. It's probably not the prettiest place in China but it's all there for the young school teacher. Got any plans to visit yet?
Cheezits's whood a thunk it! Mind you when I first went to live in a foreign country I remember feeling the same, although it seems so long ago now. When I was feeling the need for civilization I used go down to a pseudo English Pub called the "Mucky Duck" get my English Beer, have a fish and chip dinner and but some cheese or something from home. So I know how he feels.
Then I'd make the long drive back from Wiltshire Blvd in Santa Monica to Playa del Rey in Los Angeles. :>)
It's all relative innit!
Got an email from my Jen this week. She'd just returned from taking a school trip to "Mongolia" Fantastic. I was jealous I've been wanting to go there since I was a kid and saw a movie about it.
Some of her pics here.
http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c116/1scouse/Mongolia%20Montage/?action=view¤t=1.jpg
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Puerto Escondido
This is where we’re heading to come November 3rd. Sharon picked up a new "Frommer's Guide" from in the mall while we were out yesterday and they said:-
Puerto Escondido seems disconnected from the rest of the world, an idyllic beach town stuck in time. I'd call it the best overall beach value in Mexico, and it retains the same casual beach feel that has drawn people here for decades. Although it has long been known as one of the world's top surf sites, today its appeal is broadening. Think alternative therapies, great vegetarian (I try not to, dad) restaurants, hip nightlife, inexpensive hotel and dining options, and some of Mexico's best coffee shops. It's for those whose priorities include the dimensions of the surf break (big), the temperature of the beer (cold), the strength of the coffee (espresso), and the optimal tanning angle. The young and very aware crowd that comes here measures time by the tides, and the pace is relaxed.
The location of "Puerto," as the locals call it, makes it an ideal jumping-off point for ecological explorations of neighboring jungle and estuary sanctuaries, as well as neighboring indigenous mountain settlements. Increasingly, it attracts those seeking both spiritual and physical renewal, with abundant massage and bodywork services, yoga classes, and exceptional and varied healthful dining options.
People come from the United States, Canada, and Europe to stay for weeks and even months—easily and inexpensively. Expats have migrated here from Los Cabos, Acapulco, and Puerto Vallarta seeking what originally attracted them to their former homes—stellar beaches, friendly locals, and low prices. Added pleasures include an absence of beach vendors and time-share sales, an abundance of English speakers, and terrific, inexpensive dining and nightlife.
This is a real place, not a produced resort. A significant number of visitors are European travelers, and it's common to hear a variety of languages on the beach and in the bars. Puerto Escondido is also a favorite among Mexican college students. Solo travelers will probably make new friends within an hour of arriving. There are still surfers here, lured by the best break in Mexico, but espresso cafes and live music are becoming just as ubiquitous.
The city has been dismissed as a colony of former hippies and settled backpackers, but it's so much more. I have a theory that those who favor Puerto are just trying to keep the place true to its name (escondido means "hidden") and undiscovered by tourists. Don't let them trick you—Visit, and soon, before it, too, changes.
***
It also gave me a chance to try out the OCR program on my printer, copier, scanner.
What, you thought I typed all this out myself……?
One article in a magazine started "I came for two weeks and stayed two years!"
Mandy will know what that means.
Puerto Escondido seems disconnected from the rest of the world, an idyllic beach town stuck in time. I'd call it the best overall beach value in Mexico, and it retains the same casual beach feel that has drawn people here for decades. Although it has long been known as one of the world's top surf sites, today its appeal is broadening. Think alternative therapies, great vegetarian (I try not to, dad) restaurants, hip nightlife, inexpensive hotel and dining options, and some of Mexico's best coffee shops. It's for those whose priorities include the dimensions of the surf break (big), the temperature of the beer (cold), the strength of the coffee (espresso), and the optimal tanning angle. The young and very aware crowd that comes here measures time by the tides, and the pace is relaxed.
The location of "Puerto," as the locals call it, makes it an ideal jumping-off point for ecological explorations of neighboring jungle and estuary sanctuaries, as well as neighboring indigenous mountain settlements. Increasingly, it attracts those seeking both spiritual and physical renewal, with abundant massage and bodywork services, yoga classes, and exceptional and varied healthful dining options.
People come from the United States, Canada, and Europe to stay for weeks and even months—easily and inexpensively. Expats have migrated here from Los Cabos, Acapulco, and Puerto Vallarta seeking what originally attracted them to their former homes—stellar beaches, friendly locals, and low prices. Added pleasures include an absence of beach vendors and time-share sales, an abundance of English speakers, and terrific, inexpensive dining and nightlife.
This is a real place, not a produced resort. A significant number of visitors are European travelers, and it's common to hear a variety of languages on the beach and in the bars. Puerto Escondido is also a favorite among Mexican college students. Solo travelers will probably make new friends within an hour of arriving. There are still surfers here, lured by the best break in Mexico, but espresso cafes and live music are becoming just as ubiquitous.
The city has been dismissed as a colony of former hippies and settled backpackers, but it's so much more. I have a theory that those who favor Puerto are just trying to keep the place true to its name (escondido means "hidden") and undiscovered by tourists. Don't let them trick you—Visit, and soon, before it, too, changes.
***
It also gave me a chance to try out the OCR program on my printer, copier, scanner.
What, you thought I typed all this out myself……?
One article in a magazine started "I came for two weeks and stayed two years!"
Mandy will know what that means.
Hi Daughter Dear
You found your way in OK by the looks of it. Takes a bit of fiddling around but who cares as long as we understand what I think you mean to say.. I think!
Thanks Elih, I'll be posting some more photos a I go. The Coonies and the deer miss you. Like this sad looking guy, I told him you'll be back and that made him happy. In the mean time Connor and Grace will look after him.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Great start
Great start, the photo didn't come up. One more try. Well what do you know, there it is...at the top!
Starting a blog
Well we have to start somewhere, sometime, so why not here and now?
We plan on moving around a bit and sharing with you guys and this seems to be a good way to go. Glad I thought it up!
I want to try a photo as well so why not a hummer for fun.
So now I'll see what it looks like.
We plan on moving around a bit and sharing with you guys and this seems to be a good way to go. Glad I thought it up!
I want to try a photo as well so why not a hummer for fun.
So now I'll see what it looks like.
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