Long good day at work.. We had a short break before dinner .. Diane and I used the time to take another walk around Winchester. Diane spent 6 hours walking around today and found a cool path by the river Itchen that we don’t believe was here 30 years ago .

 

we saw a swan who tried to scare us off. 

 

 

it was beautiful and so very English !

 

on the way back, we stopped by the chisel rectory. where we got engaged over 30 years ao.. little did we know that it was on the ‘list’

 

then we took a quick walk back through town to meet some good friends for dinner..

 

we even saw our old grocery store.. 

 

and tan old (the oldest !) pub.. where our friend Terry used to play 

 

we had a great dinner with friends.. which wwas really fun..

 

then I came back to two hours of phone meetings..   which were dolly fun as well

going to sleep now

more tomorrow

nite all. nite sam

-me

 

we began the day in Prague at a great IBM TLE event.. My talk went pretty well… It was great getting to spend time with so many work friends there over the last few days. I’m really inspired by our team inCnetral Europe.. Really smart.. and really fun..

Now we’re in WInchester UK. Diane and I are here.. for work meetings. We lived here 30 years ago !>. it’s diagnose’ first time back since 1994 when we were here with Max and Sam.. Gabel wasn’t born yet.. .. It is so fun and strange walking these same streets again. It’s a really nice town

 

We stopped in for a curry.. which is one of our favorite memories of living here.. 

 

We met up with some work friends and had a few beers.. it was great catching up with them.. then a couple of them came with Diane and me to see our old home on Canon Street

]

The street still looks like something out of Harry Potter.. We had good times there. can’t believe it has been 30 years ! \

 

We stopped by our old house, number 75 canon street.. and took a a very quiet picture.. We didn’t want to wake up anyone and freak them out !

 

We stopped in at our old local pub, the wykham arms.. it had just passed last call.. but we didn’t mind.. we only wanted a look around 

we dropped one of our friends off at hs hotel.. then walked the high street on home. what memories !

=

its good to be back.. it feels kind of homes !

more tomorrow.

 

nite all. nite sam

-me

 

Kind of quiet day.. which is what I need to try and catch up from taking yesterday as mostly vacation.. it seems that every day I take off, it takes two to catch up.. It hs been great hanging out with Diane.. I really love having her here with me.. I miss her lots when I travel alone..  I think she’s keeping me sane.. (Only reason I say ‘i guess’) is that I’m not really sure I’m sane 🙂

I have a ton (>400) pictures from yesterday that  I didn’t post because it was the anniversary of my fathers death..

I’ll use the time to try and pick out some of them to share.. Thisis is such a beautiful city.. it’s impossible not to take pictures !

starting back on Sunday night.. we wandered out into town around 9

 

Past the dog watering fountain

 

to the old clock tower to see the famous 400 (600 ?) year old astronomical clock

 

then we climbed up the tower for an amazing view of this very comfy town

 

next day started with another longish run up to a park north of the city

 

great graffiti everywhere !

 

there’s a giant kinetic sculpture up there called.. the metronome.. it’s huge.. and it keeps very good time !

 

we ran up there.. and placed a samstone in a beautiful flowering apple tree

 

then back down to the hoel.. through chaff’s old stomping grounds

 

then we started out on our day. admiring the public art everywhere

 

we stopped at the kapok gallery.. nice find for modern art

 

then a stop at the very bizarre .. and fascinating Kafka museum..

 

 

there’s a famous (and sadly no longer functioning) animated statue outside the museum..a t one point you could text it.. and the two statures qwould pee out your message.. on a map of checklosovakia .. (huh ?)

 

thence took the big adventure for the day..  we took subways and a bus way not of the city to visit laura and huzza friends of my friends karen and wayne.. long story.. but they know each other from dobra tea.. Laura moved to prague to marry huzza and they now have beautiful 2 1/2 year old timotin ?(sp ?).. they raise bamboo in a beautiful oasis surrounded by soviet era apartment blocks. we spent several really wonderful hours playing talking and drinking with them.. it was memorable. it was so great to meet them.. i am hoping they will visit all of us in vermont soon !

 

then back to Prague for a meetigup with work friends..

 

this morning atoner longish run up the park to the observation tower (closed0.. but beautiful 

 

and another picture with my favorite peeing freinds

 

 

we ventured outa but.. but it was really hot (80 degrees). we checked out a very bizarre show (on death and drugs) at the national museum..t hen ate some great street food on the way home

 

The rest of the day I worked.. and then met up with a balloon ibm friends who converged here tonight.. More on that tomorrow

 

right now i gotta sleep

nite all, nite sam

-me

 

Today marks the year anniversary of my fathers death.., i cant believe iT is already a year. I think of him everyday.. And talk to him most days still. I was looking at all the pictures i posted of him last year on this day

http://johncohn.org/base/2014/05/05/sunday-night-my-father

In my culture we call this day his yarhzeit. We mark the day by burning a candle .. We improvised one hear in prague…

 

I miss you dad and will always love you..

We all will

Nite all nite sam

-me