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Published: December 4th 2006
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Well hello my dears; it’s been an overwhelming week and our heads are still spinning, but we are well and truly HERE. Maggie & I had a few teary moments together on the flight; but we also shared a few giggles, especially when we had a bottle + of wine each with dinner, while watching The Brothers Grimm…and DESPERATELY needing to visit the restroom but unable to pull ourselves away from the movie and besides we had to climb over the young woman in the aisle seat. Tip # 1 for making this journey: get the aisle seat. In fact, I highly recommend the middle aisle seats; that way the most people you have climbing over you is the one person at your side. There is rarely a view worth the discomfort of being at the window seat. Tip # 2: get all of your carryon baggage up into the overhead storage; have a toiletries-type bag with your absolute essentials: ipod, water bottle, a few snacks and breath mints, etc. You can tuck that into your flap in the seat in front of you…but leave lots of room for your feet.
We had a great visit in Heathrow Airport in
London with my pal Deborah; we have been friends since I was an exchange student to South Africa in 1971. She & her family moved to England some years ago, so she was empathetic and encouraging.
Arrival was sunny warm and welcoming; Ken brought along his brothers Laurence, Mike, and Mum Berg to the airport to greet us. We relaxed at Mike’s most of the day; then met up all together at a great Cuban restaurant where I slowly slumped into my seat under the weight of mojitos, champagne, and jet lag.
We’re living temporarily in a little one-bedroom flat owned by our friends Gilles & Sue ; it’s got a sweet little alcove for Maggie to sleep in. It’s well located for now, but we are officially on the hunt for a rental. Security concerns are making me a little irritable; we have to literally lock ourselves in at night, and Ken has felt it’s necessary to hide the computers from sight….I’m getting a bit claustrophobic at night and insisting that we OPEN SOME WINDOWS for christsake. Getting our own cottage will help I hope.
And yes we headed off to the beach on our first full day here; Cape Town seems like more of a resort town than I had remembered nowadays. Aspects of it remind me of what I imagine Miami to be like, or L.A., or any other coastal town in a warm climate. Especially the shopping centre I am sitting in right now: lots of very beautiful women of leisure, well-cared for and tightly lifted.
Maggie went to an orientation at her school last Friday, and VERY irritably got up at 6:30 this morning to catch the train and be on time for her first day today. She’s got a pretty full schedule, and came home with a pile of notebooks that she threw onto the table with an exasperated inquiry as to HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CARRY ALL THIS CRAP AROUND????????
She’ll be Ok I think. She’s already been out at the local club, “Cool Runnings” with her cousins, and last night went to the “hottest “ club in town with Sue & Gille’s son Tom to watch a friend perform. So she’s jumping right in socially; although she said that her schoolmates seemed aloof and unfriendly on Friday. I hope that opinion changes today.
Ken is at work from 7:30 to 6:00; long hours. There’s some concern that the project could be dropped/postponed……..which would be a bit tragic. But we’ll cope I suppose. I ‘ll continue to be a lady of leisure as long as I can; SOMEBODY”S got to stay relaxed.
The waiter is beginning to make comments about how long my letter is…they don’t actually get many people working on their laptops like this that much; I’m a bit of an oddity. As always.
Missing you all incredibly; I feel overwhelmed and confused and irritated and challenged by all this. But it is sunny ( except for the rain we brought yeterday…) and the view of the mountains and sea is lovely.
Much much love to all;
xxxxxxxxxxxKris
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