Travelling.
The joy of exploring new places has never left me. Growing up with free and cheap train tickets from my daddy working to mend the old steam engines, we used to visit our cousins in Ireland, Scotland and Leicester. We had Irish ones and English ones. An Irish daddy and an English Mummy. There were six children. I had four brothers and a sister. I then hitch hiked 30,000 miles which was a wonderful way to travel, meeting all kinds of interesting people. And seeing many exciting places. This was between being 17 and 24 years of age.
I took my two daughters travelling and we had great adventures on our bikes to Germany, Holland and France, camping or staying in Youth Hostels. We took our back packs to Athens, then boats to see some of the islands. Took them to Canada and little brother Kevin took my family and his camping in the Rockies. Took them to Disneyland in California that trip too.

My daughter Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband Rob and their delightful daughter Jaz, who was born in July 2004. So I have been to America often to see her, wherever she was. This year I had a wonderful month in the States to see different places, as well as being at Jaz's first birthday party. She is a beautiful fun loving little girl. Rachel takes her to work where she is looking after two little boys. So she has little people company too.
It was great trip involving lots of planning and emailing people. I stayed with members of www.womenwelcomewomen.org.uk and some other friends. I went to Minnesota, the State of 10,000 lakes and there they have two seasons, Winter and Road Building. I swam in the huge lake at the end of Mary's garden. They skate on it in winter. Met some beautiful women there. Mary, Sandy, Dee, Natalie and Susan. Great memories of Minnesota. Then to San Francisco. I stayed in a small youth hostel near Union Square. I loved this city. I wish Rachel lived here instead of in the suburbs of LA. I was fascinated by a city I could manage to explore on public transport. Went to Alcatraz and felt for the people who were incarcerated in there as there was no escape. Although many people tried. Loved Fisherman's Wharf. The tram and Trolley went there. Had a great fish dinner there. Met an interesting teacher called Anne, from the Bronx so we walked over the Golden Gate bridge together. We also visited a teddy bear factory and there were letters from enthusiastic children who had enjoyed their visit. Anne wished that her students could write as well as this, Am not convinced that President Bush's promise of "No child left behind" will work.
I loved seeing the Musee Mechanique with all the things that once filled Victorian piers.
I met Linda a 5W and Matthew a member of www.hospitalityclub.com and had interesting evenings with dinner with each of them.
Then I got on a bus to LA as I wanted to meet my Australian nephew Nick and his partner Maggie who had just ridden Route 66 from Chicago to LA on a Harley. Rachel and Jaz met my bus and we all met up in Santa Monica for dinner. Years since I met Nick. Warm and fun loving people. And Rachel's house is lovely and Jaz was magic. They have a hot tub and jacuzzi on the terrace and after a session in there I wanted to stay out and sleep, unbitten. We all cooked for a first birthday party, and Jaz had a beautiful ice cream cake. We all stayed indoors with the air condioning on , because it was over 100 outside. It practically never gets that hot here. I had a very enjoyable two days of Jaz care and we both loved that. Rachel Jaz and I went to the Getti which we all enjoy.
Texas next. Met by Ben and Frieda. I knew two lots of friends and planned to meet a third one Cheryl with whom I play bridge on line. And I only had 3 nights and two days. Promised each friend I would spend a night in each house. And we all met up at Jim and Johnnie's ranch in Muldoon. Johnnie is another friend from internet bridge. I stayed with them a few years ago and went on the trip to Mexico then to put the roof on a clinic the charity was building. Except instead of, or as well as, hammering roof panels together, I took photos of nearly every child in the village. Got them to help me mount an exhibition at the clinic site on a roof panel. Then they distributed the photos around the village and the duplicates to the American students on the trip.
This time we ate drank laughed looked at and photographed 180 quilts Johnnie and Jim had made for Mexico, met Johnnie's son and family in the next house of the 100 acres and played bridge. And we were only there for 18 hours. Had a look around Houston with Cheryl and the Fine Arts Museum with a wonderful dramatic sculpture of a horse by Debra Butterfield. And The Impressionists were lovely too. Went to the Butterfly house too for a live encounter with multicoloured beautiful symbols of my life and mind.
To Knoxville Tennessee and met by a joyful group of 5Ws Dixie Judy and Kay and flowers too. They all live in Lakeside homes because the Tennessee River has been dammed about 32 times. The farmers losing their land were very poorly compensated but the real esate developers for lakeside homes were very well paid. I was interested in the Homesteads experiment during the depression in the Roosevelt administration. (I live in a Garden City) 252 farmsteads can be seen from the top of the firetower. The people worked this land with the promise they could buy it. But the government was then reluctant to honour their promises. But united and focussed power of the people persuaded them to sell the land. We saw an interesting play called"A Homestead Album" in the local theatre with a huge cast and great singing.
I stayed in Judy's house which was full of her lovely weaving and patchwork. And antiques. Charlie, her husband, has a 1964 red Ford Mustang in pristine condition in the garage and a powerful boat for fishing.
Then we all met up for another lunch and to transfer me to Dixie. And to my delight a 5W friend from Virginia who has stayed here a few times, travelled five hours each way to meet up with us.
From Dixie's house we went downtown to Knoxville on public transport. I have met Dixie in England and love her enthusiasm and passion for helping people. We had great beer there, because the barman called it nectar, and were nearly drowned in a horizontal rain lashed storm. We went to a Democrat picnic in the rain too. But the shelter was big enough for us all. And it is always good to meet local people.
And then I flew to Philadelphia. I was at Chicago airpport three times in changing planes. United and 14 planes. Airports are interesting places for Art and exhibitions so my three hours were soon passed.
My friend Michael met me eventually. We had great fun and his house share friend Susan is lovely. We did at least 50 miles in Philadelphia without leaving the city. Saw one of Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" and more Impressionists and Chinese Temples and Japanese Tea Houses at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Saw armed guards at Independence Hall and The Liberty Bell and the coin covered grave of Benjamin Franklin, surely one of the greatest Americans ever. Went to Bucks County and the Mercer Museum with it's great collection of about 50,000 artifacts, Conestoga wagon, farm tools, boats etc in Doylestown, PA, and Mercer's home, Fonthill which he built himself from poured concrete. 44 fabulous rooms with an enthusiastic guide. And the Moravian Pottery works , still producing tiles for all over the world. We went to Yardley and had a great dinner of salmon and grouper and fried feta cheese. Went on a run through the National Constitution centre, rang the Normandy Liberty Bell, ran as in car, late for the airport. Wrong terminal. Right terminal . Too late to check my luggage. Ran to customs, Bells ringing everywhere in security, purple backpack emptied. Beloved pen knife confiscated. My jacket ringing with too many coins. Me in tears because I would miss my plane to Vermont. Security people held the plane for me. Scrambed for it. More stress than usual. I wonder why Michael cleaned his swimming pool during our agreed must be on the road time.?
Vermont to be met by Kitty. A bright politically astute writer. Slept in a cold hard dog smelling bed, but the people were lovely and even the dogs were ok. Went walking. And helped her two musician women friends, Baltimore Philharmonic, build a house. We assembled polystyrene tunnels for the liquid concrete to be poured in. It was a really great trip with beautiful people everywhere. I just had my purple backpack and pocket digital camera.
Ken met me at Heathrow and I ran a dance that evening.