m

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And so, I came home again....
flying out of the USA on Thanksgiving was interesting. The obly AmericansI saw were the staff in the asirport.. everyone else were tourists etc, as real Americans don't fly anywhere then... they have done their travelling already!
Heaps of security, but none for me, for a change.

Long flights.... and then, in NZ and Oz... such little security! Even tho my luggage was xrayed in Oz, because I declared candy- there was no sense that I was "related to terrorists" etc... the feeling you get ALL the time in USA airport space.

I LOVED hearing the accents again... in the LA lounge... there they were- the Aussies.

I am an Aussie at heart, I think, who loves the UK, enjoyed the continent of the north America, and who travelled round the world- and back again, and had fun.
There and back again.

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Wednesday....


For lunch, L took me to the dearest English Teahouse.... full of dainty sandwhiches and scones... but oh, suddenly I felt homesick for the REAL thing.... lovely as the USA is- the UK was wonderful! It touched my heart in a way no other place could do. Anyway, this shop had a great ammount of pretty floral UK china, teapots etc for sale. We drove around some regions then too, finding a part for L's computer, and getting lost... suburban sprawl here is the same as anywhere really. The tourist stretches are great; the rest is ho -humish big town.
Then on to the airport hotel in which I am to spend the night- and the final farwell to a dear friend. Lots of farewells to folk over the last few months- people who really matter to me now.... Heaven will need to fulfill my requirements- a place where you never need to say "goodbye".
But, as I walked back inside after the hugs- and found a Work Centre (with free access to internet), I was sure of 2 things- sometimes earth is a place that resembles heaven in many ways- especially when relationships with people are involved, and then, now- it is good to have set my face towards home.
I want to hear people say that peculiar sound that only Australians say... the ER sound as in "butter" or "Brisbane".


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Over the last 2 days I posted this thread in both the internnetboards I belong to... I repost it here, more for my records than anything else... And it seems appropriate for Thanksgiving Eve.

"Going home with a thankful heart!
So long Singapore, Sydney, UK, Canada and USA- and thankyou for the hospitality so many of you gave to me over my past 3 months of travel...

I wanted to say something to the many folk who met me these past few months... please read, BUT don't feel you have to respond... this is just my way of responding to my need to say "thanks". And a thread seemed an easier way to do it- so that no-one was left out.

Thankyou to the folk, dear folk, who over the last 3 months, befriended me- an internet friend- in real life... who had me stay in their homes,who drove me places, who picked me up (sight unseen) from stations and airports, who looked after me when I was sick, who wined and dined me, who showed me their favourite places in their neighbourhood, who prayed with me and for me, who laughed with me, who hugged me, who talked to me on the phone, who did my washing, who sometimes made kind plans to meet me (but things sadly fell through), who taught me to eat strange but wonderful foreign foods- who did all or some of these things with me or for me. Thankyou so much- from my heart, with my love.

Thankyou for sharing yourselves and a little of your world with me. It was fun. I saw fabulous places, and met wonderful people. I have a heartful of memories, 2 full suitcases, and heaps of undeveloped film. But it is the heartful that is the most important.

And if I can ever return the favour- well, make your way to my neck of the woods...

With love as I return to Australia tomorrow,
Rowen"

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Still Tuesday:


Tonight we went out to an indian place, where I was given my own Thanksgiving Dinner, albeit both early and unusual... but lovely! I had Indian my first night at Silwe's in london, and now- my last night with friends here.
Such interesting conversation. L and her husband are fascinating people- clever, aware, interested and compassionate.

I have been so fortunate- to meet so many of the dearest folk- from Sydney through to San Francisco, over the past 3 months.

I have fallen madly in lust with a fruit called pomegranites... and will look for them at home.

Lovely weather- cool, clear blue skies that go on forever... a halfway point between there anyway, and home.

Sad and glad that this time is almost up... one thing I have noticed... the absence of deep-down stress... long service leaves are a damm good idea! plus theymake all foreigners envious, and this is a good thing! lol

I quote the diary bit that L wrote about me, but in her own blog....

" Row came along to Crim today and had a fantastic time (at least I'm pretty sure she wasn't kidding when she said so). She didn't bother with Civ Pro, though, which was probably wise. She's also had a ball discovering all of the things one can eat in California that are unavailable, or at least exceedingly difficult to find, in Australia, including burritos, banh mi, pupusas, and -- [at this point I realize I can't move to Australia until they figure this one out] -- pomegranates. The two of us came home from The City today and tucked into a pair of pomegranates with all the fervor and delight of kids licking the bowl after Mom made cookies"

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Well, today, Tuesday has been fascinating!


Again, I came into SF with L, using a variety of transport systems... we went into her law school, where I attended a lecture on duress- interesting topic, extremely good lecturer- passionate, funny, clever....
Then Vietnamese sandwhiches for lunch- and now this...
I am mostly going to write this now, so flok are aware of my next movements. Following the messed-up of my Detroit-Vancouver ticket, things changed around several times re flights. But now, all is stable, and the Brisnbane folk know when I come in. I will spend tomorrow night in an airport motel, and then flight out Thanksgiving morning. I am not likely to have much internet access after all this, until I get home Saturday... but, as said yesterday, I will continue this diary for a few more days- to record the home flights- just in case anyone is interested.
Sf has been a beaut place to visit, and the friends here just lovely!



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Upon reflection, I rather like keeping a diary online... even if it doesn't necessarily go public. Blogging is a practice growing in popluarity today, so who knows!


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When this diary started I included a prayer I found in a Celtic liturgy book... I posted it here, because I liked it, but it was lost in the early crash this site had... so I will include again here.... You see, I couldn't find a prayer for long-service leave , so adopted this instead.


Blessing for a sabbath:

May you enter trustingly into this sabbath space
May you enter quietly into this sabbath rest
May you enter joyfully into this sabbath play.

Let your body unfold in this sabbath
Let your mind unwind in this sabbath
Let your spirit extend in this sabbath

May it reveal its secrets to you gently
May it embody its truth in you authentically
May it release new life in you abundantly

So go with gladness into this sabbath
Go with gratitude into this sabbath
And may the God who rests on the sabbath
look at her labours in you
and proclaim "It is very good!"


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And finally, a very good recipe I got, from Yavanna, back in Cornwall... it is yummy.... (NOTE, in the USA, fresh coriander is called cilantro)


"The recipe you wanted! Vary the amounts depending on the number of people you want to feed.

Boil some nice wholegrain brown rice. Rinse in hot water and set to one side.Steam some green beans, or any other green veg you fancy.
Put a tablespoon of olive oil and a couple of tablespoons of butter into a frying pan. Add some crushed garlic (as much or as little as you like - but minimum two cloves I'd say), two teaspoons each of coriander and cumin, pepper and salt (I put in slightly more because I like strong flavours).
Heat the spices/garlic gently in the oil and butter mix. Add a tin or two of drained chickpeas and heat through.
Add the rice and beans.
As a last minute garnish you can add fresh chopped coriander ! Et voila! "

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monday was fun... I spent the day with S, from yesterday... He wrote an account for the board we belong to, so I thought his account was geographically correct- and I post it here.....
(S gave up a day of work for me! how generous...)

"So we had an excellent time today. After I met Row and Laurelin, we saw Laur off to her school while Row and I took a cable car from the Market St turnaround to Aquatic Park. Row was quite thrilled as the cable car mounted Nob Hill, swung around to Russian Hill, then plunged down to the park.

We strolled by the water a bit, then checked out the shops in Ghiradelli Square. Stopped by The Cannery for a bit then walked through Fisherman's Wharf where got a walkaway crab cocktail from a vender. No, silly the cocktail doesn't walk away on its own legs, you walk away eating it! Then it was off to get tickets for a Bay Cruise. While we waited for the cruise to depart, we had In-and-Out Burgers. A first for me Then we cruised under the Golden Gate Bridge and circled Alcatraz. They had cool headset that played a narration that told you what you were seeing

After that we strolled back to the Cannery, and hired a cab to take us down the crookedest street in the world--no silly, not Wall Street in New York, crooked as in making lots of turns! Then we had the cab drop us off at the top of Coit Tower where Rowe didn't exactly delight the ticket seller by paying for her ticket entirely in change. We checked out the stairway gardens of Greenwich and Filbert Streets and actually saw the wild flock of parrots--ruby headed conures--that live on Telegraph Hill. We strolled down to Grant Avenue, sipped cool sodas at the Caffe Trieste in North Beach and ambled back through Chinatown, where we took buses to hook up with Laurelin back at her college! "


And then home via Costco, and a most delicious doughnut shop- Krispy Cremes.
I leave here soon and return to Oz. I will keep this diary here until I get home, in case it needs headlines, like "Clergy stuck in Auckland for 65 hours" or something.

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Yesterday, someone on line- Yavanna from Cornwall, asked me what I'd leant from all this... and I said that the goals were accomplished- ie, the heartful of memories, and the working out if I was a nice person under years of professional nicess... plus I thhink I have discovered I am a witty person, and the type that can go out into the world, and face it, and DO adventures! Yeah, me!

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lost, in SF... a pair of specs. like last time... last week in California... last few days... lose the damm things! However I have already contacted my optometrist... my sister's brother-in-law... like last time, it will be covered by insurance, but bugger! The annoyingness of this over the next few days...

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I quoted a line of poetry yesterday... my sister emailed a little more...

I only know one more line than you:-
"Today I have seen all I wish
For I have seen ten thousand fish

I suspect Ogden Nash but I'm not sure"

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R emailed me too- (from Wenatchee)

"Rowe, I just read your online diary of your visit
here. So sweet!!! How fun to hear things from your
point of view--I'm so glad you had a good time!"


Lots of good times really.
But I want to go home I think, full of memories, but desirous of my own familiar life once more.

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San Francisco.......


Sunday was the best of days!

We left home about 10, and picked up Stormcrow from the KD board, driving off to brunch- where Belegund joined us. I met ALL these folk last time I was here- and indeed stayed with B... so much rejoicing. B left us then... we drove down the coast to Monteray- a resort famous for its aquarium... and boy, was the fame well-deserved. Expensive to get in, but worth it....
Heaps of displays in tanks, including one several stories high... but the new display was this fabulous jelly (fish) centre, where art, music, glass sculpture, science and jellies were displayed.The animals swam serenely about, exquisite in their colouring, and deceptively fragile-looking beauty. Sizes varied. Lights were used as part of the display; gentle music played... one fascinating TV screen showed what we called "jelly porn"! Long scenes of animals swimming, interspersed with scenes of ballet dancers, in many floating costumes and draperies, and one nude, swimming, with scarves drapped around her. then back to the jellies, gently undulating... Amazing photography and editing.
Sea otters swam in a tank; oodles of fish and the like. I remembered a poem from somewhere in my youth... "today I have seen ten thousand fish" is all I can remember... but it was true.
We then drove back to SF along a lovely coastline, stopping off in the Artichoke Heart of the nation to buy deep-fried artichokes (yummy), and then passing through the Garlic Heart... and the smell permeated out through the region.
Finally we went to The Outback.... a pseudo Aussie restaurant chain... the food was nice, but any pretensions of real links to Oz were crap... apart from an imaginative use of place names as food titles. Hal, another poster, joined us for dinner- and a merry time was had by all.
but all good times come to an end...

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Finally, I get to meet L's famous chinchillas... her 2 pets... soft, furry and adorable creatures... they live in the study in a large cage.

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Again, hosts full of gracious hospitality and love, and adesire to have me happy and relaxed. I am so fortunate in the gift of friends- internet buddies included.

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Saturday... Wentachee to San Francisco:

We had a lovely drive from Wenatchee to Seattle Airport... through heaps of mountain passes - all without snow... R dutifully phoned to see if the way was clear- and it most certainly was. There was snow high above us, and down low it was expected, but not yet... The road went through some beautiuful forest country- just lovely.
We drove hru' the town used for the TV series Northern Exposure... just the same as on TV... (Town = Rosslyn). Then past the hills used for TwinPeaks series too. We had a break at Rosslyn, buying lemonade from 2 little girls, ans wandering the streets, recognising landmarks.
At Seattle, they had the most incredible checkin procedure, involving 4 desks, and security Xrays etc. My large suitcase had "dense" material therin, so was marked for opening... BUT we discoverd the keys were back in Wenatchee.... so they used hacksaws! Absent-minded me qualities finally kicked in!
Finally, here I am in SF- the last week of the trip...
Laurelin and her husband are so welcoming...we had fab. El Salvodorean food for ddinner, and then went on to a Tea House, where I drank a mix of grape juice and tea... will have to try and work it out when I get home.
Lots of laughter and "remember whens"..

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Friday...
The theory was I could have done anything today- the reality was I chose nothing... Yeah! (Spent some time today making SF plans, and going home emails.)
R wrote in my present tonight- the extended dvd of The Lord of the Rings..."Blessings on the great quest of your life. We may not run into elves or orcsm but our adventures are marvellous none the less. You have the stirit of Strider, the courage of Frodo and the heart of Sam. I'm so glad to call you friend." Well, tis true about the non-likelihood of elves- but we do sometimes find angels!

I have met a lot of angels the past 8 weeks.


Thursday...
went for a walk; worked on my theory that at any time of the day, one can watch Star Trek (the newer version) on TV here; went to Costco's with R... At night we went out to friend's of R'd for dinner and TV (the American Survivor- wierdly fascinating) - but the company was fun, and loved meeting an Australian with a cute accent. The house was high on the hills near here- fab. view.
R gave me an Xmas gift- the new extended version dvd of The Lord of the Rings- which she bought at Costco's. So sweet- seeing that it was that book which spurred us on to become friends!
Soon I will fly on to SF and then- after a week of fun- will go home....the time is ripe I think, for new beginnings, and new resumings... I will miss the adventure- but I have accomplished my goals, and know quite well that life goes on...

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Wednesday....


R came home to pick me up at lunch- we went downtown, where I did some walking around the streets -"Art on the Avenue" project... quite interesting. Then I was walking to the museum, when suddenly I was haled on the street. I almost fainted with shock, for this is not something I have come across the last few months- who would know me to hale me? Anyhows, it was a woman from the Book Club... and we walked companionably up the hill. I entered the museum- quite interesting, if small townish, but with one of the best model railway exhibitions I have ever seen- of the local scene, that goes through the mountains. And then a long walk home, as I meanderd through the streets. As long as you know which mountains are closest to your house, it would be hard to get lost here. Cool, grey weather.
Then, last night we went up to Leavensworth to have dinner. I love clams- nicer than mussels. It was coooollllld outside, but cosy in the pub. Such pretty Xmas lights.
R is a very dear person, and I am so glad we are friends. She is a very "out there" Christian, so we have had great conversations, and she has good taste in Christian music.