NOV. 27, 2001 Emails without text. For some reason yesterday and today I have started to receive emails without text in the body of the email. They are completely blank. Is anyone else experiencing this same problem? They look to have an attachment either titled HAMSTER.MP3, OR HUMOR.MP3, OR SETUP.DOC. I might have to post the email addresses of those who sent them here so that maybe they will resend them again. I believe we are looking at another virus. I will therefore not open or download any emails with attachments. Please do NOT send attachments until we find out what is happening. If you wish to send me something, write first to tell me the name of the file so I can look for it. If anyone can shed some light on this subject, please let me know.

NOV. 21. Missing Thanksgiving Day. Here in England everyone is in the full swing of Christmas, which actually started hitting the retails shops mid-October! In the U.S., we have an unspoken tradition of not bringing out Christmas items until the day after Thanksgiving, which this year is Friday Nov. 23. However, it is common to have Christmas items creep out before Thanksgiving in many shops, but the full blown hit you hard with advertising on the telly usually falls the Friday after we have stuffed outselves full of turkey and pumpkin pie.
Several people here have asked me about the Thanksgiving holiday as they don't understand it. Right now, the British are fully absorbed with Christmas thoughts, although many have confided in me to say that they think Christmas shopping starts far too early for their tastes. They wish all the hoopla began when we (in the U.S.) 'officially' start it, the end of November.
I have told those who have asked me about Thanksgiving that it originated with the early Pilgrim settlers to the U.S. (in the 1620s) who nearly all died their first winter had it not been for the kindness of many native Americans, the Indians, who shared their food with them. The Pilgrims started the feast of Thanksgiving to show their appreciation to the native Americans, and give thanks for their friendship. Turkey was a bountiful bird and I believe that Ben Franklin originally nominated the turkey to be the country's national bird, thankfully, the bald eagle won that debate. Nowadays the holiday is filled with families getting together, to feast on turkey and pumpkin pie, like the Pilgrims, and to give thanks for all the good things we have in our lives and give blessings to the Lord above for giving us love, family and food. This year in particular has been a difficult one for the world facing the new threat of world terrorism. I would think that this Thanksgiving holiday would be particularly meaningful to each American. Take stock in all your blessings. May God bless you and keep you safe.
For myself, I miss my husband, my family and the traditional meal, and the closeness and familiar minutes shared on the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. I miss the market filled with turkeys, shoppers, Indian corn, pumpkins, mini squash pumpkins and the fall decorations of straw bales, brown and orange leaves, and the excitement of preparing all the food!

NOV.18. Pet Sittting update: the 3 rats I am pet sitting are doing well. They are really no problem to care for, or clean up after, so long as I watch carefully where they are in the cage because they do like to bite! Meanwhile, there are usually 3 pairs of Mallard ducks showing up outside my upstairs window religiously every morning, sometimes bringing their friends downstream to number 12-15 ducks. Occasionally there are two cygnet swans that also lumber onto land and wait with the ducks for handouts. These two large cygnets, gray in coloring since they are not fully into feathers yet, gave me quite a scare the other evening when I was inside the garage. I had come out in the dark, was locking the door to the garage, when I heard some rustling and then footsteps on the gravel driveway. I have outdoor lights, and I looked around to see the gray figures of the swans crossing the driveway towards me, each with their necks hanging down, as they saundered awkwardly towards me. They followed me to the steps of my flat, whereby I raced inside and got some bread to feed them. Someone has been hand feeding them, as they clearly did not wish to bend their necks to the ground to eat, rather instead watching the bread leave my hand and land, then looking up at me again, trying to grab for the bread in my hand. I figured I don't want to get bit (had enough of biting) so just tore up the remainder of the bread, tossed it onto the ground, and went back inside to get warm.

NOV. 12 Home swapping. There is a TV program here that is very interesting to watch. It comes on at 5:30 pm for half an hour. Usually it is an English family about to swap homes with an American family. The camera crew films each person's home, and gives you the owner's background. There is really very little narrative only the actual owners speaking about what they hope to expect, what their concerns are when they get to the other home, why they chose that particular destination, and then the camera films each family leaving their home, arriving at the other's home, and their impressions, the things they do, the problems they encounter, etc. The fun part is watching each family as they 'explore' the other families home, as many feel like they are invading, and one lady says she feels like its a party game, walking into each room, figuring out how the appliances work in the kitchen. Most families tend to leave a notebook with instructions on how to work things, where to get food, mail, and what to do in case of problems. I enjoy seeing how the homes differ inside and outside, how the American's adapt to the English people's home, food, and environment. Also it is lovely to see how people are just so normal, and adaptable, often learning how to do or find things from another's point of view. Sometimes the car breaks down, sometimes the alarm goes off and they don't kow what to do, or one time the one family left their car at the airport for the other family to drive to their home however they didn't provide the car license so the couple from Edinburgh were walking all over Lot F at Dulles airport in Wash. DC looking for a Mercedes and trying their key in every Mercedes car lock! At the end when the each person summarize their experiences, one man says it's almost impossible to suppress the urge to 'fiddle' with the other's garden as he is an avid gardener. I suppose I would like to try home swapping, as it is a personal way to experience the other person's home and culture, saving expense of hotels and feeling secure that one's own home is being looked after.

NOV 8. Mice and Rats. About a month ago due to the noise in my attic, above my head, I had the council officials send their 'exterminator' people here and a nice friendly man placed mouse poison bait in small trays in the attic. The whole flat that I live in, being a 2nd floor (first floor by English definition) 'loft' of a garage building, has a "A" framed sort of roofline, so in my bedroom the walls slope down above my head. I can hear mice running above me and along the roof. They are not quiet and I had hoped that by now they would have been dead. No such luck. I have today placed mouse traps, baited with chocolate, and a box that has further bait in it. Now, I am not a violent person, but I need my sleep and I have been living with this disturbance for a couple of months. Meanwhile, the irony of this is that I had agreed to pet sit a lady's pet rats while she goes to New Zealand for 2.5 weeks. These 3 female sister rats are not the petable types, they will bite you if you are not careful. So In my garage, downstairs, I am feeding, cleaning, looking after 3 rats, while above my head, I am killing mice. Such is my life.

NOV. 5. The Paris excursion. I've been meaning to write about my trip to Paris with Joyce. We took the Eurostar train to Paris which travels through the chunnel - the tunnel under the English channel. From London Waterloo station you arrive in Paris Gard de Nord station in 3 hours, but you gain an hour due to the time change. The trip is comfortable and you can’t tell how fast you are going, but it is supposed to be a very fast train.

Although neither Joyce nor I speak French, I made sure I prepared myself with the phrase, “do you speak English” said in French of course, and believe me, I used it often enough, finding out delightfully that many people do speak English, only a couple of times did I get a “no.”
How do you like the delicious pastries pictured at right?
When we got off the Eurostar train, we first went to buy our metro tickets, which is the name for their underground (Subway). You can buy a book of 10 for 61 francs, which is about $8.50. Our dollar buys about 7 francs so divide everything by 7 to get the U.S. costs. We had no problem getting to our destination, but once we surfaced from the last metro stop onto the surface streets, we didn’t know which direction to go. We did manage to figure out which way to our hotel, and after checking in, with an English speaking desk clerk, we got our gear together and headed out onto the streets again. It was about 5 pm by then and we walked towards the Place de Concorde, a huge roundabout intersection leading one way to the Arc de Triomphe along the Champs Elysees, and the other way is th Jardin de Tuilleries, which leads into the forecourt of the Louvre museum.

We kept walking, along the Seine river to the Latin Quarter where there are many art galleries and cafes littered with ethnic food. We had dinner at a small cafe and discovered that many restaurants offer a fixed price meal, which often offers a selection of a appetizer, a main course and a dessert for a set price (85 francs). I like this idea. I had escargot for my appetizer, osso buco (veal shank cooked in Italian seasoning) for my main course and profiteroles (mini cream puffs with chocolate syrup poured over them) for dessert. Joyce had lasagna.

The next day we walked to the office where you can take a double decker sightseeing bus that has a pre-set route through the city to all the main tourist sights. For a one day price of about $24 you can hop on and off this bus at any of its numerous stops. The weather was rather drizzly so we first took the bus to Notre Dame and toured the inside of the Cathedral. It is free to go inside, and I found it to be very dark inside compared to the English cathedrals I have been to see. After Notre Dame, we took the bus to the Champs Elysee where we shopped at Sephora, a place that sells all the perfumes you could ever hope to buy, along with name brand make-up from the top lines. The prices are very good, less pricey than in London or America. Then we walked to the Arc de Triomphe, took a few photos, got onto the bus again, and hopped off at the Eiffel Tower. I am afraid of heights but I did want to go into the Tower as I understood from Joyce that on the first level here is a post office that puts a special Eiffel Tower postmark on your mail if you mail it from there. She paid for us to go to the first level, for 24 francs, but somehow we got in the line to go to the second level. Of course I didn’t know this until it past the first level and kept on going up. I felt a nervousness sweep over me and was hoping against hope, the tram would stop at the second level and NOT go all the way to the top! Thankfully it did let us out at the 2nd level, even though we only paid for the first. I carefully walked around, trying not to look down and humor Joyce who was investigating the whole level while I adhered to more or less one safe spot. It was a cloudy day so we could not see as far as one could on a clear day, but it was worse at the very top, where you would have been in the clouds.

After we took each other’s photos and mailed our post cards, we came back down and again caught the bus, this time we were able to sit on the top open level. We changed buses at a place where two different routes intersected, allowing us to go along the route that goes further out of the city to the Montmarte area. We passed the Moulin Rouge and got off at Sacre Coeur, a temple shaped somewhat like the Taj Mahal, on a hilltop. This area is much more grotty, or lower classed and an area where you would really want to watch your purse for pick pockets. There was graffiti on the wall of the temple, which I thought was really awful. Both of us enjoyed a Haagen Daas ice cream cone (13Francs) and Joyce bought herself a handbag after I talked the street salesman down to half of his original price.

The next day we took the C line train out to the Palace of Versailles. It takes about a half hour and the cost is reasonable. The train station lets you out just a few blocks away from the Chateau. The main tour of the Palace of Versailles is about 45 francs and very worthwhile. We rented a cassette player explaining all the rooms and artwork however it is very badly explained as we never knew for the longest time what the description pertained to because we were not told when to start the tape to coincide with what room. I got frustrated with that so I ended up cosying up to tourists who had a paid English speaking guide and mainly listened to what the guide had to say. We were not able to walk the immense grounds, the expansive gardens and ponds because they were going to have a musical concert which had a separate admission. I was not happy about that but how were we to know.
We had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and bought t-shirt souvenirs.
We spent the next day walking through the Jardin de Luxembourg, shopping in many of the jewelry and clothing shops, figuring where to eat, having a coffee and tea in a little cafe. We did not go into any museums, as we knew it would take hours to see them properly and our intention was to see the main tourist sights which we did accomplish.

Our hotel did provide continental breakfast which consists of tea or coffee, some cheese, 2 rolls of which one was a croissant, and orange juice. The hotel was purchased as a package deal with Eurostar. All in all we had a very good time in Paris, things were not very expensive (compared to London which must be the most expensive city in all of Europe), the French people were quite friendly to us Americans and the weather was fairly good for the short time we were there.
I enjoyed the visit so much, that when Guy comes to visit my this December, we are going to take the same trip aboard the Eurostar, to Paris but in a different hotel and we get a free first class upgrade on the Eurostar. We plan on making this our second honeymoon. Different from my visit with Joyce, Guy and I will most likely take an evening cruise down the Seine, and both being art lovers, we will be taking in some of the many museums in Paris.

NOV. 4. Fireworks - Guy Fawkes Day. The last 3 days have brought fireworks in the evening in celebration of Guy Fawkes Day, traditionally Nov. 5 but celebrated Friday, Saturday and again tonight. I don’t know the whole story behind the holiday here, but apparently Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament but was caught and so every Nov. 5 people in England have bonfires and burn his effigy and also shoot off fireworks. There was a big fireworks display in the sky tonight not too far away that I viewed from my window.

OCT. 28 The New Visitor - Dabchick. Just last Thursday I happened to notice a new visitor to my side of the river. I saw this bird on the water, it was not a duck, it was not a moor hen, but what was it? Curiously, this bird was an active bird, meaning, as I watched this bird, it was diving into the river, disappearing for a good 10 seconds, then reappearing as quickly as it disappeared, shaking its small narrow beak, and then, raising itself up, quickly dived down into the water again, gone for another 10 seconds, and again it reappeared, this time with something in its mouth. This busy little bird had me captivated, as I have not seen it here before, so I grabbed my binoculars. I believe it had caught a small fish. Wrestling with its catch, it then, dived into the water again. This bird was so odd. It didn’t seem to have a tail. It’s beak was not that of a duck, but it was shortish, narrow-ish and the birds feathers almost like a newborn, more fuzzy seeming than real live feathers. After a while it was gone and I had to do things too. Then, later that day, while I was cleaning in the cottage, I looked outside from the upstairs window, and there the little bird was, busily, diving and re-diving under the water further down the river, never coming close enough for me to get a good look. After awhile, I checked out the window and he was much closer to the patio, where I thought, oh, I should go out onto the patio and see him up close, but I will wait till he dives first, as that will give me a good 10 seconds to come out to the patios edge for when he re-surfaces.

Well, my theory was good, but in practice, as soon as he reappeared, he saw me there and dived again. Oh gosh, I had no chance to see him any better, and when he resurfaced, he was a good 25 feet downstream, then he dived, and surfaced a further 25 feet away! This little active brown feathered bird had me captivated, but what was his name?

I pulled out my book “British Birds and their Haunts” by Rev. C. A. Johns, F.L.S. 25th edition, 1947. I looked through the color plates in the back. I found a bird that resembled this little character that had charmed me. He could be a Dabchick, or what is also called a “Little Grebe.”

Quoting the book, “The Lesser Grebe, or, as it is more commonly called, the Dabchick, frequents rivers, ponds, and lakes, in all parts of the country, rarely flying, and still more rarely coming to land.” “It does not, like the Moor-hen, swim with a jerking movement, nor when alarmed does it half swim and a half fly in a direct line for the nearest bank of weeds. If you are unobserved, it swims steadily for a short distance, then suddenly disappears, making no splash or noise, but slipping into the water as if its body were lubricated. It is diving for its foods, which consist of water insects, mollusks, small fish, and worms. As suddenly as it dives so suddenly does it reappear, most likely not far from the spot when you first observed it.” I’d love to show you a photo of this bird but I cannot get close enough to it and I don’t think I can make like Jacques Cousteau and film him from underwater.

OCT. 26 After painful tendonitis and finger-sprain, I am back to writing again. Because I have two jobs that keep a roof over my head (housekeeping) and food on my table (work at the village shop) both physical jobs, I sometimes overdue it, and this past week was one. Anyway, I'm back to normal as possible and have some reports. The endurance ride although of interest, I didn't stay for the entire race, only half of it, as I had a young Helen with me and we had plans for the afternoon visiting Cholderton Rare Breed Farm. I am told the winners can be found on the Arab Horse Society website, go to my links page. Apparently this race is too fast by normal endurance standards with only 1 vet check, at the half-way point. My photos of the AHS Marathon race.

OCT. 20 Going to an Endurance race! Sunday Oct. 21 the AHS Marathon 26 mile endurance race will be held not far from where I live on the Salisbury plains at Everleigh, Wiltshire. I will go and watch the proceedings. I have not ever watched an endurance race so I'll take photos and let you know what happens.

OCT 15. I'm trying to catch up! I have much to update to this website including our visit to Paris, and many photos to optimize and place online. I have added more details about the next magazine that I will produce however some of the writers articles are just now being verified. Last Thursday Joyce had to witness a bomb scare in Winchester, not what she needed to experience. And since she has gone back to the USA last Friday, I have been plagued with some very noisey mice in the attic above my head making it very difficult for me to sleep at night. I have had a pest control man come to place bait in the attic but the mice seem to be making even more noise in protest. In fact, I am beginning to wonder if they are rats, not mice, as they are quite loud. I am having to wear ear plugs to bed as I have had a few nights not getting much sleep. That makes it hard to think much as my mind is rather fatigued.

OCT. 9. Crabbet sweeps at the HOYS show. The Horse of the Year show is a large multi-breed show, highly promotoed for spectator value, with ticket prices reflecting the promotions. It was held Oct. 6 in Wembley, outside of London, I was unable to attend as I have a guest staying with me. However, Caroline Sussex informed me that Al Mesdam (very high % Crabbet, and pictured left) was Stallion Champion. PHA Silvern Risalm (pure Crabbet) placed 2nd. Alistair Leslie's mare, Lalique although part Crabbet was Mare Champion (see her story under Summer 2001 English farm tours - Blue Moon Arabians), and Silvern Enchanter (pure Crabbet) was Gelding Champion and Ridden Champion of the Year. Both Silvern Enchanter and Silvern Risalm are sired by the now deceased Silvern Sceptre who I did see and admire in 1996, owned by Jean Peck. He has left many stock now doing well in the ridden show ring.

OCT. 5. Week of touring with Joyce Sorry I cannot write much as I have been going non stop and wearing myself out. Each day I have been tour guide as well as worked my 2 part time jobs. The good news is that The Hampshire magazine reports they are getting response to my article already, but I don't know if that is GOOD response or bad. Hope only good. In Paris - aside from one incident in a cafe where both servers spoke no English and one was not very polite - all the other experiences with the French were very good. I found them friendly and helpful once they understood my plea in French asking "parley vous Anglais?" okay I didn't spell that right, but I did get response most of the time and we were given help.

OCT 3. American Freelance journalist. My first article published in a NON-horse, internationally distributed magazine, The Hampshire magazine, has now appeared, page 18, October 2001 issue. The article is one page giving a basic background on Crabbet Park Stud and the upcoming 2002 Crabbet convention. I am most happy to see this as my grandmother wrote for this publication and I have carried the family tradition. The magazine is 40 years old and read in 62 countries. I hope to have further material published in this particular magazine as well as others. I of course bought 2 copies for myself and have sold many others in the shop were I work part-time to the local patrons.

OCT. 2. Have spent four days touring Paris, my feet are dead worn out. Friday morning Joyce and I took the train from Andover to London Waterloo station to catch the Eurostar fast train via the Chunnel directly to Gard de Nord station in Paris. We visited the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Versailles, Eiffel Tower, Jardin de Luxembourg, and a few more sights. I am currently writing an article about the visit so more will come.