Inclement Weather Can Kill You
The English love talking about the weather.
It’s odd that we English spend so much time talking about the weather. English weather is almost never extreme, almost always temperate, and usually a depressing grey colour. I’ve just got home from the blue skies and warm Mediterranean sunshine of Crete and the weather in England this morning is manky. It’s not raining right now, but give it an hour.
All that rain and very ordinary temperatures is why England is so green.
Other parts of the world are not so lucky.
The Eastern seaboard of the United States is about to be hit by the monster Hurricane Florence, bringing 140 mph winds and a couple of feet of rain. Right on the coast the storm surge could raise sea levels by 15 or 20 feet. This weather is deadly dangerous and more than 1.5 million people are being forcibly evacuated.
In most immediate danger are the Carolinas and Virginia , but the whole of the Eastern seaboard from South Carolina northwards are in danger. Not only that, hurricanes are fickle, Florence could change direction at any time.
This is weather of catastrophic biblical proportions, exactly the kind of weather we don’t get here in England.
If you are in the danger area, then my prayer is that you will come through safely.
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Jack Collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Inclement; severe, harsh, cold, wet, and unpleasant
Scenes on Sunday – Mediterranean Seascapes
The Mediterranean breathes a new life into the world.
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Jack Collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
the sun, a beach, the sea, a jug of wine, and thee…..
Crete, the beach at the bottom of our street
Chania is an historic Venetian City
There are no modern beachfront resort hotels here. The hotel I am staying in has only a dozen rooms, and for this kind of singles vacation, (where the group dynamic is important), small is indeed beautiful.
But there is a park and beach right at the bottom of our street.
The park sits between our street and the beach.
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At this time of year the Mediterranean is calm and warm.
I will show you a lot more cool pictures when I get back to the garret and I can connect my camera to the computer.
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Jack Collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
This beach is popular with overseas holidaymakers and locals alike.
Crete, the 5th best place in the world
Crete is a Chic Mediterranean Island.
I fly out to Crete today.
Some say the island is the 5th best destination in the world. And that only Paris, Rome, London, and Bali are cooler places to visit. All I know is that I’ve been to Paris, Rome, and London, (a lot), and I wouldn’t choose to vacation in any of them.
Chania, where I’m going, is the best part of Crete to visit, if you like atmosphere, bars, history, stores, and places to eat. The views are a bonus.
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Jack Collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Scenes on Sunday ~ Beaches
A beach is not just a stretch of empty sand.
One of the things I like about Orange County are the fabulous beaches. I like the women too ~ of course.
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
there’s a kitten I would like to take there
Travel is Good for My Health
Do not tell me how educated you are, just tell me how much you have travelled. ~ Mohamed
The apartment I live in is called ‘The Garret’ and I feel very much at home here. However, some recent thoughts, emotions, and events have convinced me that I’ve been spending far too much time in the garret. Ergo, I’ve decided to get out of the garret more, travel more, take more vacations, and relax in the sunshine a lot more.
Travel and change of pace impart new vigour to the mind. ~ Seneca
I have very few responsibilities, a hell of a lot of time on my hands, and more than a little money in the bank ~ so there is no earthly reason why I shouldn’t be taking 4 or 5 vacations a year, or even a round half-dozen should the mood strike me.
And, it’s not as though I want to travel to far-away and strange-sounding places. The camel route to Iraq holds no attraction for me. Neither do the madchen and the gay muchachas. And as for Paris, London, and Rome, I’ve spent so long in those cities that they’re like a second home.
There’s a hell of a lot of the world I just do not want to go to, not ever again. And you can include in that list all of Africa, the Middle East, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand. As for the America’s, I’d never cross the US border going South again. I caught malaria in Mexico.
The places I really like are the nicer parts of the USA, some of the Caribbean, and most of the Mediterranean. I also really like Tuscany and the South of France. Scandinavia isn’t bad either, (at the right time of year). None of which destinations are so very exotic, or so very dangerous. If I’m honest I like going to places where most of the locals can speak some English, and they serve really good food.
In a couple of weeks’ time I’m going to Crete, and after that probably back to California. Next year Malta, Cyprus, and Turkey are on my list. Who knows after that? But a Caribbean Cruise is looking attractive.
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. ~ Helen Keller
The one downside for me is that I will mostly be a solitary traveller. But, who knows who I may meet along the way. And, one never knows, I may even find an attractive travelling companion to take along with me. On road trips, in a Mustang convertible, a guy needs an attractive and intelligent Girl Riding Shotgun anyway. A road trip without The Girl Riding Shotgun just isn’t a proper road trip.
Some say that travel is good for the soul. And, that a good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving. All I know is that I hate dull routine disrupting my life.
So, from now on, if you can’t find me, it’s because I’m on vacation.
Jack Collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Santa Monica is pretty cool.
Scenes on Sunday ~ Piers
So, just how big is a pier? Well, mostly it sticks out half-a-mile.
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Jack Collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Trust me, the various types of pier are interesting and fun.
Encinitas Pebble Garden
Some things are just such novel and cool ideas.
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Marmaduke was so disappointed not to see this magical little garden ~ so perfect for a teddy bear
Scenes on Sunday ~ Utah Skies
cloudy skies bring hope for some, of cleansing rain to come
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
all these great shots
were taken by
the cool girl riding shotgun
Scenes on Sunday ~ Nevada
Nevada, famous for Vegas, Area 51 ~ and a lot of desert.
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
after all, Absinthe is a potent female aphrodisiac
