Jolly Old England

After an hour delay my Delta flight from Detroit finally left for Heathrow Airport overnight. We arrived around 8:30am in the morning and then awaited the long "queue" for British Customs and Immigration.

My goal was to go and visit my parents in Bexhill-on-Sea.

So first I caught the Heathrow Express train to Paddington Station (famous for Paddington Bear). Then I had to catch the "tube" underground train to Victoria Station.

Simple enough except that many of the rail "lines" were under repairs. This meant going along a different line than normal and then backtracking on to another one to get to Victoria Station. Then it was a matter of lining up to purchase an "overground" rail ticket to Bexhill...but the train had just left which meant waiting another hour. Then it was the two hour train ride to Bexhill and a short taxi ride to my parent's apartment.

Waiting for the train

One train leaving the other arriving

Nice modern trains from the Southern Railway Co.

Finally arrived at Bexhill-on-Sea

It is always hard to see your parents as they get older when you only see them so infrequently. Mom is much more hunched over when she stands. Her eyesight is extremely poor and she used a torch light large magnifier to even look at her man-sized watch to read the time. Dad's eyesight is also getting poorer and maybe related to the diabetes they both have. Mom's memory is failing and she is told she has Alzheimer's which was brought about from the concusssion she had from a fall last year. Her knees and legs are getting bad and she doesn't go out much now...I am sure there is some fear with doing so too. Dad still manages to walk the 10 minute walk for me much slower to the small mall with major supermarket store and pharmacy and other "shops". He does that every morning after they wake up at 9:00am.

Mom and Dad watching the Saturday horse racing on the TV

While I was later arriving than I would like to they made sure I had a late lunch of crispy roll with sliced ham for a sandwich, with tomatoes and they even bought some donuts - which they shouldn't be eating! There lifestyle has not changed in all the years I have known them and even more so as they get older. They sit in their favourite chairs and watch the TV. From watching a movie - the last version of "Babe" the pig - to the Saturday afternoon horse races, and then some latest British quiz show "Question Sports." That is their routine everyday experience from morning to night.

I caught up on their health issues directly and they asked about everyone in our family. It is hard that they do not initiate contact with all of their family throughout the year but it is the same with my Dad's siblings and my Mom's family too. No one hears from them.

But as my Dad handed me fruit or asked me if I wanted anything more to eat I realized as I have always known that he was showing me that he loved me. So as I left them I kissed my mom on the cheek and told her I loved her and hugged my Dad I told him I loved him. He said he might not be here next year.

I think I am more at peace now knowing I will never hear him say "I love you" back.

Dad and Mom just before I headed back to London





Indian Summer

In July I had the opportunity to go to Bangalore, India on business and then early this October I went back this time to Mumbai, India.

I am grateful to be able to see another part of the world and to help those companies who have requested my consulting services.

But I am also incredibly humbled by the abject poverty that is interspersed throughout all neighbourhoods.

Taken while moving in taxi - these were poor conditions

Better conditions in another area

There are LOTS of stray dogs everywhere which are like pigeons are for us in busy city streets. They move out thr way when you come near them. The scavenge everywhere in the garbage and markets for any morsel or just eating paper.

Amidst the businesses and super rich homes are the corrugated steel sheet homes with blue tarpelin to help protect form the rains. I saw homes that were simply bamboo poles with tarp or plastic sheets overtop with the street being the bathing and washroom.

This a 17+ story home of a very wealth millionaire or billionaire

Enlarge picture. To the left of tall buiding being built (hotel or appratments) see the
blue tarp covering the homes of those who are living in corrugated steel slums

I learned I don't like Indian food...which is not very helpful when going to India!! Western like cuisine can sometimes be humorous like the grated cheese on top of the fettucini alfredo. It was a grated 1 inch square of mozarella cheese.

I managed to find the Church while I was there in Mumbai and fortunately I had the American ex-pat Branch President's cell phone number who guided us up the street to the unmarked rented house that was church. There was even a security guard as there are at most public sites whether stores or office buildings.

The LDS Church in Mumbai, India

You will also find cows which are sacred to Hindus wandering around or accompanied by owners.

Enlarge Photo and look by the lamp-post and you'll see a cow

More obvious: One cow with owner downtown...and in the background is another one!!

In front of the Gateway of India in Mumbai (old Bombay)

In front of the Taj Hotel - where bombings occurred in 2008

There are three degrees of taxi cabs in India. You have the autorickshaw which is an open sided three wheeled vehicle. Then you have a regular cab which has no air conditioning. And then there is the "cool cab" - one with air condititioning. They all have meters but none of them are working. Instead the before you get in the driver gives you a price and you negotiate the amount you're willing to pay until there is agreement. Fortunately I had an Indian associate who did all this for us.

Note the autorickshaws - the cheapest of the 3 types of taxis

India is such a cultural contrast socially, economically and in so many other ways. One thought that was hard to grasp is the concept I heard from several: "There are so many people in India that the worth of life is low."

Humbling place to visit!

Summer Memories

Each Summer my cousin Wendy loves to host at her home in Brampton as much of a "Saunderson" family reunion as are available.

This year we just had: Wendy and Timo and their children: Tomi, Jaana and Mikka; Pat and Laird; Aunt Rene; Andrew and Marci; and Ian and Melissa with Parker and Angelina.

Always good to catch up with one another, laugh at the Saunderson humour especially from Uncle Pat, and enjoy the good food that we all chip into.

And where would we be without Marci cuing up the camera to capture the memory (Although the picture below is the one I took)

Slowly gathering for the group picture

Tah! Dah!

The "Official" 2011 Summer Saunderson Reunion Picture