"Not all those who wander are lost" J.R.R. TolkenIndeed. Many who wander are on an adventure. And boy do the inhabitants of Pocket Queens HQ like a good adventure.
So many of them, it seems, that it has been hard trying to recollect exactly what we've been up to.
Amongst the many things that I deem cool about American High Schools is the creation of the Year Book. I have always wanted one, and so in a bid to record some of our highlights, I decided to make a mini one.
Introduction ..."Your time is limited. Don't waste it living someone else's life"
That was the logic of the late Steve Jobbs.
Looking back over the last few months was actually quite exciting. I always knew that The Boy and I filled our lives with great things, but in the dark times that have enveloped me recently I had lost sight of some truly magnificent adventures.
Here are some of our (non-poker) highlights ...
Chapter 1: A little place in Europe...Another little know fact is that we are very lucky as a family to own a couple of properties in Hungary. A very savvy investment by The Boy's parents that are now used as a European retreat when one needs a break from the UK. The main family home is close to Lake Balaton, a blissfully serene place to soak in some sun, swim and socialise.
The town centre (Siofok) has a restaurant that has been converted from an old water tower. A very impressive feat of engineering.
We also pass a bridge on the drive to and from the Lake. The sort of bridge that would have Mr Kendall drooling into his coffee. Just don't look down when you cross it.
Chapter 2: Cruising for a bruising ... Late summer was wasted swanning around the Med with some close friends on their boat (blatant brag post). Menorca was our base in the evenings (where we spent the nights partying in the port), but the days were spent sailing around the island, dropping anchor in some stunning little coves and indulging in lazy lunches.
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I think I will buy a boat when I take down the WSOP Main Event.
Chapter 3: Hubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble ... As the summer sun faded and autumn crept in, we found ourselves indulging in one of our favourite festivals ... Halloween. Call it the Peter Pan syndrome in us both, but we are huge fans. This year we attended a party thrown by a mutual client of both of ours, where we dressed up and drank merrily. The Boy donned some very scary Mad Professor ensemble that genuinely scared some folk at Preston Train Station. Shame it was a Thursday night (*note to self* Thursday is NOT the new Saturday and it is never cool to be downing shots at 2am when you have to be in the office a short few hours later).
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Chapter 4: "It's beginning to look at lot like Christmas"In a bid to help lift the suffocating levels of grief clouding over me, The Boy took us to London for a spot of Christmas shopping. London at Christmas is a festive spectacle and, in my opinion, is more "Christmassy" than New York. Carnaby street is a delight.
We managed to blag ourselves into a suite in The Mayfair, had Afternoon Tea at the Ritz and wasted Sunday night in the Cigar Room ... a rather audacious little club where one can draw on the expertise of its staff and unwind in front of a roaring fire with a cigar and a cocktail.
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Chapter 5: The sun is bright, and the powder's bitchin'!Skiing/snowboarding should be on everyone's bucket list. You simply cannot beat the stress-busting feel-good factor of racing down a mountain in the bright sunshine with the sound of fresh snow crunching under your feet.
France drew us in the early part of this year and we spent the week in a chalet with the same group of friends that have been together the past four years. We ate spaghetti in the mountains. Learnt to snowboard. Partied Trickett-Style at La Folie Duece.
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Chapter 5: "Forever and ever. We'll follow our team ... "The absolute pinnacle for your Belle was the promotion in May of her beloved Clarets to the Premier League. Leicester may have won the title, but Burnley beat all the odds to take down second place and automatic promotion.
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Even more importantly, we beat the shower from the other end of the M65 for the first time in 34 years, in their own back yard and left them for dust to swim around the lower leagues for a bit. Was well worth the wait.
Welcome back to the big times boys.
And that is it. I hope that you enjoyed my little trip down memory lane.
Until next time.
B
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