It was back to the Dawn Jogger’s Wednesday routine today, walking Bedwell Bayfront Park before Pilates with Lisa. It was pretty dark when she set out this morning, and she’ll welcome the end of daylight savings time this weekend for that reason. At the same time, she’ll miss seeing the sunrise over the Bay…
It’s been months since the Dawn Jogger has seen a coyote at Arastradero but one crossed her path about 10 feet in front of her this morning, paused briefly to take a look, and ambled down the ravine. Safely obscured by brush (and therefore not possible to photograph), it watched the DJ as she continued her journey. It was the highlight of an otherwise extraordinarily pleasant outing on the still golden hillsides bathed under bright blue skies. Late October warmth extends to the first day of November…
So, for the record, the Dawn Jogger was out on her neighborhood circuit well before dawn. One reason is that even though it’s pitch black out, she was wide awake by 5:00 am and decided she might as well get up around 6:00. In the last week she’s been 8, then 9, then 7 (thanks to the end of daylight savings time in UK/Europe) hours ahead, so her body is a bit confused.
But there aren’t a lot of photo ops at the time of the morning, and she knew there would be plenty this evening when Grace and the gang were coming over to go trick or treating on what would turn out to be one of the warmest Halloween nights she remembers in Menlo. (Aside, the only time she was homesick when she went off to UCLA was her first Halloween away. It was around 80 degrees her Freshman year, and she called home to say “it’s just not right” with a few tears in her eyes.)
To say Grace was excited is a bit of an understatement. She was jumping up and down from the time she arrived until she set out to make the rounds of the neighborhood. That was a bit delayed due to the “bird incident” which she prefers not to think too much about as there have been other “bird incidents” at the house. So, dispassionately, she will explain that when she opened the door to the first group of trick or treaters with Grace at her side to dispense the candy, a bird flew into the house. That it was a bit disconcerting is an understatement, and it took son John awhile to round it up and shoo it outside.
The house once again secured, Grace set out to make the rounds of the neighborhood dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow, a pirate’s life for her. James was dressed to accompany her but trick or treating coincided with his fussy period of the day, alas.
At the end of the evening, just like days of yore, the accumulated candy was laid out on the rug and inspected. And she got to eat three pieces…
One of the things the male Dawn Jogger introduced the female DJ to on their honeymoon in 1981 was the English breakfast. This was even though he most remembered cold spaghetti from his days at Taunton School in Somerset.
So, at Heathrow in plenty of time for her flight home, the female DJ nipped into a cafe for a sentimental food journey back 30 years. She did not remember the gigantic proportions. She was reminded of the saltiness and greasiness. Let’s just say some tastes are better remembered in the mind and not the mouth..
The rolling hills and fields around Watermill House in Benenden, Kent, England have always been a favorite of the Dawn Joggers. It’s here the male DJ came as a teenager to visit the Barkers, who had taken him under their wing when he was attending Taunton School in Somerset.
Watermill House was built in the 15th century and purchased by the Barker family in 1930. The renovation took another 30 years, partially due to World War II. The male DJ bought his bride to Watermill House in 1981 and she, too, became fond of it and its inhabitants. She’s now bought a bit of him back (the final bit, to be exact) to always enjoy the beauty of the English countryside. (The male DJ’s 2006 post and this post vary on some facts – consider hers the updated facts.)
Host Kent, his dog Myrtle, and the female DJ did a wonderful 90 minute jaunt on the High Weald Landscape Trail around noon this morning. They walked along ridge tops and through ancient English woodland, mainly oak and beech. Oh to be in England, now that October is here…
The Dawn Jogger is running a bit on fumes given that it’s almost 11:00 pm here at Watermill House (photos tomorrow) in Benenden, Kent, UK, the last stop on her journey. The House’s importance to the male DJ’s life also promised for tomorrow.
She arose well before dawn this morning to attend the morning service at Taize, then set out for the Macon TGV station (train no. 1) that took her and traveling companion Kent (one of the male DJ’s oldest friend) to Paris where that had lunch at a brassiere across from Paris Nord. Then Eurostar to London (train #2). Then Underground to London Tower stop (train #3). Then train to can’t-remember-the stop (train #4). Then by car to pick up Kent’s son Titus and onto Watermill House where wife Celia was waiting. Yes, a very long day of traveling…
The Dawn Jogger is certain the celebration of the male DJ’s life began in reality when she first set foot in London a few days ago, but it has certainly accelerated since her arrival with friend Kent in Ameungy/Taize yesterday.
Today began her day with the male DJ would have begun, with the morning service at Taize, then breakfast followed by a good walk around the surrounding countryside. Shortly before noon, local and vacationing friends along with Taize brother John (not pictured) gathered for a short service of remembrance and some officially sanctioned ash scattering near a small shrine just down the hill a bit from the main church at Taize.
Like others, she can’t quite believe it’s been a year. She is quite sure the male DJ would be much pleased by today’s events, including the longish lunch with good local French wine. How loved and supported she feels but friends near and far today…
Accompanied by the male DJ’s good friend Kent, the female Dawn Jogger made her way via two fast trains (Eurostar and TGV) from London to Macon, France – and then by car to Ameungy/Taize, France. That she’s returned here to remember the male DJ on the anniversary of his death somewhat amazes her. But she is so glad she did.
Upon arrival, an immediate short walk around the two villages was in order, starting at M. LeChat’s house, which is ablaze in ivy. It was here that the DJs spent a wonderful month in May 2010, joined at times be friends the Arscott and Bostocks. Somewhat ironically, she learned that M. LeChat had died just a few days earlier. Maybe he and the male DJ are not happily carrying on in French, discussing what’s changed and what’s stayed the same in Ameungy. (Of note, a few new houses, built in record time in French terms.).
She was a bit worried how she would feel when she really got here. But the return has brought much joy and little sorrow…
The Dawn Jogger thinks of it as her memory march, the six mile loop that took her down Sloane to the Chelsea Bridge, then along the Thames to the Houses of Parliament, up through St. James Park by Buckingham Palace, returning to Hyde Park with a lunch stop at the Serpentine Cafe. All was easy to do (and cost free! – except for the food) and the perfect way to see London on a lovely fall day.
There is evidently some midterm school break and the streets are crowded with families, most of whom aren’t from the UK. She can’t begin to count the languages she heard and the costumes (of the non-Halloween variety) she saw.
She ended the day with a tourist stroll through Harrods. It was packed, but there was a scarcity of Harrods’ trademark green shopping bags, maybe not surprising given the jaw-dropping price of goods. That aside, if there is a more interesting department store in the whole world, she’d like to know about it…
There is much to not like about London, chief among them, what an expensive city it is. The Dawn Jogger is not sure when she was in central London last (she and the male DJ were at Watermill House in Benenden in 2006 but that’s journey still to come.) But in settling into a hotel in Knightsbridge they stayed in around 2000 (the male DJ was with Apple), all the neighborhood joints were immediately familiar. That so many remain is the surprise.
Today’s highlight was a dusk walk around the Serpentine in Hyde Park, a park that the DJs jogged/walked almost every square inch (and where the male DJ will forever remain). She was a bit late in the day to get a really fabulous sunset shot, but she loved looking west over the lake nevertheless.
The restaurants and shops are teeming, even on a Monday. She’s unclear what that means in relation to a healthy global economy…
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Dawn Jogger 2011 