Can life get more exciting? Well... Sure it can. We create our destiny according to the choices we make.
Drove back home from Heathrow Airport with Hala on board. The moment we arrived, Salar called and popped in for a catch-up on his way to the gym and we got invited to Dylan's frequent Thursday dinner party.
It was so good to be back in the 'déja-vu' of our usual gathering. How time flies? Now, Troy is back from the sunny islands of Barbados for good and Hala has joined me to set sail and find another exciting destination in the sun. The cold weather in London doesn't do it for me! It has been challenging to find a desired destination that is not troubled by its politics. However, the sense of adventure got the better of us.
Drove back home from Heathrow Airport with Hala on board. The moment we arrived, Salar called and popped in for a catch-up on his way to the gym and we got invited to Dylan's frequent Thursday dinner party.
It was so good to be back in the 'déja-vu' of our usual gathering. How time flies? Now, Troy is back from the sunny islands of Barbados for good and Hala has joined me to set sail and find another exciting destination in the sun. The cold weather in London doesn't do it for me! It has been challenging to find a desired destination that is not troubled by its politics. However, the sense of adventure got the better of us.
Back at the dinner table, Beata queried about what was meant to be my last trip.
She asked: "How was your vacation Haldita? Did you enjoy Madrid?"
I answered: "Darling, what trip? Never went."
She was puzzled: "What d'you mean? You didn't go?"
Me: "Nope. The Brazilian cancelled the day before."
Beata: "No way. What happened?"
Me: "He had some emergency work thing come up. That was fine but his attitude kind of made me... Wonder. There are ways of doing things."
Beata: "Haha... Do tell."
Me: "He did send me the ticket and I was also meant to see an old friend who lives there. But frankly, I'm relieved. Seemed like a fun idea at the time of the invite... Then, I got cold feet."
Beata re-phrased her line of questioning: "You, cold feet?"
Me: "He texted the day before the trip... 'Hey, Haldita. I have good news and bad news. The bad news is I can't make it for tomorrow, I am so sorry, that's my life. The good news is you've your friend in Madrid and I am really happy that you can go and have a great time. Talk to you later.' Come to think of it, I normally would've but I made it an excuse to make him wrong when actually I really didn't wanna go."
Beata: "But that's awful of him to cancel like that."
Me: "Not really. Things come up and that's fine. But when I told him I won't be going, he got a bit stroppy and basically called me ungrateful and told me to leave him alone!"
Beata responded in surprise and a laugh: "He diiiiiid?"
Me: "When things aren't meant to happen, they don't. No use creating drama around it and my friend Aida has family issues to deal with and wasn't ready to entertain which all worked out for the best."
I continued: "I was telling my brother Soltan about my cancelled trip and the arrangements I made, in under two hours, for the following four days I was meant to be away; day and night.
He responded: 'You don't waste time Sis, do you?'" Haha...
Frankly... No, I don't.
Paddy who was listening in silence at the dinner table began to tell us of his experience hitting on a lady at a bar in Santa Barbara. Paddy said: "She looked my height, sitting at the table which was kind of ok having downed a few drinks... She had a good ass. That's about all I remember. "
"Talking of Santa Barbara, did you go to Montecito?" I inquired.
"No," answered Paddy. "We only went to Santa Barbara."
And so, I went on to tell my story...
Well, I've been there. It was probably about ten years ago now. Shiba who had just separated from her husband, standard story of his betrayal with the twenty-one-year-old chick needed cheering up. So, we booked LA, the city of Angles, for a 'Thelma and Louise' kind of adventure.
I hired a white, convertible Mustang to be picked up at the LAX airport and managed to get lost right from the start on the highways! Nightmare. We finally managed to get through the driveway of The Peninsula Hotel and handed the keys to the doorman and checked in for a night. The following day we took the map (Sat navs didn't exist then) and followed the route to Montecito in Santa Barbara County of California. I love driving and on those humungous highways, put my foot on the gas while Shiba was hanging onto her seat with both hands, telling me off every time I showed a site by saying: "Haldita, you're driving at the speed of God knows what woman... Stop bloody showing me the bees and the flies for God's sake!"
I couldn't stop laughing at my friend's humour and answered: "Darling I only know the fast gear! But don't you worry."
We arrived at the San Ysidro ranch in the dark, where we were greeted by the Management who showed us around and welcomed us to the retreat. We had been upgraded to the Hacienda villa, at the foothill of the vast ranch. It was March and not a tourist season so the place was quiet.
Shiba's eccentric friend, Aris lived with her seven-year-old son and owned a boutique in Santa Barbara. Must say I didn't quite warm up towards her bold character but hey-ho, c'est la vie.
We took off the first day on a morning hike by the Creek with not a soul in sight.
"Shiba," I said gasping for air as we climbed the Santa Ynez mountain. "How many hours have we been climbing girl?"
"Don't worry Haldita. You drove us here, now I'm taking the lead." Shiba was taking her revenge on my driving! Haha.
"If I've a heart attack here, you'll be a responsible woman." I was not as fit as my friend for sure.
"That's if no one rapes us in this wilderness!" Shiba said without looking back.
"Aaah!" I screamed as I heard a noise behind me in between the tall trees surrounding us.
"Wow!" Followed Shiba after me.
We looked back... Nothing.
"You scared the shit out of me girl. It's three hours since we left. Let's head back." Shiba thankfully accepted.
On the walk back, I sheepishly told my friend: "Shiba, your friend must have some kind o contact for some smoke here. Pleaaaase, put in a good word. Would you ask her for me?"
San Ysidro ranch is nestled in the Montecito foothills of Southern California's wine country. It's where myth and history (American style) have mingled from Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier's exchange of vows in the lush gardens of our hotel to John and Jackie Kennedy's honeymooning in this luxury, classic retreat. Who knows? We could have slept in the same bed, however, a new mattress I hope.
Shiba and I drove to meet Aris in a cafe close to the ranch the next day. We were a little late, getting further lost, like 5 minutes late! Aris shrieked as she saw us: "YOU ARE Late."
Shiba felt guilty, however, before she could answer, I said in a boisterous tone: "Yeah, 5 minutes. We're on holiday for goodness sake!"
Didn't quite leave a choice for Aris to answer back before I walked off into the cafe.
When Aris left, Shiba said: "Had a word with my friend, you're set for your smoke. Aris' son has finished his tennis lesson and the coach is waiting in the parking lot in a VW beetle for you."
I said: "Aaah! Bless. You're an angel. Thanks." And kissed my friend's cheek before leaving for the pickup. Feeling a little guilty for not being nicer to Aris.
Looking around the empty parking lot, there was only a light blue beetle parked, with a long-haired blonde young man at the wheel. I approached and said: "Hi. Are you the coach? I'm Haldita. Nice to meet you."
The young man was in a hurry to leave so we set the deal, got my weed and came back to Shiba with a Big Smile.
And again... This is only the beginning of the adventures. Indeed, to be continued...
Paddy who was listening in silence at the dinner table began to tell us of his experience hitting on a lady at a bar in Santa Barbara. Paddy said: "She looked my height, sitting at the table which was kind of ok having downed a few drinks... She had a good ass. That's about all I remember. "
"Talking of Santa Barbara, did you go to Montecito?" I inquired.
"No," answered Paddy. "We only went to Santa Barbara."
And so, I went on to tell my story...
Well, I've been there. It was probably about ten years ago now. Shiba who had just separated from her husband, standard story of his betrayal with the twenty-one-year-old chick needed cheering up. So, we booked LA, the city of Angles, for a 'Thelma and Louise' kind of adventure.
I hired a white, convertible Mustang to be picked up at the LAX airport and managed to get lost right from the start on the highways! Nightmare. We finally managed to get through the driveway of The Peninsula Hotel and handed the keys to the doorman and checked in for a night. The following day we took the map (Sat navs didn't exist then) and followed the route to Montecito in Santa Barbara County of California. I love driving and on those humungous highways, put my foot on the gas while Shiba was hanging onto her seat with both hands, telling me off every time I showed a site by saying: "Haldita, you're driving at the speed of God knows what woman... Stop bloody showing me the bees and the flies for God's sake!"
I couldn't stop laughing at my friend's humour and answered: "Darling I only know the fast gear! But don't you worry."
We arrived at the San Ysidro ranch in the dark, where we were greeted by the Management who showed us around and welcomed us to the retreat. We had been upgraded to the Hacienda villa, at the foothill of the vast ranch. It was March and not a tourist season so the place was quiet.
Shiba's eccentric friend, Aris lived with her seven-year-old son and owned a boutique in Santa Barbara. Must say I didn't quite warm up towards her bold character but hey-ho, c'est la vie.
We took off the first day on a morning hike by the Creek with not a soul in sight.
"Shiba," I said gasping for air as we climbed the Santa Ynez mountain. "How many hours have we been climbing girl?"
"Don't worry Haldita. You drove us here, now I'm taking the lead." Shiba was taking her revenge on my driving! Haha.
"If I've a heart attack here, you'll be a responsible woman." I was not as fit as my friend for sure.
"That's if no one rapes us in this wilderness!" Shiba said without looking back.
"Aaah!" I screamed as I heard a noise behind me in between the tall trees surrounding us.
"Wow!" Followed Shiba after me.
We looked back... Nothing.
"You scared the shit out of me girl. It's three hours since we left. Let's head back." Shiba thankfully accepted.
On the walk back, I sheepishly told my friend: "Shiba, your friend must have some kind o contact for some smoke here. Pleaaaase, put in a good word. Would you ask her for me?"
San Ysidro ranch is nestled in the Montecito foothills of Southern California's wine country. It's where myth and history (American style) have mingled from Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier's exchange of vows in the lush gardens of our hotel to John and Jackie Kennedy's honeymooning in this luxury, classic retreat. Who knows? We could have slept in the same bed, however, a new mattress I hope.
Shiba and I drove to meet Aris in a cafe close to the ranch the next day. We were a little late, getting further lost, like 5 minutes late! Aris shrieked as she saw us: "YOU ARE Late."
Shiba felt guilty, however, before she could answer, I said in a boisterous tone: "Yeah, 5 minutes. We're on holiday for goodness sake!"
Didn't quite leave a choice for Aris to answer back before I walked off into the cafe.
When Aris left, Shiba said: "Had a word with my friend, you're set for your smoke. Aris' son has finished his tennis lesson and the coach is waiting in the parking lot in a VW beetle for you."
I said: "Aaah! Bless. You're an angel. Thanks." And kissed my friend's cheek before leaving for the pickup. Feeling a little guilty for not being nicer to Aris.
Looking around the empty parking lot, there was only a light blue beetle parked, with a long-haired blonde young man at the wheel. I approached and said: "Hi. Are you the coach? I'm Haldita. Nice to meet you."
The young man was in a hurry to leave so we set the deal, got my weed and came back to Shiba with a Big Smile.
And again... This is only the beginning of the adventures. Indeed, to be continued...
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