Day 10, Level 2 (Sat): Housework, Dinner out, Taghzout and Wedding memories

Saturday = Canvas quiz via phone with Brett first thing. Shit it was very hard today, we put on a poor show!

I took a true break from work today. 

To do other "work" that I don't much like - the House variety!

Main mission - cleaning the floors. Gave them a good once-over, vacuum, wash, scrub ... oh that sand!

Ended up cleaning just about everything including skirting. Which led to a good sort out of things. Given there's not a lot of "stuff" here, it wasn't too onerous. 

But given there's just 6 months of "stuff" up here, it makes you realise how utterly onerous and hideously daunting "a good sort out" of 25 years of stuff is. It's coming my way soon at home ... one of those things that must be done so your kids don't have to do it, while you're alive or dead (not sure which is worse from either point of view!)

Reality is, nothing more needs to enter this Omaha house, everything we need is here, everything we don't is not. This hopefully means "sort outs" will be short and sharp and rare into the future. It's not about being totally minimalist - as most people who know me will attest to, I'm a bit of liker of "stuff" - but it is about being circumspect and  having only what is required, especially in advancing years. Nothing more is needed. It really isn't! Sadly, it seems to take half a lifetime to understand this. 

Brett played golf today and then came up to Omaha in the evening. 

We went out for dinner - the first time since lockdown. Yahoo!
Went to Plume. It was semi-full - about as full as it could probably be given all the restrictions. Which means a slight lack of atmosphere but, to be honest, we weren't going out for dinner to be amongst a rabble of other diners and their babble and feel part of any set or scene. That wasn't the point. 

We could talk easily, our lovely waiter was attentive, and the food was great. We enjoyed a very nice bottle of their Runner Duck Estate Bordeaux style red. And oh what a huge amount of food!

We shared a delicious pulled pork pancake entree - peking duck style. OMG it was delicious but that was just about enough for me, full stop. It was huge and heavenly. Here's a photo when we were already 1/3 way through it! I'll be lining up for that again asap!

For mains, Brett had the chicken tagine and I had the tempura prawns and veges. All delicious. We were so full ... but then Brett orders the blueberry and apple crumble with two spoons (he has a penchant for a good crumble). I had two very small spoonfuls, couldn't cope with any more. This was, I have to say, a very good crumble!

We enjoyed a port. Brett had an espresso. We toddled out happy as Larry. Who is Larry?

The wedding dress ...

Before we left, I went to the loo - where I encountered another guest who I'd noticed on the other side of the room wearing what appeared to be a wedding dress. The guy was also looking sharp. I'd pointed this out to Brett - and we agreed it didn't seem like they'd just got married. But there was definitely a tulle train going on beneath that table and I was very intrigued. What exactly was that about?

In the loo I admired her gorgeous dress and asked if there was an occasion going on for her to be wearing it. It was indeed her wedding dress, but not their wedding. Apparently every year on their anniversary they go out and both wear their wedding attire! I asked how many years ... 14, she said. How wonderful! And she still fits her gorgeous strapless, ivory and gold, figure-hugging tulle number with its lively train. She must have got married when she was quite young is all I can say, as she still looked young and beautiful and bride-like!

I asked how they enjoyed their meal. She said they'd had the "tasting menu" and it was very good - but such a lot of food. Now, knowing the size of the meals we'd had, and knowing what that tasting menu encompassed, my eyes widened in disbelief. How were the sides of that dress not splitting open right in front of me, Roald Dahl-style!?!?!? (There's an RD story in here somewhere ... already got the first para written and whole storyline plotted!)

Her accent gave her away as French, which she confirmed. I suggested that such a large tasting menu wasn't quite the same as the more restrained Degustation offering. No, she agreed, and we chatted away for a bit. (More RD (aka SB) story fodder ...!) 

Oh I'm so glad I went to the loo at the same time as she did - and I wish I'd had time to find out more about this lovely couple. But at least that short snatched conversation in the loo was both refreshing and heartwarming. And story generating!

I didn't go to the beach today - it was kind of a chilly day, not inviting me to go walkies. I got my exercise and ocean fix via a vacuum and mop, and looking out to sea every so often! 

Morocco ...

So today's beach photos come from Morocco - Taghzout to be precise. It's a surf town on the coast north of Agadir. Because Taghzout was (at that time, but not any longer from what I gather) a dry town, we stopped in Agadir to stock up on booze supplies. It just wouldn't be right to be in a surf town without beer or wine ...! You could drink your own supply, but not purchase anywhere in town, even at the restaurants.

Agadir is surprisingly modern, and not in typical Moroccan style. It was rebuilt after a severe earthquake in 1960 which killed between 12,000 and 15,000 people (about 1/3 of the city's population at the time). Another 12,000 were injured and at least 35,000 left homeless. A very destructive and deadly earthquake. 

Like Christchurch, they'd had a weak "warning" quake some days before the big one which struck in the middle of the night. The first stone of rebuild was laid in June that same year 1960, and they got on with rebuilding their stricken city - although I can't find info around when that rebuild was complete. I'd bet it was a darned sight quicker than Chch ...

What I do know is that Agadir's new city was rebuilt further south and, whilst it's a booming coastal city, vital for the local economy, it's not really a tourist hub. It was apparently rebuilt by the Swiss, so presumably reasonably swiftly - but with minimal regard for the Moroccan heritage, hence it is more Mediterranean than Moroccan. Which I can attest to having driven through it en route from Marrakesh to Taghzout. Our taxi driver gave us a pretty good rundown on it all. 

Back to Taghzout - I'd call it a boho-moro place - my own term for Bohemian vibe/Moroccan style. We stayed several days there (luckily got out just before we ran out of booze!) Such a laidback and chilled vibe, with lots of youngies from all over Europe, and a surprising amount of Brits - all seemingly content not to drink! The healthy living set ...?

But mostly, the people with surfboards under their arms were Moroccans who love surfing as much as anyone else. Brett had dreamed of surfing at Anchor Point for years - and he got to do that. Conditions weren't optimum that day, but he had the experience and apparently caught one superb wave which was worth all the anticipation and dreaming.

I painted on the balcony of our fabulous condo looking out upon the vista below (yes, I took art stuff on that trip). I'll remember that painting session forever. 

A very cool sojourn in a very cool place. And we participated in a very fun quiz night - and our team won! And were ecstatic. From memory we won a can of beer each - even more ecstaticism (is that a word!?)

The beach at Taghzout - from our balcony

The other way - looking north 

Back to tonight ...

Got back to base at Omaha and had a port. Reminds me of Spain and Portugal - I was due to lead a tour to these two fab countries in July for Maher Tours, but that was cancelled of course due to Covid. Along with all their fab tours. Gutting. Can't even think about it. 

I'd also been down to lead a cruise trip to Antarctica on the Seabourn Quest for them - but that was cancelled earlier on due to not enough takers (seems seniors not keen on perceived cold - I say remove that perception and get there when you can!) 

Anyway, that was the ship where passengers managed to disembark in Buenos Aires (with rather a lot of fiasco from what I gather) and get home (somehow), but most of the crew did not get off the boat. Many of the crew are still on board. In the med somewhere now. Drifting around trying to find somewhere to dock and get home. Oh goodness. 

Cruising is possibly the worst hit part of tourism. Sadly, quite a lot of mega ships have just been launched. Who knows what will happen in the cruise industry ... 

There's cruising and there's cruising. 

I love small ship cruising, and I hope it revives. Small ships are definitely the way to go ... and sadly, these new mega ships may become the dinosaurs of the 2020. 

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:

Photos ...

Had a bit of a sort out of old photos today. I'd had a really good go at this prior to Christmas, but there were still some piles to sift through. I think they're pretty much in good order now. So fascinating to look back on family history, find photos of my great grandparents, see Omaha of the old days (cringe at that style but love it all the same!), pics of mum and dad and their families, we sisters. 

Negatives - gone - no one is ever going to reprint these photos, especially given there are duplicate copies of just about all of them (remember when you got 2 for 1 and gave them to all your friends, even the dubious ones!)

There are albums here with photos of half-people, their heads chopped off; of people looking their worst x 10. The photos still went in the album, because you paid for them! 

There are abominable photos that no one would dare put on Instagram - but there they are in the album!

There are photos that tell stories no one would dare mention ever again, photos that showcase people long deceased, photos that remind us of fantastic times, photos that remind of cringe-worthy moments. 

There are photos of family members I never met, photos of holidays with people I barely remember, and photos of holidays and carefree times with those I adored, now dead. 

Oh photos ... there's something to be said about them in all their guises ...

• Fragile sepia from the early 1900s
• B&Ws from the 50/60s,
• Faded colour from the 70s
• Sharp snaps from the 80s
• The instant processing of the 90s 
• Digital photos, as everything changed
• The phone camera era which changed everything

And what's with those negatives!?!? Will anyone ever reprint? No - in the bin.

Let's remember the good old times, forever. Photos are the best way to prompt memories. 

My grandmother (2nd from left), her brother Jim, and their parents - the Luffs (that's all I know)

Mum - wedding day, wedding dress - 5th August 1961

Mum and Dad - wedding day. Mum aged 21, Dad aged 24