​Weathering the Storm with the WP#221

Greetings from London where I have been the past few days. I was here strictly on business with two days of conferences and meetings to gain see insight into my industry from different perspectives and connect and re-connect with partners with new ideas and experiences to share with my valued clients. This is what I do, most of the time, when I am traveling. I am not a holiday taker but try to incorporate a holiday of sorts when I do travel, but more often that not, there is a business component or two. That said, of course, if there is time in my schedule to experience something different since the last time I was here in London and going to the British Museum. And, yes, once in a while, I take a vacation for vacation’s sake, even if there may be a business element to it. In fact, in two weeks’ time, I will return here to London to attend an event with African suppliers and representatives, as I also can handle that continent as well for my clients. It is nice to have partners around the world, but in a few hours, I fly home and that will be nice. ​

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Yes, I am more of a homebody these days also, so the once Wandering Puffin that was always on the road, is doing less so, but that does not mean I do not travel. It is a part of me and yes, I also travel with Rosa. But the balance of the week will be focused on several key things as I have travel plans to work, English to teach and yes, believe it or not, unpack the WP’s WPs that arrived yesterday. We will leave the car story out of this one, as you know, that is a different story, but apparently, everything else is in the common room, better known as the living, dining room/office, so I have my work cut out for me to go through what is there, place things where they need to be and bring that room back to an semblance of order. Momma was there to receive everything as I was and still am in London and Rosa was working all day. When I put the last of my worldly possessions together and time was running out last May, some things simply got lumped together. Now, I will go through the obvious and when I get to that box or two of “stuff” unknown, then perhaps, I will cull the herd one more time, a bit of a treasure hunt, I suppose. ​

I did see a few things here in London, from the outside anyway and a stroll through Greenwich, I had the chance to see the Cutty Sark, but again, this was really a business trip and not a casual trip. The nice thing about where I am now is that London is less than a 2 ½ hour flight, not 7 or 8 hours across the pond, a place where, for the time being, I really have no interest in going. My life is truly in Italy and each day, I get more and more used to it. I hope to start an Italian class to become more fluent for all the practical reasons and who knows, even at 63, this old dog can learn new tricks. I have a base anyway, but grammar is not my strong point and that will take time. Can you believe that one month from today, will be one year since I arrived. Yes, it was July 4, 2024 and I had actually been in London prior to flying here, but I will reflect then on that post about this past year and it ups and downs, but the bottom line is I am happy and have a place I can call home and now, the Knick knacks have arrived and I await Rosa to add hers, as well, so it is a shared experience.

Otherwise, home life is homelife. I have no clients in Rome currently. In fact, the majority of my clients coming to Italy this year will be in September and beyond. Right now, I have my clients, who were in Rome just last week, in Florence and then back to Rome for a night before flying back home. I do have clients in Ireland, France and soon to the UK, and Key West right now and another client that just returned from a 6-week trip that included France, the Netherlands, Wales, and Scotland, as well as the north of England, where she was inundated with my birds. And a couple that started in Austria and with time in Germany, France, Belgium, finishing out in Amsterdam and flying home today. And a couple set of clients that were recently in Croatia and Slovenia. Almost forgot, I have cruisers chilling out in Alaska.

I am welcoming a couple to France in early July, and a New England self-drive, but the majority of my travelers are coming in September and October. A bit of a shift, and perhaps less of Italy this year, probably due to the Jubilee in Rome, oh and yes, another couple in July, I just thought about. They have decided to do a river cruise but wanted to explore Europe on their own afterwards for about 2 weeks and that too, is in July. I am definitely busy and with the teaching, and some travel, really busy, so looking forward to some down time in August when the school in closed and not having travelers on my doorstep, to take a real vacation, hopefully something where Rosa and I can get away for at least a few days together, but August will also be busty for her. Never a dull moment in the life of the WP. ​

Well time to wrap this up and pack my bag and head to the airport. Unfortunately, due to the weather difference between Rome and Italy, I think I have acquired a head cold, just in time to fly back. As always, thank you, we so appreciate your support of our crazy little world, welcome you to this side of the pond for a visit, if and when you wish to be here, and, of course, remain healthy, safe, and happy, most importantly, in this craziness in which we find ourselves. There will always be bumps in the road and it is how you handle them. Focus on the things you can control and let go of the things that you can’t. Life is too short to stress and while we all can’t be happy, all the time, find something that truly does make you happy and make that a focus. Your outlook will change as you stay on that path.

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