A Year Older

I'm a Cancerian and enjoy creeping into my shell and contemplating my next move. I'm also a first born and American so my personaliy is a strong A. These are things I realize and I'm very thankful for my friends and family who still love me for who I am.

This year was spent earning a grad degree, attempting a career change and adapting to life in another country. I learned a great deal this year. Allow me to share some of my lessons with you.

Adventure keeps me feeling young.
Love is attainable and comforting.
Travel writing interests me more than I realized.
I need to become less selfish and more observant to needs around me.
The breeze off of the ocean in Lisbon, Portugal is quite cool.
Community in London means sport, a pint and sunshine.
Friendships evolve in the most amazing ways and can begin in even difficult situations.
I miss my family, best friends and my cat.
I will try to listen more and talk less.
Digging and planting in a garden is therapeutic.
The Great White shark is much larger in person than I imagined.

Things I Wrote About Today...

I am working on a piece for Avantoure about the Lemongrass Trail Tour through Tell Tale Travel. Its a tour that takes guests through Thailand on a cooking expedition. Students learn how to use spice, sweet, salty and sour flavours to create traditional Thai meals. Classes are scheduled around expeditions to Temple of Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho and the Grand Palace. If you can part with 1300 pounds ($2600) for 14 days you too can visit the Pakthongchi Silk Center and stay in a bungalow on property which once held a palm plantation.

Wouldn't mind to go on this trip...a bit expensive for me though....this month. Ha.

Friday in London

I had a chance to catch some local television during the day today. The big news story centered around an apparent car bomb staged outside a popular nightclub. While driving in the area overnight, an ambulance driver spotted a random car with smoke leaking out. He called the authorities. Hours later the bomb squad disarmed the device. No one was hurt. There are no suspects.

The media coverage isn't as hard core as I think it would be in the states. Picadilly is in the center of theatre land and tourist mecca. Police estimate the bomb could have injured or killed 1,700 people. Folks don't seem to be freaking out, though. Saturday is pretty much back to normal in Central London.

Why would you leave a job like that?

When I attended the NATO Media exercise in Denmark I ran into a young guy who did occassional work for the BBC. We were speaking about our backgrounds and he asked me why I would ever go back to school when I already had a job as a tv reporter. He wanted to know why I would leave a mid-market gig to hit the books after 6 years in the profession.

I must say I didn't have a snappy response. I had to think about my answer. He's right. I had a wonderful job. I guess I felt I needed to challenge myself a bit more. (Not that getting up at 3am for Good Morning Cincinnati for three years wasn't challenging.) Standing in the snow, knocking on the door of a person's home who has just lost a family member for purpose of an interview, sitting patiently through detailed court cases while watching the clock tick towards deadline are all certainly things that get the blood pumping. However, I suppose I want my blood to pump for other reasons.

I love news. Its not that I don't but I fear we are moving toward a media that feeds on advertising and digests news as it pertains to the marketing department's menu. Big Brother is a program in the UK which is hyped on the BBC almost 24 hours a day. Since it is shown on BBC, all 5 channels can essentially jump on the wagon of promotion. Wow. Talk about a bit of brain washing. Even the news programs have promos for the show.

One thing I dearly miss about my career in television: the money. Freelancing is an amazing outlet but does not create much cash flow. I was fortunate enough to be asked by the publisher of Avantoure Magazine to take on more of an editorial role. (Shameless plug here: If you don't mind, please get a subscription and tell all of your buddies.) I hope to generate some funds this way while working on articles for other magazines. In fact I ordered business cards the other day with the title of Travel Journalist. Who knew?

I may not make it with this line of journalism but I'm going to give it a go. I did pick up and move all the way across the pond. With the chance to have a visa for another year, I may as well stick it out in Europe with the occassional trip back to the US. This may not be what my original plan was but sometimes our plans are groomed by new opportunities. We just have to keep an eye out for them. Thanks for your support.

Note: BBC 4 doesnt't show Big Brother it is Channel 4 with the big show. Thanks for the help.

On the Grand Canal

Owner of the Ginger Group, Keith Warner, treated the tourists in our group to a ride on a gondola through the canals of Venice, Italy. Our 'driver' was certainly a character but didn't sing. Instead, he pointed out the residence of Marco Polo, told us about the canal system and showed us the oldest building in Venice. He said not many people actually live in Venice because there is no land for flats. However, those who are fortunate to call this little city home pay a lot of money for the privalege. Our driver said he had to attend a training program for a year in order to become a driver. Each operator owns his own gondola but contracts for local companies.

Several tour books that I've checked say the gondola ride is only for tourists and too expensive. I disagree. It was worth every Euro and provides un-matched discovery of Venice's tiny, historical water passage ways.

A Bike Ride in Murano

I found out that the bikes at our villa were free for exploring the area. There is no public transportation in Mirano (besides the occassional bus) so we decided to suit up and take off. We rode through a park and into town in the search for Italian gelatin. Once we found the spot where the locals go, the four of us tried Rum and Raisen and Cherry gelatin. Surprisingly, I only crashed into Kings twice during the ride and came away with no scabs and no visits to the Farmacia. Fun times.

Murano and Venice Italy

We stayed at a nice villa between Murano and Venice. The venue included grassy lawns, mature trees, al fresco dining by the pool and free bikes for discovery treks.

The Ginger Group Opens In Italy

London's premier salon and beauty provider, The Ginger Group opened its 9th shop this weekend.

The grand opening party hosted just outside of Venice, Italy in Mirano, enticed a crowd of 500 international guests. See more pictures here.


The modern, high-tech salon mixes hair technology with Italian customer service for a wonderful salon experience. The new space is kitted with flat screen televisions, a large color center for highlights, make-up application and relaxation rooms.

Ginger Group
VIA CASTELLANTICO
21 - MIRANo (VE)
INFOLINE: 3346333076

Visit the Ginger Group's website to book an appointment for beauty and hair services in London or Italy.

(Check out my blog again soon for more pics from Venice on a gondola...)

Freelancing In Venice

I leave tomorrow for Venice, Italy. I am videoing the opening of a UK Salon group's first international salon. The managers are paying me to produce a 5 minute video, press releases and still photos. I am excited about the gig and most excited about earning some ££.

While there I hope to at least stand on a bridge which overlooks the Grand Canal and watch gondolas float by. Chow.

"Venezia, La Serenissima, Queen of the Adriatic, city of canals and palaces...or tawdry sewer alive with crowds and charlatans? Venice's nature is dual: water and land, long history and doubtful future, airy delicacy and dim melancholy. If this precious place does sink, the world will be the poorer.

For a thousand years the city was one of the most enduring mercantile sea powers on the face of the earth. Today the brilliance and influence have long since faded, leaving a town of tarnished glories, out of time and out of place, so achingly beautiful it's hard not to look for the back of the set."

-Lonely Planet Destination Guide

The Smell Of Summer

We grilled out the other night and enjoyed the weather. It is still chilly in the evenings here and I look forward to the heat of summer.

Luckily for this type of meal, I don't have to work too hard. Put the taters and corn in foil, make a salad and throw the meat on the grill. The Braai Masters do the rest. I also discovered a nice adult summer drink in a pub last weekend...

Pimm's (1 part)

Sprite (2 parts)

Squeeze of orange, lemon, lime juice

Slices of orange, lemon, lime

Slices of strawberries

Fresh Mint Leaves

Combine, Stir and pour over ice. Serve with a straw. Enjoy.