criplomats

The EU ambassador invited us to a lovely evening at St George’s Cathedral to hear a special guest baritone, Leonardo Lopez Linares and his oboe accompanist, Cecilia Maragano (both from Buenos Aires). It was a really nice concert, and we also enjoyed the local choir and local soloists. The event was sponsored by the EU Commission. The cathedral is Anglican built at the end of the 19th century. I’ve heard it described as the largest wooden church in South America. It’s really pretty.

Friday afternoon we went to the home of the Canadian High Commissioner for Canada’s first game of the World Cup. We enjoyed visiting with our Canadian friends, and I really liked seeing the High Commissioner’s beautiful yard and screened in porch.

Saturday we had a new officer, Marcella, over for breakfast along with my friend Mellisa who I always enjoy seeing. That night, we met Chris and Mariela for a nice dinner at Nikkei.

John and I continue to watch “Better Call Saul.” I can’t believe that it took us this long to watch it – we have really enjoyed it and are sad there are only a couple of episodes left. Today I read “Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage” by Belle Burden. I really enjoyed it although it is a sad And rather jaw-dropping story. I also had a nice chat with Mary C in Little Rock on Monday.

The Foreign Service is a small community, and I always love to see my worlds collide. Jessica (below) worked for me in Argentina and is now working with my good friend and former local staff supervisor, Mr. Irshad, in Pakistan. They sent me the photo below to say hello (they are pointing to my photo from 2014). So fun to see!

Spent Monday getting packed and the house ready to leave, taking a break for a gin and tonic with David and Alison. A wonderful storm came through Monday night and I sat on the porch listening to the rain and enjoying the cool wind.

Tuesday was a travel day and I arrived back in Guyana in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, happy to see John (who was sweet enough to wait up for me).

I spent the rest of the week just getting settled back in and watching French Open tennis. I enjoyed watching Brazil’s Fonseca beat Djokavic – we saw Fonseca win the Argentine Open last year. I finished “The Mad Wife” by Meagan Church and “Wild Dark Shore” by Charlotte McConaghy. John and I are still enjoying “Better Call Saul” and are almost finished with the series.

Pam drove down Friday evening for a Scrabble weekend. We had a lot of fun and did more talking and birdwatching than playing Scrabble.

The rest of the week was filled with appointments, including going to a hair appointment in Maumelle – it rained most of the way there and back. Sadly our A/C is on the blink, so I’ve been sweating it out at home – hopefully the part they need will come in soon. I went out on a fun boat ride/picnic with David and Alison earlier in the week, then helped Alison clean the boat.

Pam and I watched the delightful movie, “Remarkably Bright Creatures.” I had listened to the audio book a while back and liked the book, but I really enjoyed the movie more.

Here’s a photo from last weekend’s wedding:

I met John in Fayetteville on Friday to attend his nephew’s wedding. It was a quick trip for John – in on Friday and out on Monday. We had a fun weekend: out for a nice dinner with his mom on Friday; an afternoon BBQ at his brother’s house on Saturday; and the wedding on Sunday afternoon at a very pretty venue in Bentonville (just down the street from Sam Walton’s original store). We really enjoyed visiting with Phillip’s friends over the weekend; I had met them briefly years and years ago. We also liked getting to know the bride’s parents who made the trip from Germany.

Earlier in the week I visited more with James and Marybeth, did some shopping, went to a doctor’s appointment in Little Rock, and took care of some things around the house. I went out Wednesday night running around and to dinner with Alison and Peewee which is always fun.

I finished reading “A Far-Flung Life” by M.L. Stedman.

When I got home Monday afternoon, I found this amazing summer tanager at the suet feeder.

I flew back to Hot Springs Tuesday night, arriving Wednesday mid-day. Cousins James and Marybeth arrived later in the day and are staying with me while they attend his 60th high school reunion activities. We took BBQ to David and Alison’s Wednesday night, then we all crashed after a long travel day. . The weather here is gorgeous – not too hot, everything’s in bloom, and there’s a nice breeze off the lake.

I’ve done some clothes shopping and am taking care of some appointments, so I haven’t had a lot of downtime. Scott and Julie came for happy hour Thursday night. I enjoyed sitting outside at David and Alison’s last evening, eating grilled salmon and feeling the breeze. I’ve gone to yoga twice at the new studio and it’s great, although I miss Karen, who has retired to Fayetteville.

I re-read “Vladimir” and started “A Far-Flung Life” by M.L. Stedman (set in Australia). I’ve been watching “Imperfect Women.”

I helped this little guy across the road this morning while I was out for a walk. He was small! Probably a young one. I thought at first that he was dead because he was slow to pull his head in when I picked him up. As I looped back home, he was still sitting in the same spot where I left him, so I went back to check on him a couple of hours later, armed with water and apples, but he was gone! I hope he’s ok!