The Adventures of Melvyn and Lesley
Having retired we are busy pursuing the things we enjoy
Today has been one of the most enjoyable days I’ve had windsurfing, I’m already looking forward to my wave sailing course with Peter Hart. The wind could have been stronger, but the waves were exhilarating. Thanks to my sailing colleagues Chris and Keith and the support team, Gaynor, Brian and Pat.
Checking out a new spot for some wave sailing tomorrow with these two old boys.
Today’s very enjoyable bike ride took in the towns of La Unión, El Algar, Los Urrutias and back home. We stopped in Los Urrutias for coffee and toast – excellent coffee, had to have two cups.
The year is 2008 and Samantha Kofer’s career at a huge Wall Street law firm is on the fast track—until the recession hits and she gets downsized, furloughed, escorted out of the building. Samantha, though, is one of the “lucky” associates. She’s offered an opportunity to work at a legal aid clinic for one year without pay, after which there would be a slim chance that she’d get her old job back.
In a matter of days Samantha moves from Manhattan to Brady, Virginia, population 2,200, in the heart of Appalachia, a part of the world she has only read about. Mattie Wyatt, lifelong Brady resident and head of the town’s legal aid clinic, is there to teach her how to “help real people with real problems.” For the first time in her career, Samantha prepares a lawsuit, sees the inside of an actual courtroom, gets scolded by a judge, and receives threats from locals who aren’t so thrilled to have a big-city lawyer in town. And she learns that Brady, like most small towns, harbors some big secrets.
Her new job takes Samantha into the murky and dangerous world of coal mining, where laws are often broken, rules are ignored, regulations are flouted, communities are divided, and the land itself is under attack from Big Coal. Violence is always just around the corner, and within weeks Samantha finds herself engulfed in litigation that turns deadly.
Windy enough to go sailing but needed big kit Used my 8.5 and put the largest fin on the Mistral Screamer 116. Not ideal but had an OK session. 2nd time out in 18 days. Very busy on the beach.
Finally finished reading The Godfather’s Revenge, a 2006 novel written by Mark Winegardner, it’s the sequel to The Godfather and The Godfather Returns. The story takes place from 1963–1964 and picks up the story from where The Godfather Returns left off.
The Godfather
The Sicilian
The Godfather Returns
The Godfather’s Revenge
The Family Corleone
The Godfather
The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part III
Mark Winegardner (born November 24, 1961) is an American writer born and raised in Bryan, Ohio. His novels include The Godfather Returns, Crooked River Burning, and The Veracruz Blues. He published a collection of short stories, That’s True of Everybody, in 2002. His newest novel, The Godfather’s Revenge, was published in November 2006 by Putnam. His Godfather novels continue the story of the Corleone family depicted in Mario Puzo’s The Godfather.
A new destination for us on our bikes. A pleasant ride which has opened up opportunities for new routes. Coffee stop at El Tata in Los Bolones on the way back.
It looks like the weather has returned to normal. Had a very enjoyable run on the hills.
It was lovely to catch up with Sue and Geoff. We normally see them skiing in Les Arcs. They have just bought a place in Spain (45 minutes from here) and swopped there motorhome for an A class Rapido. They plan to ski all over the place (again) this winter, but, hopefully we will catch up with them again. 
At the tail end of the wet weather, but still a grey morning we decided to recce cycle routes to La Unión. There are a few options, but, also the chance to take in some serious unwanted hills, which for us as non-cyclists are better left until we have got a bit more experience. I think we have sorted a route with a few alternatives that will be challenging enough for us, and also found a place where we can get a good coffee and some tapas.
While we were there we booked a tour of Parque Minero for next Thursday. We first wanted to do this after a cycle trip through the abandoned quarry in the area last year – another epic adventure.