I am going to interrupt this Italian adventure with a Post of RANDOM TOPICS!
ONE.
I am going to share MY BUSINESS CLASS EXPERIENCE WITH YOU ALL on the airplane.
TWO.
I have another BOOK TO TELL YOU ABOUT AND A RETREAT in THE FALL if you are so inclined to check it OUT!You have to be able to hop on an airplane to FRANCE to ATTEND!
THREE.
The CARD SHOP SHOCK!
FOUR.
MORE BIRTHDAY WISHES bestowed upon me by little ones!
FIVE.
A BOOK SIGNING AND MEET AND GREET with ADVANCED STYLE and ME!!
Let us begin with the airplane ride.
BUCKLE UP AS I RANT!
I HAVE ALWAYS FLOWN COACH SO THIS WAS SPECIAL!
I had my own TV screen with multiple choices of things to watch……………
Guess I should tell you the airline is ALAITALIA.
SO, this STICK FIGURE PANEL probably makes sense to most of you, but for me I had a difficult time!The GOAL was to make my seat become a BED!NOT AS EASY AS YOU MAY THINK………………That first STICK IS GOAL!But getting there you have to manipulate some of the other stick figures for the chair to recline!
HOW DOES ONE KNOW THAT?
MY ITALIAN DID and he has FLOWN LESS THAN ME and NEVER in BUSINESS CLASS!
SLEEP MODE for me, which the HUSBAND WHO WAS NEXT TO ME BETWEEN A PARTITION HAD TO DO WITH HIS TOUCH. LEANING OVER THE CONSOLE to my panel.I WASNOT A HAPPY CAMPER as they say here in the STATES!HE took this snapshot of me which I should NOT be sharing, however I am at the point of not caring!
What is happening to my hair!Long story short the HAIR is FALLING OUT ONCE AGAIN which all started at age 56 and it is back to say HA HA HORRENDOUS HAIR HOARDERS are back!Nine years ago I lost half my head of HAIR actually MORE.I could NEVER wear it up as it was TOO HEAVY!
I see bald spots here………..
I got side tracked FORGIVE ME!
IF ANY OF YOU HAVE FEEDBACK on hair LOSS I WOULD APPRECIATE IT!
THE ITALIAN IS ALWAYS HAPPY unless I put something in the wrong SPOT!
See how high that divider comes up?You cannot hold hands or lean on each other! Or for THAT MATTER TALK as there is too much noise!I ABSOLUTELY HATED THIS!He was in HEAVEN with his movies while I struggled to move the CHAIR!I crushed my shoes and my BASKET BAG.They should have gone in the space way down below which I did not see on the first flight over.OH I WAS SO PISSED!
WHY DON’T THEY GIVE YOU A SLIDE SHOW ON YOUR OWN TV OF HOW TO OPERATE YOUR SEAT along with the SAFETY PROCEDURES?
Once again I am CERTAIN A MAN DESIGNED THIS CUBICLE!
NOT A GORGEOUS ARTISTIC SOUL with COMMON SENSE!
AS you can see this is the seat in front of me on the LEFT.
ALL I CAN SEE is HIS TV SCREEN and the person to my side TV screen.
Because of the wrap around enclosure.
ZERO HUMAN CONTACT OR VISUAL.The only people you see on the 12 hour flight is the STEWARDS or STEWARDESSES.We were in the second row in the front of the GALLEY which they call the kitchen on airplanes and yachts I think!
I am pulling that OUT of my BRAIN from YEARS AGO.
I am SO AFRAID for us humans.Between the phones and these capsule seats (let’s call them) we are GOING TO HAVE NO TOUCH OR COMMUNICATION in the FUTURE!
THE SEAT BEHIND me to the left.A lovely Mother and her baby sat there.
THE MENU WAS GOOD, but we forgot to order me a GLUTEN FREE MEAL.
THIS IS TOTALLY OUR FAULT and by NO MEANS DO I BLAME THE AIRLINE.
Going over I just picked from a dinner.NO PASTA for me it looked DELICIOUS and there was cheese I could eat after the meal.I couldn’t touch the bread but,I could eat the green salad with zero dressing. The presentation was GRAND!They bring a white tablecloth and cloth napkin and arrange everything just so!I WAS VERY IMPRESSED with MY STEWARDS skills of setting a table HIGH IN THE SKY!
He got an A PLUS from me for his skill but was also very apologetic about not having FOOD FOR ME TO EAT!
He worried about me!
He was ITALIAN!
THIS WAS MY DINNER ON THE WAY HOME WITH MY SORE BACK from the fall.
THESE CRACKERS ALONG WITH A PLATE OF BURNT RICE from the bottom of the pot.
THAT WAS IT.
I still have these as I kept as a souvenir of the trip.
I was AFRAID to lay back in my BED/CHAIR for fear of the pain.So, I slept upright.
I thought for sure they were going to have to peel me off the plane in a stretcher……..
I went to the bathroom a few times and fell into the GALLEY walls LEFT,RIGHT……. LEFT
bump bump bump all the way back to row two.
That was not GOOD for the back.
I also sat down in my seat thinking it was higher than it was and BOY that really was not GOOD.
The pain ZIPPED UP MY SPINE LIKE A ZIPPER BEING CLOSED on a tight fitting gown.
Iam in NO HURRY TO GET BACK ON AN AIRPLANE ANYWHERE…….
SO, bottom line I did more damage en-route home.
Tra La…………….C’est la vie.
I WILL SURVIVE!
2. UP NEXT is THE BOOK I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT!
I READ IT IN TWO DAYS.I do not recall HOW I FOUND THIS WOMAN but she was talking into the phone expressing her dislike for someone we have all been EXPOSED TO since JANUARY!
ON INSTAGRAM or is it META!
HER CALL NAME THERE IS THE MAVERICK SOUL.
GAWD, I liked her immensely and LOVED what she was saying.
Not only does she live in FRANCE in an OLD CHATEAU she has written a book back in 2017.
A TABLE TOP BOOK with LOADS of PHOTOGRAPHS of homes with that BOHEMIAN FLAIR.
A few of the people she interviews you may recognize.
Some of us her NEW FOLLOWERS on THE GRAM wanted to buy the book so she was able to get AMAZON to find some old copies……….MY BOOK SAYS…….”MERRY CHRISTMAS…..2023 ALICE!”
It is expensive but so worth it if this is YOUR KIND OF DECOR.
Miv is her name and every day I find another similarity that we both possess.
HER CALL NAME ON INSTAGRAM is THE MAVERICK SOUL and I do BELIEVE she is on FACEBOOK AS WELL under her real name MIV WATTS.
She is AUSTRALIAN BY BIRTH.Then moved to BRITAIN. Back to AUSTRALIA and then on to FRANCE.
I hope I have that right.
She HOSTS along with another gal from New York a RETREAT in her CHATEAU TWICE A YEAR in GASCONY, FRANCE.
It is on INTERIOR DESIGN with field trips and eating FRENCH food prepared by chefs.Visiting chateaus and textile factories and or FLEA MARKETS.Her profession was a STYLIST for the MOVIE INDUSTRY and INTERIOR DECOR.SHE has a MARVELOUS PERSONALITY and lives with a MAN NAME HUMPH.He is a FISH MONGER.Recently she has shared a few photos of him and he is a HUNK.I’m assuming Australian TOO.
There is still more details I need to put together.I do not want to BOMBARD HER WITH TOO MANY QUESTIONS!AS I NEED A WHOLE DAY; MAYBE MORE TO GET ALL HER SCOOP.
SHE mows the LAWN on the TRACTOR!I keep asking for THAT PHOTO!
AND HER SON IN LAW WAS ON THE MORNING SHOW!
If you haven’t seen the series it is totally WORTH TRACKING IT DOWN!
I do BELIEVE it is MY FAVORITE SHOW of my ADULT LIFE!
There is a chapter on her FRENCH CHATEAU in the book and here is a PAGE to GAWK AT!
YES!That portrait of the WOMAN speaks to me BIG TIME!
THE MEANING OF MAVERICK if any of you need a REFRESHER is unconventional and independent.
MIV gave me a HUGE compliment by telling me
“YOU ARE A TRUE MAVERICK AND I LOVE THAT YOU ARE LABELING ALL YOUR TREASURES,FAMILY AND HUNTED!”
THE LINK TO BUY HER BOOK IS HERE:
Here is the Link for MIV WATTS LEXIS RETREATS.http://Lexisretreats.com
Miv, twice a year hosts a GET TOGETHER in her chateau where she offers TO TEACH US HOW TO USE THE STUFF WE HAVE AND LOVE.NOT TO FOLLOW THE CURRENT TRENDS…………I find this way of decorating VERY BRITISH.I know I have told you all before, but I will tell YOU again.When I lived in TUSCANY in the early 1990’s I would spend my pocket money on COUNTRY HOMES MAGAZINE from ENGLAND.It was a TREASURE TO ME………and I kept EVERY ISSUE! I STILL HAVE THEM!
They used color on the walls and used the ANTIQUES in the HOMES.When I grew up here in California the antiques were coveted more and just a visual.Once they were passed on to me I put them to work in my home.
Here is a brief description of WHO MIV is and what she has accomplished from her book.
Do not miss the 3 minute plus video on her website!
Volume up…………her daughter narrates.
(YOU MAY RECOGNIZE THE BEAUTIFUL VOICE!)
Miv Watts
Miv Watts, the mentor and inspiration for this Lexis Retreats, has spent her life involved in two major creative industries – music and film – working with artists at the top of their art. Her daughter is Hollywood film actress Naomi Watts, her son the photographer Ben Watts, and her late husband, Pete, was the sound engineer for Pink Floyd from their inception in the mid 1960s. She learned at an early age that ‘creativity’ is seeing what others see – but then thinking for yourself and having the courage to follow your thought. It is this practice that is the focus of the retreat:
“Creating a home is about filtering the layers and experiences of one’s life. It is theatrical, like creating a drama or film – but a home is also a process, it has a strong practical element. It is a mix of dreaming and deciding. Feeling and function.”
THE FALL RETREAT STARTS OCTOBER 2, 2025 and costs 4,000 EURO.That does not included your room that is additional.I do believe we all stay on her property in other OUT buildings!Check with her as there is a contact sheet on the website under RETREATS.
No, I am NOT going this year but I do HOPE to go next year if at all possible.I hope some of you will LOOK INTO IT and GO then report back to me on WHAT I MISSED!
She only takes a HANDFUL of LADIES SO HOP ON IT if you are interested.
DO GIVE HER A FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM AND OR FACEBOOK!
I INSIST!
YOU WILL ENJOY HER SO MUCH……………..
NOW we come to NUMBER 3 on my list from above.
The MENTION of the CARDS!I needed a birthday card recently, actually TWO my supply from THE HEN HOUSE had dwindled down finally!So, me and the ITALIAN sauntered down the WAY to the card shop here in my town.I ended up buying 4 cards.Nothing SUPER SPECATACULAR just 4 plain cards………..guess how much they were?
$28.00 = 4 cards.
I find that OUTRAGEOUS………………..
MAYA AND TIGRE my neighbor
THIS CAT IS ONE OF A KIND.
HE ABSOLUTELY LOVES HER AND FOLLOWS HER AROUND IN THE GARDEN AND INSIDE HER HOME.
HE IS ONE OF THE BEST GIFTS MY SON HAS EVER GIVEN TO ME…………….
But then again he ALWAYS COMES THROUGH.
One year it was a BOX of CRICKETS so I could ENJOY MY SOIREE (PARTY) throughout SUMMER.
They have SURVIVED in my GARDEN for over TEN YEARS!
Every summer they ARE BACK IN FULL ON CHORUS MODE!
HE GAVE ME BETTY. As our dog SIR WINSTON had passed. A Cardigan Corgi.
HE gave me THEODORE.The gift being he would drive down from college and take me to the pound to pick out another cat since MIJO DIEGO had passed.Meaning he would spend sometime with MOM.ME!
He has a THEME this KID…………maybe just maybe a miniature cow is in MY FUTURE!
YES!The COW would be allowed in the HOUSE!
NUMBER 4.BIRTHDAY WITH LITTLE ONES.
BIRTHDAY CARDS FROM THE GIRLS.
This is a FUN PHOTO MY SON CAPTURED………….I’m saying OHHHHH and he is telling me its the FLORENTINE FLEUR DE LYE.It happens to have a number on it!That NUMBER IS 65!
IT IS MY 65th YEAR!
BIRTHDAYS KISSES………….GLADLY ACCEPTED!
For those of you who are a bit confused these are ALL MY GRANDCHILDREN.
The little one belongs to MY SON.The other two belong to his PARTNER who I happily become the Third GRANNY in their LIVES.THE BOY is 10.The Big Girl is 8.Then there is LOTTIE who is 5.They all LOVE to BE TOGETHER and care for one another.It BRINGS US SO MUCH JOY TO SEE THEM TOGETHER!
THIS ONE WILL BE FRAMED and placed on MY DESK!
DIESEL the grand dog who is hopping from one SONS house to another SON’s for SUMMER CAMP!
I LOVED HOW HE MADE HIMSELF AT HOME IN MY GRANDMOTHER’S CHAIRS!
HE IS ONE YEAR OLD and I keep forgetting the BREED but HE IS ADORABLE.
A BIG,FLOPPY,LOVEABLE BEASTIE BOY!
GRAND DOGS ARE JUST AS SPECIAL AS GRANDCHILDREN TO ME!
5.ADVANCED STYLE
You ALL KNOW I WAS IN THE LAST BOOK of ADVANCED PETS by ARI of ADVANCED STYLE FAME!
I will be on HIS PANEL in Sebastopol,California on AUGUST 23 rd.From 2-4pm.
A short film will be shown and other VICTIMS of his BOOK!
It will be like a MEET and GREET and BOOK SIGNING OF COURSE!
SEBASTOPOL is 64 miles from the San Francisco Bay Area.
PAST PETALUMA on highway 101.
GREAT ANTIQUE SHOPS IN SEBASTOPOL AS WELL……….so you could make a day of it!
PETALUMA has LOADS OF ANTIQUE SHOPS AS WELL.
IF YOU ARE A MAVERICK AND LOVE THE THRILL OF A GOOD HUNT this a VERY GOOD SPOT TO SOURCE!
TICKETS are $15.00.
HOPE I CAN MEET A FEW OF YOU THERE!
THE ITALIAN TRIP will continue in up coming POSTS!
I had a little THRILL recently when my phone told me more than 224,000 people had viewed my Instagram photos within the last 30 days………those were the ITALIAN PHOTOS for the most PART!
I guess those HASHTAGS DO WORK!
HAPPY SO MANY OF YOU ARE ENJOYING THEM TOO.
BE WELL and most of all STAY HEALTHY!
Yes, I am still struggling with THE BACK.It’s taking a LONG TIME……………..
I need this TO END.
TO COMMENT KEEP SCROLLING DOWNWARDS………..
I LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
XXX
CONTESSA
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