Once   again,   the   year   rolls   round   and   thoughts   turn   to   Santa  Claus,   Bing   Crosby,   the  Queen,   turkey,   brandy   butter   and   old  friends  (not  necessarily  in  that  order).  

I  always  think  that  the  year  cannot  have  been  as  eventful  as  the  last  one  but  it’s  not  true!  Three  years  after  retirement,  it  seems  that  it  has  been  a  pretty  busy  12  months.  I  have  to  look  through  my  photos  to  remind  me  of  everything.  I  took  4,706  photos  this  year!  

We  have  been  travelling  madly  all  year  and  grateful  thanks  are  due  to  Peter  and  Ivy,  and  to  Jean-­‐Claude  and  Marie-­‐Colombe  who  take  it  in  turns  to  drive  us  to  the  airport.  We  try  to  reciprocate  as  much  as  possible!  

Our   journeys  began  on  1st   January  when  we   flew   to   India   to  visit  Roopa’s  Dad.  Just  87  years  young,  he  made  us  welcome  as  ever.   We   enjoyed   good   company   and   ate   good   food.   The  pictures  show  us  visiting  temples  around  Trichy  where  there  are   many   beautiful   examples.   I   also   developed   a   fad   for  photographing   Indian   houses,   which   are   frequently   brightly  

coloured   and   decorated.   We   made   a   trip   to   see   the  merchant   houses   in   the   Chettinad   area,   even   bigger   and  more  ornate  buildings  but   falling  a  bit   into  disrepair.  And  we  visited   the  new  house  of  driver  Kanan  and  his   family.  That   and  meeting  with  Roopa’s  brother,   sister-­‐in-­‐law  and  niece   to   complete  a  good  holiday.  We  even  stopped  off   in  Sri  Lanka  and  visited  Shamila’s  family  on  the  way  back.    

At  the  end  of  February,  we  made  a  short  visit  to  UK  to  check  on  the  flat  and  get  the  car  MOT’d  and  taxed  for  another  year.  Phil  Stamp  always  keeps  things  right  when  we  are  not  there  and,  as  usual,  everything  was   in  order.  This  time,  we  managed  to  see  Tom   and   meet   with   his   friend   Sarah   for   the   first   time   over  dinner   somewhere   near   Baldock.   We   had   some   time   with  friends  in  the  Royal  Ag  College:  Paul,  Richard,  Sally  and  others.  

We  actually  published  a  paper  in  the  journal  Rural  Matters  as  Speedy,  Speedy  and  Ham  (that’s  Roopa,  me  and  Dr  Le  Huy  Ham)  on  biotechnology  in  World  agriculture.  

We   went   to   London   where   we   attended   a   British   Council  Roundtable   on   Vietnam   -­‐   UK   Science   and   Innovation  Collaboration.   We   met   some   new   people   and   took   part   in   an  interesting   discussion   followed   by   a   pleasant   lunch.   This   also  gave  us   a   chance   to   stay  overnight  with  Ben,  Helen,  Carla   and  Jacob  and  attend  Jacob’s  christening  on  the  Sunday.    

riends,  Romans,  Relatives,  

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My   old   mate   Fred   Mundle   came   down   to   Cirencester   for   the   day.   I  hadn’t  seen  Fred  for  several  years.  We  meet  every  now  and  again  but  we  both  look  just  as  we  did  in  our  teens,  to  us  anyway!  We  also  briefly  saw  James,  Ximena  and  Luke  in  Oxford  before  returning  to  Rome.  Pictures  of  Spring  in  Rome  show  the  display  of   flowers   in   the   garden   in   early   April.  Roopa   has   been   working   hard   and   the  

garden  is  looking  well,  with  a  few  tips  from  Monty  Don  (and  Nigel)  on  the  BBC.  But  we  had  to   leave  it   for  the  Big  Trip  in  mid  April….  

The  17th  April  saw  us  on  BA551  to  London  then  BA067  to  Philadelphia….  We  were  met  at   the  airport  by  Harsha,   the  son  of  Roopa’s  friends  Sree  and  Kumar  where  we  stayed  for  the   first   part.   The   only   problem   staying   with   Sree   is   the  food,  which   is   delicious   and   copious   in   quantity.   It  was   a  pleasure  to  be  with  the  family,  including  second  son  Vishwa  who  is  studying  to  be  a  doctor   in  Philly.  Kumar  took  us  to  

New  York  with  a  small  party  of  friends  and  we  had  some  lovely  Spring  weather  to  see  the   cherry   blossoms   and   the   city   lights.  We   also   had   some   time   to   look   around  New  Hope  where  we  have  some  idea  to  settle  in  the  future.  We  looked  at  some  houses…    More  blossoms  including  spectacular  magnolias  at  the  Morris  Arboretum  where  we  went  for  a  drive.    

Then   we   visited   Roopa’s   other  friends   Purna   and   Srini   in  Collegeville.   We   had   interesting  discussions   with   Purna’s   Dad,  another   jovial   octogenarian.   It   was   good   to   see   them   again  and   their   little   daughter   Sumana,   although   we   didn’t   meet  Suguna,  who  is  now  about  to  be  another  medical  student!  

Then   on   to   Monica   and   Sid’s   house   in   Hatfield.   Monica   and  Roopa   bought   matching   t-­‐shirts   for   a   photo.   Daughter   Priya  entertained   us   getting   ready   for   her   high   school   dance   with  young   man.   (She   subsequently   settled   for   a   dog,   which   is  probably  a  wise  choice!)  Monica  and  Sid  took  us  once  again  to  Longwood  Gardens  where  we  had  been  several   times  before.  But  the  display  of  spring  flowers  was  quite  spectacular  in  late  April.  Among  my  4700  pictures  are  at  least  a  million  tulips!  Quite  incredible.      

Back   to   New  Hope   and   Kumar   kindly   lent   us   his   brand  new  car  for  the  next  stage  of  our  adventure…  

We  drove   south  on   I-­‐95,   turning  off   to   I-­‐13   to   cross   the  famous   Chesapeake   Bay   bridge   (6.9  km),   the   world's  longest   continuous   over-­‐water   steel   structure,   to  overnight   in   Norfolk   Virginia.   Then   on   eventually   to  Ashville,  North  Carolina.  

Our  good  friend  Donna  had  booked  us  a  log  cabin  where  we  were  to  stay  for  four  days  with  Donna,  Fred,  Lynn  and  Steve.  Well,  log  cabin  scarcely  describes  it!  It  could  actually  

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sleep  21  people  but  we  needed  plenty  of  space  for  Fred  to  throw   things   like   fireguards   and   other   objects   around  with  impunity…  

Steve   was   the   family  chauffeur   and   safely   and  expertly   drove   us   around  the   beautiful   North  

Carolina   hills.   Surprisingly   (given   the   bad   forecast)   the  weather  was  good  and  we  enjoyed  driving  along  the  Blue  Ridge   Parkway   (taking   pictures,   of   course)   and   to   the  Biltmore  Mansion  and  its  gardens.    We  also  found  plenty  to  do  indoors,  mainly  involving  bottles  of  Merlot….  

Back  up   the  BRP  and   then  I-­‐81   to   New   Hope   again.  Some   lovely   times   with  Sree   and   Kumar   (more  wonderful  food!)  including  a   visit   from   Lopa   on  Mother’s   Day,   and   finally  back  to  Rome.  It  was  May  and  the  roses  were  in  full  bloom.  We  went  to  the   Aventino   rose   garden   (near   FAO)   again   which   is  spectacular   on   a   sunny   day.   But   our   garden   was   also  good!   Roopa   had   another   exhibition   of   her   paintings   in  the   FAO   casa   bar.   A   new   theme   of   birds   and   flowers:   if  you  haven’t  seen  them,  you  should!    

One  of  my  other  jobs  has  been  as  adviser  and  judge  for  a  student   competition   ‘Farming   by   Satellite’   for   the   GSA  (European   Global   Navigational   Satellite   System).   In  June,  the  management  team  and  sponsors  met  in  Prague  and  I  went  on  my  own  (without  Roopa,  which  is  rare).  It  was  mainly  business  but   I  managed   to  slip  out  early   in  the  morning  for  some  photos  of  that  beautiful  city.  It  had  been  flooded  a  week  or  so  before  but,  luckily,  the  water  had  subsided.  

We  were   in   UK   again   in   late   June   to   attend   a   ceremony  and   party   for   the   inauguration   of   the   Royal   Agricultural  University,   renamed   from   ‘the   College’   where   I   enjoy  being   a   visiting   Prof.  We  had   time   to   see   the   family   and  grandchildren   again.   The   abbey   grounds   in   Cirencester  were   looking  good  with  yellow  irises  along  the  river  and  

the  newborn  cygnets  parading  with   their  mum  and  dad.  Daddy  swan  was  doing  some  amazing  battleship   tactics  on   the  ducks   to  keep   them  away!  More  photos!   Sadly,   they  started   as   6   little   ones,   then   there  were   5.   At   our   last   visit   (in  December),   they  were  down  to  3  but  now  fully-­‐grown  and  almost  white….  

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The  weather  was  rather  English  but  we  did  get  a  good  day  when  we  went  to  an  outdoor  exhibition  called  Fresh  Air  at  Quenington  Old  Rectory,  near  Cirencester.   I  even  entered  a   photo   exhibition   with   one   of   my   pics   of   a   modern  sculpture:  Peter  Moorehouse's  “Congregation  2013”.  

This  was  also  a   chance   to  meet  with  my  old   school  mate  Tony  Mackie  and  his  wife  Liz,  who  also  came  to  Cirencester   for   the  day.  Also  both  just  as  we  were  at  school,  except  for  the  hair  or  rather  lack  of  it!  July  and  August  were  spent  in  Rome  where  the  weather  was  hot  but  not   unbearable.   We   have   adopted   a   new   café   where   we   take   our  morning   cappuccino:   Café   12   it   is   called.   Some   young   guys   do   the  best   coffee  around  and  amazingly   fresh   cornetti.  Balmy  days   in   the  sun!  

Tom  came  with  Sarah  in  early  July  and  invested  in  two  sun-­‐loungers.  They   spent  a   relaxing  holiday  on  our   front   lawn,  occasionally   venturing   out   for   coffee   in   the   morning   and  pizza  at  night.  We  enjoyed  their  company.  

We  also  had  a  visit  from  Lopa  (our  Indian   friend   from   Columbus   OH  who  did  a  short  internship  at  FAO  some  years  ago).  We  had  a  night  in  Rome  to  see  the  sights,  eat  a   pizza   at   Aqua   e   Farina   in   Testaccio   and   some   gelati.  Culminating  in  the  night  view  from  Piazza  Garibaldi  at  the  top  of  the  Gianicolo….  

September   saw   a   visit   from   James,   Ximena   and   Luke.   It  was   still   a   good   time   for   the   beach   at   Ostia   and   Luke  enjoyed   the   sea   even  more   as   he   is   now  5   and   growing  rapidly.  Trips  to  Ostia  Antica  (always  a  hit)  and  the  Villa  d’Este  at  Tivoli  with  its  waterworks  and  fountains….  Luke   said  we   shouldn’t   have   roses   in   September   but   of  course  in  Rome  they  keep  flowering,  even  into  December.  

Roopa  worked  quite  hard   in   the  garden  to  make   it   look  good  with  roses,  lavender,  dahlias,  gladioli,  etc.  She  also  did  a  lot  of  pruning.  Some  will  have  seen  our  Christmas  tree,  which  is  now  bare  up  to  4  feet  from  the  ground….    

In   Cirencester   again   in   October   and  attended  Convocation  wearing  my  gown  and  hood.  But  not  as  spectacular  as  Phil  

Stamp  who   carries   the  mace!   A   good   photo   of   Phil  was   had   this  time.   It  was   also   the   time  of   the  Mop  Fair   on  Monday   in   the   car  park   opposite   our   flat.   This   is   the   traditional   hiring   fair   that  continues  every  year  as  a  funfair.  A  little  noisy  but  jolly.    We   also   attended   the   funeral   of   my   cousin   Bea’s   husband   John.  Although  a  sad  occasion,  we  did  meet   family  that  we  hadn’t  seen  

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for  so  many  years:  cousin  Bea,  of  course,  and  her  sister  Rosemary  and  her  children  Paul  and   Izzy.  We   also  met  my   sister   Shirley   and   partner   Alan.   Shirley   had   not   been  well  earlier  in  the  year  and  it  was  good  to  see  her  so  much  better  and  looking  fine  again.  

Then  back  to  Italy  just  in  time  for  a  visit  from  Ben,  Helen,  Carla   and   Jacob.   Even   in   October   the   sea   was   fine   and  Carla   had   a   good   time   at   the   beach.   It   was   Jacob’s   first  time  at   the   sea   and  he   also   enjoyed   it.   Sand  was   fun  but  not  very  tasty!  He  tried  it,  nevertheless.  We  made  another  visit   to   Ostia   Antica.  Luke   had   found   a   great  underground   tunnel   in  

September  and  Carla  was  determined  to  find  another  one  that  we  had  seen  in  the  guidebook:  the  Temple  of  Mithra.   It   is  quite  difficult   to   find  but  we  did.  Photos  show  the  underground  statue  of  the  god  in  the  tunnel.  

We  also  went  up  the  Vittorio  Emanuele  monument,  a  first   time   for   me.   There   is   an   elevator   to   the   top  where  there   is  a  great  view  of  Rome,   the  Forum,   the  Trajan  market  and  so  on.  A  hit  with  the  kids,  too.  

About   this   time   I   got   a   job   offer   from   the   Asian  Development  Bank  as  the  grandly  titled  International  Coordinator   for   a   project   in   Cambodia,   Laos   and  

Vietnam.  I  know  the  people,  the  project  and  the  places  so,  despite  enjoying  retirement,  I  accepted  the  idea.  In  November,  I  undertook  the  first  mission  to  Phnom  Penh  with  my  new  boss  Ms.  Lingling  Ding  and  the  team.  It  was  all  work  and  Roopa  stayed  mainly   in  the  hotel   but  we  met   some  old   friends,   including  Dr  Kieu  Borin  who   I   have  know   for  many   years   and   his   (now   grown   up)   son   and  daughter.   The   work   is   interesting   and   challenging,  and   not  without   some   frustrations.   It   is   about   food  safety,   animal   and   plant   health   relating   to  international  trade  in  food  and  agricultural  products.  Not   easy   in   countries   with   permeable   borders   and  animals  that  walk!  I  will  go  next  to  Philippines,  Laos  and  Vietnam  in  January,  and  again  to  Cambodia.    

Back   to   UK   for   a   brief   trip   in   early   December.   I  planned   to   sell   the   car   that   sits   there   all   year   but   I  didn’t!   It   still   goes   very  well   and   is   very   convenient  when  we  are  there,  if  somewhat  of  an  extravagance.  I  did  meet  with  Paul  and  others  at  the  RAU  and  gave  a  seminar   on   Cambodia   to   the   IRD   students:   a   great  bunch  of  Africans,  Chinese,  Italians,  Brits  and  others.  I  hope   they   enjoy   it   as   much   as   I   do!   We   saw   Sally  Story   as   well   and   attended   the   carol   service   in   the  

chapel,   courtesy   of   tickets   from   the   secretaries   to   the   Principal   and   VP,   Caroline   and  Karen.  

This  time  was  punctuated  with  the  sad  death  of  Nelson  Mandela.  

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It  was   a  more   difficult   trip   than   usual   as   the   flight   there  was   cancelled   due   to   a   silly  technical  fault  in  the  ATC  centre.  That  made  us  a  day  late  and  caused  a  long  wait  for  the  bus  to  Ciren.  Then  coming  back,  Roopa  decided  to  bring  a  (3m  x  2m)  carpet  that  was  a  bit  of  a  struggle  to  manage.  However,  we  are  back  and  the  floor  is  covered  in  Rome!  

Now  I  am  sitting  here  booking  flights  for  January:  Rome-­‐Bangkok-­‐Manila-­‐Vientiane-­‐Hanoi-­‐Phnom  Penh-­‐Bangkok-­‐Rome.  It  is  a  good  job  that  Roopa  will  come  to  carry  my  bag!    We  also  hope  to  get  to  India  early  in  the  New  Year  to  see  Roopa’s  Dad.  They  talk  on  Skype  every  Saturday  and  he  is  expecting  us  to  come  soon.  Now   I   am   contemplating   decorating   the  Christmas  tree.  No,  not  the  emasculated  one.  It  has   been   replaced   with   a   cheap   Chinese  replica,   but   sporting   a   beautiful   angel:   St  Tesco.    

Tomorrow,  sister  Catherine  and  brother-­‐in-­‐law  Philippe  arrive  from  Switzerland  for  Christmas  and  we  are  expecting  a  jolly  time.  We  will  go   to  Savita   and  Gianfranco’s   for  Christmas  day  again   so  expecting  antipasta,  pasta,  good  cooking  and  more  (they  are  very  good  cooks!).  It  is  always  a  great  time  to  meet  with  friends.  So   that’s   our   story   of   2013.     We   wish   all   our   friends   and   relatives   a   very   Merry  Christmas  and  a  Happy  New  Year.  

Here’s  hoping  to  see  you  again  in  2014.    Cheers!    

 More  photos  as  always  at:  http://picasaweb.google.com/awspeedy/  

 

[Over  to  Roopa  to  check  if  I  left  anything  out….]