Today I took my car down to the local Honda dealer, all very hum-drum and involved a new airbag (a recall, not an accident) and an air conditioning service. While this was being done I went to see Ian M who I have become friendly with over the last few years. When I worked for Probation I got to know him and came to like him a lot. Over the years he has hired me a few times regarding the training of interpreters.
Now Ian is a pretty well-travelled chap and he was telling me about his forth coming visit to one of the “Stans” in the former USSR. Apparently you don’t need a visa and there is a huge amount of culture to absorb. Sounds fascinating and I do like the idea of these off-the -tourist-trail places. I told him about my thoughts on driving to Istanbul and more recently ambitions of seeing what Andorra is like.
Andorra is a little principality in the Pyrenees and I’ve always fancied seeing it I thought we could catch the ferry from Portsmouth to Santander, so we’d have a little cruise as part of the journey, and then drive down to Andorra before ambling back through France. Simple.
Ian really liked that as an idea and he’s always wanted to go there himself. So without further ado he said “do me a painting or a sketch and I’ll pay you for it!”.
He then went onto explain if he thought it was garbage he might rethink his offer and how a small piece is what he has in mind. Something, he said, to join the many other prints, photos etc on the walls in his house which is sparsely furnished but well stocked with art on the walls.
I felt quite honoured.
Now as for Rachel, well she had previously liked the idea of a civilised trip to Andorra, I think combining it with a cheap cruise did the trick. Now I’m a little worried 24-36 hours on a car ferry might not quite cut it as a cruise, but you never know.
So in my mind that’s decided it then. Off to Andorra in the Honda Jazz. Just a question of when….