Smorgasbord Posts from My Archives – Letters from America 1985-1987 – August 1985 – Houston, Hurricane Danny, Trivia Pursuit by Sally Cronin

Welcome to the next post in the series Letters from America 1985 -1987 that I wrote home to my parents in the UK. My father kept them all in a folder and on his death they came back to me with a note to publish them.

It is now coming to the end of August and we are preparing for our first vacation to Hawaii. We are also going to find out in a few weeks if we will stay in America for another year.

Houston, Hurricane Danny andTrivia Pursuit

26th August 1985.

Dear M & D,

Thank you for keeping the letters coming, it’s lovely to have all the home news. I hope your stay at Sonia’s was relaxing and I am sure that you enjoyed some excellent cooking.

Before I forget, here are the contact details for our hotel in Hawaii in case of emergencies (heaven forbid). It is the Sheraton Makaha Resort, Oahu – area code for Hawaii (in BT directory) 695-9511. We will be there from the 3rd to 17th September.

We are more or less ready for the trip, and I was staggered when David suggested we both go shopping to buy HIM some clothes for the trip. He hates shopping and prefers to go alone.. not like me who browses for ages, he is in, gets what he wants, and leaves! We started at midday and got home at 9pm. He bought slacks, shorts, bathers and shoes. He looks amazing in them although he feels that they are bit over casual….. he will get used to it.

Things are so much more relaxed here after England where shirt, tie and jacket is still considered proper day wear! I think he secretly enjoyed the experience, and it was certainly the first time in five years we have gone shopping for him together.

On Saturday we went to a couple’s house ten miles away with some of our friends. They are all air traffic controllers and a lively bunch. We played trivia pursuit until 2.30 am and left them to it. I assume none of them are directing air traffic first thing in the morning!

One of the young FAA guys who lives in the complex has adopted Sylvia and I, and is taking us to lunch this week. He has girlfriend troubles and aunty Sally and aunty Sylvia are good listeners. David thinks it is great and we get to each Chinese and put the guy straight on a few things….

Vicki rang yesterday from Louisiana, sounds as if things are not ideal, she misses us and of course being tied to the apartment with a new baby limits her meeting new people. When we get back from holiday we will try to go and see them for the weekend. I miss her too, she was the first friend that I met here and I would hate to lose touch.

David’s boss is coming over when we get back from holiday as they are planning a big presentation in Dallas. I will probably fly up and join them as we will be discussing if we are to stay for another year. I know David would like to stay as he is enjoying the job and has now built up a fantastic list of contacts. He would be reluctant to have to hand that over to someone else after all the hard work he has put in. And we would be happy to stay here in Houston for another year as we have made lovely friends and there is so much more of the rest of America we want to see.

David is in Chicago at the moment having left on Monday and coming back on Friday. I have plenty to keep me busy with Jane Fonda workouts three times a week, weight training at the gym (nearly killing me, sergeant major of a trainer!) swimming and tennis. I may not have a bikini ready body but at least have got rid of a few wobbly bits!

Funnily enough although I am keeping myself busy, as I hate being idle, I do miss not working full-time. I am not using my brain enough so have decided to buy books on American history and learn as much as I can (certainly before the next trivia pursuit session). I am also writing more short stories and poetry which may never see the light of day, but I am enjoying the process. I have also bought a beginners guide to Spanish, although not sure where I will use that when we come back to the UK.

I am off to dinner tonight with Bill and Sylvia and I have seven coming for Spaghetti  Bolognese tomorrow night (your recipe of course Eric). I cannot get over how amazingly hospitable everyone is and how kind. As soon as they know David is going to be away several check up on me and always include me if they are entertaining or going out for dinner. Even the guys ask me to go along when they are on dates and whilst their girlfriends come here with them and we all get on, I do feel that three is a crowd!  Anyway, we will definitely take that back with us when we come home. Expect some margaritas and fajitas when you come to us for Sunday lunch in future!

I had my long hair cut off yesterday. It was getting far too tiresome with all the sports and swimming and everyone so far likes the new look… David has not seen it yet but I am sure he will get used to it. At least when we go on holiday it will be much easier to look after and we will also not stick out like a sore thumb now that our tans have developed. Nothing worse that pasty white Brits arriving in a tropical paradise.

We have organised a children’s party at the pool and in the recreation area for Saturday. There are not many in the complex but people are bringing nieces and nephews too. We have games in the pool and then move to the tables and benches for sandwiches, cakes and jellies. I am making some Victoria sponges which is something you cannot buy over here. Hopefully it will not be 100 degrees as it is today.

Luckily Hurricane Danny missed us last week but there were evacuations 70 miles south of us. The only thing we noticed was that the shops were cleared of bottled water and food shortly after the warnings went out. I had done my weekly shop a couple of days beforehand but popped out to get some milk. It was as if a plague of locusts had descended on the supermarket and the queues were horrendous. I left and we managed for a couple of days with black tea and coffee.

Well that is about it now.  I will write and tell you all about Hawaii when we get back and then it will only be six weeks until you are with us.

Love and hugs from us both Sally and David.

©sallycronin 2018

I hope you have enjoyed this trip back in time.. next week Part one of our trip to Hawaii that I wrote as an article.

Smorgasbord Posts from My Archives – Letters from America 1985-1987 – August 1985 – Hawaiian Luau and Trash Can Punch by Sally Cronin

Welcome to the next post in the series Letters from America 1985 -1987 that I wrote home to my parents in the UK. My father kept them all in a folder and on his death they came back to me with a note to publish them.

It is now the first week in August 1985 and we now had gathered a group of like-minded friends (tequila and shrimp) around us. The long awaited Hawaiian Luau arrived.

Dear M & D.

Just recovering from our Hawaiian Luau on Saturday. We spent last week making garlands and decorations, and after a dreadful thunderstorm on Friday night, Saturday dawned hot and clear. We started putting up the decorations at 10 am. and it looked fantastic. The party started at 3pm and we had all sorts of silly games. (I was in charge!)

I had hard-boiled 30 eggs, and marked one with a red spot before throwing them all in the pool. It was called pearl diving! The person who found the egg with the red spot won a prize. We also had a raft race with three to a lilo. As I mentioned last week we have been practicing for weeks and it was clearly a waste of time! However, that was hilarious and got us into the party spirit.

Talking of spirits, David and I were introduced to Trash Can Punch which certainly helped the party get started. We all had cold beers and soft drinks, but a large black plastic waste bin was bought (and scrubbed, thankfully not used for waste before) and filled with ice and chopped fruit. We were all invited to bring our favourite spirit and empty the bottle into the can.

As you can imagine, this meant that there was at least 20 bottles of neat vodka (clearly popular) Tequila, Whisky and a couple of unmarked bottles that we think were moonshine! It was then topped up with fresh fruit juice and some water (not much). We then helped ourselves throughout the day.

It is a surprise we all survived. I stopped after a couple as did David and moved onto Coors Light beer since we definitely did not have the head or stomach for it. I did however make a tactical error when I helped myself to a couple of pieces of orange from the fruit that was left at the end of the afternoon. After a few hours soaking in all that booze, in the hot sun, it was very intoxicating indeed.

We did keep active and by 6pm the water volley ball net was up and we played for the next four hours straight.. I am called ‘Sledgehammer’ as I play at the net and being tall can thump the ball over. All that netball paying off. At 10pm we retired to our place and ended up playing poker until 2am. Don’t worry we will dial things back a bit when you come to see us and be in bed by midnight!

Last night our friends from Argentina, Bill and Silvia came over for supper, lovely couple and you will enjoy meeting them.

Our trip to Hawaii has been confirmed for September 3rd so I am aiming to lose a few pounds to that I can put it all back again! By the time we get back it will only be about 6 weeks to your visit.

David is off to Kansas tomorrow until Thursday morning. It is almost his second home and I think our holiday will do him good as he will be in one place for 14 days.

The apartment owners are building security gates and a fence around the property. I hope it won’t be too like Colditz. Also they are building a hot tub in front of our apartment. They seat about four people and I have heard quite a few tales about the goings on to be expected. I shall be able to sell tickets to people who want to use my balcony for front row seats!

Looking forward to seeing you soon.. all our love Sally and David X

©Sally Cronin 2020

Thank you for dropping in today and I hope you enjoyed our latest escapade. Thanks Sally

Smorgasbord Posts from My Archives – Letters from America 1985-1987 – June 1985 – Photos from Disney Adventure, Alone in America, Television Fitness Classes by Sally Cronin

Welcome to the next post in the series Letters from America 1985 -1987 that I wrote home to my parents in the UK. My father kept them all in a folder and on his death they came back to me with a note to publish them.

June 1985 – Photos from Disney Adventure, Alone in America, Television Fitness Classes

We were now into June of 1985 and getting the hang of things. We had met more people in the apartments and were planning our next trip later in the summer.

23rd June 1985

Dear M & D,

Thank you for your letter, and by the time you get this you will probably have spoken to David. He left yesterday for a very hectic nine days to try and get things tied up over there. It feels a little stranger than normal. Although I am used to him being gone at least a couple of days a week for work, he was at least still in the US and could be home in a few hours if needed. I almost don’t want to go out in the car in case something happens which is silly, but Vicki, who is nearly due, has said she will come out with me to the shop as she would like the company too in case she goes into labour!

She and her mother are coming here for fajitas tomorrow night and a movie. She is trying to stay occupied as she is of course very nervous. Her mother is great and she is minding us both. I had better not make the fajitas too spicy otherwise there might be a quick dash to the hospital at midnight!

No doubt you will have noticed the envelope was a little thicker than usual and discovered the photographs of our Disney adventure when we were in Los Angeles a few weeks ago. They don’t capture the atmosphere but gives you an idea of how vast it is.  I took one of an Indian chief for you Daddy.. but could not find any cowboys.. sorry.

The last two days we have had thunder and torrential rain and there have been flash flood warnings. Another reason not to venture out. I am missing my daily swim and have been doing a daily workout to a television fitness instructor who is crackers. She must have rubber legs because there is no way I can get myself in to most of the positions that she does. I was chatting to the apartment complex manager who is about my age, and she has suggested that I go to aerobics with her at the local gym three times a week. That would suit me as I want to shift another 30lbs in the next few months. I am starting next week and looking forward to it.. I think!  If the mad woman on the television is anything to go by it is not for the fainthearted.

Anyway, I am sure the sun will be out tomorrow and back to swimming in the meantime.

Once David gets back we should have a better idea of whether we will be moving from here or not. The advantage of Houston is that it is a huge hub for internal airlines, and we usually fly Continental. It is easier to get to other parts of the country, and since David can visit several states in a month, we do need to be close to a major airport as we are here.

And apart from the occasional thunderstorm.. well at this time of year frequent ones, I like it here and we are beginning to meet more really interesting people.  I will be sorry when Vicki leaves in a month or so when the baby is born but she is so excited to be able to join Kelly and their new apartment.

Another thing that I miss is M&S and David has promised to go and pick up one or two things for me. Not sure what the customs are going to say this end when David arrives back with several pairs of ladies knickers and bras!

You mentioned that you have started to make plans for your trip and once David gets back we will have a firm decision of when or where we are going to move to. Once we have that we can finalise your travel arrangements. They might even send us back to the UK in the New Year so it is great that you are thinking of coming over in October/November time frame.We would like to stay another year if we can and the work supports that. There is so much of America we have not seen yet and being such a vast country we need as long as possible.

Anyway, off to write to David’s parents and keep them up to date. Love to you both and will call you next week once David arrives back with the plan for the rest of our stay.

Sally and David.

©Sally Cronin

Thank you for dropping in today and I hope you will join me next week for another of our American adventures.  Thanks Sally