by D. A. Fox
Lisa and I have decided that we should take a holiday, we discuss this with the kids; well they are not kids anymore Liam is twenty five, Charlotte twenty three and Hannah twenty one.
We decide to go to Miami and the kids have just asked for some money and will do with it as they wish.
We go off to the travel agents and book the flight and a nice private house; apparently its around twenty nine degrees Celsius and we are by the sea, we have an indoor swimming pool, large snooker table the lot. we will stay there then just go somewhere else. We can stay there for seven days and extend if we wish.
In the meantime it gives us a chance to buy some new clothes and for me to book cover at the clinic and pay off all the invoices so there's no panicking whilst I'm away.
I have spoken to Mary the receptionist at the clinic and give her access to the business account to pay her wages and the locum Podiatrist, cleaners etc.
Lisa and I head to town; I usually hate shopping but feel quite relaxed about it this time as you can imagine. We are going from shop to shop buying anything we want and end up with over £5000 worth of various summer, winter and holiday attire.
We have most of it delivered the next day as we cannot carry it all and decide to have a McDonalds as a treat.
As the week goes on I have had no episodes and have slept all night without waking. I feel refreshed, I have not felt this good for years, it has always been a worry that work may dry up what with this latest recession and people having no disposable income, they have tightened their belts so work is down by about 60%.
I have been slowly using my previous years profits to pay the bills but this is not a problem now. I may employ a Podiatrist and take a back seat; maybe work a few days a month just to keep my licence.
The day has come and we are off to America. We have checked in and are on the plane; I hate flying and swore I would never do it again after my surgical conference trip to Barcelona.
The captain has just announced we are flying at 548 mph and we will arrive in 45 minutes.
"Would you like something to eat and a drink." Lisa asks.
"Yeah OK, I will have a large vodka and tonic with my meal, I don't care what it is as long as it has meat in it." I reply.
"They have chicken salad" Lisa said.
"Yes that's fine." I said.
Well that was the most awful meal I have had in a while, the McDonalds was better the other day, there was not even enough to fill a child!
We land and collect our luggage and head outside, there should be a car waiting for us, and there it is a nice Mercedes.
On arrival at the rented accommodation I am shocked at how big the house is, its massive.
We get our suitcases inside and have a nose about.
The front room is very posh with a large open fire and there is a TV the size I have never seen before.
The dining room is nearly as big as my house and adjacent to that is the swimming pool, snooker room and a games room with a pinball machine, great!
To get upstairs we have to climb a white curved staircase like the one in Dynasty. There's five large bedrooms each with en suite with marble walls and floor.
"We could have brought the kids with us, they would of all had there own rooms." I say.
"NO, I want time to with you only, we have never been away by ourselves since they were born." Lisa replies.
We unpack and then head for the supermarket to stock up; we have a nice rental, a Chrysler 300c, I have wanted one of them since I first seen one, I might get one when I get back.
The supermarkets, or malls as they say, are also quite big.
We eventually find what we need and go back and fill the also very large fridge and cupboards.
It is only 3pm so we decide to get a takeaway and watch some TV on our big screen before a shower and change.
We decide to go down to Miami Beach and we find a bar called Bleau Bar on Collins Avenue; I realise why they called it Bleau it is an illuminous striking blue coloured bar, the blue that you see with phosphorus glow sticks.
Bleau Bar
We buy some drinks and take a seat next to the window and are feeling totally relaxed, its very cool inside which is in contrast to outside which is a bit overwhelming considering the cold wet weather which we have been used to lately in England; it may take me a day or two to get used to this.
There is a message on the wall which states:
This is the signature bar at the legendary resort where James Bond and Goldfinger played a game of gin rummy, where Frank and The Rat Pack played and where Elvis was really “in the building.” This iconic playground to the stars is back and more alluring than ever. Through the 1950s and 1960s, Fontainebleau was the place to be and seemed to host the who’s who in entertainment, including Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Jackie Gleason, Judy Garland, Milton Berle, Jerry Lewis, Marlene Dietrich, Debbie Reynolds and many others.
I feel honoured to be here; maybe if I tell them my name they may add me to it?
The view outside is spectacular with palm trees and not too far from the bay.
We meet a local couple who we spend the evening with; there names are Henry and Diane.
Henry is a Lawyer and Diane works as his legal secretary, they live on Michigan Avenue not too far away. Henry asks us if we are going for a meal afterwards and we agree.
Its been five hours since we last ate and we head off to Talula an American restaurant on 23rd Street in Miami Beach.
When we arrive we take a seat and order, the restaurant looks nice and friendly. I order a steak dinner and Lisa has the same.
Henry is talking about his work and that he is currently defending a Mexican who robbed a store and was in a shootout with local police; one police officer and a passer-by died.
The Mexican guy says it was not him and that he is being fitted up; the usual story you get from these thugs. Henry gives me his card and asks if we want to go out tomorrow night he will happily show us some other places to go with music and drinks and I agree; I prefer a place that's a bit livelier than a restaurant bar.
Henry is the typical mid thirties something, American with the fair hair, goes to the gym with short sleeved shirt.
His hair looks like he puts something on it to make it lighter like Duran Duran used to do in the early 80's.
Diane and Lisa spend most of their time talking about themselves. Diane seems interested about life in England as she has never been, she is only in her mid twenties and has been working since graduating in Psychology and English, she is very good looking with dark brown hair, slim and tanned, she also looks like she has had breast enlargements. She started her working life with Henry and later married.
After dinner we go to the bar and have a few drinks before going back to the house; I am a bit tired and need a sleep. We pick a bedroom in the house and go to bed, Lisa is out like a light pretty quickly and I was not too far behind.
In the morning we wake and have breakfast and discuss what to do that day, we decide to just wander around to familiarise ourselves with the area.
We find some interesting shops at the Bayside Marketplace the Tourist information brochure states:
Overlooking beautiful Biscayne Bay and surrounded by a dramatic downtown cityscape — including the Port of Miami and American Airlines Arena —Bayside Marketplace blends shopping with pleasure as national retailers share space with culturally distinctive merchandise and non-stop entertainment. More than 150 shops include big names like Gap, Wet Seal and Victoria’s Secret, while small carts and kiosks sell local crafts and memorabilia, exotic jewellery, leather goods and gift items from around the world. An open-air plaza invites strolling and relaxing in between purchases, as shoppers take a break from browsing to take in street performances and concerts while enjoying spectacular waterfront views.
The street performers were a bit naff as you can see if you click HERE
I ask Lisa if she still wants to meet up with Henry and Diane tonight, Lisa says "OK" so we phone Henry
and agree to meet at seven, I order a taxi to Henry's house for later and we will go from there.
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
We have arrived at Henry and Diane's house, its a big house but the street could do with a bit of work with weeds and cracked paving.
The gardens to the property are nice, the property wall is also, the house would not look out of place in Hollywood so I can't understand why the street itself looks like something from a run down estate?
Once inside you forget the view outside it's very Miami and Henry has spent a few pennies doing it up and buying nice things to fill it with.
I take a seat in the front room with Lisa and we wait for Diane who is not ready yet.
"Typical woman." Says Henry.
I nod my head in agreement; I don't want to get into that silly argument once more.
Eventually Diane comes down, she looks stunning with a low cut dress which only extends to the knee.
"You look lovely." Says Lisa.
"It's and old dress really, I just don't wear it very often." Diane replies.
Henry then say's. "We don't usually go out with anyone, most people around here in the bars and restaurants are here on holiday from all around the world."
"We thought you might like the Lobby Bar at Eden Roc Miami Beach, they have music but it should be a live band tonight." Diane says.
"That's great." Lisa replies.
So of we go, its only a short taxi ride. The place still looks a bit too posh for my likes but I suppose I will have to put up with it.
The music is live and eclectic.
As the night goes on I can see Diane is getting drunk and Henry is not too happy about it; though I must say he has had a few himself, they must have a drink before coming out as Lisa and I are not that drunk, I would imagine we are about 2 hours behind them.
Diane is on the dance floor and is doing strange moves that I have never seen anybody else do, ever; sort of a cross between a punk and a drunk; a style of dance called prunk maybe.
Henry approaches her and has a word; Diane doesn't look too amused and is waving her arm as if to tell him to fuck off. Henry pulls her too the side and the are shouting at each other.
Henry comes back to us and explains that Diane has had too much to drink and will not go home.
"Diane gets like this sometimes when she is over excited, maybe because we have company in yourselves." Said Henry.
"That's fine, she probably needed a blow out, we have all done it don't worry." Lisa and I reply.
The evening continues with Diane enjoying herself and Henry cringing in embarrassment; though it has had the remarkable effect of sobering him up.
Lisa has been joining Diane on the dance floor by now as she is getting tipsy and the pair of them are making complete arses of themselves, which I find quite amusing.
Diane has fallen over herself and is now on the floor with her legs apart showing that she is not wearing anything underneath and leaving not much to the imagination I might add.
This has infuriated Henry and he marches up to her and takes her out the front of the bar.
I don't know what's happening but after five minutes or so Diane comes back in alone with a little blood on the left hand side of her mouth.
"Are you alright." Lisa said to Diane.
"He can be a right bastard sometimes, I was only enjoying myself for once." Diane replied.
"You have blood on your lip." Said Lisa.
"It's nothing, he was angry and slapped me, mind you I hit him first, anyway I need a drink." Diane said.
We go back inside and Lisa takes Diane to the loo to clean up.
A few minutes later Henry comes back in apologising to me saying he lost his temper.
Lisa and Diane return and Henry apologises to Diane and they awkwardly kiss and make up.
By now it's time to leave, I ask Lisa if she fancies going somewhere else and she is well up for it.
I ask Diane and Henry if there is a night club nearby?
Then they take us to a local nightclub called Liv it's near the Bleau Bar we went to the day before. It is a lot better looking than the clubs I frequented in the 80's and 90's; they were dingy and dark, the reason for the darkness was presumably so you could not see how bad the place was?
Liv Nightclub, skyboxes overlooking the dance floor.
The description of the nightclub is:
This nightclub offers an 18,000-square-foot high-energy, DJ-driven atmosphere to see and be seen. With three full-service bars, main room playing a variety of hip hop, house and rock music, and state-of-the-art audio and lighting systems, the nightclub attracts celebrities and Miami’s local party crowd. For guests seeking ultra-VIP treatment, the nightclub offers six private skyboxes, each featuring European bottle service, a mini-bar and banquettes with secured purse drawers.
I explain to Henry and Diane that I would like one of the seats upstairs in the ultra-VIP skybox area and that I will pay for it if there is one available.
Henry asks one of the staff wandering around and she comes back and leads us upstairs. It has a great view of everything below, people dancing and chatting, jumping up and down enjoying themselves.
I also enjoy a cigarette when I am out and hate the English Law that will not allow smoking in public places, so I was relieved to see the majority of punters in the club lighting up; so I did not have to keep going outside.
Lisa and Diane are chatting and giggling, Henry is a little quiet, just looking at what is going on downstairs; I don't think he wants to be here.
Diane and Lisa beckon me to go for a dance and I regretfully decline their invitation; I should have gone and made a complete dick of myself, I cannot dance but felt a bit uncomfortable with Henry as he won't speak and I don't know what to say to him.
I decide to go to the bar downstairs and visit the toilet.
On the way back I go to the bar and get a drink; I have one already upstairs but at least I can stand and have a drink at the bar for while.
The lady next to me noticed my accent, she is a local and asks if I am English. We chat for a while, her name is Maggie and stunning, around thirty with blonde hair and looks like she keeps very fit running with them little weights in her hands. After only five minutes she asks if I want to go back to hers for a drink. I say no but she gives me her address and telephone number anyway stating that if I change my mind I know where to find her.
Wow, chatted up at forty six; though I look younger I think or it maybe the lighting and new trendy clothes.
I return upstairs and now having something to say tell Henry.
He says. "You will get a lot of that here, the girls like the English plus she has probably noticed you in the VIP area and thinks you are rich and famous. He also said that I should be careful as I may get mugged outside and even if I don't I may get HIV."
I'm now thinking what a cunt, I shouldn't have told him, that made me feel a little bit youthful again and he has just put a complete bummer on it, the twat!
Lisa and Diane are back, they are laughing and joking and seem to be getting on great.
Lisa says. "I need a rest, Diane is younger than me."
"Old fart." Says Diane.
I notice Henry facial expression change, his lips have pursed and his eyes are slightly squinted as he stares in the direction of Diane.
I look over at the girls and they are oblivious to his anger. Surely calling Lisa an old fart is can't be that bad in America, I have seen their films?
Henry then gets up and says he is going to the toilet.
I'll go with you." I say.
In the loo I say to Henry that its a nice club and he agrees then on the way back I ask if he fancies a beer at the bar and he nods.
We order a couple of beers and stand chatting about the amount of people in the place then Maggie turns up.
She says. "Back again."
"Yes, come to get a drink and stand at the bar for a bit, its more like a pub." I reply
&nb
sp; Maggie starts laughing because I said pub then Henry chips in saying there are pubs in the states and lots of them are Irish bars. He seems to be a bit more relaxed down here away from his wife.
Henry is starting to drink faster also and I am matching him drink for drink.
Henry then starts to get a bit over the top asking Maggie if she is a hooker and eventually I apologise and take him back upstairs. On the way he is calling Maggie a whore and a dirty bitch among other names.
Diane doesn't look to happy with him now; oh how the tables have turned.
Henry tells her where to go and goes back downstairs and starts to dance drunkenly on the dance floor before being thrown out by the bouncers.
I go outside and ask if he is OK and he says "yes."
I order him a Taxi and he goes home alone.
Diane is not bothered about Henry leaving her and carries on enjoying herself with Lisa.
They dance some more which keeps them away from their drinks so I am left by myself for most of the remaining night.
It's time to go and Lisa has been asked by Diane if she can go back to ours for a night cap.
"Its fine by me." I say.
We stop off at a late night off license to get some drinks then get back to ours.
"Can you put some music on." Asks Diane.
I look at Lisa, who by the way is looking at me as I don't know if we have any.
