I am old enough to have lived through the agonizing relationship between Britain and Ireland for the past 50 years.  The news has been continually dominated by bombings, hatred, accusations, and the total “camera ready” status of London as one part of the Capital experienced devastation one month and another part was terrorized on another occasion.  There have been two sides to the history of this hatred, but it came to a point that both sides forgot what they were hating;  it had become hate-for-hate’s sake.  ”The Ireland Issue” was a regular point of discussion in my parents and grandparent’s homes, so I was very aware from an early age.  My wife and I have close Irish friends living in the States and in Britain, and even they are confused by the entire matter.   When it was announced from Buckingham Palace that the Queen would make a State Visit to Ireland, the first visit of a reigning Sovereign since 1920, my fist tightened, and I said to myself:  YEH.  I hate contention, terrorism, wars and rumors of war, so I knew I was going to follow this State Visit to Ireland with full attention.  When the Queen said that too much time had been wasted, I witnessed another event where this very sensible Monarch crossed another bridge and put forth her hand in reconciliation.  The visit was a great success, and the Queen even enjoyed a visit to the National Irish Horse Stud which I am sure she has wanted to visit for years.  Now, the very sensible Irish President is about to invited to a return STATE VISIT TO BRITAIN as guest of the Queen.  Hopefully, this great second meeting of the two heads of state will close the doors on a century of dismal hatred.  Mrs. Moore and I along with our friend June Gibson decided that we were going to Ireland on our return to the States after our summer in England.  We flew from London to Dublin and enjoyed our visit very much.  Everyone was eager to show us a good time, pointing out important national monuments and good places to eat.  I was absolutely stunned by the streets which were lined with the most magnificent Georgian architecture.  I had never seen so many Georgian fanlights in all my life;  it was fabulous!  It put Beacon Hill to shame!    Our driver dropped us off at the memorial to Oscar Wilde which we would never have found, being tucked in a corner of a park rather obscured by shrubbery.  Actually, I had forgotten that Oscar Wile was Irish and spent his your in Dublin.  Our party returned to New York with a really warm spot in our hearts for all that we enjoyed in a country we have always wanted to visit and know.  There is no question about it;  the Queen’s visit to Ireland was one of the top events of 2011.  THIS IS AN EVENT WITH A FUTURE.  Bravo!  Hats off to the Queen, always building bridges.

Thomas Moore   email:  TMooreSr@me.com    Telephone:  801.791.9918

http://www.londonconnection.com

Every trip, I walk down Bond Street looking at the windows of the world’s greatest jewelers.  It is not an attempt to be luxurious;  rather,it is an effort to keep in touch with jewelry style.  We talk about Victorian jewelry, Art Deco jewelry, and Georgian paste–so I like to see the workmanship of the spectacular designers working today with the finest stones and pearls.  I spoke to one of the dealers whom I visit when he is in London;  he told me that his most serious clients are men from all over the world.  He told me that men can be “tough” buyers.  Some periods emphasize pearls, while another era is all about colorless diamonds, but today it seems that colored stones of the finest quality are in great demand:  canary diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and always the emeralds.   I have taken a few images for my readers’ enjoyment.  Wow!  Exquisite stuff!

This has got to be the most elegant cell phone I have ever seen.  Nice Christmas present.  Wow!

These magnificent pearls were shown in Mikimoto’s window.  Pearls are my favorite, and this was the most incredible mixture of diamonds and pearls of the highest quality.

This is dazzling the eyes with the most beautiful stones in some of the most beautiful windows in the world.  Incredible.  Take the walk;  it is really fun.

Thomas Moore   email:  TMooreSr@me.com    Telephone:  801.791.9918

http://www.londonconnection.com

I was walking down the street after street of Georgian buildings in Dublin.  I was absolutely stunned by the quality and beauty of these buildings.  Suddenly at a corner of one of the very beautiful squares, I came across a plaque which indicated that Oscar Wilde spent the first twenty-one years of his life.  He was a Dublin boy!  I had to get my head around what I was seeing:  architecture, fan lights, Georgian facades, and a park of the highest quality.  I walked across the street to take a photo of the parade of beautiful facades, and I leaned against the park railing and behind me in a very quiet setting was the multi-color marble  sculpture of Oscar Wilde.  When I think of Oscar Wilde, I think of London.  I forgot that his father was an established professional who lived in very fine circumstances with his family including Oscar in Dublin.  Who else, for goodness sakes?  Richard Burton, William Butler Yates, U2, on and on.  This visit to Dublin really opened a new door for me.

Thomas Moore   email:  TMooreSr@me.com    Telephone:  801.791.9918

http://www.londonconnection.com