I'm in London and about to visit Spink..

SYRACUSIAN · February 16, 2011 10:15PM

London is the place that my partner lives and will give birth to our baby in a few days. So, I've been coming here almost monthly and vice versa. Besides that, we've always had ties to London as a family, before I even did my postgraduate studies in Town Planning here. It's like my second city here and my new family is born and bred in London.

The other day, I ended up winning a Geo VI farthing, without really thinking about it.

Because of that, I'll now visit Spink, and maybe Stampex, a stamp show in a week from today to get rid of some older philatelic British items that I own.
I will either sell them outright, or I'll trade them with a series of raw full luster Geo V and Geo VI farthings, to start a new set. Watch out newsman, here I come!

pmac · February 16, 2011 10:55PM

Hope all goes well at the birth.

lordmarcovan · February 16, 2011 11:28PM

I can tell that little farthing is a real looker, despite the less-than-ideal photo.

Here's hoping the stork has a safe landing on your roof.

canadacolornut · February 16, 2011 11:59PM

Nice farthing Dimitri, hope all goes well with the birth.

If you "happen" to pick up any Elizabeth 11 or George V! mint state or proof-high grade, nice color or cameo, that
you like for yourself but would be willing to flip for a profit please let me know.

Best regards; hope it's a good trip..

OchoReales · February 17, 2011 12:09AM

Congratulations Dimitri! Have fun in jolly old England!

7Jaguars · February 17, 2011 1:02AM

Try going to Baldwin by the embankment if you can as well! Spink does not have a lot but ask to look at their trays anyway.
Congrats on the baby - is it boy or girl?

JCMhouston · February 17, 2011 2:19AM

Tell them Jeff say's howdy, then they will only charge you my special price of 10% over retail.

SYRACUSIAN · February 17, 2011 6:24AM

Thanks for the replies. It will be a girl 7jags. I thought about Baldwin's, but since it became Noble, I might have a conflict of interest with one of their main partners who used to be a very close and dear coin dealer of mine upto a decade ago, after which we kind of lost each other.

I suspect tomorrow would be a good day to visit them, since said dealer is a huge Arsenal fan - hmmm, who else do we have here?

- and he should be in a good mood after the game with Barcelona. John, will look for what you said. Jeff, I will try to say hi and then I'll run as fast as I can.

7Jaguars · February 17, 2011 12:46PM

Well, I do believe that Steve Hill would take VERY good care of you at Baldwin & a gentleman to be sure...Hadn' t heard about the Noble purchase - are you sure? Well, good trip in any case.

MrEureka · February 17, 2011 12:54PM

Hadn' t heard about the Noble purchase - are you sure?

It was almost six years ago, but Baldwin's is still run under its own name.

newsman · February 18, 2011 5:17AM

Aren't you supposed to be playing Dad?

Don't worry, I've already got a complete set of full-luster George VI farthings. All I need to do is find the time to send them to PCGS and my No. 1 position is secure.

laurentyvan · February 18, 2011 5:59AM

You international jet setter you: Greece, England, where else do you visit?

Do you have a secret pied a terre?

My friend, having a child is fulfilling nature's prime directive-congratulations!

Your life is about to change, and dramatically. Update us frequently as to +'s and -'s, frustration level, alcohol consumption,
diapers changed, # of shirts with drool and throwup that you've had to dab at with a towel.

Will you be co-habiting or will jobs require a family at one remove from each other?

A parent beguiled
by smiles and laughter,
suddenly aware that
he has lengthened
his future through his child.

Oh, as to going to Spink... you stink!! Naw, you don't, but you better buy something nice for yourself and the babe.

coinkat · February 18, 2011 9:04AM

congrats

ajaan · February 18, 2011 9:32AM

No baby yet when I talked to Dimitri this afternoon.

SYRACUSIAN · February 20, 2011 3:16AM

That is correct. You can't force nature.

Will you be co-habiting or will jobs require a family at one remove from each other?

Future mrs Syracusian will at some point move permanently to Athens, Greece, most probably around early June. She's already spent most of her summers there, and some of her winters. But she has a life and a teenage son in London, so I suppose she, or we will travel back and forth as often as needed. The baby will have 2 nationalities and will be billingual. Laurent, thank you for your kind words and nice to read you in better spirits lately.

Haven't visited Spink or Baldwin's yet. Most likely scenario is to leave with a bunch of full luster George V and VI farthings. At Baldwin's it's highly likely to find a decent Greek or Ionian coin too. Time is all I have right now.

OchoReales · February 20, 2011 3:30AM

Children who learn to speak multi languages always have an advantage. Good move Dimitri. My son is learning Spanish (mom is from Bolivia) although, he should have been speaking it from birth

. Keep us updated!

SYRACUSIAN · February 20, 2011 3:41AM

I assume that you too speak fluently Spanish Gary.

Babies are like educational sponges, they can easily become billingual.

You see, Serena, my partner, never learnt to speak Greek, mostly my fault, although she understands a little after so much time spent here over the past 15 years. I have bought her Linguaphone and 3 other audio visual self teaching guides without any success. I suppose she has no choice now though.

newsman · February 20, 2011 5:07AM

<< Babies are like educational sponges, they can easily become billingual. >>

Then, around age 3, they get shy about showing it and you have to prod it out of them.

SYRACUSIAN · February 20, 2011 5:24AM

I'll prefer it at any given moment than try to teach Greek to Serena again. She'll do it on her own now, otherwise I'll have secrets with her daughter that she won't understand.

newsman · February 20, 2011 6:59AM

<< I'll prefer it at any given moment than try to teach Greek to Serena again. She'll do it on her own now, otherwise I'll have secrets with her daughter that she won't understand.

>>

That's a great motivation -- I learned Portuguese fast enough to easedrop on all my wife's "secret" conversations before she figured it out.

worldcoinguy · February 20, 2011 9:28AM

Dimitri - Congrats on the new addition and upcoming life changes.

Stork · February 20, 2011 9:31AM

<< That is correct. You can't force nature. >>

Sue you can

, just not always a wise move

.

I can't wait to hear the news!

Cathy

ps the only (non-coin related) Japanese I learned came from Pimsleur and they have Greek too. It's easy and might suit her rather than a big, fancy, (overwhelming!) system.

And really, kids are sponges! My youngest learned just as much Japanese as English in the beginning as all his sitters were Japanese. My oldest was 5 and went to a Japanese pre-K/Kindergarden and he was about as fluent as a 5 year old gets. They both have forgotten but I hold hopes that the brain has been wired for language.

SYRACUSIAN · February 20, 2011 10:44AM

It is wired. If they visit Japan in a relative short period and use what they know already...

<< < That is correct. You can't force nature. >>

Sue you can , just not always a wise move . >>

She's thinking about it, I just keep telling her that she's so close to the end line now.

CoinKing · February 21, 2011 8:25AM

Hi Dimitri,

Congratulations on the impending arrival. I have fond memories of our afternoon with the kind customs folks at Tegel!

Best wishes,

Ron

Zohar · February 21, 2011 8:29AM

Dimitri, almost 2 years into the fatherhood experience, life will not be the same as it was - wishing you both a smooth delivery.

SYRACUSIAN · February 21, 2011 9:54AM

Thanks Zohar, I think I'm getting used to this idea, and it doesn't sound bad at all.

<< Hi Dimitri,

Congratulations on the impending arrival. I have fond memories of our afternoon with the kind customs folks at Tegel!

Best wishes,

Ron >>

Thanks Ron, I too have memories from that trip, and the full set of those Ionian coins from Tegel. If I'm not mistaken you must have met Serena too in that trip, at the coin fair in Berlin. We had met at Berlin on that trip, she had come from London, and me from Athens.

SYRACUSIAN · February 24, 2011 9:18PM

Stamps sold for less than expected at the Stampex show yesterday.

Part of the proceeds went to order 20 BU full luster GEO VI and GEO V BU Full Luster farthings from Colin Cooke.

Baby not here yet. Getting impatient.

MacCrimmon · February 24, 2011 9:31PM

<< Stamps sold for less than expected at the Stampex show yesterday.

Part of the proceeds went to order 20 BU full luster GEO VI and GEO V BU Full Luster farthings from Colin Cooke.

Baby not here yet. Getting impatient. >>

From the looks of things you'll be buying dozens of BU full luster GEO I, II, & III farthings pretty soon if that little baby doesn't hurry up.

Hoping for a 'happening' in the next few days.

7Jaguars · February 25, 2011 12:22AM

Yes, don't rush things as I think inducement not a good thing (IMO)...

Good job on the Colin Cooke coins, I have been a supporter of them, not to mention buying more than I should have over the years.
Go Neil!
RIP Colin.

I'm in London and about to visit Spink..

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