Well finding a parking spot really quickly at the beach on New Year’s Day at 7:30am is not magical, it’s just very lucky. I should know by now how busy the beach gets early on a hot day during the holidays. This photograph is not typical of the utter chaos in the car park or … Continue reading Magical start to 2025 →

A range of places, after a simple funeral for Shirley. Some family, some friends, some neighbours, all people who cared for her and wanted to say goodbye. And a priest who knew her which added a lovely heartfelt touch to the service. These two pieces of music were played at her funeral, and say everything … Continue reading Varied places →

The last couple of days have been spent clearing out, and cleaning, Shirley's house. She hadn't been in the house for four years, so everything was damp, mouldy and musty after four British winters. Also people had been through a couple of times and hadn't tidied up after looking for items, so there was a … Continue reading The remnants of a life →

The light here in the south-west corner of England is different. It’s softer, somehow much more gentle and the rays of sunshine light up the greenery, rolling hills and rivers. Yesterday we travelled through the area where Andy grew up, farmland and little villages and moors. Today was exploring the Prince William Dockyard, The Hoe … Continue reading Different light →

Buzzing train stations, getting from Heathrow to Paddington far faster than anticipated, bringing my train booking forward and chatting with a lovely, rather crazy English couple sitting opposite me on the 4 hour trip to Plymouth. So now sitting in the train, watching the gentle English countryside rolling past and my travel companion doing a … Continue reading Trains, planes & automobiles →

Heading back to the UK tomorrow, as Andy's mother has passed away. It wasn't unexpected, but still a shock when a family member leaves us forever. Now there are the rituals of a funeral, a wake, a will to be read, a home to be cleared for sale; the tidying up of a life. I … Continue reading Sudden, sad trip back to the UK →

Warm day in Perth, I could be at the beach swimming, or home in the garden, or having breakfast in a cafe. Nope … I’m walking round Bold Park with 9 litres of water and lots of blister plasters, training for the Three Capes walk in January. The walking is slowly, steadily getting better and … Continue reading Am I crazy ? →

The first week of intensive study online, and a second week of study culminating in an intense presentation which makes up 10% of our unit total, is finally finished. Last night, after the presentation, I was exhausted and spent the evening doing some simple cooking followed by a light Netflix series. I did wonder why … Continue reading First fortnight done →

On an airplane, again , on the way home. It’s been a much more peaceful and low key holiday than my normal activity-packed trips, and I do have to remember that much of the driver for this break was to rest. It’s not a waste, or shameful, to read a book and swim a little, … Continue reading End of a holiday →

A couple of days of exploring and swimming in lovely waterfalls in tropical rainforest, followed by snorkelling in warm water over coral reefs. I’ve been very happy with being able to cope with the heat, it’s very humid here as it’s wet season so we’ve been sweating hugely but managing some pretty short, but steep … Continue reading Waterfalls, rainforests & snorkelling →