Dutch Winter

Beautiful and cold..Kinderdijk, Holland in winter time.

Sojourn

Back home Sydney-side after a whirlwind visit to freezing Holland.

Good morning sunshine! What a place Sydney is..amazing.

Swimming

I like swimming but I hardly ever get around to doing it. I like swimming in a lake or the sea when the weather is nice but I am not too keen on indoor swimming pools. Just the din of all the voices gathered together and amplified by the acoustics drives me mad. But I am hoping to do a lot more swimming when I am in Sydney. There are no less than seventy beaches around the city apparently. Can't wait!

Maudlin

The absence of any sign of summer is slightly deflating, I'm sorry to say. It does have an effect on me, this lack of sunshine to brighten up my mood. I can see why the Scandinavian countries with their eternal winters have such a high proportion of suicides and alcoholism. It just gets you down those grey skies. Oh well.

A friend of mine is going on a safari to Kenya and is hoping to get some better weather while out there. She is particularly keen to see giraffe and I can fully understand that. I think it would be quite something to see some of those elegant creatures running across the plains. I hope she has a nice time. Personally, I've never been attracted to visting Africa although I'm sure that it is fascinating. There are only so many places one can see and you have to prioritise. That is unless you make world travel your raison d'etre like some other friends of mine who never cease travelling and who have been nearly everywhere at least once.

Back from Holland

Spent a few days visiting friends and family in Holland where,while I was there, summer had made itself felt with a vengeance. At one point I was sitting with a friend by a pleasant lake, surrounded by cafes, having a drink and taking it very, very easy indeed. It was good to catch up and indulge in some of the Dutch delicacies I have to do without in England. Ah...that Gouda cheese..

Lake District Grannies

My colleage, a lovely middle-aged lady, told me about a recent long weekend she spent with her family in the Lake District. Apparently, there was much walking involved. And not just short strolls around the village either. One day they went up a fell which is another word for a mountain and beforehand her husband had tried to reassure her that the route had been described in the handbook as 'suitable for grannies'.

Up the hill they went but my colleage sighed to me, saying: "I don't know what those Lake District grannies are like but they must be fierce."

A tasty bit of architecture

The good old Notre Dame in Paris, basking in winter sunshine. "She gave me water!", you can imagine Quasimodo dragging his knuckles all the way up to the bell tower, lovelorn over little Esmeralda. But of course it's a stunning edifice that cannot fail to impress.

Quo Vadis, my holiday?

Not sure yet about the holidays. Camping in the Scottish mountains or lazing by a pool in some Mediterranean resort? The jury is still out. Both options appeal to me but after working hard all year round we tend to go for the easy and lazy option sometimes. And why not?

Motorway

We went up to Birmingham yesterday to see some friends. To this end we travelled along the M5 motorway which takes us about an hour and a half. I don't mind driving on the motorway as it presents fewer unwelcome surprises when compared to driving in a busy urban area. In theory that is. You always get the morons with a driver's licence and a deathwish who take ridiculous chances and endanger their fellow drivers in the process. But on the whole it's not so bad and I enjoy it most when traffic thins out and you can just cruise along leisurely. That's when it becomes something resembling a joy.

Yemen

A good friend of mine is currently travelling on her own through Yemen. She visited me a few weeks ago and then went on to Muscat in Oman, and then on to Sana'a in Yemen. I remember reading about Sana'a and Yemen and the Queen of Sheba and how that city may be the oldest in the world. It's between Jericho and Sana'a as to which is the oldest city on the planet. And of course the legends of the Queen of Sheba are fascinating. How apparently you can read in the Bible how King Solomon used a metal flying machine to pop down to Yemen or Ethopia to give the Queen of Sheba a bit of a cuddle. That sort of thing sets my mind racing, incurable Romantic that I am..

Sun, sea and woman

I've just returned from two wonderful weeks in the Mallorcan sunshine. Sleepy, lazy days of sitting by the pool, going for a stroll, playing the odd game of tennis ensured that my good lady and I were able to relax and wind down to a slow, warm mellow pace. We discovered a few new cocktails, the Mojito to name but one; very nice indeed. We also enjoyed the decidedly cheesy entertainment on offer at the hotel and in the nearby resort. Some performers should be locked up. For their own good and our audible sanity..

Mallorca is a lovely island, dry and lush at the same time. We stayed on the east coast, had a room with a stunning view over the Mediterranean. In fact, at night we could hear the waves lapping onto the rocks below. This was incredibly soothing to fall asleep to and it induced some very comforting dreams.

Next time we go to Mallorca we want to investigate the capital city Palma a bit more in-depth. This time 'round it was all about 'chilling out' in the balmy sun. Nice...

Bristol's Clifton Suspension Bridge

View of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, spanning the Avon Gorge in Bristol. This is another fine example of the engineering genius of I.K. Brunel who also designed the S.S. Great Britain, referred to in an earlier post. On a clear day it's a great experience to cross the bridge on foot and enjoy the far-reaching views.

Scotland

We’re hoping to go camping for a week or two in Scotland this summer. Our initial destination will be the Isle of Skye, off the west coast, where the scenery is supposed to be awe-inspiring.

I’ve never been up to Scotland before and I’m really looking forward to it. My ancestral roots lie spread over Ireland and Scotland by way of Australia, so I’m hoping I will like what I find.
Perhaps we’ll even climb Britain’s highest mountain Ben Nevis if we feel energetic enough. Mostly I just want to get away from cities, and people, and traffic jams, and noise and so on and so forth.

I’d like to let my proverbial hair down, breathe in fresh air, and let nature herself soothe my weary brow. Sounds like a plan to me!

Scotland

We’re hoping to go camping for a week or two in Scotland this summer. Our initial destination will be the Isle of Skye, off the west coast, where the scenery is supposed to be awe-inspiring.

I’ve never been up to Scotland before and I’m really looking forward to it. My ancestral roots lie spread over Ireland and Scotland by way of Australia, so I’m hoping I will like what I find.
Perhaps we’ll even climb Britain’s highest mountain Ben Nevis if we feel energetic enough. Mostly I just want to get away from cities, and people, and traffic jams, and noise and so on and so forth.

I’d like to let my proverbial hair down, breathe in fresh air, and let nature herself soothe my weary brow. Sounds like a plan to me!

Alhambra

Image of a row of columns in the Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain. I love Spain for a great number of reasons; the lovely climate (avoiding August..), the fabulous food, the brilliant habit of the siesta, the relaxed and friendly people, the fiery spirited music, the wine, the beautiful cities.

The Moors did leave some wonderful architecture behind, and especially in Andalusia you will find stunning examples of this, for instance the Alhambra palace, high on a hill overlooking the city of Granada (which means 'pomegranate') below. Here you can admire the palace halls, the fortress and the almost ephemeral gardens. Simply wonderful.

Truly one of the world's jewels.

Hong Kong highrise

I

Image taken during my stop-over in Hong Kong on the way to Australia. I loved this bustling industrious city with its friendly inquisitive people, the stunning skyscrapers, glorious food, and fascinating shops, cafes and restaurants. I would love to go back and spend some more time there, and perhaps visit the large Buddha statue on a nearby island.

Dublin needle

Just a quick picture I took while I was in old Dublin town late last year. It's the huge needle that stands on O'Connell Street. Wherever you go around the central area you'll see this needle piercing the skies over Dublin. Not sure what the significance of it is; the needle seems a rather recent addition to the city's architecture. There is some more information here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spire_of_Dublin

The Big Country

(Rock in the Kata Tjuta range/Olgas, near Uluru/Ayers Rock in Central Australia)






Read an interesting article in the Times about a race between car and train across the vastness of Australia. The article is at http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/features/article1590764.ece

I've always been rather impressed with the sheer size of Australia. Having grown up in Holland, a miniscule, densely populated country in North-West Europe, where travelling more than two hours in the car in an easterly or southerly direction will transport you into another country, the enormous size of Australia is daunting. You have only to look at the map or a globe to see just how big a country it is. My parents who lived in Australia for sixteen years told me stories of farmsteads that were bigger than some Dutch provinces. My mind used to wander upon hearing these stories. Another one was about the road from Adelaide north to Darwin via Alice Springs that used to be straight as a line on a piece of paper, travelling through hundreds and hundreds of miles of seemingly empty terrain. And how they had to artificially install a number of bends and twists in the road. Not because these were necessary but because too many accidents occured on the road when drivers fell asleep behind the wheel on this endless dead-straight road.

When I was in Australia for the first time again two years ago we flew from Melbourne to Alice Springs to visit Uluru. After leaving Melbourne, an ocean of red-coloured suburban rooftops, I saw the land beneath me open up and becoming ever more sparse. There were fewer and fewer signs of human activity that I could make out and in every direction the vastness stretched silently.

I saw how great furrows in the desert rockbed ran off into the horizon. It made a big impression on me to be surrounded by such imposing country. It dawned on me that Australia is about the land itself rather than anything else. The land that is so ancient you cannot help but pick up on some very intriguing vibes. I noticed this particularly in the old forests in Tasmania and also in the area around Uluru and Kata Tjuta in the Red Centre.

It is a most puzzling and challenging experience to be confronted by the land's deep silent soul. It was as if the soil was saying to me: "So, this is me. Who are you?"

Landing back home in the UK, arriving at Heathrow I was at once immersed in people, and noise, and traffic, work et cetera. Yet the memory of that big old place on the other side of the world lingers and seems to become more vivid with the passing of time.

A walk around Bath

Went to the beautiful nearby city of Bath today. The sun was out and the tourists looked happy. Groups of giggling Italian school girls were herded along the chique boutiques, German couples looking strangely out of place, carrying the obligatory bumbags/fannypacks, a few Northern chavs in their shiny tracksuits; the place was positively buzzing.

It is really a stunningly beautiful city with its Georgian architecture. Endless streets and squares lined with these elegant Regency buildings make you almost believe you've been transported into the pages of a Jane Austen novel.

A while ago I watched a documentary on television about the secrets embedded within the design of some of the architecture in Bath. Apparently, there are many clues and references to Masonic lore built into the facades of some of the houses and buildings on the Circus and Crescent.

If you enjoy period films you'll love Bath. I happen to believe that what makes England England is not really to be found in any of her cities. Perhaps I should make an exception for lovely Georgian Bath.

All around the city you see the steep hills circle this fine conglomeration. It is a rare jewel set into lush green surroundings. Much more effete than neighbouring Bristol, Bath is a treat and a tonic. There is much to enjoy; amazing shopping, fine restaurants, great pubs.

Young people sometimes complain that it is a tad too sedate when compared with 'happening' streetwise Bristol. Perhaps I am rapidly turning into an ageing fart but I love Bath. It's grrrreat!