Prague in the Spring

.We've both had Prague on our list of "must see cities" for some time so we decided this long weekend was a perfect time to go there. We left on Friday afternoon on the Easy Jet flight from Stansted. On arrival, we braved the local bus and metro system to get to our hotel (much more exciting than the taxi and £1 rather than £30!). Very exciting to be in this beautiful city with 4 days to explore...

Charles Bridge
One of the most historic erections in all of Prague built in the 14th century and home to many a famous statue. It was decimated by the floods in 2000 but has been lovingly restored. The bridge is lined with musicians strumming violins, artists doing portraits, and locals selling loads of touristy knickknacks. In short: Ally heaven!!

Ally and me on Charles Bridge

This is one of the only photos of us taken together so we thought we’d include it. That's the Prague Castle in the distance that we were crossing the bridge to get to...

Prague Castle
The famous Prague castle houses a soaring cathedral in its centre. The castle dominates the horizon from Charles Bridge and provides lots of photo opportunities. Imagine my chagrin when no sooner had we neared the castle's fabulous fade and my battery runs out of juice. Ally's camera came to the rescue - much to her delight because I'm forever giving her a hard time when her phone runs out of batteries (which it does rather often) and threatening to send her on a "101 battery management" course.

Prague at night
Beautiful! Buildings always look so different when lit up at night. Ally and I went for a night time stroll by the river and experimented with our cameras with this shot. Photography has become something that we both enjoy. We had a fun competition on the go to see who could capture the best shot of the trip - to be judged by Kerry, the photo guru. I'm hoping this one taken my moi might do the trick!!

Horse and carriage, love and ...
How romantic! Not even the tangy smell of horse pee could deter us from a journey through the city on a horse driven carriage for two. The horses were huge and the driver was a charming old chap. We soon found ourselves the unwitting focus of many a budding photographer who wanted to capture a historic building with our horse and carriage as the foreground. The trip lasted 20 minutes and cost the equivalent of a night's accommodation - but it was romantic and we loved it.

Prague from on high
In the 1800’s, they built this Eiffel Tower replica on top of the hill overlooking Prague. Except, it’s only a third of the height and rather rickety as you get towards the top (after climbing many a stair). In fact, upon climbing to the high lookout, I could swear I felt the tower lean a bit as all the tourists crowded on the side with the view of the castle. Had me very anxious as I'm a terrible coward when it comes to heights. I managed to squeeze off a couple of photos from the top and then rushed down as fast as the steep, winding stairs would allow.

Classical Concert
Prague is a real cultural hotspot. In some cities, the local touts flog city tours, restaurants and even illegal substances (Amsterdam!) whilst in Prague, every tout is selling tickets to classical concerts. The city must have the highest number of classical concerts per capita in the world. We succumbed to the pressure and opted for a concert at St Nicholas Church in the square. It turned out to be the highlight of our entire trip. The choir and orchestra played highlights from Vivaldi, Mozart and Bacht and had us enthralled (the soprano soloist in particular had the most beautiful voice we've ever heard). The audience brought them back for 5 curtain calls and three encores. Great, spiritual stuff.

Boat Trip
One of the best ways to see Prague is from the river, so we went on a two and a half hour boat expedition along the river. The weather was stunning so we lazed on deck, enjoying the rays. It was a great way to see the famous Charles Bridge and Prague Castle from a different angle and to meet some fellow tourists for a chat. The trip provided a buffet lunch but we were so stuffed on meats and cheese from an earlier meal that we couldn´t really tuck in.

The Jewish Cemetary
One of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe with graves dating back to the 13th century... A poignant place - especially considering that the local Jewish community was all but wiped out in the Holocaust. The few that survived then had the stifling effects of communism to contend with. A grim story but with little pockets of hope. There are but 6000 Jews living in the city today...

A table with a view
Another great highlight, this restaurant stole the show. Awesome views over the city, delicious food impeccably presented and wonderful, friendly staff - all for less than the the price of a very average UK restaurant… It was situated just below the palace and called "U Zlatne studne" for future reference. If you ever visit Prague, don't miss it! We had a bit of trouble finding it due to a very dodgy map in Lonely Planet but nothing that could not be rectified by the shortest taxi journey in all of history (we happened to be 50 metres from the place when we called out for help.)

Communist Prague
Prague was under communist rule from just after the 2nd world war until 1989. This excellent museum gives a vivid feel for what life was like during those austere times. For example, the museum contains a replica of the kind of shop you would have found in the communist era. Tescoes or Marks & Spencers it most certainly was not. In fact, not even Asda on a bad day… Almost no selection at all, just piles of non-descript tins of stodgy something or other. Shopaholics would have been very sad people indeed in communist Prague. Incredible to think that was only fifteen years ago.

Trip to Gothenberg

The joys of Stansted

Stansted Airport at 5:15 pm on the way to Sweden… Whoever said business travel is glamorous!! The queues at airport security seem to take forever these days. I have a rigorous ritual of extracting from my pockets (item by item, before the amazed gaze of the security chap) my wallet, camera, PDA, mobile phone, iPod walkman, keys and coins. Anything to avoid being beeped and subjected to a thorough & intimate rub down by a burly guard. If only they'd hire pretty lady guards to do the patting down, I wouldn't mind so much.

Nice work if you can get it...

Our conference in Sweden was held at a stunning sea side resort. Here is the view from my room (full suite)- my job sure does have its perks!! I knew it would be nice just from looking at its web site before I went. It was a two day affair & we arrived early on Wednesday and left Thursday after lunch.

Cheating!

In the evenings, we did some fun events. Here we are on a Swedish invention called a "quiz hike" where you follow a map through the wilderness and have to answer fun trivia questions posted to trees. The team with the most correct answers won a prize. Not too difficult when you have a mobile phone and can call your other halves to look up the answers on the internet. We weren't the only team to do it!! It's amazing what Google can help with these days.

Sail away!

This is one of the photos I took on the "quiz hike" The sea was a beautiful colour and looked more like a lake, it was so calm. The Swedes love to sail and I'm not surprised with a beautiful and peaceful coastline like theirs to enjoy. I look forward to doing some ferry island hopping here in summer when I get some time at the tail end of a trip.

Meet Caroline!

Here's Caroline who organized the conference. We spent all of last year rolling out web sites across the world under immense pressures and became really good friends. She is from Sweden but spent last year in Cambridge on assignment. This year she has returned to Sweden so I don't get to see her much. She and her hubby are coming to stay with us in Cambridge for a long weekend in July so that should be fun.

The Lipstick Building

I returned to Gothenberg and spent the afternoon with our suppliers. They are situated in a rather extraordinary looking building which has been nicknamed "The Lipstick building" because that is what it looks like from a distance.

Lazing in the park

My plane back to UK only left at 9:30 pm so I went to relax in the park for a couple of hours after my meetings. I had a gigantic hamburger next to the lake then lazed on the grass. I'm starting to look forward to Prague. I've only got a half day tomorrow (although it's going to be frenetic) and then we're off for 4 days.

Zzzzz!

It's a tough life here in Gothenberg! I had to set my alarm to make sure I woke up and got the taxi to the airport on time.

Using Blogger to start Life Trove, my online journal

In May 2004, I started this blog using Blogger which was purchased by Google. It's a powerful and free online app that I immediately fell in love with.

Volvo life at Duxford

Our cozy office

Here's the inside of our Volvo offices. That's Andreas's head you see in the corner, a lovely guy from Germany who is part of my team. My computer is the one to the left of him. The two girls in the foreground are both swedish (Anna and Jenny) - as is at least a quarter of the office. The next couple of photos show the Volvo building from the outside.

Bowing to the Volvo Flag

Here is the building front on - note the Volvo flags with the British one in between. We're very cosmopolitan in the office (over 10 different nationalities) but our top managment is very British indeed so it's a little bit conservative for my liking - ties are a must! But on Fridays we can wear casual clothes as long as they are smart. huh! No jeans. No slacks. It's easier to just wear a suit!!! This office is the head quarters for the entire european region believe it or not (an organisation of 9000 people who bring in over half of our turnover). There's only aout 50 of us here but with Stanstead Airport just 30 minutes away, most people spend their lives out on the road visiting dealers and country offices.

Our Volvo Lake

The office may not be the most beautiful building in the world but we have a very nice lake. The sliding doors you see on the closest wall is the caffetaria - and on hot days, we regularly eat our meals outside on the lawn. The lake attracts herons too so i even get to do some twitching now and then...

Brooklands Court Life (Cambridge)

Strolling by the river

We have a nature reserve just 5 minutes from the flat. This afternoon, after lunch, we went for a lovely walk by the river. Very relaxing with people rowing and punting by. This is the River Camb, the main river in Cambridge.

Home Sweet Home

Here is a picture of our flat from the outside. Our balcony is on the left side, one story up. It's got a lovely garden and also looks onto a bowling field. A great spot to be sure.

A civilised lunch

We bought a table and chairs this weekend for the balcony so are being very civilised here with a delicious sunday lunch. It's a hard life here in Cambridge!

23 May (Ally)

This week has been one of the busiest I can remember for a long time.

On Sunday I got up before the sparrows and headed down south to help out at one of the annual fun runs we hold for our students to raise funds for their expeditions.

 
On the way down I gave Col a call as she was talking part in a 25mile charity walk which started at midnight – she had 4 miles to and was shattered – I couldn’t feel sorry for myself after that.

On Monday I had booked myself an appointment for the home office to get my passport, which off-course had to cancel as I had forgotten my purse at home!
Was very annoyed with myself.

I saw a friend for dinner and had a lovely catch up. The same one who came to SA with me for work in 2002.

After another get up with the sparrows I was in Victoria at 7:15am for my passport appointment. Walking along enjoying the early morning freshness and 50m from the building I realised I had forgotten my SA passport. Annoyed does not describe the words I had with myself. The kind gentleman at the counter gave me another appointment and to cut a 4.5 year story short they delivered my passport on Saturday. I screamed and jumped around but not enough to alert the neighbours thank goodness.

This week also involved company teambuilding. The objective as to get people back in touch with the kind of expeditions we run. One of the task was to cook a dehydrated meal like toppers. They had all been told to purchase something to spice up a meal. Guess who was the muffins who had to judge them on taste, texture, time and clean equipment. I was unprepared for both the seriousness with which they undertook the task and the disgustingness of the food. The first team laid out a table with a cloth, beer and plates decorated with wild flowers. Other teams were not to be out done. The classic is where two people crouched down – one as my chair and the other as my table. They all reckoned I really have the staff under control now.

Well after tasting 5 chill under cooked meals I had to take two rennies and lie down for half and hour. But it was incredible fun. We were in Brighton that evening staying right on the water front. We could not have asked for better weather at 1am we were still walking to clubs at in our T-shirts. I must be getting old as I stayed less than minutes. Would much rather read my book than have my ear drums bashed to pieces.

It was so wonderful waking up on Friday morning in Cambridge. I felt so motivated and full of beans. I did some work, cleaned the flat and had an afternoon snooze. Just splendid. And then when G got I wasn’t tired and drained so we could share a pleasant evening rather than me falling asleep in my soup at 8:30pm.

You will be glad to know that we are keeping up with the Joness at Brooklands Court. We are now proud owners of two plants and a set of table and chairs for the balcony. Lovely to sit out side and enjoy the brisk spring days. Anyway must go G is asleep and want to make apple pie – delicious with stem ginger!

Lots of love and hugs A

God Save the Queen - it has arrived!!

Yahoo!! Ally's passport arrivived today so she is now a fully fledged subject of the Queen. We were both very excited about it - it's been 4 years in the coming... So now travel to Europe will be a breeze, no more visas and border wranglings. We're off to Prague next week to celebrate. Great stuff...

Good things come in threes...

After work on wednesday, i went for an amble around Cambridge. In Trinity College, I took this photo with my new camera. Punts symbolise Cambridge more than anything else i know. The names of these punts (e.g. "Little pig", "Wise Men", "Musketeer", "Mad George" all come in threes, thus a clever hint they belong to Trinity College!!

Long Jump

Wow, this blogging thing is cool. I've downloaded software to allow me to post photos too. We bought a scanner recently so I've been putting some of my favourite photos into digital format. This one is particularly special to me - the jump that won me the long jump. That's Tony Verboom behind me!! Remember him?...

21 May

Well, I can't say it's been the best week of my life but it's certainly been eventful. Out of the blue, one of the best, nicest people in my team resigned. She has been offered a sexier, better paid job in Cambridge, working for a design agency. Only been with us for two months. A devastating blow. She was so very good. So I had to scramble around, trying to decide what we are going to do to replace her. What makes things worse is that the last 4 people hired into her position had also left very early (before my time!) so it's like the role is cursed. Don't know why because I think it's actually not a bad role at all. Looks like we'll hire a consultant to replace her for the next 4 months, then assess things again later.

Also, it's budget time and they are like vultures looking for money to cut becasue we are not making the profits we are supposed to as a business. So I have been frantically defending my poor budget - exhausting work with our CFO being the hawk he is. Oh, well, I suppose it's all good experience.

At least i have managed to do some fun stuff too. I got out my usual quota of movies so saw Mash (a great movie that inspired the TV series, Ben Hur (great chariot race!), Spellbound and Notorious (both Hitchcock classics with Ingrid Bergman who I am now totally in love with) Check her out at here and you'll see why! I have become a big Hitchcock fan too - what a master of suspense he is...

I also joined some work mates last night for an exciting game of basketball. A total novice I am but I really got into it. Exhausting and quite violent with some overzealous defenders, but lots and lots of fin - and great exercise too. Then off to the pub for a drink.

Ally came up to London last night and worked from home today which she loved. She is looking much more relaxed. It is such a fantastic flat to work from with gorgeous, green vieews from the patio. She is in top form tonight, all cheerful and happy. Hoefully she'll be assertive to work two days a week at home from now.

Next week, I am off to Sweden for a conference for two days. It's on the coast so hopefully the weather will be nice. Then off to Prague we go. We struggled to find a place to stay (it's busy season) but finally found quite a cheap spot in central town. Not a fancy place but a roof - and we'll be off exploring most of the time. Click here to view the hotel

This weekend we will taqke it easy. We may go off to see the new movie: Troy which is getting good reviews and has lots of eye candy for Ally. Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom etc. etc. The weather is gorgeous here now so we will probably do lots of walks too.

I'll take some photos and post them up later this weekend.

Cheerio for now / G

Letter to Eve, my therapist in London

Dear Eve

This is an email out of the blue to say thank you for being the wonderful healer that you are.  Coming to see you back in 2002 was one of the best decisions I have ever made – and I will forever be thankful to you for helping me to put myself back on track.

If you’ll remember I came to see you at a very low ebb – out of work for many months and feeling close to despair.  I felt helpless and trapped and devoid of confidence - and I honestly feared I would never be happy again.  I realised I needed to see someone and I searched for counsellers on the web – and your name immediately appealed to me.  Eve Dolphin sounded like such a wonderful, friendly name!

The first time I met you I was feeling very low – but your smile made me feel much better.  I remember how you emanated such a warm, soul nourishing vibe and I felt good that I had someone to confide in.  You mentioned in our first meeting that you sensed I had positive energy and all I needed was to find a way to channel it and I would be fine – and I rember feeling hugely re-assured by that.  Sitting in the chair next to your lovely garden, with the sun shining through, and I felt  like maybe there was hope after all.  You encouraged me to talk about the things that I love to do – and to think outside the box, making me realise that I do not need to be constrained by tradition or the expectations of others (or myself!) in creating the life I want for myself.  That I am free to do what I dream, that I don’t need to chain myself to a mundane existence just because that is normal and expected of me.

It was thanks to you that I phoned up all those outdoor adventure companies, to find out if they were looking for a tour leader for the summer.  I wouldn’t have dreamed to do this – save for the sense of freedom and possibility that you instilled in me.  And when unexpected an opportunity came up, I was wracked with indecision and stress and pain, not knowing what to do – and again it was your support that helped me to summon the courage to go.

And of course, you know the rest.  It was the most fantastic, wonderful, awe inspiring brilliant time – 6 months in the middle east, leading young people on 5 week trips from Cairo to Istanbul -  a time of tremedous healing and I felt myself grow in confidence and spontaneity and gradually the scared me became confident and refreshed and exhilerated.  I felt free to let the real me out – a zany, funny, cheerful me – who I loved.  By the time I came back to the UK 6 months later, I felt like a different person.  And it was largely thanks to you.  If it hadn’t been for you I would never, never have gone…

Of course, it was tough coming back.  But I was married and Ally needed me with her.  She had been very accepting of me going ( I couldn’t ask for someone more supportive than her) – but understandably she needed her loved one to be present.  When I’d been back for a month or so, of course the Volvo opportunity came through – and again I was wracked with pain and indecision.  My confidence fell back – and I feared going back into a corporate world of responsibility and burden and stress.

And again, you were a saviour.  You reminded me that life was for exploring – and that by trying it out, I was not a captive -  just an adventurer exploring something new.   And you opened up my intuition too and courage through access to amazing spiritual experiences that unblocked fear and doubt and pain deep inside me.

So yet again, it was thanks to you and the sense of possibility that you instilled  that I decided to give it a go.  And again, I have been blessed.  For although Volvo is not the company I will work for for life, it was another example of the perfect thing at the right time.   Last year, I got to travel all over the world with Volvo – helping people to launch sites all through Europe, the US and South America.  I felt encouraged to be myself – zany, and positive and slightly alternative, and I grew enormously in confidence and for the first time (inconceivable), I actually enjoyed a conventional job.

This year, Ally and I have moved to Cambridge and I’m still working for Volvo, as their e-commerce manger for europe.  In the meantime, Ally and I have been accepted into Australia (we applied two years ago),  We plan to work for the rest of the year, then backpack round South America for 6 months (one of my biggest dreams) – and then settle down in australia.  All in all, things are going great – I’m keeping balanced, re-awakening old passions like movies and bird watching and travel, and growing tremendously spiritually too though meditation.

The tough times; the pain, the anguish - I can see now - were all a catalyst to new life and healing.  For it was thanks to those tough times that I got to meet you and try something different and get out out of my comfort zone.  And now I honestly feel like anything is possible.

So thank you Eve – you are an angel.  I often said I thought you were a true healer – and time has proved that to be so, so true for me. Whovever comes into your life is truly blessed.

Wishing you all life’s happiness…

Graeme M

PS – I really like your site, that’s how I found your email address!  I’ve just started blogging so if you want an update on what we’re up to, it’s all at http://graemex.blogspot.com/

Cheerio  / G

Letter to Ivor

Hi there Ivor

Glad I found you!!  I had you down as ivor@nedcor.com and kept getting undeliverables!!

There’s no outrageous news to report – so don’t get too excited…  No lotteries won or kiddies on the way!   But I have been thinking of you and remembering some of the good old times, so I thought I must give you a shout and say hi - and let you know what we’re up to…

I assume by your email address that you are still at Nedcor – hope it’s treating you well.  Hope also that your other half is well – please give her a hug from me.  Is she still teaching?  Last time I spoke to you (seems, oh so long ago!) you were really enjoying your church and doing lots of hiking and camping.  Are you still enjoying lots of great outdoors stuff?  That’s what I miss most here…

Ally and I often think about you guys – and wonder how you are doing.  We miss you a lot.  Especially the great laughs we always had.  The two little waves amplifying into a tidal monster!!!   You are always at the forefront of thoughts of sunny South Africa.

I’m glad to say we are enjoying UK life at the moment.  I’m working for Volvo in Cambridge and we’re loving country life – such a relief to be out of London!  We have a little apartment right next to the botanical gardens with birds coming to our balcony to feed (great tits and blue tits, though only the feathered kinds!) and lots of greenery to look onto.

Ally is still working in London and spending a few nights a week there with her sister, then commuting here the other days, but she has happily resigned and will move up here permanently in a month or so.  There are plenty of jobs up here in her field.

We’ve been accepted into Australia (applied as a bit of a lark and were amazed to get accepted within a year) so the plan is to continue working here till the end of the year, then backpack around South America (my life long dream), then settle down somewhere in Australia and give it a try.   We went to Western Australia in Feb to sign some papers and have a nose around – and really enjoyed it.  I’m still a bit torn between Australia and SA…  Hard decisions…

Ally and I are making the most of our last year here by doing lots of fun things on weekends.  We’ve visited all the nature reserves in the area, and off to Prague at the end of the week, so life is pretty fun.  I’m also traveling a lot on work which I enjoy.  Went to the US and Brazil last year, but this year it’s mostly Europe.

I’ve rekindled some of my old passions too.  My birding is back - I’m on my life quest to see 1000 birds.  I’m languishing at just over 600 and Europe is not a great place to up that much but South America should be a dream come true in the feathered department.  Should be lots of twitching ahead!  I’m also on a quest to see the 250 top IMDB rated movies of all time (see  http://www.imdb.com/top_250_films ) and have taken up geocaching (check out www.geocaching.com – I think you would love it too!!) and rollerblading.  So lots on the go – it’s great to finally have work where it should be, rather than something that’s taking over my life.

Well that’s all our news for now.  As you can see, life has sure improved since my long spell of unemployment.  Great to be on the up again...  It sounded from your email like it was unlikely you would be coming to UK in near future .  If you change your mind, know that you always have a place to stay – we have a spare room here and would so love to have you both to stay!!.  Otherwise we’ll definitely see you as we pass through SA next.  Maybe you guys could come for a holiday in Australia?  You’ll always have a place to stay there too.  Any chance I can find for two little waves to do some amplifying!!!

I hope you guys are well.  We miss you both very much.  Let us know how you are getting on

How to capture a moment?

With my beloved Grandfather, 1976

How to capture a moment?
How to capture a moment in a word?
A feeling in a verse?
This moment has snuck upon me:
The emerald green from my window; fresh and crisp
The memory of dear ones now departed
And love expressed in days gone by
A feathered friend on the balcony outside
The sprinkled creations of my beloved at my feet
And unencumbered time to be, just be
Oh to capture this moment
In a word or verse or image
To add to a treasure trove
Of golden moments gone by
But the moment creeps away
As elusive as she came
Just a faint impression remains
But enough to make me smile
Warm in the glow and fortified
Till the next golden moment creeps along

Written:  April 2004


.

The Blue Hole

Red Sea, Egypt, 2004

The Blue Hole

From the hot and stifling desert air
and hungry currents that ebb and whirl
From the blinding pierce of sunlit glare
and tiring kicks through stubborn swirls
I release my air in a gentle stream
and sink slowly down through the emerald blue.

Through shoals of iridescent, twirling fish
I float effortless in a weightless world
and at my side, a sheer cliff of coral stands, suffused
in fiery tendrils of orange and gold.

Below, the ocean falls away to fathomless depths
as calm and still as eternity itself
and above, the soft rays of the filtered sun
caress the velvet surface of the ocean in a golden glow.

Floating free like a carefree child,
my spirit soars, my senses enthralled
by this underwater garden, abundantly rich,
of colourful hues and mysterious shapes
and as the soft tingle of living water caresses my skin,
my mind grows still; expands to meet the depths below
and I cease to exist; becoming one with all.

Written:  2004

Poetry (written 2003)

Torres del Paine, 2006

Effortless

I am water gurgling over rocks,

tumbling along.

I am an eagle floating on the wind,

letting go,

as the spirit takes me with her

free and spontaneous

on the ride of my life.

Torres del Paine, 2006

The Yawn

i yawn,

surrender to a languid peace

strive not, hurry not

need not, worry not

judge not, grasp not

i yawn

and in my letting go

my spirit smiles like a care free child

and i float free

within the heart of god

Let It

let it out, let it flow, let it be, let it go

The Valley

The sun shines on a meadow

of smiling flowers and babbling brooks;

I dance through yellow daisies

And sing out loud

under a soft blue sky.

Suddenly…

the meadow plunges into valleys dark

Thunder

Shadows

Chills on my skin

The black sky swallows the sun;

cold walls of rock at my sides

squeezing me in.

Was I ever light of step?

Did I ever dance?

Fear squeezes my heart, and

Grit clogs my soul

as the valley's path twists ahead

like a thrashing snake

steep and bare

then fades into night.

An echo in my head:

the trace of a gentle voice,

"Behold the meadow in your dreams."

it whispers.

"No valley stretches for ever

but opens onto fertile plains

where birds greet the dawn

and butterflies dance in the air."

Warm colours wash through my mind

cheerful yellows and tranquil greens

and I sing again, first hesitantly, then more surely,

For now I can delight in the valley

its chills will brighten the meadow's natural glows.

its lifeless greys will deepen the warm hues;

its thunder clouds will enrich the blue skies;

its ominous silences will sweeten the singing of the birds.

I walk through the valley of shadow

and my heart feels free.

I release. Let go. Flow.

I do not rush headlong

striving in panic to grab at the light.

But follow the steep path, steadfast and true,

feeling the exquisite ice on my skin

that will melt in the sun.

The Great Mystery

will guide me through the valley

and I will return to the light

stronger and more confident

with greater room to laugh, explore, love and feel

in the knowledge that I can weather the storms

as I relish the calm.

My first blog post !

Hi there all

Have you heard of blogging? It allows you to post stuff up on the web quickly and effortlessly. I though I would experiment with it to see how it works. Could be a great way of keeping a travel journey when we go exploring. Or even of keeping you up to date on our news and creating an archive at the same time to go back to for fun...

It's been a good week. I watched some more good movies: The Graduate, Run Lola Run, A Streetcar Named Desire. I've now seen over half of the 250 movies of all time as rated at IMDB. It's become a fantastic passion - I've just bought a "cinema studies" book from Amazon that first year cinema student have in their curricula. Fast learning what terms like Film Noir mean and so on. Soon I'll be very learned and be able to bore everyone silly on the tiny nuances of the great directors...

Ally and I are also busy collecting all the David Attenborough series in DVD format. We've got all the classics like "The Living Planet", "Life of Birds" and "Life on Earth." About 50 hours worth!! We watch it every Sunday night - becoming a wonderful ritual. M&M, you'll certainly have a lot to watch when you visit us - our DVD collection is growing rampantly, it's amazing how cheap they are becoming here. To buy a DVD costs barely twice what it costs to rent - except you then have it to watch over and over..

Work is going fine - and i've been in the office all week so it's been relatively relaxing. I'll be in the UK again next week. Ally starts working from home one day a week next week so that should be fun. She has to work at a running event down South on Sunday though, so it will be a short weekend for her.

My camera hasn't arrived yet - but I'm excited to try it out. I've found Yahoo provides an online photo album so i'll start uploading photos there for you to see. I think you can upload phots to this blog too - I'll have to experiment!

Anyway, I'm going to log off now and see if I can publish what I have written.

Cheers for now

Birding at Welney Wetland Centre and Minsmere Reserve (from Cambridge)

New birds at Welney Wetland Centre

• Mute swan
• Reed bunting
• Shelduck
• Shoveler
• Pochard
• Gargenney
• Blacktailed godwit
• Lapwing
• Whooper swan
• Redshank

New birds at Minsmere Reserve

• Black-headed gull
• Lesser blackback
• European marsh harrier
• Pied wagtail

Sam and Ally

Matthew's First Birthday

Trip to Western Australia

We had such an awesome time in Western Australia, exploring Rottnest Island and south of Perth.  We went to Australia to "sign in" as part of our process for emigration there after being accepted on a skills visa.  It was a great opportunity to start to get to know what would become our new home.

 

 

Highlights

• Camping at Rottnest Island and exploring the island on bicycles
• First experience of geo caching - depositing Macavity the Cat
• Shannon National Park - camping in a cosy hut, forest walks, buying supplies from a little shop
• Lunch at Margarrette's River and a great river walk
• Seeing a buff-banded rail in the Mangrove Swamps
• Towering trees at Shannon National Park (Australia)
• The views from King's Park
• Seeing my first Kookaboro
• Seeing my first Kangaroo
• 48 new bird species including beautiful parakeets
  
  

New birds seen

King's Park - Perth

• Australian Wood duck
• Magpie-lark
• Rainbow Lorikeet
• Yellow Wattlebird

Mangrove Park

• Grey fantail
• White-faced heron
• New Holland Honeyeater
• Australian White ibis
• Buff-banded rail
• Willie wagtail
• Silvereye

Rotnest Island

• Rainbow bee-eater
• Spotted Turtle Dove
• Pacific Black duck
• Silver gull
• Singing Honeyeater
• Sacred Kingfisher
• Common pheasant
• Banded lapwing
• Banded Stilt
• Redcapped plover
• Australian raven
• Redcapped Robin
• Australian shelduck
• Welcome swallow
• Grey teal
• Bridled tern
• Crested tern

Shannon Forest Reserve

• Whitebrowed babbler
• Long billed black cockatoo
• Grey Currawong
• Restless flycatcher
• Common bronzewing
• Crested shrike-tit
• Scarlet Robin
• Yellow rumped thornbill
• Grey shrike-thrush
• Dusky Woodswallow
• Australian ringneck

Other

• Australian magpie
• Western Rosella
• Little Pied Cormorant
• Australasian Grebe
• Strawnecked Ibis
• Laughing Kookaburra
• Australina pelican
• Black Swan
• Grey butcherbird

Matt