The trip: part two...

See there you were, thinking that was it. But oh no, there is more! Without writing another epic post I can condense this into three simple facts:

a) as well as enjoying the hospitality of friends and family, I also went off on a trip to the Grampians and the Great Ocean Road

b) I spent some quality time exploring Melbourne, and think it's a great city

c) I also rode a horse!

As the latter of these is also on my list of things to do, I thought it was worthy of report! I can't quite say I achieved this to any kind of standard, given I managed about half an hour, so I'm not sure I can cross it off officially, but Angela was kind enough to put me on Granite, who as you can see is a very handsome beast. Thankfully he is also extremely well behaved, and aside from - what I hope was - a graceful slide to one side as I trotted down the paddock, I think I did quite well. It definitely whetted my appetite for a bit more equine activity.

Photos of the whole trip can be found on my Flickr site. Not all of them, but enough to give a flavour to the whole adventure. Don't be deceived by them - the weather was the only disappointment. Hence no photos of the rainforest - as rain it did! I loved getting out and about though. A couple of highlights: one was the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne - built for the same series of great exhibitions that the Crystal Palace was build for, a nice 'tale of two cities'; and although I saw most of the Great Ocean Road in cold, windy weather that I was utterly unprepared for, it is a stunning stretch of road - a bit like Cornwall only bigger!!

Friends, family and 24,000 miles!

Writing a list can be a powerful thing to do. Too often, something that I've been meaning to do for ages pops into my head on a regular basis and is dismissed with a 'one day soon' excuse. Writing things down implies a commitment - if nothing else, a commitment that I won't forget I should be doing it. Those of you that are listaholics - and I know there are a few of you out there - know what I'm talking about! On my list of things to do before I'm 40, there are a couple of things that have been on the 'one day soon' list for too long, but by far the most important was heading off to the other side of the world to visit folk who are dear to me but who were in danger of slipping out of my life.

A combination of extra leave from work, and money in the bank for once, meant I could book that ticket, get on that plane, and go and say hi. What did strike me, just before I left and also when I arrived, was how very easy it is these days to book a flight and pay for it, and how in some ways that takes away the magic of the moment and lessens the enormity of the action. Particularly true when that flight is 12,000 miles and the journey takes 27 hours. The other extraordinary thing that crossed my mind is how amazing it is to travel that far and have a friend waiting for you at the other end...

And so, off I went. Auckland first, and the Pellows. Close friends who left for home (well, Alana's home) three years ago, with two young boys, the youngest of which I am Fairy Godmother to. They went for a better life, and they have found it. They have a fabulous home, have settled in great jobs, and the boys are very happy too. How lovely it was to drop into their lives for a week, and potter around exploring the city and stopping frequently for coffee and cake (as an aside, I am a coffee convert. For someone who only does decaf, that's quite a statement. I'm not sure decaf skinny wet lattes from Starbs are going to cut it any more - it could be flat whites all the way!).

All too soon though, and after a tearful goodbye, it was off to Melbourne (although the fact that I hadn't realised I needed a visa could have scuppered that entirely! Thankfully modern technology meant only a slight delay!).

Eleven years is a long time to not see a friend, and as Facebook has been a substitute for phone calls it had been a long time since I'd even spoken to Tori. It could have been awkward, but in the way of true friendships the years just melted away in the space of a car journey, pizza and a cup of tea! Those eleven years held significant life-changing events for both of us, but I guess we don't fundamentally change that much as people...

Tori was an excellent hostess (although the cats weren't that bothered!), and we spent a happy few days meandering about Melbourne, eating good food and filling in the gaps in our lives. Lovely to meet some of her friends too - as someone who is blessed with fabulous friends, it's always nice to see others are as well.

And then last but by no means least was a visit to see the Taylors. Technically a step-brother, but most definitely family, it was great to see John & Angela after eight years. Surrounded by horses, dogs, birds, two almost grown up kids and fifteen acres of land, theirs is a happy life. We shared fond memories of dad - a bond that will always be there - and family photographs (which thankfully will never see the light of day over here!)(although, Kez, I have the funniest one of you - child welfare would have had a field day!).

The trip was all about reconnecting with people, and while some may think I missed an opportunity to appreciate the glorious sights New Zealand and Australia have to offer, for me it was time well spent. I bring back memories of love, laughter, birthday treats, lots of hugs, cake, beaches, a bit more cake, and the all-round wonderfulness of you all. I promise I won't leave it so long next time...

In search of...

Today's been a day of history and journeys, friendly faces, beautiful places and roads newly travelled. Today was the start of one of my bigger tasks, and one I set myself.

As I think I said on an earlier post (feel free to check!), HV Morton is one of my fairly newly discovered and favourite authors. He wrote a number of travel books, mainly UK but some overseas as well, and was quite well known in his day. His day was early and mid 20th century and you can read all about him here.

I fell in love with his books a couple of years ago, along with other writing from the 1920s/30s that was about people going out and exploring their country, now they had the means to do so. It makes for fascinating reading! And while I was in Wales having some down time I read I Saw Two Englands, a tale of two journeys in 1939 around England, one before war broke out and one after. He felt he wanted a last look at the England he knew and loved, before everything changed. And it occurred to me at the time that it would be interesting to retrace his steps and see what is still there, and learn a little at the same time. [HV Morton's biography is called In Search of HV Morton, and a number of his books are titled In Search of..., hence the name of my blog!]

Today was the first day of that first journey. It took me to Westerham and Quebec House, and to Hever and the beautiful Hever Castle. I learnt about the legendary General James Wolfe and about Anne Boleyn. I heard stories about tactical warfare and the power of the monarch. I wandered around gardens and churchyards, and I loved every minute of it!

I'll be writing a more detailed journal as I go along this journey, and taking many more photographs than are in Morton's book (and will try to replicate the ones he did take - the one above is the first). Quite what I'll do with it all when I'm done I'm not sure, but I will have seen much more of beautiful, rural England along the way...

Progress report

So, I hear you cry, what about the other 21 things on your list then?? Or maybe you're not saying that, but I'm going to tell you anyway, as I'm presuming if you're reading this you're at least vaguely interested. Or you could just be lost...

Well, there are some very happy people in the southern hemisphere, as I have flights booked for a visit in September/October. One week in New Zealand and two in Melbourne, which will include some time for me to have a drive around the Great Ocean Road! I can't wait - can't wait to see old friends, can't wait to visit family, can't wait to have a mini adventure all of my own! Put your envy away, as this has been a long time coming... Canada will be next year hopefully, and the other trip-type-activities - the train journey up to Scotland and the horse riding across Dartmoor - are in the planning stages.

The scrapbook idea is morphing and growing and taking on a life all of its own. This could either end up being a bit of a damp squib if I can't find the techie skills to make it work, or end up making me £millions! To be fair, it'll be somewhere in the middle, but I'm loving the creative conversations I'm having with people in my life - thanks for the ideas folks.

I STILL have to finish the knitting - seriously, how ridiculous is it to be knitting a big woolly jumper in this weather?! But finish it I will. I despair on the juggling front - as the most success I've had to date was after a significant number of glasses of champagne, maybe I should adopt alcohol as a strategy?

And as for the book...progress is slow, and I've got a bit sidetracked into thinking about my 'Grandad and the Gameboy' dream, which might make it into a screenplay. Thanks Stuart!

I'm also looking forward to watching the sun come up sometime very soon - have decided that rather than get up early I'm not going to go to bed. Much better approach! Everything else is just going to have to wait...although the planning committee for the birthday celebrations is already in place!

A long time coming...

Sorry folks, while life hasn't exactly been quiet lately I have been a bit slack on the 'list' front - until today that is!

Courtesy of my lovely brother-in-law, and the loan of a helmet, I can now say I have ridden on the back of a motorbike (and apparently it's a cool one too!). I can't remember whose suggestion this was, but thank you kind friend, for it was fantastic!

I had the opportunity to do this when I was a young (but not entirely stupid) 18 year old, when I was dating a chap called Lee. He had a bike, but my common sense kicked in and I chose to forgo the opportunity to become a statistic. So I've waited a long time for this, never too sure whether I really wanted to do it but feeling like it was something that should be experience....just once.

Phil is an excellent rider (is that the right term??!), the man is a marine, so felt pretty safe putting my life in his hands! Still, I was pretty nervous. All that evaporated though after a couple of minutes, and I am happy to admit a squeal of excitement as we overtook the first car!

Photos are on Facebook , should you want to see more.

Next on the list? Not sure yet - there's the book started, the knitting to finish, the juggling to finesse, the sun to watch come up, the horses to ride, the party to organise...it's going to be a fun summer!

Domestic goddess?

Well, although it's been a while, I'm happy to announce I can cross another task off my list! Yesterday I hosted afternoon tea for three of my best girlfriends, to show off my baking skills - and according to them, I passed the test! It's been fun feeding people - I've always loved hosting but there's something so homely about baking cakes and treats and trying new recipes out on willing volunteers (thanks guys!). I've no intention of stopping now I've ticked this one off (there's a rhubarb and ginger cake in the oven as I type...), but I have learnt quite a bit. My natural style is a bit haphazard, hence me wanting to tackle something that requires properly measuring things out and following a recipe to the letter. While I wouldn't say I've had 'disasters' as such, there have been times when they haven't turned out as I would have wanted, and knowing that the only reason that is the case is because I did something wrong has made me focus a lot harder on the process. Yesterday's menu was:

smoked salmon, cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches
parma ham and fig sandwiches
stilton and pear sandwiches
baby cheese scones with chive butter
pear and rhubarb tarts
carrot cupcakes with maple syrup frosting
pistachio macaroons

and of course, champagne! I will confess to burning the first lot of cheese scones, but the second batch were a hit. (sorry folks, at the moment I can't seem to upload a photo, but I do have the evidence, honestly!)

This week also saw me taking the photographs at a friend's wedding. A nerve-wracking experience, but also an enjoyable one, and as long as the results turn out to be up to scratch I'll be happy. Not that I'm going to charge the bride and groom for the shots, but I'm a bit closer to getting someone to buy an image from me...

Other progress has been slow - lots of things going on in life, but no excuse really. I have signed up to a Race for Life 5k and 10k, but sadly didn't get a place in the Royal Parks half marathon, so will have to find another one to do. I've done a bit of writing but not enough, so am going to go along to the Urban Writers Retreat to make sure I put aside time without distractions to focus on that (it looks great, would recommend any budding writers out there to check it out). And the knitting has stalled entirely, as my lovely instructor has had a holiday and illness over the last few weeks. I knew it would be spring before I finished the jumper!

Next up: sunrise from London Bridge, before the sun starts rising at ridiculous-o'clock!

At least she never walked...

...ok, a bit of a lie in my case, but an oft-repeated theme Haruki Murakami's lovely book 'What I talk about when I talk about running'. Partly philosophical, partly instructive and largely entertaining, I really enjoyed reading about someone elses' experience of running. I think it's fair to say I'm not a natural, and Murakami definitely is, so it's interesting to peer into another world, particularly one that is full of solid, dogged, determination - those of you that know me know I do walk.

This week has seen real progress on the running though, and I've certainly kept some of his thoughts in my head as I've been jogging round the park (or, on Thursday, to the garage to collect my car - imagine their delight when a bright red, gasping for breath and dripping with sweat person turns up at 8am!). I'm up to 30 minutes now, and I worked out that if I add 5 minutes a week to that I'll be up to 2 hours 30 mins by September, with the half marathon I want to do being in October. Sounds like a plan to me!

The baking is going well - note the photo of a raspberry cheesecake, which I made yesterday for a few friends who came round for dinner. Fabulously simple recipe, which followed an Asian pork & aubergine hotpot. I also made some almond cookies for a bake sale at work, but sadly forgot to take a photo...bit rubbish for someone who is supposed to be improving their photography!

On that subject, went along to the photographic portrait prize exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery on Friday night, with a friend whose skills far surpass mine (hi Peter!). Lovely to chat about things that inspire us, and I'm definitely building more time into my diary for practice - starting Tuesday with a day trip to Brighton. Keep an eye on Flickr for evidence.