Back to Work

Back in February 2022 (where has that year gone – oh yeah, happily travelling), I farewelled Programmed and set off on my year long adventure. I also farewelled job security and a regular income. Gulp. But what the hell, you only live once and I was going to live.

Operation – New Friends

I’m blessed with many wonderful friends – the problem is most of them are too far away for a night out. Now that I’ve decided to stay put for a while (6 months, 6 years NFI, the joys of freedom), it was time to get out there are meet new people. Now it might not come as a surprise to learn, that I’ll pretty much talk to anyone, so off I went on a couple of nights out to see a few bands. Tribute bands are huge here – and the couple I’ve seen (Depeche Mode and The Cure) were excellent. And a couple of ska type bands have been lots of fun too. The problem with that was that people are there to watch the band and not necessarily chat to the lone Aussie. Still enjoyed the nights out.

And then I discovered MeetUp and just like that – instant friends!

Camino Number Two

So what do you do when you finish your first Camino? Hang up your boots? Put down the walking poles? Swear to never do anything like that again? Nope, you decide to do another one, a decision made the moment I walked into the square and stood looking up at that amazing Cathedral.

This time was going to be different. For a start I was going to be joined by Andrea and B (and Dominic towards the end). And secondly, we were going to do the Portuguese Coastal Camino starting from Porto. Also as there were 3 of us, we would be staying in mainly private accommodation. I kind of liked Albergue life, it was a great way to meet fellow pilgrims.

Turning 49 - Kathmandu

Nepal - a little bit up, a little bit down

This little story begins on my 49^th birthday (a few years ago).  We were in a hotel room in Kathmandu, Nepal where we had spent the last four days exploring this mad, dusty, busy, colourful city.  Now I love mad, dusty, busy cities, so it was as good a place to celebrate a birthday as any.  The idea to visit Nepal came about due to a bargain voucher - and I do love a good bargain. Exotic Nepal, dreams of prayer flags and temples and of course the Himalayas. The night before we had met our travel buddies, eleven people of all ages (yay, not the oldest) that we would be spending the next two weeks with. 

Opening the curtains and flicking on the kettle, the sun was just rising and the city was awakening. One of my first thoughts was that the next birthday would be the big five zero. F#*K, where do the years go? I’ve never really given much thought to my age, I didn't feel “old” and I'm pretty sure I didn't act my age. Age is just a number right? I'm beginning to think this is something that old people say.

A yoga session was the first “activity” on the agenda and I joined some of the others in our group for a bit of breathing and stretching.  Balance has never been my forte, hence I’m crap at yoga and there was no way my stomach was ever going to be able to do the “rolling” that our instructor seemed to be effortlessly doing.  My attempt was rather more like a spare tyre bouncing around between fits of the giggles.  But never mind, may as well, limber up for the trek ahead and a bit of mindfulness never goes astray! 

From Hampton to Southampton

It’s been nearly a year since I packed up my life in Melbourne and flew to the UK.  Hard to believe. The time has flown and yet looking back over the year, I’ve managed to do A LOT!  I remember those last few manic weeks before leaving.  Finishing up at work and literally throwing away everything I owned except for a few sentimental bits and pieces that I put into storage.  It wasn’t easy and there were many WTF am I doing moments.  So many memories and dreams all thrown away.  I’d been talking about downsizing and minimising and suddenly there I was completely free. And unemployed.  Gulp, a little scary but it was time to spread my wings and fly away.

It was a little sad leaving my little house by the bay with my amazing Neighbours.  Mixed emotions.  The last home my beautiful Lucas and Lola knew.  But the last year filled with way too much hurt, pain, and anger to remain.

I arrived on a sunny day in London (yep, clear blue sky and gorgeous sunshine), 27 February 2022 and made my way down to Southampton.  First couple of weeks were spent catching up with cousins and playing tourist.  Lesson number one, it doesn’t rain or is anywhere near as cold as I’d expected it to be. 

Aussie Magpie v Eurasion Magpie

Way back BC (before covid) I decided “Never Stop Learning” needed to be a thing (dementia be gone).  One of the things I had on the things to learn list was to name 20 of Melbourne’s most common birds.  List in hand, off I went for a bit of bird spotting and even went along on a bird watching walk at a local park. I did a little story and then promptly forgot. Whilst in Africa recently, my interest was renewed.   Maybe it’s an age thing.  First you get into growing tomatoes and then you move on to bird watching. Hmm, what comes next? Maybe bingo or bowls.

Now in the UK, I figured time to learn a bit about our local feathered friends.  I found two second handbooks on birds and got myself a new pair of binoculars (old pair MIA).  Bird watching seems to be a popular past time here and lots of people put out food. Living on the 2^nd floor provides limited opportunities for placing bird feeders in trees, but I’ve attached a feeding station to the window, so hopeful that once the trees bloom they’ll pop by.  

El Camino

I can’t remember when the idea to walk the Camino popped into my head, but one day, boom, there it was, another crazy idea. I watched the movie “The Way” and read several books and that was it, I was going to walk the Camino for my 60th - years away! 

After the annus horribilis that was 2021 and the decision to pack up my life and move overseas, walking the Camino in 2022 all of a sudden became something that I had to do – a calling of sorts. When I say The Camino, I am referring to the most famous route, the Camino Frances – walking from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago, a journey of 800km.