Month: June 2016

Well, that was a whole peck of fun wasn’t it? It’s easy to fall into the cliche of the magic of being able to transport ourselves halfway round the world, or the hyperbole of the travails of doing it with kids – but the reality is that both are equally and simultaneously valid. 

I don’t think it is ever more true that you have to play in ‘survival mode’ on these legs, but survive them you inevitably do, and it does all then seem worth it as soon as you touch down. Would perhaps be better not to have to simply run to a gate and catch another one, but hey, I think it’s 45 degrees outside or something, so I’ve not packed to stay here long!

And I have to say – first impressions of Qatar Airways is very positive indeed!

Seldom can being in Melbourne seem so trivial, but as a stopover about 5% of the way – it’s not quite as exciting as it might otherwise be. At least it gave some members of the party time to flash their razor sharp abs around and get in a few sets. 

Funny place to find a table tennis table in a departure lounge – but after filling in half an hour I’d have to say there should be more of them!

Let’s get it on the road!

It never ceases to surprise how time sneaks up on you.  Take your eye off it for even a few moments and it slips past extra quickly while you’re looking away, and then suddenly dawdles again while you pay attention, awaiting its next chance to race around behind you. Months become weeks, weeks become days, and I have no doubt that in the usual frenetic countdown to departure, days will inevitably become hours and minutes.

But so we find ourselves just snip away from our next ‘red string’ adventure.  For many years we’ve had a map on the wall full of pins marking the places we’ve been (generally) lucky enough to go, and the places we hope one day to get to.  At some point we started using red pins and red string to mark out our planned trips, and its fair to say that “having red string” has become very important to all of us.

This trip promises some enticing expectations.  A couple of days in Edinburgh.  A week in the Scottish Highlands.  A week circumnavigating Iceland and a few days in its capital, Reykjavik.  And a few days in London.  Will no doubt be interesting times in the UK with their very recent and evidently raw decision to leave the European Union, but at least it promises a better exchange rate for visitors in the short term, which is never to be sneezed at.

Can’t help but think that between voting to have no friends and the recent soccer results, the mood might be quite  bit more buoyant in Iceland than in the UK legs.

As usual, this blog will be the home of all the stories, photos and occasional recriminations.  Updated whenever we slip into a wifi area I’ll be regularly describing what we see, who we meet and the places and moments that make up another trip into the wide and majestic world we inhabit.  Every trip opens our eyes more to the complexity and diversity of our natural and social worlds, and I am not expecting anything different this time…

I hope everyone who spends time here finds it interesting, entertaining and visually spectacular.  With all the camera gear I’m lugging around, I’d better be able to deliver on that last one at least.

As they say – more news as it comes to hand.  Pictures at 11.  Or, in this case, from Wednesday night at least.