I haven’t got much to talk about this week. I’m too busy living in my imaginary world writing a book. It’s good fun, quite challenging – and much less confronting than reading the news about the war with Hamas. There is some hope in our crazy world, though. There has been much interest and support…
We’ve been on a short road trip down to Victoria and back to visit a relative who lives west of Melbourne. Back when we were younger we drove the two thousand kilometre trip with two overnight stops but these days we prefer to take our time. Besides, after the incessant rain in the western areas…
Peter and I have just returned from a long-awaited holiday to New Zealand. Or Aotearoa if you prefer the Maori name. It was a small group bus tour, travelling in a full-size coach which normally seats around fifty. But this coach has roomy, single seats like airline business class seats, ten to each side. Everyone…
The big news in Australia this week is – wait for it – covid! I don’t wish to suggest that the reaction to the more infectious Delta strain is unwarranted… well… not everywhere. It takes a LOT for NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to announce a lockdown. It’s notable that she hasn’t locked down the whole…
Some of you might have noticed I didn’t write a blog last week. The news is full of the covid disaster in India and the never ending war between the Palestinians and the Israelis, while at home it’s about the latest covid stuff-up and people wondering when the borders will finally reopen. It all becomes…
Because we’d elected to arrive a day early for our tour, we had a day to ourselves. The Park Hyatt is centrally-located, within a stroll of the major tourist stops on the map so, having fortified ourselves with a wonderful breakfast, we ventured forth to explore Saigon city. I’ve already explained that walking in Saigon…
When visitors arrive on Norfolk Island they’re picked up by a tour bus and taken for a half-day orientation tour, with the guide pointing out the main attractions. After a quick trip through the main township at Burnt Pine, featuring one roundabout and absolutely no traffic lights, we stop briefly at the lookout above Kingston,…
Pete and I, with our friends Sandy and Col, had been planning our great European adventure for some time. We’d booked a one-week wine and food cruise with Uniworld in France’s Aquitaine region, and a small group tour of Tuscany, also one week, with Collette. The two sets of dates weren’t contiguous, though, so…
Hi there. Have you missed me? We’ve been Up Over with good friends Sandy and Col for a few weeks, sampling food and wine and seeing a few sights in France and Italy. Our trip started with a couple of nights in Milan to settle the jet lag before we flew (on easyJet) to Bordeaux,…