Now folks, for the last twelve years I have been alcohol and cigarette-free for at least the first forty days of the year. I don’t celebrate New Year which I find a somewhat tawdry event and an overkill after Xmas. I can’t think of a worse way to start the year than with a hangover, bloated and foul breathed, exhausted and with a parrot definitely still residing in your mouth. This is not a sign of a great start because I’m very anal about starting my new regime on time.
OR RIBS ARE NEARLY BETTER AND PREPARING SOME ART WHILE DETOXING.
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Writing my journal while gazing over the Gobi Desert speeding by
Tough times last year trying to get out of the UK then trying to get back in, (why I came back I’ll never know, what was the matter with me?)and under terrible vicious conditions manufactured by Doris in his eternal house of horrors. Then after leaving Mexico last year being incarcerated in a ‘Quarantine Hotel’ and nearly having a nervous breakdown. Then our beloved dog Brutus got sick (while I was still imprisoned) and later died despite all our valiant efforts. Amongst the demonstrations against tyranny and usual trials and tribulations about resettling in the UK, (I always get ants in my pants after just a couple of months even in normal times) and general stress (bailiffs and all sorts of shite for nothing) and being homesick for Mexico, it seemed that I was in a dark place. So I started to look at property in Bulgaria to live a simple life off-grid growing my own veg and mushroom hunting while creating a studio to carve sculpture when another disaster befell me, in that suddenly Bulgaria became fascist too. This harsh body blow was followed by my having actual body blows when I dislocated my knee then a couple of weeks later cracked and broke ribs in a series of ludicrous strokes of bad luck. A lot of pain from both and as usual I didn’t do anything except home treatment and physio.
SLIDE SHOW OF OUR LOVELY BRUTUS R.I.P. AND THE ESCAPE IN MEXICO LAST YEAR.
Yeah, bummer finale to 21. A shit sandwich of vast proportions.
OR, PREPARE YOURSELF FOR WHATEVER IS COMING IN A POSITIVE WAY.
This is just about weaning yourself off the overindulgence of the festive season and becoming more mentally, physically and spiritually healthier beings now and for the New Year and all your wonderful travels. I love you all xx
namaste.
THE SINNING OVER CHRISTMAS
Christmas day I was the traditional glutton and slobbing around in my jimjams. I was alone but prepared for some solitude after the partying with family and friends, with and without dislocated knee and later broken ribs. I had protested with both injuries and had had great but exhausting, and sometimes very painful, rallies. I had done my bit and had been living on fumes.
Alert: this lacks photos as I am talking of pre phone camera days mostly and finding from my albums is a huge endeavour. It’s shocking that I acttually expected to find you all pics. It seems we didn’t bother so much before but it’s getting late now and this is what I’ve grabbed!
Log fire in Chislehurst one Xmas
Merry merry Xmas and all that but has it really arrived, and so quickly? In a blink of the eye, another year has elapsed and not a particularly brilliant one for many. Anyhow, let’s have a chat about Yuletides of old and spending them in different countries or indeed just solo in the UK.
Big snow in Soho!
In my sixty-four years, I have seen the migration of ye olde traditional festivities to the more modern and greedy rather soulless affairs that a lot of people clamour for now. Gone is the one main present under the tree and the pillowcase at the end of your bed in the morning containing trivial bits wrapped in cheap flimsy paper and an orange and a couple of Quality Street at the bottom of it all, and arrived is high tec. No gifts that helped the family interact but “precious” things that leave everyone separate and losing humanity. the clickety-click of fingers and thumbs on gadgets immersing and slowly brainwashing next generations. Heigh hoe you reap what you sow.
Yes, yes I know it’s a bit extreme to have another accident so as not to write some more tricky bits to my book and blog, but I swear it’s because I am clumsy and accident-prone. I can now add breaking my ribs a week ago to dislocating my knee previously. If I had been practising what I preach in SOLO TRAVELLERS AND FITNESS then this might not have happened. No doubt there are some errors in this as I’m still on the painkillers!
I would have missed this too if I had given up. It is now permanently closed to the public. I soaked my foot in the mineral-rich water of Hierve el Agua Mexico
I had to go directly towards the sound of those clearly very dangerous creatures who were furious I had invaded their territory and would surely rip me limb from limb. They were clearly the souls of the ancestors and indeed were furious at another European invasion.
OR, NIGHTMARES IN LONDON. Do tell if you have travel dreams, nothing too risque mind. OB. I am writing this on a Sunday morning and it’s a very hasty dream morsel which no doubt I […]
OR GETTING TO GRIPS WITH ANOTHER CULTURE, THE OLMECS.
Alert: This is a light-hearted travel blog from two years ago before I publish a more serious one about the birth of the Mayan city-state empire in its Pre-Classic era!The “Mother Culture” being inextricably linked to the developing Mayans
Brutus, you gave us all so much joy. You were a fine specimen of a dog and also funny, stubborn, naughty and very inquisitive. You will never stop me from loving all things bulldogs and life.
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Old Bird Travels Solo! 