It's been a week with some grim news - the delays in diagnosing and treating cancer caused by Covid-19; the fuel shortages that the government is insisting don't exist; the collapse of several energy companies as gas prices increase just as winter is approaching. Sometimes the news implies that we are on the verge of… Continue reading Books, music, tea (38.2021)
Time to think (37.2021)
This week, I have been concerned about wasps: the winged insect kind, not white Anglo-Saxon Protestants. They have built a nest in my neighbour’s roof. I don’t know how long they’ve been there but on the weekend I saw a lot of flying things caught in the sunlight over their roof while I was doing… Continue reading Time to think (37.2021)
…and we’re back (36.2021)
Books and Reading: I know a lot of people write about what they read, and reader-bloggers often talk about how they want to read more books from people from other cultures. For any book bloggers who are interested in reading outside their comfort zones in terms of translated novels, the Calvert Journal has published this… Continue reading …and we’re back (36.2021)
Island Life – part 5
Before my memories of being in Madeira fade completely in the light of being back to a more regular routine (more on that in another post), I'll write my last set of recollections of my brief slice of island life. Hiking - 25 Fontes: We realised that we couldn't get to this walk by public… Continue reading Island Life – part 5
Island life – part 4 – sensory experiences
My time here on Madeira has been built around not just what I have seen, but also what I have experienced with my other four senses. Hearing The bells of the cathedral that start at 8am every morning and chime every quarter hour.The happy "honk honk" of the Porto Santo ferry when it arrives back… Continue reading Island life – part 4 – sensory experiences
Island Life – part 3 – the dreaming
If your holiday is going well, there is always a point where a little voice in your head says, "You could live here, you know." Yes, that sounds like a good idea. I could live here and I would stay in this nicely located, nicely equipped apartment in the city centre, with bars and restaurants… Continue reading Island Life – part 3 – the dreaming
Island life – part 2
Sightseeing. We have been out and about around the island, not just sitting beside the sea sipping on cocktails. (Sadly, very little of this activity so far.) We came here for hiking (mostly) and hiking we have done. Hike 1: Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo. Our guidebook to walking on Madeira offers three classes… Continue reading Island life – part 2
Island life – part 1
One week into our Madeirense holiday and some observations: The Madeiran geography is part cake, part Swiss cheese. Let me explain further. If you imagine a cake where someone has cut random slices around it, that is what the coastline of Madeira is like. Only instead of someone, it's nature in the form of rain,… Continue reading Island life – part 1
Travel in a time of Covid-19
We read all the instructions several times to make sure we'd covered everything. Vaccination proof? CheckMadeirasafe website information completed? Check Airline check-in done? (although with much cursing at the airline's rubbish website on my part) Check (Although the airline website generates a document that declares "This is not a boarding pass. Please check in at… Continue reading Travel in a time of Covid-19
Making plans (33.2021)
There have been some grim stories coming out of Afghanistan this week as the Taliban take over: give us all the unmarried women from 15-45 and we will marry them to our fighters (I think they have since denied this is happening). Female journalists hiding their identity in fear of retribution. Women who have fought… Continue reading Making plans (33.2021)
