It was Sunday morning, and time to say goodbye to my grandparents. We did the customary photo-taking in the garden – it’s compulsory for everyone who visits to come home with a picture of themselves plus Grandad and Gran standing in front of the house. Then we drove to Bognor Regis station so I could ... [More]
Saturday arrived, and with it the chance of some time with my uncle Kevin, his wife Liz (does that make her my Aunt-in-law or something?) and my cousins Sarah and Luke. Kevin was actually working in the morning, poor soul, but I headed over to their house in Bognor Regis in the Grandad-Fiat-o-mobile early for ... [More]
On Friday morning we headed for Littlehampton, a town not far from my grandparents house. My grandad has an orange Disabled thingy for his car, which allows him to park it apparently virtually anywhere, with the possible exception of the Buckingham Palace lawn on top of a Corgi. On this occasion he parked in a ... [More]
I don’t really know what time my Grandparents usually wake up, but I’m guessing it’s pretty early, because when I awoke sometime between 8 and 9, they gave the impression they’d been up for a while. I had my first shower and shave in a couple of days, and discovered that I don’t think I ... [More]
Arrival
The plane touched down at some ungodly hour of the morning (I’m not sure exactly when; my brain doesn’t quite grasp the concept of time before 6am). There had been a terrific view of London from the plane – but only for the people over the other side. And trying to get a glimpse out ... [More]
The check-in chick asked me “Just going to London today, Mr Bowen?” Ahem. JUST London? Isn’t that far enough to be going? It’s halfway around the world for heaven’s sake. Perhaps being booked to go on to Portugal via Greenland and Luxembourg might have made her job more exciting. Leaving my family at the doors ... [More]
I must admit that now, with about 36 hours until I stagger with my backpack through the big glass doors of International Departures at Tullamarine for my big trip overseas, the excitement of travel is starting to mix with the trepidation of missing (and being missed by) my family while I’m gone for the month. ... [More]
T minus 8 days
Well, take-off day is only 8 days away now. I’m getting less nervous about getting everything organised, and more excited at the prospect of stepping down on foreign soil for a bit of a wander round. I’m not really nervous of flying – the two airlines I’m using, Qantas and British Airways, seem to have ... [More]
I’m finding shoes to be a real pain in the arse right now. I mean figuratively, not literally. What a shame that the standards of western society demand that people have footwear. Maybe it’s just me, but I seem to have pretty bad luck with shoes. The shoes I usually wear to work decided last ... [More]
The past few weeks I’ve been rushing around like a headless chook, and haven’t had much time to update my diary. So here’s the latest, including tying up some loose ends from last month: Isaac’s hair was eventually cut by a friendly neighbourhood barber – while Isaac was asleep The beard got shaved off a ... [More]
We’re all going to die
Last night found me seated with a few friends in row F of the Palais Theatre stalls, once again watching legendary musician Paul Kelly and his band in a dazzling performance of masterful rock’n’roll. A satisfying blend of songs from the new album and old favourites too. But what’s also worth mentioning was the support ... [More]
At lunch… Steve: Ugh, this tastes like horses hooves. Me: Hope it doesn’t give you the trots. (Don’t ask me how he knew what horses’ hooves taste like.)