Journal
Days 49 to 50 Niagara Falls
[wpgmza id="2"]I'd wanted to visit Niagara Falls since reading about them in my first handed-down Tell Me Why book at the age of 7. I read the page over and over again, fascinated by this natural wonder of the world. This week I finally travelled to see them. I mean,...
Days 45 to 46 Quebec City
[wpgmza id="2"]Just up the road from Montreal, that is a four hour train journey, lies Quebec City a jewel of a place in my view.Within an hour of leaving Montreal on the train, the overcast sky had given way to a beautifully bright day, the sun highlighting the...
Days 42 to 47 Montreal
[wpgmza id="2"]Having enjoyed the mental peace of almost six weeks at home in Beckenham, albeit under the stress of sad circumstances and emergency arrangements, it was time for the next leg of my world trip. The Brexit petrol shortage emergency meant that I arrived...
Day 39 A funeral
Today was the day of Brian's funeral.People have asked me how Brian's funeral went. I'm not sure how to reply, though it did go smoothly and according to plan, I think. Francis Chappell Funeral Directors managed it all beautifully all the way through and I am grateful...
Days 36 and 38 A weekend in the country
A time to breatheAfter the constant phoning and not a little frustration of the previous few weeks I largely passed the reins of sorting out the aftermath of my father in law's death to John and caught up with a treasured friend for a walk with her delightful...
Days 26 and 31 Happy place
Finally, I returned to one of my favourite places on earth for performances from two wonderful saxophonists.Courtney Pine was almost as delighted as me to be returning after such a long time to Ronnie Scott's the iconic Frith Street jazz venue, which has somehow...
Postcard #19 Bradford
I find that I have now run through Bradford. And also through Bingley. I know little about these two places, except that that they were a Building Society.Now, a friend of my mum's taught at Bradford University once upon a time, I think, and for a time in the 1970s...
Day 27 My joy
At long last, I get to sing with my choir. In person.It took 21 months but finally I got to sing with my home choir in person and not as usual blearily at 2am in my pyjama top, over Zoom, hoping that my singing won't wake up the household or the neighbours and knowing...