And so it begins

As the calendar accelerates its countdown towards to end of the year, the days are getting shorter and my will to live is reducing accordingly. In July the sun was setting at about 7.15pm as I arrived home after a long commute – now we are nearly into October the light has almost completely disappeared by this time. In the morning when I get up at 6.30, it is depressingly dark. So I am preparing myself for six months of misery. Although not quite to the SAD-sufferer’s extent, I am do find winter in the UK a depressing affair. I’m sure I’m not alone. The only thing that makes it bearable is the thought of the rare crisp, cold day with bright blue sky. That and coming into the warm after a long walk in the cold. And the fact that Christmas is nearly here. And endless cups of tea to keep me warm. And skiing holidays. And being able to wear warm, cosy clothes – scarves, hats, gloves, boots… hang on a minute, maybe I like winter after all! It’s just these wet miserable days without end that I object to. In which case I should either a) invest in an umbrella and stop moaning, b) emigrate, or c) get a job with a shorter commute. I’m working on it!

Any suggestions of how to make wet, windy miserable days more bearable are very welcome

What goes around comes aroud

My morning was horrible. I awoke at 6.30 in the dark and when I left my front door to walk the ten steps to the car, discovered it was drizzling. Driving to the station in my car, the roads were wet and I had a near miss when the bus in front of me stopped and I had to slam on my brakes, causing me to slide all over the road and only narrowly avoid a collision. I was shaken, but made it to the station and settled in for my usual hour and a half journey – but as the train ground to a standstill halfway to London I knew my stresses weren’t over. It turned out that someone had pulled the emergency cord after having a panic attack. Sympathetic as I tried to be, I along with the 500 other commuters on the train was late for work. So not a great to start to the day I think you’ll agree. But my day brightened considerably when I checked my e-mail and was greeted with brilliant news from my Tanzanian family; Isaya, the little Maasai boy I all but adopted last year is going to start school in January! He is such a bright child, but his family couldn’t afford to send him. I had written to the family months ago offering to help with fees. It works out at £95 for a whole year at school – including uniform and board. That’s the cost of a single meal in a nice restaurant in London, a good pair of shoes or a night at a hotel! How disparate opportunities are between Africa and the UK. So although it is by no means saving the World, I am very pleased to be able to provide this basic human right of education to someone who has made a huge difference in my life. And of course I am buying myself some karma. It’s what keeps the earth moving.

Friends in high(land) places

One of the huge benefits of travel is making new friends who live in exotic places. Thanks to my round the world trip I now have friends in Tanzania, Australia, New Zealand, Los Angeles, Boston, Vermont, Italy and Canada who I can call upon to take me in at a moment’s notice. You can usually tell if someone is only being polite by offering you a place to stay, but I am a great believer in taking people up on offers. If they don’t mean it they shouldn’t say it! And of course they can always say no. Or pretend to be out when I arrive… In New Zealand I was particularly lucky (or cheeky depending on how you look at it) to stay with 5 sets of people whom I had met only briefly or not at all! Last weekend I took my lovely Scottish friend Ross up on his offer and went to stay with him in Edinburgh. We had a wonderful few days reminiscing about our time in Tanzania and exploring the city. I saw Edinburgh through the eyes of a local; meeting Ross’s friends, colleagues and housemate, eating at some good local places and seeing great comedy/music gigs. I’m sure I would have enjoyed Edinburgh anyway, but having a friend there made it especially enjoyable.

This weekend I am off to Wales – a mini-tour taking in Swansea and Cardiff (and even a little stop off in Bristol) to see various friends met in Africa. I feel very lucky to have so many great friends – and even luckier that they don’t mind me availing myself of their hospitality and tour-guiding skills…