Wednesday 22 August 2012

Two weeks on Tuesday


Time is short now and only twenty more 'sleeps' until I fly.

I'm gradually checking things off from my 'to do' list.

I've been to the doctors and collected enough of my tablets to last me until Christmas (that's one suitcase filled) and with the added help with jabs from the travel clinic in Leeds am now good for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio and Rabies (knowing me I'll get flu!). Interesting to see that the most expensive of my NHS drugs would cost under a £1 for a pack of 28 but the one drug I had to get on a private prescription (Malarone for Malaria) is £2.30 a tablet. Typical.

I've bought my own mosquito net just in case I get a holy one, and am making a collection of insect repellents. In fact, for the first time in my life, I'm in danger of turning into a hypochondriac.

One thing I have found though is that this blog idea is not as easy as it looks.  I am growing even more respectful of my eldest son, Cliff, who seems to write such easily readable reports.  Hopefully, when I actually arrive and start a life of new experiences, the muse will be stronger within me. For now I'll get back to my list.

Sunday 5 August 2012

Carpe Diem

There's no point looking back with regrets.  Always look forward to new challenges.

Fifty years ago was the era of the 'swinging sixties' and, as an 18 year old going off to University, I took Bob Dylan as my hero.  He was mine and I didn't particularly want other people to enjoy his music so when my Mum exclaimed " not that miserable dirgeful music again.", that just strengthened my resolve.   Here's one of my favourite Dylan songs that I've come back to many times over the years as it too recognises the futility of dwelling in bygone days.

While riding on a train goin’ west
I fell asleep for to take my rest
I dreamed a dream that made me sad
Concerning myself and the first few friends I had

With half-damp eyes I stared to the room
Where my friends and I spent many an afternoon
Where we together weathered many a storm
Laughin’ and singin’ till the early hours of the morn

By the old wooden stove where our hats was hung
Our words were told, our songs were sung
Where we longed for nothin’ and were quite satisfied
Talkin’ and a-jokin’ about the world outside

With haunted hearts through the heat and cold
We never thought we could ever get old
We thought we could sit forever in fun
But our chances really was a million to one

As easy it was to tell black from white
It was all that easy to tell wrong from right
And our choices were few and the thought never hit
That the one road we traveled would ever shatter and split

How many a year has passed and gone
And many a gamble has been lost and won
And many a road taken by many a friend
And each one I’ve never seen again

I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
That we could sit simply in that room again
Ten thousand dollars at the drop of a hat
I’d give it all gladly if our lives could be like that