FUNNY HOW THINGS WORK OUT. Yep, funny. On New Year’s Day, 2026, you promise yourself a one-way ticket (not sure if you’re allowed) mid-year sometime, to wherever – first stop, your good friend Hakan’s summerhouse in Sweden. There are two good reasons to book ahead – a winter-house, assuming he has one, has you shivering, also, wallet thickness/pocket depth (gotta book early, so they say).…

2025

Hi, it’s that time of year again, and I don’t mean Christmas. It’s … ‘bout-time-I-blogged-again-time’, just in case my death’s exaggerated. So, lots happened this year. Took a little while (a year!) to adjust to single life again – probably the most profound ‘happening’ of all. The biggest take-away is we talk like old friends, and work things through, just like we always did. I…

MOLD and LIMBO

Hi. How are you? Over Chrissie now we’re blanketed in a red sea of tinsel and piped carols? (got the earplugs out for Bing’s White Christmas and squeaky supermarket trollies?) Yes, I’m getting grumpier about Christmas amongst other things. Don’t worry, it’s called mold – a dolorous state of fermentation between Middle and Old age. It happens. (and gives us immense pleasure) Haven’t said much…

Pragmatism with a dash of ash

Anne Hawe’s middle name was practical. And she liked simple. When she needed a new skirt, she disappeared into the sewing room. When us boys needed a smack, she whipped off her left scuff. When dad learned to drive a car, she stuck to her push-bike until skull-caps were mandated, then never rode again. In the knife and fork drawer, she kept a ten-ml spanner…