When we decided to spend two months in Bali as the first leg in our year-long sabbatical, I read as much as I could find about what to bring and what to buy when I got to Bali. The information was scarce, scattered and often dated. Hmmm. I did my best, but over-packed some items … Continue reading
Tagged with travel …
Wherever I lay my head…
The expression, ‘wherever I lay my hat, that’s my home’ has never been as relevant for me as it is now. As I only wear a hat on occasion, however, I think of it more in terms of wherever I lay my head. Since we handed over the keys to our apartment on Feb 2nd, … Continue reading
Taking stock…
Ben and I have now been in my home state, Western Australia, for 3 weeks of our 4-week visit. The time has gone quickly, but we have crammed in a lot of time with family and friends, and have celebrated both of my parent’s 70th birthdays. As we are over the hump of our time … Continue reading
To Airbnb, or not to Airbnb…
Before Ben and I officially start our year’s sabbatical in a couple of days, we have taken a quick side trip to New Zealand, a place we have now been to four times together, and which holds a special place in our hearts. Seven out of eight nights have been booked in Airbnbs, and here’s … Continue reading
Take, Chuck or Store?
Over the past few weeks and months, Ben and I have been playing our own version of Shoot, Shag or Marry – only with our stuff. We have literally handled and considered every item we own and have asked ourselves, ‘take, chuck or store?’ That’s every darned thing. When we originally talked about taking this sabbatical, … Continue reading
Beautiful Chaos
Last time it was about details, drowning in them, to be more specific. While I am still up to my chin in the minutiae of departing the country for a year, I have found myself in another not-particularly-comfortable predicament: I’m surrounded by chaos. Our usually orderly home is a study in disarray. There are boxes … Continue reading
Why I’m taking a mid-career sabbatical
“Let’s trade a year of our retirement for 2018,” said Ben. We’d been toying with the idea for years, but he was giving it a time-frame, making it concrete. Initially, my stomach clenched at the thought, but I took a deep breath and said yes. Ben and I have long described ourselves as ‘location-agnostic’, but … Continue reading
When the pieces come together: Part Two
Our accommodation the first night of our weekend was with a lovely lady called Barbara at her B&B in Port Angeles, Ocean Crest. We arrived just before dinner and she showed us to our room. It was very comfortable, had its own bathroom, and just next door was a little sitting room for us. Barbara … Continue reading
When the pieces come together: Part One
What makes a perfect weekend? What are the essential elements that must come together to create a weekend of ‘Kismet’? Well, this past Labor Day long weekend we discovered that the perfect weekend can be as much about what is omitted as what is included. The night before our departure I suffered a night of … Continue reading
An Inconvenienced Truth
I am not a good traveler. There it is: the truth. In my head I could win the Amazing Race. In reality, the first time we (my imaginary race partner and I) missed a plane I would shed hot, frustrated tears and settle into a pissy mood that would last the whole episode. Last Sunday … Continue reading
