Was it really exactly one year ago when we admired the view of KL, and waited for 2023 to arrive ; and now it’s waiting for 2024. That sound rather depressing . A better phrase would be what can we usefully do with these hours . It’s not just sitting waiting for that final curtain ; but packing the unknown available time with wondrous things that our time on earth potentially offers . So getting off that butt ; what did we do last year ?
Wow ! we completed our global circumnavigation. OK generally others did the hard work . We are not of the Jessica Watson ilk . Who, on May 15, 2010, at just sixteen, became the the youngest person to have ever sailed solo, unassisted and non-stop around the globe.( great Netflix drama ). Two of our children live exactly geographically diametrically opposite each other ( to be precise KL is 101 degree E , and Quito is 78 degree W , both close to the equator .) That is useful at a pub quiz level , but it is airline routes , and costs, that matter . Hence our navigation which in 22/23 went all the way round , but this time ( 23/24 ) arriving via the UK, we reverse direction travelling back to Quito via Europe .
So that is a lot of travelling ; but it is good to be 6 months back in France, to maintain residency status and ease travel insurance . ; .. and of course it is our home, which is nice to inhabit once in a while . Summer in the south of France is delightful and the garden demands our attention . Our input is rewarding , this year with raspberries and tomatoes proliferating in the potage . All need watering in the hot dry summer ; using recycled water . That of course, in itself , needs sufficient bodies in the house to produce the raw stuff . So we entertained Home exchange guests and our family for two months . This keeps us busy; and we have something other than the plants to talk to !
The highlight , if that is the word , of last summer was the drought and accompanying fires . It is probable that most of those were started deliberately . There are some really sick people around . The largest was enough to prompt our evacuation ; and then on return the elimination of 10 pine trees now deemed , by me , as too close to the house . The accompanying blog did swell my readership to a giddy 67 , up from low teens . I shall have to establish how to entice interest without a risk to life ( mine ) .
We discovered Wordle this year , so each day starts with a family competition on who can discover the word in the lowest attempts . Coupled with Sudoku and a simple crossword , it keeps the brain active . Longevity is assisted by regular physical effort , mine now being a 3 mile walk each morning . The last 12 months feature has , however , been marked by frequenting a seemingly endless series of great restaurants. This has, very recently, prompted an attempt at dietary control. This I will not refer to as a new year’s resolution in case it follows previous failures .
I am hoping that Jamie Oliver can help through the coming year , his menus always look so healthy and easy to recreate. We recently discovered Sous Vide , and thus will add that to next years activities . Other major projects will include increasing the houses’ fire containment and adding extra AC . Our response to global warming , that and praying for rain ; our stream ceased to run virtually the entire year . Then we will look again at an Electric car , our diesel BMW is now 10 years old and will be banned in an increasing list of conurbations . Will evaluate the practicality of integrating with the house solar panels to provide on site electrical storage . Plenty to keep mind and body active during the coming year .
So all that is left for the passing year is too wish all my readers a happy and prosperous New year ; and trust we join in the festivities for ‘25 :
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