On the loose

Most of this was written several weeks ago and I have just realised that I never pressed the 'Publish  button.' So here is an updated version, so that my growing band of devoted readers get the bonus of two posts in 24 hours. I hope you both enjoy them both! I had reluctantly left New Zealand on the 13th April, my considerably earlier than intended departure had been hastened by my mother's rapidly deteriorating health: 95 years of age with a serious pneumonia did not augur well. Mr Trump's recent 'initiative' in the Middle East had resulted in considerable chaos among the world's airlines and having to change flights was a frustrating and expensive process. So with my credit card squealing, I bordered an Air NZ flight to Shanghai; this was the first time in many years that I had flown this route. Shanghai Airport - technically Shanghai Pudong airport - is a modern impressive facility which is just as well because I had 18 hours to wait here! I had booked a ...

20th May 2026: It was time to break out and find a little space for myself. I had no idea how walking fit I was but having invested in a new pair of Scarpa walking boots, it was time to set off and find out. It was a cloudy Wednesdaymorning as I checked Trusty Rusty's oil and tyre pressure and set off north up that familiar west coast road in search of adventure beyond Aberystwyth. The drive was uneventful, the road relatively quiet (it seems that petrol prices are inhibiting casual motoring) and the only real change I noticed compared to the last time I was up this way, were even more Welsh flags flying and a plethora of Plaid Cymru placards. The mood of the country seems to have changed a little after the recent Senedd Elections, when Plaid Cymru emerged to form a government for the first time. Labour were decimated in the Welsh Parliament elections, being reduced to rump a meagre nine seats. But enough of politics! I stopped for an ice cream at RSPB Ynys Hir, ( https://www.rspb....