Time Goes By

2024? 2024!

As the locals here in New York City would put it: “Oh my God!” And you just read that in your head with an American accent, didn’t you?

Happy New Year from the US of A

Anyways: Whoa ... it’ll be 2024 tomorrow! I mean, how can that possibly be?
It seems like it was just yesterday the UK’s ‘Brexit Withdrawal Agreement’ was signed into law; Trump was elected President by American voters; and do you remember when ‘Y2K’ was a thing?
I guess what I’m trying to say is that as the years go by, time seems to speed up. Somehow.
To me, it seems like it was only the other day that I was holding our eldest son’s hand as he took his first tentative baby steps. Or making ‘aeroplane noises’ to get our youngest to eat that food he really wasn’t too fussed about having. And now they’re 32 and 29 years old respectively!
Oh, I so know I’m not alone here too. Far too many others around my age have made a catchphrase of: “Where have the years gone?” It’s a very familiar lament, of course, amongst us who’ve reached that ... certain age.
For me though, I’ll approach 2024 with a sense of wonder: Wonder that I’ve made it this far; that I’ve achieved what I’ve achieved; and that I’m happy.
All I wish for is that you and yours have as great a New Year as I know me and mine will…
Buon Anno! (Happy New Year!)

On The Road Again

They say travel broadens the mind?
And I do consider myself pretty broad-minded! Jokes aside though: Who am I to argue with the accepted wisdom?
Now we’ve travelled more that many over and down the years. Albeit a lot of the time because we felt the need to move country from time to time!
Okay, way more my fault this (ask my long-suffering wife!), as I’ve always had a somewhat low boredom threshold, and have always felt the need to keep moving. Both with my life in general ... and most often to hopefully further my career specifically.
‘Pastures new’ and all that!

One travel destination so worth it!

But, and of course, there comes a time when this becomes more hassle than it’s worth, and I do believe I’ve reached that threshold now. I mean: We’re not ever moving from our ‘kiwi4ever home’ in Modica. Nope. That’s f’sure a given! It’s just I’ve (finally) reached that time in my life when I find myself not enjoying the travel experience anymore.
I’m talking the travelling here ... not the destination. We’re here now in New York City with our youngest son, his lovely wife, and her wonderful family, so what’s not to love!
No. It’s the packing, unpacking, too-warm airports, same old same old hotel rooms, endless queuing, passport control, and so on. I’m so over it now.
Will we continue to travel and explore? Absolutely! That’ll never stop!
It’s just maybe I’ll leave the long-haul travelling to the younger ones now…

Apples and Oranges?

My previous entry spoke of travelling.

Let’s talk about destinations now. Because, human nature here, when you’re visiting a new place, you can’t help comparing it to where you’re living now. Now this could be problematic: Considering I’m in New York, right? But, ever up for a challenge, I’ll give it a go!
The streets here are no cleaner or dirtier than in Modica, and you similarly find yourself having to dodge dog poop. The people are less friendly, but that’s any big city for you.
Public transport is way better. Although, a side note here, not as good as in London. Modica has its churches, while New York has its skyscrapers. Both equally iconic, in their own way.
The bigger city is surprisingly green, so again equal there. Drivers here actually obey the traffic rules though, which is f’sure one up for “The Big Apple”!
The NYPD seem to be everywhere, which is another big win then. And the locals didn’t seem threatening: At least when walking about during the day. There are far too many of them though, and I do find myself yearning for a way less busy place.
This city is easy to navigate for ‘newbies’, with its awesome grid-pattern layout! But then, it’s nowhere near as old as Modica. However, New York is, as you’d expect, way more multicultural. Which I’ve always considered a big plus.
My final thought here though is that this city isn’t a place to grow old in.

More Soon...