Kalymnos Resole

This years trip home, of all of my visits back to the UK, was as poignant as any have ever been. The emotional turmoil of the year so far has left me a bit shell shocked if I’m completely honest with myself.. February, alone and recovering from surgery was particularly bad, though the sunshine helped enormously. That I’ve been able to maintain some semblance of normality in my strange little abnormal world is mostly down to my growing friendship with Pam. She came into my life at a critical time I think, she entered the void, and become someone I feel closer too now, someone I feel I can rely on, as I hope she feels for me.  We all have our issues, our baggage, especially as we get a little older and more set in our ways. She has hers, and oh yes, for sure I have mine, as she is discovering. I hope that as we travel along the road in this nice, easy, relaxed friendship, our understanding and feelings can grow. Throughout my trip home we have maintained contact and...

Ive been in the UK since July 17th. The first couple of weeks were a bit surreal to be honest, climbing in the Lakes, North Wales, and then back in the Lakes again. By surreal I mean, one minuet home in Kalymnos (and remember how small it is), to driving all over the country, hunting for the weather to climb, sleeping in different beds, getting used to driving again, my sisters little car, climbing with Di again... I was definatley a little out of sorts. Now, up in Aberdeenshire again, its peaceful, and homely at my sisters place, all alone while they enjoy the Spanish heatwave. I have time now to watch the news on tv, go shopping in the city, and ‘people watch’. And oh what a sight to behold.... People. Obsessed with possessions, with looks, with cars, with celebrity, with money and let me repeat, obsessed with how they look. Its all fake. Fake tans Fake hair Fake eye lashes Fake eye brows Fake emotions Fake sympathy Fake talking.... When and how did this a happen...