Category Archives: Travel

Apr9

I know you’re somewhere

Posted on April 9, 2016 by MeRaw

Saturday 9th April

This morning’s sunrise was so beautiful, as I watched it rise above the rooftops in the east.
And I thought of you.

We spent the morning at Lisbon Oceanarium: it was your brother’s choice. And a good one it was, too.
You have been to many wonderful aquariums, in Townsville, Australia, Myrtle Beach, USA, and Plymouth, UK, to name a few. You did like the ocean creatures and were fascinated by sharks, dolphins, penguins and rays.
I think you would have liked today. So much to see in the massive central tank, with many, many other exhibits and ocean life branching out from the main attraction.

After lunch, we drove east, into Spain, to your brother’s girlfriend’s house.

I really wish you could be here with all of us, but I suppose you are in spirit. And I’ll hold you close.

I know you’re somewhere.

Sweetheart.
Dearest Angel son.

xxxxxxx

This morning's sunrise from the hotel

Oceanário de Lisboa

Dad and I standing beneath a waterfall

A strange looking sunfish

Fabulous tropical fish

Apr7

Roam the roads of lands remote

Posted on April 7, 2016 by MeRaw

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Thursday 7th April

“To move, to breathe, to fly, to float,
To roam the roads of lands remote,
To travel is to live.”

~ Hans Christian Andersen

A year ago it was the church service in honour of your short, but amazing life.
A whole year ago.

The post from a year ago today

And here we are in sunny Lisbon, looking out over the terracotta rooftops.
We’ll meet up with your brother and his girlfriend tomorrow.

We’ve brought you with us, though. You are here in spirit my darling.

I’m sure you’d like the bustling, busy city. You’d have to be careful crossing the roads though, as the drivers seem quite manic. U-turns, sudden stops, swerving in front of on-coming traffic, stopping in the middle of the road; you have to watch your step.

Love you so very much.
Thinking of you today and always.
Missing you like crazy.
Precious Angel son.

xxxxxxx

Looking over the terracotta rooftops

Statue outside our hotel (beautiful blue sky)

Sunset at the end of the road

The cobbled road, leading to the statue near our hotel. Strangely devoid of traffic

Jan28

Sweet Prince

Posted on January 28, 2016 by MeRaw

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Thursday 28th January

“Now cracks a noble heart.
Good night sweet prince:
And flights of angels
Sing thee to thy rest!”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My dear sweet prince
I’ll no longer see
Your small footprints
As you run carefree

Along the sandy beach
Among the palms
As they sway and reach
The warm breeze calms

Sailing around islands
With a carefree spirit
Sun on the horizon
The sky’s the limit.

Love you forevermore.
Missing you every day.
xxxxx

On board Rum Raisin, Tobago, 1995

On the beach at the Blue Water's Inn, (Frank's glass bottom boat in the background)

On the top of the hill, overlooking Batteaux Bay. You, your brother and Dad.

Jan25

How much you have traveled

Posted on January 25, 2016 by MeRaw

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Monday 25th January

“Don’t tell me how
educated you are,
tell me how much you
have traveled.”

As a family we have been so very fortunate to be able to travel to many destinations around the world.
Your first flight in an aeroplane was to Hong Kong (in 1990), where we stayed for just over a week, en route to Australia, where we were to live for two years. You were five, and your brother was three years old.

During our time in Australia, we flew to Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane and Townsville on different holidays.
We were lucky enough to be able to make use of military transport aircraft: Melbourne to Sydney in a Hercules C130, sitting in very basic webbing seats, was certainly an experience.

On our way back home to England, we had a week’s stop off in fabulous Singapore. (1992).

The next holiday was to the island of Paxos, just south of Corfu. (1993)

Then began our many years of summer holidays with my father, on his yacht.
Sailing around Bermuda, Tobago, British Virgin Islands, then up and down the east coast of America, from South Carolina to Key West in Florida.

We certainly do love to travel, and have been blessed with very many opportunities.

The amazing experiences that you encountered really added to your global education.
From swimming on the Barrier Reef, to walking through rainforests, from eating authentic Chinese food in street markets, to watching a snake charmer, from watching NASCAR races to drag boats, from swimming with dolphins to taking a cable car to the top of the Schilthorn to eat in the revolving restaurant.

We have had so many adventures, been so privileged to be able to take our boys to so many different places.
Adapting to new languages, cultures, food, scenery, animals, schooling, friends, climate, currency, almost became second nature, and you took it easily in your stride.

I’m glad we were able to take you with us to so many diverse destinations.

My Angel traveller.
Darling son.
Flying high.

xxxx