summer, 10pm

i stand on the porch in the evening shadows
birds chatter, softly, settling into night
far away sounds, a car, the river
evening strollers walk by

a mosquito, stealthy now, fades in the shadows
my skin feels cool, but insect bite reveals its warmth
i should be inside, hot and steamy
fan brings little relief

out in the dusk light fades
first star, muted streetlights, the city glows
i linger in the stillness, linger in the stillness
willing back the night

200th post

A new look to mark my 200th post to this blog (please take a look all you feed reader people, I've spent many hours getting it just right).

The first post was on January 17, 2004, so I've managed to post close to once a week for the life of the blog. Not bad. In that time I've moved house 3 times, moved job (and country) once, travelled to Europe 3 times, to Australia 4 times, and across the US and Canada more than I can remember. Thinking about the things that remained the same, I still have my childhood teddy bear, several suitcases, and a few pieces of art on the walls that have journeyed with me. Not much else in the material sense. Of course, I'm still myself, although older, perhaps wiser, and certainly with more life experience. And I have my friends and family who have walked beside me the last 4 years, and been kind enough to read my ramblings. To all of you, thank you!

Oxford

Our friend Kerry has just moved to Oxford, so we jumped on a late night bus from London to pay him a visit and explore his new home. Oxford is a wonderful town, with beautiful architecture, and an atmosphere that reminds me of the many English books I devoured as a teen. Not surprising, since several of my favourite authors wrote while living here.

Highlights
• Lunch (and dinner) at The Eagle and Child – regular meeting place of CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien and their friends, the Inklings. Classic pub food in the place where Narnia and Middle Earth were born.
• Walking around Christ Church college, feeling as if I were at Hogwarts.

Lowlights
• Still being jetlagged, sleeping late, and not exploring as much as I would have liked.