I am finally able to leave Sydney and get on with my life. My immediate plan is to return to London and spend the northern summer in the UK and Europe.

I spent most of the northern summer in the UK and Europe last year on long service leave. It was my first visit to England since my Foreign Affairs days in the late 1980’s. I was able to base myself with an old mate from school. He lives in South West London, not far from the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon. He is married to an English girl who, up until early this year, lived and worked in Belgium. They saw each other each weekend, either in London, Belgium or elsewhere in Europe – a very interesting arrangement.

It was a great time to be in London. The Queen’s Jubilee, Wimbledon and of course the Olympics. Thanks to my mate’s generous wife I was able to go to Wimbledon.

I also got to go to the Olympic Opening Ceremony celebrations at Hyde Park Corner and the Boxing at the dockland conference centre. One of the highlights was watching the cycling time trial at Hampton Wick. Bradley Wiggins won the event and signaled the start of an avalanche of medals for Team GB.

One of the first things I did in London was to catch up with an old mate that I met when I was first in London in 1977-79. He was one a group of blokes I met in a pub called the St James near Piccadilly Circus. The initial connection was a Swedish girl and her friends that were working as Au Pairs. I met up with him again in 1982 and was privileged to be at his wedding. It was great to meet up after all those years. As is the case with all good friends, speaking to my mate and his wife was so easy. It was as though the intervening period was merely months, not years.

Tragically my mate has cancer. In June, I joined him and a group of his friends on the London to Brighton charity ride. Through his great courage and strength he was able to complete the ride – a great effort. Late last year he had to go through more harsh treatment, including chemotherapy.

Unfortunately, my mate has had a relapse and is again fighting the cancer. It seems that he will not be able to join the London to Brighton ride this year. I will be privileged to take his place.

Flickr Link

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjB6yaAh

I was in Brisbane last week.  My flight to London is booked and it appears that the property settlement is finalised.  My dealings with the Family Lawyers have not finished.

The main reason to come to Brisbane was to see my aunt who is the ripe old age of 96.  She was married to my mother’s brother who died some years ago.   My mother and my aunt were very close.  They were born within two months of each other and in many ways shared the same experiences.

Naturally they grew up in Australia at the same time.  My aunt grew up in rural South Australia.  My mother spent much of her youth in rural Victoria.

They were married to airmen in WWII.  Tragically, both their husbands were killed in the war.  My mother’s husband was shot down over Darwin in the first Japanese air raid in February 1942.  My aunt’s husband was killed when his plane came down in the Papua New Guinea highlands.

After the war both my aunt and mother trained as nurses.  They both married returned servicemen: my aunt married an Australian Airman and my mother an English soldier.  My aunt’s husband returned to University after the war and became a leading medical scientist.

My aunt had four children – one daughter and three sons.  The daughter became a teacher and the three sons all became doctors.

The oldest brother and his wife have been particularly supportive in my recent dealings with family issues.   He has also improved my diet, introducing me to new grains to add to muesli.  This is very important if you are predisposed to bowel cancer as I am.

As a child I came up to Brisbane often.  I have vivid memories of staying at my Grandpa’ s house and walking down the hill, turning right to my cousin’s house.  It seemed to be so hot and humid: probably not surprising given the visits were usually in January.  I remember going to the Milton Courts to see the tennis.

In later years I visited Brisbane for work.  These were short visits with limited opportunities to see the place, or indeed meet up with my relatives.   During this time Brisbane was still the subject of jokes: “it is just a big country town” and ” the Country Party Government corrupt” (certainly correct).  Over the years this certainly changed.  It is now a vibrant city with all you would expect of a great city.

I have friends that have moved here and love the place.  I can see why.  One is a girl that I knew at school and the other is girl with an unusual name, that I have mentioned before. They are both very settled here with family and friends.

One last comment:  Brisbane is partially bike friendly, at least in the CDB and on the river.

A number of reasons to consider this city as a place to live.

 

Flickr Link

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjFCR2vr