Amazing Coincidence

This last weekend, we went to a fairly remote location north of Prague for some hiking and sight seeing. On the Sunday, we were trying to decide where to stop for lunch. Initially, we stopped at a pub that looked quite nice but we were put off by the interior and so we set off again. A few minutes later, we saw another place that looked OK so we pulled in. Parking was a bit of an issue as the place seemed quite popular. We had our lunch and then we walked around and up the hill a little, taking in the pretty hillside cottages and the view. Then, we walked around the back of the pub/restaurant, got in the car and, after a quick chat and change of plan,

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Vysehrad

This weekend, we were in Prague. A beautiful city with lots to see including Vysehrad. We had never been to Vysehrad for some reason and so that is where we spent Saturday afternoon. Vysehrad has some magnificent views of the river and the city. It also has a church – St. Peter and St. Paul. They charge money to look around the church so we did’t bother but we did wander around the churchyard. Don’t ask me why but that cemetery really creeped me out. It had a sense of something unpleasant and rotten. It left a deep and gloomy impression on me that I am yet to entirely shake off… Cold aged stone has lost its polish The words still legible mourn Moss grows and the ground is damp

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In Search of A Barber

I must confess that I have never much liked having my hair cut. I just think that firstly, its a real waste of valuable time and secondly, I hate people fiddling with my ears. Really, fiddle with my ears and I get quite ratty. However, today I had to go and try to have fixed the mess the last cutter made two weeks ago. You see, here in Brno, getting a decent haircut is like asking for a miracle. In fact, why beat around the bush (!), it is a miracle. Prague was different. There you could find a decent haircut no problem and come out looking very dapper. I even found a barbers shop that did a wet shave, provided a glass of whiskey and allowed you to smoke

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A Year Has Gone

A year seems like along time but looking back to this time last year, it seems to have passed in a flash. This time last year, I was living in Prague and I was worried about my weight gain having quit smoking months earlier. I remember buying the indoor bike and with good intentions, starting a weight loss and exercise program. Today, I weighed myself and blast it, I weigh exactly the same as I did a year ago! The bike has been well used and still is and if anything, my diet is better than ever yet I have not shed a pound. I suppose looking on the bright side, I haven’t gained any weight either! Of course, we are now back in Brno too. I packed all of

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The Travel Queen

I am just returned from an overnight trip to Prague where I dropped my Mother off for her return trip back to Beverley. She had been here 10-days and it was her 5th such trip since my Dad passed away. My Mum can talk the hind legs of a donkey and if you had a chance to chat, she would tell you how she has travelled the world because of me. And she has. It all started back in the late 1970’s with trips down to the Midlands to drop me off and pick me up at Aston University. That shifted to Leeds and then to Glasgow as I continued on with my PhD with the British Geological Survey and University of Strathclyde. It became Aberdeen when I started my

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The Two Sides of Prague

We were back in Prague this weekend. What an amazingly beautiful city it is! Even though I adore Brno, its still amazing to visit Prague. Most people who visit will do all of the touristy things like visit the Castle and walk down the hill to the Charles Bridge etc. This is wonderful of course and replete with history and symbolism but you know, its only half the story. Some of the symbolism around the castle surely reflects Prague’s rich esoteric and bohemian background. Walking through the gardens we come across the fountain showing essentially the scene from the Strength tarot card, next we find a small but obvious pyramidal structure and then a statue of the Fool. Its all there if you look. Walking down from the Castle you

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The Snow Queen

I am back! Yes – back from my travels that included Barcelona, Budapest and Prague…. And to kick off the week, here is a blast from the past and one I had discussed a few weeks ago. Photos of yours truly playing the Story Teller in a school play from sometime in the early 1970’s. I don’t recall exactly when but who cares……. In the above photo I am 6th from the top left more or less in the center of the photo. In the above photo – I am showing the way!

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Try Looking Up!

If reality is so massive that our brain has to continually decide what parts of that reality to present to our consciousness (and it does!), then what are we missing? A lot it would seem. For a start, we look for what we recognize and have an interest in and we ignore what we do not recognize nor have an interest in. We walk our way through life barely seeing a thing apparently. We sleep. Most of us commute to work each day and we settle into our routines. Perhaps we catch the train and armed with our favorite newspaper we seek out our usual seat and then relax reading the paper. Perhaps we walk to work staring at the pavement ahead of us while all of the time thinking

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A Barren Day and My Roots

Its one of those days when I am uninspired and don’t seem to have anything to say that I haven’t said before. No poetry, no bursts of irked energy for a good old rant and certainly no spiritually uplifting thoughts or feelings. These sorts of days happen. Perhaps its because I have done nothing but write anyway – white papers, Analyst briefing notes, articles, presentations etc. etc. I really do write for a living it seems – if you are interested in those professional writings take a look here). So…. What then? Just recently I have been feeling a bit homesick for Houston. I mean, Houston was home for 17-years and after being away almost 8-years, I do miss it from time to time. I miss the heat would you

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Life’s Junk

Just over 7-years ago, I arrived in the Czech Republic with one suitcase. Later, I shipped one box to myself. It wasn’t a large box. I left a large house stuffed to the brim with stuff and do you know what, I didn’t really miss any of it. Anything I did miss turned out to have a connection to someone in my life. I did miss being able to look at certain photographs of my family, my boys, my parents, my college days. I did miss the framed picture bought for me as a gift by my Aunt in New Orleans as it reminded me of my Uncle who died too young. I missed a few items – trinkets mainly – given to me by my father and by my

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