A change is as good as a rest. Or so the saying goes.
I have changed a lot and rested little, but as the clock ticks on without remorse I am making time to reflect and to remember. Or is it to  remember and reflect?
I have travelled wide and found myself submerged in many different cultures.
It is absolutely true what they say about Africa: "Once in your blood, never forgotten".  She has left a very deep mark. Not a scar, more of a permanent indentation, or an extra heart? No, more like a permanent longing.
Life in general has to be both joyful and painful as par for the course. But Africa is different. Boundless beauty, joy and excruciating pain, all wrapped in a single parcel, you can't have one without the other.
My father's life experiences, such as surviving the Nazi extermination camps, and his ability to 'start again' more than once, his wisdom, coupled with rich, inordinate sense of humour, imparted in me a seemingly indestructible sense of confidence. Not to mention a slightly warped and sometimes misplaced sense of humour.
My own travels have provided me with a rich tapestry of experiences, anecdotes and unbelievable stories, and for some reason there is humour to be found in most, even the saddest
It is amazing how many forgotten things you start to remember once you start remembering...
This is my first attempt at writing something for others to read for pleasure. I Hope you enjoy these stories and don't forget to give me your comments PLEASE?
I have dozens of chapters in preparation, or if they become too unwieldy maybe a separate collection. Or maybe one day, my grandchildren going through the attic, will find a thick wad of papers and, just before throwing them out with a load of old maps and black and white photographs, have a chance to see what the 'old man' was up to, before he died.
Thanks!
Lion