Born in England, I grew up during a time of tremendous change. I embrace the times and events that were milestones in my life: lazy Sunday summer evenings at the Crawdaddy Club listening to the Rolling Stones jangle before they were famous; Eel Pie Island in the bitterness of winter but warm to the sound of Rod Stewart rasping through Gasoline Alley, and the late great Long John Baldrey, now rocking in heaven; the whole world waiting for the Beatles next offering, and then there was Hey Jude; the beautiful people parading up Carnaby Street during its heyday and later down Chelsea's Kings Road, where everybody was so frantic to be seen, and so many more unbelievably happy Flower Power moments of the 60s, 70s revolution.

 

I am lucky to have traveled quite a bit and lived in many places. Great memories: I remember China in the late 70s, truly another world, and one that just is so far from the China of today. I walked on the Great Wall and visited the Forbidden City and felt like I was the only one there. Bali, when Kuta was a dirt town and ducks roamed the main street, and Mama’s Place still existed on the beach front and where suckling pig was the meal to die for. Days when you could actually enjoy walking in places like Jakarta and Bandung without getting run down. The Philippines with its crazy Cocabanana club and when the night curfew was still in force. The old Singapore and Sunday reistaffel at the German Club, tiffin at the original Raffles.

 

Getting to see other countries and cultures is great, but I do love England: the wonderfully varied countryside; the small quaint villages; stumbling upon lonely, derelict crofter’s cottages in the middle of nowhere; the woods, the rivers and streams; old roads that have born travelers from way back through Roman times and beyond, and all the secret places that carry the ghosts from long ago in a country steeped in so much history and legend. And the people, life and things that go on around each and every day. To ride the tube and see every nation, creed and colour represented, and living pretty well in harmony. Sometimes I miss my England, just strolling through the streets; the lovely old oaks in Richmond Park; the river Thames, now so clean and elegant, framed by the worlds most magnificent buildings; walking through London at night in the rain when everything is sparkly and glistening. Feeling the past that is hard to feel anywhere else in the World. England will always be home, and I reckon I will end up back there again one day, but for the moment my dear wife and I are living in Ubud, in Bali, also a truly special place. Maybe I see you there one day.

Peace and Love,