Perfect places—in my mind and in my life. Some I've visited some I haven't

 This blog is brought to you by the help of one of my friends, who when I said I had no idea for this weeks Raven's Ramblings she suggested I shared some of my favourite places, both ones visited and ones on my wish list

I liked the idea of that, until I realised how spoiled for choice I am.

I've been incredibly lucky to visit some amazing places over the years. That's me in Da Nang, Vietnam, a few years ago (just before covid lockdown) Where the lovely husband (henceforth to be LH in this blog) and I have been a couple of times. We stopped in a hotel by the beach and had some lovely walks on the sands. Not only that they made gluten free pumpkin bread for me.

It's no secret that I love Hong Kong and have spent many a happy hour over the years exploring. While the LH worked, I went all over the place with my travel pass. Stanley? No problem. Bus all the way. Or ferry and bus, or MTR and bus. I've done the lot. Kennedy Town? Use the trams. Sai Kung? Okay I go there with the LH but otherwise I've been explored the parks or just sat and watched the world go by next to the harbour and plotted a few books set there.

I've even met up with my ex hairdresser.

I've been lucky enough to visit New Zealand. Wanaka is definitely in my top ten list. I've even included the place in a couple of books... After all That Wanaka Tree is famous.

We visited a dark sky area, lots of wineries and crossed the Cook Straits by ferry on a luckily flat calm day.

Australia? Yes, and would love to go back again. The Great Ocean Road is a fabulous drive. 

Singapore? I love the place and hate the humidity. The stone cats on the quay are cute.

South Africa? Oh yes, definitely. We visit most years. I honestly have trouble picking my favourite places there. Knysna on the lagoon is brilliant. Great fish.

Franschhoek? Oh yes, the wine tram is a great way to visit the wineries for a tasting. 

Hout Bay? Beaches, breweries and an open top bus ride into Cape Town. 

I could go on and on but...

I'll go on to some other places instead.

Barbados? Everything about the island is interesting. Beach walks, plantation visits, learning the (not always nice) history. Can't seem to find my pics...

Closer to home, I reckon Venice was amazing, even when we had to wait on a crowded boat for an hour before we could set back to our hotel due to a thunderstorm. I still have a beautiful necklace of Murano glass.

 Even closer to home... Shaldon Devon, a lovely village at the mouth of an estuary, 

The Isle of Skye

My wish to go to list is endless. Canada, India, Mauritius, Northern Island,  are all on it. So are places I've been to briefly, some many years ago and would love to go back. Wales, Eire, Cornwall, the Dordogne. The English lakes... 

And that's it. I could go on and on but I won't. I know I've been very fortunate over the years. I've had the opportunity to visit places I dreamed of. Places not on my list because I could go on and on. Not always a sit in the sun holiday. Walking, reading, sightseeing, shivering, writing... I can and do write anywhere. I have fabulous memories, some scary ones as well. I am not one for heights!

But all in all, well, if it all has to stop tomorrow... I can pull out my memories as well as my photo's and think..wow

How lucky I am.

Wherever you are, take care and 

happy reading,

love Raven xx

Where I ponder about half full or half empty...

 I invested in a new fitness watch thingy this last week as my old one isn't really keeping its charge for long. (Probably sick of me checking it and exclaiming, "I must have walked further than that!"

(source, pinterest)

This new one is of course nothing like my old one. I installed the app and went through the list of do you, are you, will you, etcetera and did my best to answer the questions. I was tempted to miss out a few but the darned thing wouldn't let me.

Then I came to the bit where you have to say if you're a glass half full person or one who says half empty.

(source, pinterest)

That got me thinking. I read about who says what with interest, and wondered if it's true that saying half full means you're a more positive person than someone who says it's half empty.

I realise I say it's half full, (or it's still half full) until there's not a lot of whatever is in it, and then I'd say it's almost empty. That's me being literal, but what about in the grand scheme of things?

Definitely half full?

I went on to the next question. Am I happy, and the all of the time, some of the time etcetera. 

And to the next, and the next. And then I thought, half full or half empty, I need coffee!

By the time I'd finished I needed a full glass—and not of coffee!

However, it did make me realise that in general I'm happy with my lot. That I'm lucky I can do something I love—writing—accept there's things I have to do I don't—disturbing the dust bunnies, cleaning the shower—and tootle along in life, grateful for what I have.

(source, pinterest)

The fitness watch thingy, is on my wrist, no doubt tutting at what I should be doing and I'm not, and sighing, 'at last', when I do do something right. It's not managed to show me how it celebrates when I do the magic number of steps I should—I haven't managed that in the two days i've had it—and some of it's signs and symbols have me mystified. However, it's great as a torch when I get up to go to the loo in the middle of the night!

(If that's TMI, oops sorry)

Now if only I could read a book on it, I'd be sorted.

Happy reading, 

love, Raven xx

What I really want to know—why did he lie and who is Sarah?

 We've been away for a few days, and I had a rather interesting night...

Around two am I was woken by what sounded like people in the house. Footsteps, doors closing, people talking.

I of course being the brave woman thought should I get up and check?

Hmmm. 

I woke the lovely husband instead.

He, bless him did the mosey on down and check and found nothing. got back into bed and was soon fast off.

But I couldn't get to sleep. wondered what I'd heard.

Then around 3am I definitely could hear a loud—and occasionally not so loud conversation.

Him (let's call him Keith, Although I never heard her (we will call her Kath) say his name or him, hers.

Keith, "Okay I lied alright?"

(Me listening, because I couldn't help but listen. If I hadn't known better I'd have thought they were conducting their 'conversation' at the bottom of our bed) "no it definitely isn't right, mate."  (I only thought this, didn't say it. Maybe I should have.)

Kath....mutter, mutter..." You F***ed Sarah."

Keith. "It was...." mutter mutter.

Kath, "But Sarah."

Keith. "You didn't need to..."

Then there was a sort of silence.

Aha I thought, the've either moved rooms or given up. 

Ten minutes later.

Keith. "I told you, okay?"

Kath. "Bloody Sarah. Sc***ing Her. Why her?"

More mutters...

Silence

Ten minutes later.

Keith. "Can we just forget this? Yes I lied."

Kath (and me) "You must be joking."

Silence for about thirty seconds.

Kath. "It was not making love, but if it was why?"

Keith. mutter mutter. "so..." mutter mutter.

Kath. "Enough, Anyone but f*****g her."

(are we still talking about Sarah?)

Keith... "I did."

(did what I wonder)

4 am...

Silence.

Now the writer's imagination goes into overdrive. Will I see am ambulance next door? A police car? Lots of blue flashing lights? Someone in handcuffs? Should we have reported a disturbance?

The thing was neither Kath nor Keith sounded angry. Just loud.

Anyway around 9 am we saw them head out together...

I wonder who Sarah is and why he lied... and what happened next?

Not a peep out of them the following night and we enjoyed our few days at the coast

Sadly not this one, but hey ho!

Happy reading

love Raven xxx

Ps I know a lot of people can't comment on here for some reason (probably because I'm not very techno-savvy,) but feel free to comment on Goodreads. Thanks.