The Bunker: Wednesday 6th August, 2025
Thursday, August 7, 2025
All credit to the artist(s) 🎨
Now that I am back on island, Maui that is, I am resuming the changing face of The Bunker…at least as often as it does change.
Longer Reads
This page contains longer, titled posts that I have made to my blog, so as to more easily separate them from other posts that I make here. If you would like to subscribe to the feed for this page, point your RSS reader here.
On Being Alone, Solitude at 35,000ft+
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
I, we (my fellow passengers) are flying at 36,000ft on a flight from New York’s JFK to Honolulu in Hawaii. The flight time is 9 hours and 51 minutes. Add onto that the 3½ hours that we spent on the tarmac at JFK due to a technical problem. We are currently about 3¼ hours into the flight. In that time I have had something to eat, watched a little on the inflight entertainment (never something that I spend much time with), and slept.
On Taking Photographs
Thursday, July 31, 2025
I can take a lot of photographs, probably more when I am on the move than when I am at home, but I notice that I have a tendency to do little with them. Occasionally I’ll go back and look through them, maybe edit one or two, but otherwise they just sit there. What might I do with them? Thoughts that come to mind include, share them with family and friends.
With Thanks and in Remembrance of Joana Macy
Sunday, July 20, 2025
Joana Macy has died at the age of 96. I found out this morning while browsing my RSS feeds and a post on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review. Discovering Macy’s work around 25 years ago had a profound effect on me. She tied together for me my Buddhist practice and concern for the environmental crises, taking me into the world of Deep Ecology, a body of thought that was missing from my life, but started to tie up some loose ends and deepen my reflection.
An Evening with Benjamin Clementine
Friday, July 4, 2025
Two weeks ago I had no idea who Benjamin Clementine was, though I had unknowingly listened to a track of his used by Apple in their opening credits to The Morning Show.
Being Called by the Sirens
Friday, July 4, 2025
Walking through the old Jewish Quarter of Seville last week the narrow streets were a relief from the baking sun above. While still hot, the narrowness of the streets did not allow the sun in and the perennial shade kept an element of the heat at bay.
Shutting Out The Heat
Sunday, June 29, 2025
When I first arrived in Portugal, specifically the Alentejo countryside, I wondered why all the houses were shuttered in the middle of the day? Why close your windows and shut out a beautiful sunny day? And anyway, it must feel so claustrophobic? “Let the light in, enjoy the sun," says the know all visitor. There’s plenty of time to close windows at night. “I’m going to leave them open."
Empowered by Music
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Some music seems to allow me to see past what I perceive to be all the blocks in my life, all the limitations, all those invisible and maybe not so invisible barriers preventing me from moving forward. I hear a specific piece of music and doors and windows are suddenly flung open. The grime is cleared from my foggy mind and I see before me a world of possibilities where there were none before.
Visits from our Neighbours and Apple Maps
Saturday, June 7, 2025
Our neighbours from Maui stopped by over lunch two days ago to visit us in Alcácer do Sal. They had been up north in Ericeira visiting their daughter’s family and were heading to the Algarve for a long weekend. Their visit was all too brief, but in their favour they managed to get lost coming into town, which negated us having to take them around town - they did the self-guided tour!
Getting Stuff Done...Or Not. Dealing with My Resistance
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
I’ve probably made reference to this before on my blog: When I get a job done that I have put off, I wonder why I put it off in the first place? What was I thinking? With the job done I find myself sitting in the satisfaction of having completed something. If I have done it well, there is added icing on the cake. There is also not the added weight of jobs looming over me - and inevitably that weight increasing as more jobs are put off.
DIY
Thursday, April 24, 2025
I have had a productive month or so on the Do It Yourself front. I have, Installed a new AC filter; Installed some outside lights; Installed a new light switch; And yesterday repaired our washing machine. I probably took longer with those jobs than a professional, but for me there is just the satisfaction of getting a job done without making that call and scheduling a time for someone to come round.
Hawai’i’s Coral Reefs Protected by Insurance
Sunday, April 20, 2025
Well, this I learnt (I prefer the full English to the shorthands, TIL, though they have their place in a quick text) today. Hawai’i’s coral reefs are protected from storm damage by an insurance policy.
The Bunker: Saturday 12th April, 2025
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
All credit to the artist(s) 🎨
It has been a while, but The Bunker has undergone some minor updates. Or maybe it is some ”edits” to what was already there? Certainly not a full blown new mural.
On Hedge Laying
Monday, April 14, 2025
James Rebanks, author of Pastoral Song : A Farmer’s Journey (do read it!), shared this photograph on BlueSky of a hedge being laid. I am guessing that it is on his farm in the Lake District in England? Rebanks’ photograph took me home, back to Britain, to a time and place that sits deeply in my heart. I’m seeing a clear winter’s day as in this picture. I’m seeing a hedge being laid, the first time that I have seen one, or at least noticed the practice of hedge laying.
Geckos In The Morning
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Sitting outside the other morning, drinking the first coffee of the day, I noticed leaves shaking out of sync with the early morning breeze that was blowing throw. I noticed it there, and there, and over there. Almost everywhere I looked there was a leaf or two shaking. On closer look I noticed geckos either on the leaves, or jumping down to a patch of grass that lay in the sun.
Listening to the Rain Passing Through
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Through open windows this morning I could hear the rain approaching. … Have you ever been on the London Underground? If not and you have used another subway system, I wouldn’t be surprised if the experience on the Underground is very similar to that of any of the world’s subway systems? And if you have not travelled on a subway system, let me explain my experience of the London Underground.
The Bunker: Saturday 8th March, 2025
Saturday, March 8, 2025
All credit to the artist(s) 🎨
No sooner do I put up a post saying that there have been no updates to The Bunker recently, than there is…a new mural on The Bunker!
The Bunker An Update
Friday, March 7, 2025
To those waiting for the next Bunker mural, I have not forgotten you. There simply have been no updates since the beginning of the year. When I started this series I had number of photographs of past Bunker murals and so I was able to get several photos out quickly. Now we are down to the regular pace of Bunker updates. In the past I have not paid so much attention to how often a new painting was added to its face.
Offa's Dyke Path
Friday, March 7, 2025
Offa’s Dyke Path is a walking trail, part of the United Kingdom’s network of National Trails. The path is a 177 mile (285 km) walking trail which follows the Dyke that was ordered to be built by King Offa in the 8th century. Offa’s Dyke runs the length of the border between England and Wales, running from Sedbury Cliffs near to Chepstow on the Severn estuary in the South, to Prestatyn on the Irish Sea in the North.
Those Moments
Friday, February 28, 2025
The author reflects on cherished memories of sharing Fred Basset cartoons with their late father, highlighting the bittersweet nature of reminiscence after his passing.
When Shadow Throws Me a Curve Ball
Thursday, February 13, 2025
I haven’t written much on my blog for a few weeks now. There were a couple of posts at the end of January related to a big storm that was passing through the islands, otherwise for the most part I have been silent for almost three weeks. Up until that point I was posting most days. It isn’t that my blog has lost interest for me. I value this space. My little corner of the internet.
24 Hours of a Storm Passing Through
Friday, January 31, 2025
Well last night was quite the storm. This storm was passing through the Hawaii Island chain. It had already battered Ni’ihau, Kauai and Oahu and was now approaching the county of Maui made up of the islands of Maui, Lana’i, Moloka’i and Kahao’olawe. Being a Kona storm, it came in from the south. Living on the north shore of Maui, the bulk of Haleakala protected us through the day - the winds were slight and the rain was non-existent.
The Bunker: Wednesday 22nd, January 2025
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
All credit to the artist(s) 🎨
On Wednesday of last week there was a new mural on the side of the bunker.
Some Short Thoughts On Writing
Saturday, January 18, 2025
I love writing. It is my therapy, my confidante, my playground of creativity, my place of exploration. It is a quiet place where I can go and get lost, forget the passage of time and come out refreshed.
The Bunker Friday 17th January, 2025
Friday, January 17, 2025
Sorry no new murals on the Bunker today, but I thought to share a couple of other perspectives as to where the Bunker sits on the cliffs.
The Story Behind the Photograph: Lovina Beach, Bali
Thursday, January 16, 2025
In August 1988 I was nearing the end of what would be a 17 month journey. At this point I had spent a couple of weeks in the United States en route to New Zealand. In New Zealand a two week stay morphed into three months. From New Zealand I traveled to Australia where I spent a year. Now I was on the home straight back to England.
The Bunker: Wednesday 15th January, 2025
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
All credit to the artist(s) 🎨
I stopped by the Bunker at lunchtime to see if there were any changes. This time just a small update to one of the side panels.
The Bunker: Saturday 11th January, 2025
Saturday, January 11, 2025
All credit to the artist(s) 🎨
Some artists, or an artist was busy last night. This new mural was on the Bunker as I drove by today. I’ve included a few photographs to show what was created.
A Car Ablaze
Thursday, January 9, 2025
A couple of nights ago we had not long turned out the lights and were dozing off when both my wife and I heard a thump sound outside. We had no idea what it was or where exactly it came from. My first thought was someone snooping around the house, something that thankfully has never happened and so my mind let go of the idea straight away, …but that reason also did not allow me dismiss that there might be someone outside!
The Story Behind the Photograph: Gazing at the Mountains
Sunday, January 5, 2025
I can remember being there when this photograph was taken, though I don’t know exactly where there was or who took the photo? I wasn’t even aware of it being taken. I was given a copy much later by a friend who I was traveling with and who took the picture.