Wednesday, January 14, 2026 β
π That moment when I flop into bed, tired at the end of a long day. β
Now
π¬οΈ A storm that has been making its way down the Hawaiian Island chain is still battering Maui. At least here on the north shore where the wind is strong. It might be a very different story on the southern side of Haleakala? Yesterday was overcast, windy and very wet (here, talking to a friend on the south sideβ¦very little rain). Today not so much rain, though it has been putting in an appearance. β
Wednesday, December 31, 2025 β
β Listening to rain trickling down the down pipes from the gutters, still with just over 5 hours to go until midnight. β
Tuesday, December 30, 2025 β
πΆβπ«οΈοΈ It’s cloudy today and I’m pleased for that. It compliments how I feel. Not that I regard cloudy days as gloomy. I usually welcome overcast days here on Maui - we already get plenty of sun. A cloudy day gives me permission to go inside, both physically and metaphorically. Today I am just feeling a wish to be inside of myself and alone. I am struggling to feel motivated to do things, when there are plenty of things that need doing. So the overcast weather is giving me permission to move quietly, slowly and be with myself. β
π Boxing Day was just as the doctor ordered, quiet and restful. β
Wednesday, December 24, 2025 β
π¦ Thanks to @andycarolan@social.lol I now have quite the collection of Owl Avatars. With the Winter Solstice now past us and Christmas here, I have changed the owl to Winter Owl. He can now take me through the darker and colder months of the year. Thank you Andy. β
Tuesday, December 23, 2025 β
π₯§ My search for Mince Pies finally turned up trumps today here on Maui. I now have 9 mini mince pies and 6 standard sized pies in the house. Given that I am the only Englishman in the house and the only person in the family who likes mince pies, I stand to have an enjoyable and tasty next few days. β
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 β
π₯΅ We are having very hot winter weather at the moment. Yes, I would expect warmer weather in Hawaii during winter than some more northerly latitudes, but this just feels very hot. Clear skies, strong sun. β
π€« We’ve woken up to a still and quiet Sunday morning. This is just what the doctor ordered after a busy second half of the week. The sun is out, the sky is clear, there’s not a breath of wind. I am grateful for this feeling in the air (though pouring rain would have been a good excuse to just sit and watch a movie). β
π I saw this cartoon by Liza Donnelly and it made me ask myself, why do I anthropomorphize our Christmas tree? I notice that I do that each year. I donβt give it a name as Liza does in her cartoon, but I find myself concerned that it has enough water, and that it is looked after well, and about its sacrifice for our enjoyment through the Holiday season. Why do I do that, I wonder? β
π Over the last two nights Iβve enjoyed seeing all the houses lit up with Holiday lights while driving by. Each year there seem to be more and more houses joining in the fun. While definitely not as meditative as The Candle Light Ceremony from a couple of nights ago, I am experiencing the lights in a different way (as opposed to my “bah humbug, crass commercialism” perspective) - a letting in of joy and light as the days get shorter. β
π Oh simple joys. I just found a jar of Marmite at the back of the cupboard. Marmite can no longer be found here on Maui, and I have not ordered any in a while. Iβm now looking forward to breakfast tomorrow. β
Thursday, December 4, 2025 β
π Looking out over a ghostly lit landscape as the Super Moon casts its eerie light across the land tonight. β
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 β
ποΈ Some days I seem to be able to get things done with clarity and all the time in the world. Other days I feel as though I am stuck in treacle, every job feels hard and difficult, and little appears to get done. Today I am having both days in one! β
π We live about 1Β½ miles from the ocean. You know when the swell is big when two things happen.
- The surf can be heard breaking against the cliffsβ¦1Β½ miles away.
- The ocean looks corrugated, as the waves make their way in to the Maui shoreβ¦seen from 1Β½ miles away.
β
Saturday, November 29, 2025 β
π»οΈ Those times when I arrive home but do not get out of the car as I am listening to something on the radio and don’t want to miss where it is going. This time The Moth Radio Hour on HPR1. β
Saturday, November 29, 2025 β
π₯Ά That emoji might be a little extreme for the temperatures here on Maui, at least close to sea level, but the morning air has got a lot more chilly in the last few weeks. I for one like these cool, fresh mornings. It balances the days and means that I’m not constantly looking for shade or a place to cool off. Days are still warm, 76Β°F/26Β°C, before dropping off again as the sun goes down. β
π With the βHolidaysβ now officially upon us, at least here in the US, for the next month if I am wanted I can be found in a remote hut somewhere on the side of a mountain. β
Thursday, November 27, 2025 β
π£οΈ One thing that I love about public holidays - quiet roads. The Hana Hwy, which runs near to our home and is normally busy at this time of day as visitors head out to the east side of Maui, is currently quiet.
The island is feeling full and busy at the moment - I wrote about this a couple of years ago. Visitors are here for the Thanksgiving week. However, at this early hour the highway is still very quiet, and with it the land, the ‘Δina feels as though it has a moment to rest. β
Wednesday, November 26, 2025 β
βοΈ Another full day. Iβm missing writing. β
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 β
π Not a fun day, at least not in my book. I sit now at the far end of it wondering where it all went? Little was achieved that I wanted to get done…what little I have done was attempted at the far end of the day when I was definitely not firing on all cylinders.
What happened? A day of constantly moving pieces, and I was never sure where they were moving to. I hope that tomorrow will be better, though at the moment I’m not sure that it will?
I see that the Holidays are just round the corner. Maybe that has something to do with it?! β
ποΈ Saturday morning on Oahu, sitting on the balcony of our hotel having a morning coffee and looking out over the ocean, I saw my first whale sighting of the season. One, maybe two spouts of water blown into the air. The Humpback whales are returning to Hawaii’s waters for the winter to calf. β
π Waking this morning, back home, with what I will call a Travel Hangover, that feeling I get after returning from time away involving a lot of travel. However, this was just an overnight trip to the island of Oahu with some friends, to support my wifeβs son in an event that he was hosting.
Maybe it was that we were on the go for most of our time away? Or maybe it was simply having to navigate airports even though the flight was a quick hop, skip and a jump from Maui?
Whatever the cause, today will be spent landing back here on Maui. β
π Iβm not a city person, but I notice and enjoy the stimulation that I get from visits to the big city.
In Hawaiiβs big city, Honolulu. β
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 β
π§οΈ The microclimates of Maui. We have woken up to low cloud, wind and torrential rain. I was in touch with a friend earlier who lives on the other side of the mountain, Haleakala, and he said that there is not a drop of rain there. β
π«οΈ Struggling. Struggling emotionally for a lot of today. I could see myself in there, but could not find a way out. The later part of the day offered me some space where I could catch on some sleep and tasks that needed to be done. Now I feel fresher and more in control of myself.
A learning from this might have been to stop and create some space for myself. Perhaps to have taken a walk earlier, once an essential job was taken care of. β
π¦Ά My wife and I are looking after the grandkids this weekend while their parents are away. Last night I slept in bed with one of them and received an unceremonious kick in the middle of the night as he turned over. I woke up very quickly. β
Saturday, November 15, 2025 β
π Awoke to a clear sunny day. And it has that stillness that a weekend morning can bring. A nippy chill as well.
You know, after all the wind and rain of this last week, despite that weather being so welcome after the drought conditions of the last couple of months, this morning feels like a breather, a rest and is welcome in itself. β
Thursday, November 13, 2025 β
π¬οΈοΈ Famine or Feast. That appears to be our weather at the moment. Two weeks ago I was writing about drought like conditions, Stage 3 water restrictions, yellow straw like grass, and bushes and trees visibly struggling. Now we have strong winds and heavy downpours. I’ll take it. In fact I like it. A familiar autumnal feeling. Even the temperature is down.
The water restrictions have now be lessened to Stage 1, at least in this part of the island. The microclimates are such here in Maui that some areas are not so lucky. Here’s hoping that as we drop into winter some wet weather can be dumped across the whole island. β
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 β
βοΈοΈ If I am up for driving there, I am having some acupuncture today to help with the migraine. I have not had needles for acupuncture before, not least because the two have not occurred together. I just happen to have an appointment today, and so hoping that it can help. β