A hesitant traveller

A couple of folk have remarked that, in the tvdetective books, Dan can be a chap of limited horizons. That is, he doesn't travel much outside of Devon.

And then the question then follows - all too naturally it seems! - whether I have a similar outlook?

The answer is yes.  Now, i don't want to sound like a Little Englander, but to adapt an old newspaper slogan, the way I feel about the south west of England is - all life is here.  Or, at least, mostly all I want from life.

I'm very proud of living here, and also, in truth, rather besotted with it. I love the natural environment, the moors, coasts, cliffs etc., so where better to reside?  I love the lack of noise and pollution and the simple delight of seeing the night sky, something so difficult these days. 

I also love the sense of community which persists in the south west, a great asset which ruefully seems lost in so many places.  And I'm very grateful that on this overcrowded island, my region has more space than most.

Anyhow, apart from a eulogy to Devon and Cornwall and their fine inhabitants - which I'm very happy to give anyway - there is an irony here. This teaching of writing thing that I've somehow gotten into is starting to require me to travel, and not just a few miles around Britain.

Now don't get me wrong, I love the opportunities I'm being given.  I'm very grateful, in fact I'm flattered by them!  I'm going to get to see places I've never before known, and that's such an honour and pleasure.

I'm off to Geneva next month, then a cruise down to Africa later in the year, which is all wonderful.  But, these blogs are supposed to be about the truth, and to be painfully honest... I'm a little nervous and daunted by it all.

Airports are big and scary things. So many people in such a hurry. I can feel very small and insignificant in such a setting, and do often wish there was someone there to hold my hand and guide me to the plane! (Aside - all say; aaaahhhh...)

And one final confession here, while I'm in the way of it.  Like my good friend Dan, I'm not the bravest of men and I'm terrified of flying.  I don't care for the take off, I can't abide the landing, and the bit in between I dislike immensely too.  Aside from that, it's ok...

I do however have a tried and tested solution to my fear of flying.  It lies in one of my other great pleasures in life, and a couple of easy and profitable hours in the airport pub before the ordeal of taking to the skies...