First anniversary post

... and a bit. It's important not to rush these things, and I think that Blog entries, like baths, should be undertaken annually at most.

Last Christmas I went back 'home' to England. This is never exactly how it sounds. Since I settled in Australia in 1985 I've been back to the Old Dart about a dozen times, usually with (Australian-born) family in tow. But we don't go to England; what we do is go to my dads' pebble-dashed bungalow in a small Northern village and lounge around there for three weeks, staring blankly at the racing on Channel 4 while the kids gorge themselves on unregulated amounts of chocolate. This is called 'reconnecting with my family'. We haven't been to Cornwall or the Norfolk Broads or the Chilterns or the Yorkshire Dales, but by God we've made a dent in Asda's cake aisle.

I'm off there again in three weeks' time for dad's 80th; just me and the kids this time. For some reason I have it in mind that I will not allow myself to go past any pie shop, pub or chip shop during my entire visit without entering and consuming at least one item. Can I do it?

Here we are on the beach at Askam, new year's day 2009.