turn left at the savannah

Travelling with family. A hot car, an excited little dog, kids asking when is the next icecream stop. A savannah littered with windmills, beautiful beaches, algae-smelly sea, jungle-like forests, poppies in fields, cute villages. Strong emotions. Drove me crazy. Drove me wild with joy too. I have visited yet another island... Öland, Sweden.

the decline and fall of a once-magnificent house

Found my old dollhouse and had a laugh. My niece and nephews have turned it into what appears to be a crack house. Wonder if the Extreme Makeover Home Edition team are up for a challenge?

the four elements in one picture

The wallpaper is garish in seventies' style and whispers "home". Cigarrette smoke stings my lungs and hisses "freedom". I lean back against a crowded book shelf that murmurs "wisdom". Under my fingers play the keys of the piano, singing "joy".

dinner for old enemies

Class reunion and the chance to see some much-hated people.

How strange to find that they are capable of a polite chat, but even more bizarre to note that I myself can act with self-confidence, even charm. Many years have mellowed my eyes and monsters have turned into human beings. Not likely to become friends but that is mostly due to the fact that we have little to talk about, not aversion.

And I thank the heavens for forgiveness. That I was able to make that choice years ago. If not, I would not have felt the freedom of chatting amiably and knowing that nothing they did has ever held me back. That I, in fact, have soared in a sky they can only dream of.