Ghosts of Halloweens Past

Yesterday witnessed the celebration of All Hallows’ Evening in numerous countries across the globe. A time of fancy dress, imaginatively sculptured pumpkins and hyper kids not sleeping after eating six bags of Haribo gummy bears, four lollipops and eighteen sherbet dips. Blimey, I’m showing my age there. I’m not even sure you can still purchase sherbet dips….

Recharging by the Nidd

I am back in Wakefield after a two-night sabbatical aboard Victor the Volkswagen campervan. Despite their best efforts to sully our odyssey, the weather gods were unable to break our spirit. It takes more than sporadic rainstorms and diminishing temperatures to crush the verve of my partner Sarah and me. While Knaresborough campsite in situ,…

Observations from the Awning

After a month or so hiatus, yours truly is once again sampling the ambrosia borne from living a campervan life. My beau Sarah and me, along with her adorable dog Zella currently ‘moored’ on a site in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire.  Upon arriving at our domain for the next two days, the Ossett lass and I…

Life of the Party?

As a man afflicted by recurring depressive episodes in adulthood, it felt remiss not to reference yesterday’s World Mental Health Day. An event aimed at addressing inequalities in support and awareness surrounding the debilitating illnesses fitting under the cognitive impairment umbrella. The Mental Health Foundation mooting mental health is a universal human right. Amongst events…

Tarnished Slumber

Due to an erratic night’s sleep, I awoke this morning staring through bleary eyes, accompanied by a hazy brain fog. My neurological peasouper leading to such marked cognitive disorientation, I experienced an outer body experience.  An episode where I floated in my bedroom, looking down on my 5’ 11” frame. A disturbing event not aided…

When Zella Met Tommy

As I sit journaling insights into last weekend’s campervan adventure, a constant pinging emanates from the kitchen area. The distracting sound venturing through the office door ‘ole, joining Barnsley Road traffic noise as an accompanying audioscape to my penmanship. I have narrowed down the source of this audible alert to receipt of a stream of…

Changing Times

It has been an expensive week motor vehicle wise. Insuring and paying road tax for Victor the campervan, along with purchasing two new front tyres for my car has seen the best part of 1,000 English pounds haemorrhage from my savings account. Bearing in mind Victor spends 99% of his existence off road, either on…

Welcoming Archie

This weekend will see a return to campervan life for my rebellious beau Sarah and me. After a couple of weeks where my mental health has gone through the floor, a much-needed fillip for yours truly. I’ve written on many occasions about the low mood waves which engulf me at times. However, although tough plotlines…

One Wrote Under the Cuckoo Clock

“There’s a sad sort of clangingFrom the clock in the hallAnd the bells in the steeple, tooAnd up in the nurseryAn absurd little birdIs popping out to say ca-coo(ca-coo ca-coo)” The opening gambit to a refrain from The Sound of Music movie. An aria performed as a fond adieu by the Von Trapp family to…