Istanbul

We travelled back from the UK via Istanbul in Turkey. We flew using Turkish Air with a 15 hour delay between flights. We wanted to take the opportunity to visit the city, though this was planned long before recent events, we felt reassured it was going to be safe to visit. 

What we didn’t realise was that as part of the flight we had the option of a free walking tour of Istanbul with breakfast and lunch. This took in two of the most famous sites in Istanbul, the Blue Mosque  and the Hagia Sophia, a former church turned mosque, turned museum. 

Here are some pictures of the day.

Four Become Three

Today we leave the UK and return to Tanzania. We’ve spent a fabulous time in the UK for just about seven weeks. In that time we have travelled the length and breadth of England, visiting friends and relatives along the way, but now our time here is coming to an end. Perhaps because our stay has been fragmented between different locations (our longest stay in any one place was 13 days) time has flown quickly. We have taken a lot in and caught up with most (though sadly not all) of the people we wanted too. Being a visitor in our former homelands has been strange but friends and family have been generous and kind, we have had many meals and shared good times across the land.

One of our purposes here was to prepare our eldest for University. In just over three weeks from now he will start at his favoured University to study a degree in English Literature, History and Drama Studies. The next phase of his life is starting and so will ours. 

Our family has been four for almost 16 years, since our youngest was born. It’s difficult to remember a time when we were three, but even then he was there as a toddler – a part of our family for 18+ years. Now our family must change, readjust, re-balance to reflect the changing dynamic of daily life. It’s going to be wierd, disconcerting, challenging even.

Our son does not cease to be part of the family, but the relationship will change. New experiences for him and for us will undoubtedly separate us a little. This was always going to happen, it’s inevitability established on the timeline from the moment he was born. We have brought our son up from baby to toddler to child to teenager and now to a young adult. We have done our bit and set him up for the next phase of his life. 

The fact we are 4000 miles away rather than 400 miles  or 40 miles (the distance I moved away from my parents) makes this departure more geographically stark, but in truth when you leave home, you never quite return the same person. The next few years are going to be exciting and life changing. We must embrace it and look on the positive side. For today there will be sadness as four become three but we look forward to our reunion in time to come and the stories we will be able to share.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Rare Skies

Our trip across Africa last summer took us to the Island of Likoma in the middle of Lake Malawi/Nyassa. These Islands are close to the Mozambique coast, surrounded by Mozambican waters but part of Malawi nonetheless. We had three great days at Mango Drift, a Backpacker resort.

One of the best things about our time on Likoma were the night skies – devoid of light pollution it gave us an unrivalled view of the night sky. At this time there was a conjunction of Venus and Mars ( the planets appeared close to one another in the night sky), which doesn’t happen all the time. This and the low light gave me a great picture – on a long exposure the two planets shine brightly. Mars appears a deep red and venus white – so bright it casts a reflection on the water – ‘venus light’.

My submission to this week’s photo challenge: Rare.

Those same skies – later gave the best view of the Milky Way I have ever seen – the pictures don’t do it justice.

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Morning (on the Road)

A contribution to this week’s photo challenge  on the theme Morning.

A year ago we had just completed a month long tour through from Lake Victoria to Victoria Falls via Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Botswana (including a brief excursion into Zimbabwe and a travel through Mozambique waters). All the photos below were taken during the mornings as we travelled across the continent. You can find out more by checking the link

Day 1- Mwanza Airport

Day 2 – Early Departure -Dar Coach Station

Day 3 – South of Songea

Day 4 – Mbamba Bay Morning

Day 5 – Mbamba Bay

Day 6 -Sunrise over Mozambique

Day 7 – Mango Drift – Likoma Island

Day 8 – Likoma Sunrise

Day 9 – Lake Malawi Morning

Day 10 – Monkey Bay Sunrise

Day 11 – Monkey Bay – Morning Monkey

Day 12 – Arrival at Chilmba Village (Chief’s House)

Day 13 – Zomba Plateau

Day 14 – Zomba Morning Departure

Day 15 – Dedza Pottery

Day 16- Lilongwe Bus Station – Keeping Warm

Day 17- Lusaka Coach Station

Day 18 – Victoria Falls

Day 19 – Chobe Trio

Day 20 – Zip Wire over the Gorge

Day 21 – Coach from Livingstone to Lusaka

Day 22 – Kapiri Mposhi Station

Day 23 – Tazara Train – Breakfast?

Day 24 – Tazara Train & Tunnels

Day 25- Kipepeo Beach

Day 26- Sunrise over the Indian Ocean

Day 27 – Union Cafe – Moshi

Day 28 – Coffee Plantation on Kilamanjaro

Day 29 – Return to Mwanza

Weekly Photo Challenge: (Misty) Morning

A contribution to this week’s photo challenge  on the theme Morning.

Taken back in 1992 on a sailing trip to Netherlands on a misty morning in Vlushing.

Sunrise in Vlushing

Familiar Haunts: Nottingham University

Our time in England has been a time of reminiscing, firstly back in MK and now in Lincoln. These two places where I lived for 38 years in total are so familiar, but for four years in between these two places I lived in Nottingham so it was good to visit the place I spent my University Years.

Nottingham University

I spent two years living on Campus in Halls and a total of four years studying my degree and PGCE – the place is familiar, yet in 28 years the place has changed a lot.

Once place which has changed little is the University Park

 

 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: (Saturday) Morning (Tanzania)

A contribution to this week’s photo challenge : Morning

A typical Saturday Morning in Tanzania involves a pot of fresh brewed coffee in a Cafetière – sat on the Verandah and watching the birdlife.

Red-chested Sunbird

Grey-backed Camaroptera

Spotted Morning Thrush

Purple Grenadier

Black-headed Gonolek

White-browed Robin-chat

Familiar Haunts: Swanholme & Hartsholme

Our time in England has been a time of reminiscing, firstly back in MK and now in Lincoln. These two places where I lived for 38 years in total, so familiar. As well as visiting old friends it has been a chance to revisit places – familiar haunts.

Swanholme & Hartsholme Lakes

Right on our doorstep in Lincoln is an area of woodland and gravel pit reservoirs.

Familiar Haunts: Whisby Nature Reserve

Our time in England has been a time of reminiscing, firstly back in MK and now in Lincoln. These two places where I lived for 38 years in total, so familiar. As well as visiting old friends it has been a chance to revisit places – familiar haunts.

Whisby Nature Reserve

An opportunity to catch up with family and visit Whisby Nature Reserve. A wetland reserve on the edge of Lincoln.

 

Familiar Haunts: Grand Union Canal

Our time in England has been a time of reminiscing, firstly back in MK and now in Lincoln. These two places where I lived for 38 years in total, so familiar. As well as visiting old friends it has been a chance to revisit places – familiar haunts.

Grand Union Canal

A place of many runs in combination with Caldecotte Lake. Narrow boats and wildlife. This pictures from recent and past visits.

Familiar Haunts: Caldecotte Lake

Our time in England has been a time of reminiscing, firstly back in MK and now in Lincoln. These two places where I lived for 38 years in total, so familiar. As well as visiting old friends it has been a chance to revisit places – familiar haunts.

Caldecotte Lake

Probably the place I visited most often in my time in MK – place of countless runs and walks over the years. We walked it On one of the hottest days of the U.K. this year. A large lake on our old doorstep when we lived there.