Friends, Family and the Long Easter Weekend

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It's been a long weekend here in Australia, and with a month to go before we leave for Japan, I thought I would take the opportunity to have a week off from work. It is true to say I haven't been feeling great over the last six months and have needed a break more than I ever have before. With ongoing health issues that tend to plague older people like me, it feels right to rest as much as I can before we head for Osaka. Japan will be a tiring journey in every respect, especially the flight. As someone who detests flying, this isn't something I am looking forward to.

Of course, we are still unsure whether we will actually be going to Japan. With war raging in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz closed to most ships, we have been warned that our flights could be cancelled at any time. This naturally adds to the sense of anxiety and frustration I am feeling at the moment. Since Donald Trump became the President of America, once again, my stress levels have been through the roof. This man is a danger to the world, and as someone who cares deeply about politics, it probably affects me more than most. I am exactly like my Father when it comes to political debate. Last night, we had a conversation about the state of the UK and current affairs in general. I think most of us are feeling particularly negative about the precarious state of the planet, and it often shows in my phone calls with Dad.

Despite not feeling my best, Darrell and I did manage to get out of Midland and have lunch at The Guildford Hotel on Good Friday. This is the day Australia shuts down completely. There are no shops open, and people enjoy the last real holiday before winter sets in. This is in complete contrast to the UK, which celebrates Easter on Easter Day. With most restaurants closed, we chose Guildford purely because it was open.

At first, I was rather reluctant to go back to this popular venue. The last time I was here, it wasn't the best experience. However, I bit my tongue and decided to try it once again. Luckily, the food and service were much better than on our last visit, and our meals were enjoyable enough. Like Britain, the food here isn't anything to write home about. But with everywhere else closed and Darrell not wanting to drive too far, due to spiralling fuel costs, it was at worst a compromise, at best a perfectly nice experience.

On Sunday, Darrell's Mother and our friend Beth came around for an impromptu Easter meal. With Beth now working solidly, we won't be seeing her until we return from Japan. Despite feeling under the weather, it felt good to relax with friends — something we don't do enough. Friendships have been very difficult here in Western Australia, and with many people I knew now drifting away in the UK, valuable time spent with those closest has been a godsend. I am a sociable person, probably more so than Darrell, so loneliness affects me more than him.

I think it is important to mention friendships today, because of my recent experiences. With the world in a mess, divided and polarised on many levels, I have found myself arguing with people whom I have always regarded as close. Sadly for them, they have treated my outspoken political views as a slight towards them personally. This isn't the case, and people who understand me well enough understand that. Yes, I am particularly vocal at the moment. I hate racism, homophobia, and far-right political views so much that I do feel the need to speak out. Donald Trump and Nigel Farage are such divisive characters, with appalling agendas, that I have to speak my mind. Naturally, I am shocked that so many people I know are supporters of these individuals, and I find it difficult to accept that other gay people, like me, vote for these blatantly detestable politicians. I have lost friends because of my candid nature in recent times, but I will not shy away from offering a personal view.

Living in Australia, I have also lost friends as part of a natural progression. We have been here three years now, and many of those I knew back home have now become distant. Their lack of communication was only to be expected, and despite missing many of them, I have to accept the reality of my situation. My life is now here, and I need to stop looking back. I would prefer to be surrounded by people, but that just isn't going to happen. Connections do matter, but we also need to accept our friends for who they are, not who we want them to be.

And finally, I wanted to mention artist Marguerite Cooper, who painted a picture of my Spanish home in Gran Alacant. Darrell and I have lived all over the world during our 30 years together. It is why friendships are rather different from those of my peers. Despite this, however, I still have great affection for the places I have lived and the people I have met.

Through a friend in Spain, I contacted Marguerite Cooper, to see if she could immortalise my old home in oils — and here it is. She did a fantastic job. This picture sits on my wall, opposite my bed, and it is the first thing I see every morning when I wake up.

So that's it for today. This is the first real blog on Roamingbrit.net, my new home on the web. Thank you all for your continued support. Personal blogs don't really exist in the same way they used to. I don't make a lot of money from writing down my own personal thoughts and feelings, but what I do have is an expressive outlet, as I did with Roamingbrit.com.

This is the blog that keeps me sane and gives me a connection to a past that I am proud of. I am happy to continue sharing my experiences, for as long as you want to read them, and after 11 years, I still have plenty to say. Thanks again to my online family. You are as important today, as you were in 2015!