Interests

Over the last 20 odd years (since I turned 40) I have been very fortunate in having travelled the World by air, sea, trains, cars and buses.

In doing so I have taken a camera. Over the years this "camera" has advanced from happy snappy models to the digital SLR's of today supported by mobile computing to catalogue pictures as the particular journey progresses.

My interest (strictly amateur) and some say my skill has grown with the years to the stage where photography is an integral and highly important part of my travels and, indeed, my life.

I am able to share these travel experiences with friends and family through these photographs, sometimes almost real time with the advent of email photographic postcards.

My two main interests are dramatic landscapes and wildlife although people do creep in now and then! I also photograph golf days for friends.

I have been privileged to have travelled to all five continents and all the world's oceans visiting  93 countries en route. My ambition is to pass 100!

In my 20's and 30's holidays were fun and relaxing times, usually centred on a tent or villa. Now, whilst the comfort tends to be more luxurious, I am learning about the World through my explorations and voyages. I am seeing the varying natural World and the varied economic conditions of these 90 odd countries. The Third World which used to be a news item, a documentary or the odd newspaper article, is now hugely real as I have visited such countries in Asia, Africa and Central and South America.

In November 2004 I returned from a fabulous trip to India where I witnessed the huge diversity of living standards and wildlife.

Sadly my intended Round the World Cruise on Aurora was cancelled in January 2005 because of engine problems. However since then I have travelled on P&O's Arcadia Maiden Voyage to the Med, Norwegian Coastal Voyage in the snow and The Baltic on Minerva II which was as much about learning as seeing from some gifted specialist lecturers. An African safari followed in September which was glorious.

In April 2006 I travelled by train from Moscow on the Trans Siberian Express through Russia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to the Chinese border following the Silk Road. Crossing into China I travelled on the Orient Express via Xian to Beijing. Great sights such as the Terracotta Warriors, the Gobi Desert, the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City made it the trip of a lifetime
So having discovered that I am being educated I now enjoy the activity, before I saw - now I learn. Photographs are my notes of the natural and built Worlds. This was followed by another safari to the Masai Mara in September 2006 and finally to the Aurora Grand Voyage of 2007 which was magnificent (see News). In the Autumn 2007 I again visited then Rekero Camp in the Masai Mara and much enjoyed the wildlife in their natural habitat.

 

In early December 2007 I had to have a pacemaker which has much improved my day to day health and proved that the NHS can be excellent.

 

The 2008 season started with a lovely March train journey across Switzerland to Italy where I spent a long weekend with friends in Bormio. They skiied, I joined them for the apres! This was followed by the maiden voyage of Ventura which toured the Western Med. Whilst some elements of the ship were very good, especially the fine dining restaurants, the ship itself was just too big with too many passengers.

 

In the summer I went on an Aurora voyage to Ireland, Greenland, Iceland and Norway. This was magnificent in terms of the scenery, the company on the ship and various excursions I went on. One of the best cruises I've ever been on. This was followed by a week on the famous Hurigruten coastal ferry service travelling from the north of Norway to Bergen with my brother and his wife and some friends.

 

The rest of the year was spent dealing with various health complaints but all is well now.

 

2009 has started pretty quietly but I have some plans for later in the year.

 

Sadly Joan, my sister in law's mother, and Eileen, my 93 year old aunt died in February. They both were lovely ladies who will be much missed.

 

In June I undertook a 23 day voyage from Amsterdam on the North Sea to Constanta on the Black Sea, see the News page for the full story. In October I returned to the Masai Mara in Kenya for another fabulous safari.

 
This site is a record of my journeys which I will develop now that I am retired.

I do hope visitors to the site can enjoy these journeys as much as I did.

 

Best wishes to all visitors.

 

                                          Short video clip of NZ Steam Train in 2002

                                          To see more video clips, click on Videos above