Thursday, June 21, 2007

Here there and everywhere

From here to ??

Coming soon to a screen near you (PERHAPS)


My original blog I set up at blog.com this will soon join the many, many seemingly abandoned blogs on that site, and here I am in transition… 

http://audrey-forca.blogspot.com/

I first started blogging as a way of staying focussed on a special dream I have of travelling to Africa, initially South Africa on a horse safari near the foot of the Drakensburgh mountains. I hope to have the finances to enable me to live this dream next year, in the meantime, Im keeping it alive through this blog, as it can be so easy to loose sight of dreams through circumstances and situations that crop up and take over..yet time and time again I have found myself writing as a mother, writing about my childrens travel.

This has been educational, inspiring and unexpected for me too, I delight in the knowledge that they have created and seized the opportunities open to them to travel and I have had the opportunity to share to an extent their experiences through their stories.

Patrick my youngest son will land in Venuezuala tonight to begin his 7 weeks of travel, he seems so young at 20, yet having served two tours of duty in Iraq I have to do a reality check on my natural mothering instincts and acknowledge HIS life experience at such a young age, and delight that he is living life his way.

We sat for a couple of days before he went, chatting, as he made his map and route, scouring the internet for the places and sites he definitely wants to see during his stay and finding out the information about where to go and where not to go, what to watch out for and be careful about.

He travelled to London on Monday to stay with his sister Laura before jetting off. Laura has been fortunate enough to travel through her work with a film production company and has just recently returned from the Cannes film festival.

She called to say that Patrick had arrived safely, then all excited tells me that she had applied for one of those reality television shows, Shipwrecked.
Not expecting to hear anything from them, she then goes on to say that she has made it through to the second round and has been called for an interview for the next stage…Where does it all end…..Where did it all begin??

Ive not seen this show and I have to say that Im not a fan this genre of show, its all too much Desmond Morris’y and watching the chimps at the zoo for my liking, but that just me, I know they make for popular viewing for some reason.

The thought of seeing my own daughter appear in one is too much for me to comprehend at the moment. Part of me wants her to succeed if thats what she wants, but another part of me is saying…OH GOD NO!!! but I dont honestly know why…

Im laughing at myself in the meantime and looking forward to the days when I AM sleeping under the stars or galloping across the plains in Africa…No cameras please…Im a celebrity..get me outta here.

Posted by AUDS at 00:59:29 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Friday, June 15, 2007

Have passport will travel

 

Today I had reason to turn the tables on myself. I tried to imagine how my children will feel when I take off on my travel to Africa. Ive always been there, just a call away, they have always known how to reach me, where to reach me, and if I felt it necessary and urgent I would drop things to be there and present for them. Thats how its meant to be, sometimes not easy but at the end of the day, that simple.

Patrick leaves on Wednesday, I feel a mixture of pride, pleasure and shared excitement for him.  He, as he said he would, is travelling opting for Venuezela, Caracas and backpacking down to Brazil. 

S**t , that was the first thought that entered my head,I asked if he didnt fancy a month just relaxing on a beach in Spain,  but having already explored a few options with him, I knew this was of no interest to him.  His choices were limited due to not being able to acquire necessary Visa’s for his first choices  at the last minute. So hes off, not really prepared I feel, or am I just a mother…lol

I perhaps shouldnt have shown him my travel brochures from i to i who arrange overseas placements nor told him about STA travel who arrange student travel, but I did and now Im nagging or at least thats how it feels..Have you got this, have you got that, promise you will keep contact every couple of days etc etc etc.

I think my main issue or concern is that he is travelling alone, but Im sure he will be fine.. 

There now Ive got that off my chest I can shut up, it has however made me realise the importance of little things, informed risk taking, the importance of preparation and keeping contact with those sitting at home wondering if you are ok,  I may just slip a few little reminders in his Calvin Kleins ***RING YOUR MOTHER***  CALL HOME OR ELSE!!!  any suggestions welcome..

Patrick wants to see Angel falls which is apparently the highest waterfall in the world, and having found it on Youtube I can fully understand why, its absolutely astounding, now I wish I were going with him and that this blogsite would allow me embed from Youtube, but sadly it doesnt.

Posted by AUDS at 13:12:40 | Permalink | Comments (5)