R.S. Barrington's Blog: Lights Out, page 4

THE HEARTBREAK OF TRAVEL

HOW DO YOU SAY GOODBYE TO A CHILD?

Twenty months ago I arrived on a goat farm owned by a Dutch couple in the south west of France.

A friend and I had turned up to help do some renovations on the farm house which Chris, the father of the family had started, but perhaps did not realise how demanding his goat project was going to be.

Eleven months later saw the departure of my friend to start a career in graphic design.

At the same time my girlfriend returned to start her final year at university in...

CENTRAL EUROPE’S BIGGEST, FUNNIEST AND UGLIEST

PHOTOS FROM PRAGUE

Prague, Capital of the Czech Republic and historic centre to what was the largest European Empire houses wonderful architecture, delicious smells, colourful people and home to……….. the biggest castle, the funniest statues, central Europe’s biggest music club, the ugliest building, smallest puppets and the worlds biggest measure of beer.

Even the Czech author Milan Kundera writes about Central Europe’s biggest index finger in hisbook ‘The unbearable lightness of being.’ The re...

THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE OLYMPIC TORCH

I, like all other sports fans am excited knowing that not only Euro 2012 will entertain us this summer but also the Summer Olympics held in London.Day seven of the Olympic Torch relay through the UK saw it pass through the small town of Ross on Wye.

I arranged with my brothers and their families to meet in our small town centre to watch as the torch relay made its way through crowded streets into Wales, on route to London.

The atmosphere was filled with a great sense of community and togetherne...

FOLLOWING SANDY FOOTPRINTS

The beauty of reading is to lose yourself in the author’s mind, to be able to imagine every colour, every detail and live in a world where your fate is already decided.

When I recently read ‘The Beach’ by Alex Garland, I realised I had already lived part of that fate.

In 2004 I travelled through Thailand with the same friend who saved me from breaking my nose in the hospital car park of Brisbane, Australia.

With this friend I sat on the same set of police station steps in Bangkok as the characte...

THE DEAD OR ALIVE QUESTION

Which three persons, dead or alive, would you like to ask a question to and have a drink with? And for fun, what drink would it be?

For me it would be three people who in their own right have a way with words that make people listen.

1/ Sir Winston Churchill. What question and what drink?

As a big fan of Churchill, I would have to ask; “how did you make up the quotes and phrases that caused such emotion and belief not only in the British public but to the listening wireless world?”Whether it was...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

As I continue my aging process and celebrate a birthday which pushes me into my very late 20’s/early 30’s, I have the opportunity to share with you a promotion and discount on all books bought throughlulu.com.

This includes my first book ‘The Waiting Room’

The first chapter is available here for free to read at your leisure.

The promotion is site wide so search for favourite titles on actual books and e-books, but it ends at midnight on 18th May so be quick.

Happybirthday one and all

ADVICE FOR TRAVELLING IN A DUO

I have been asked to give travel advice by two young travellers who recently crossed my path. At the age of 18 the pair has already done a lot more than I did at that age. I was only dreaming of distant shores and saving for my first trip which wouldn’t come for another five years for me. With this I have gained experience in the working world before jumping ship for foreign lands.

I sat them down and so began…………….

When travelling in a pair as friends, it can be hard to achieve everything you...

FRENCH CUSTOMARY GREETING

Picture the scene, you have friends over for lunch, the weather is warm and you are eating roast chicken, bought from the market that morning, outside in the midday sunshine. You can see the Pyrenees from your position at head of the table in south west France.

Sat around the table are 5 adults and 6 children. The partner of the fifth adult is away working, she has arrived with her only son and you have two children. The three remaining children belong to the other couple attending your banque...

MEETING MY IN-LAWS

Over coming the language barrier with alcohol and food.

I was told that the older generation in the Czech Republic very rarely introduce themselves to the younger crowd, with the use of their first name. When the father of my girlfriend took my hand in a warm embrace that is exactly what he did. I was to call him Vasek, not Pan Palecek, (Mr Palecek) which I had been for warned to call him. With his free left hand he thrust at me a shot of 60% slivovice, a Czech spirit made from nuts, fruit or...

ALL ALONE AT AIRPORT ARRIVALS

One of the saddest things I have seen at airport arrivals is the expected arms of a loved one not being there to welcome a traveller home. When people start the walk from customs to freedom they are met by eyes looking back, eyes waiting for their own joyous moment to greet a missed relative. All the while your eyes are searching for your own recognition and although the waiting eyes aren’t directly upon you, they seem to drill deeper into your fearful state.

It’s themoment that after searchin...