Grand-nephew Daniel

Ross, Amy Daniel on West Haven beach, Carnoustie

Rocks at Carnoustie where Clive grew up

I love bathtime

Daniel 13 months

Heathrow Airport

Here I am in Heathrow desperately looking around for the healthy jocks, the folks you know for sure are working out, eating healthy and studying NLP. You would think that those kind of folk that we see jogging or biking in Canmore are not travelling or hanging around Heathrow.
This computer has a web cam. What a shock to see myself looking as old as many of the people reading newspapers, drinking lattes and consuming cheesecake. OK with a little help from the hairdresser my hair is not grey but there is no denying those wrinkles and scrawny neck. Like I can see my collar bones! I don't feel much different than I did 30 years ago. In fact my body has more flexibility than it had thanks to the Yoga Lounge and their great teachers. Sad to say in spite of gazillions of downward dogs and trying to turn myself into a pretzel I am not looking any younger. Well my dear be a little easy on yourself you missed out on a whole night’s sleep and it is the equivalent of 6 am and you never wake up that early at home.

I, you, one could imagine that this airport was the tower of Babel. It is hard to hear any one speaking English. It is difficult to identify all the languages I hear. The English couple on my right are having intense discussions about the price of food. Then there are the women with all manner of unbecoming head coverings, although on a bad hair day I might be tempted! But never! why on earth would I want to cover my head like some nun, imagine I would not feel the breeze playing with my hair, the warm sun on my scalp or the interchange of universal forces. My life would be smaller, less, and restricted .
I imagine all the stories these rainbow people have locked inside, stories of adversity, struggle and courage. Stories of dreams, growth and inspiration. fascinating

Outside the plate glass windows the sky is dull gray. Unbelievable that 18 hours ago I was enjoying Betsy’s deck, garden and the rich company of my Canmore friends. There the sky was a dazzling blue, and the sun hot on my skin. It was thirty degrees when we arrived at the airport the last time I actually smelled real fresh air. Here I am surrounded by Boots Pharmacy beauty; The tin goose - great coffee, great food, great bar; Caffe nero the Italian coffee company, voted no 1 coffee house in the UK for 6th year running, next in line is the pink neon sign for HMV, neighboured by Dixons, HB Smith, world duty free so many consumer opportunities but I have forgotten I have a flight to catch at gate 8 - See you all later.

I found my way to gate 8 just thought I’d check the web cam again - no change - it is worse than a mirror and picks up all my imperfections, no air brush to hide my blemishes rather wrinkles! Still my body has that tingling feeling telling it me has not had enough sleep, my teeth feel fuzzy and my body sweaty. A cat nap on the flight would be good. So I have definitely left Shangri La and dropped into another world.

More of Berg Lake hike

The very impressive Emperor Falls

Selina and Marlene just leaving Berg Lake for a 20 km hike out

Clive and Wilma

Selina always with a big smile

The incredible Robson Glacier

More of Berg Lake and Snowbird Pass

The glaciers ARE melting

The summit of Mount Robson peeps out of the cloud

Seed-head of mountain avens

Reef Glacier from Snowbird Pass

Me blissed out on the ridge above Snowbird Pass

Backpacking into Berg Lake, Mount Robson

Evening Reflections

Evening light on the Helmet

Boots off - happiness

Supper time for the slug

Isn't nature wondrous - a brush caterpiller

Hiking in Roger's Pass with Chris

Up on Glacier Crest

Mother and son

On Abbot Ridge

Father and son

Exhausted Chris

loving this living for shona

loving this living for Shona

the halloween you arrived was a magical moment in my life
my heart opened wide in love for your tiny form
you a placid baby fell asleep with ease
patience and joy your signature tune
you united the two worlds with grace
you blew in like a fresh spring breeze whispering
you are more than enough

you love challenge
a natural athlete fleet of foot
fast as a wild horse
chased your brother over the mountain
became a snow dancer extraordinaire

now in the springtime of life
your beauty like the solstice moon
you follow your heart
an accomplished olympian
builder of respectful relationships
charge towards your dreams with verve and vigour
spread your eagle wings as you race for gold
know success is in the adventure of the journey
held in precious focused moments

you nourish your seeds with intuition introspection discipline
weed out loneliness frustration negativity
grow yourself strong in the clean mountain air
delight in the splendour that surrounds you
you listen to your body’s intelligence
a vessel for the miracle of life
with dedication humour friends
you hoodwink struggle
embrace love life and laughter
a dazzling flower in my garden of life

One of the poems in my up and coming book Entangled Enchantments.