Keeping track

Patrick has been in touch a few times since his departure, at the moment he is on a 3 day ferry trip down the Amazon to a place called Belem. I have to admit Im a bit confused as I had thought he had already made it to there given he has undertaken an 18 hour bus trip and then an 11 hour bus trip a few days later. I havent been able to find a map that shows the smaller towns. The last place he was in was a small town called Manaus and prior to that a place called St Elena

I have managed however to find pictures of the places he will visit, below...Belem




From Belem to Recife

Apparently they call this the Venice of Brazil, I would love to see this for myself,its beautiful




Then onto Salvador-de-bahia



He really is enjoying every minute of his travel and would of course love to have more time as he feels there is so much more he would love to see. He is speaking of returning to Caracas with a view to buying a property and doing the tours himself.

I was surprised when he said he has just over a year to complete his four years initial sign up for the Marines and is giving serious consideration to doing this in the future. If he stays for over five years he will qualify for a bonus and feels this will give him enough time to consider the possibilities and build the contacts he would need

The owner of lodges where he initially stayed was a young scottish guy who took the plunge when he fell in love with the country and he and Patrick have exchanged e.mails and intend to keep in touch. Whatever his future plans Im sure Patrick needed this trip to put some distance between his experience of serving in trouble torn Iraq.

My thoughts and prayers are with the men out there now and with their families at home who live with the daily anxiety, longing for them to come home safely.

So far away, and just loving it

hello mama, just come back from the orinoco delta, been living with the waroai native indians in the jungle, and kayaking about, i was with the bassist from the band the darkness called frankee, it was awesome saw a massive jaguar swimming across a river and loads of monkeys and birds. am off to brazil soon but i might nip into guyana on my way south meant to a strange country no one visits. got like 4000 miles to do to get to rio but its goin to be good, i take a 3 day ferry down the amazon then get sand buggy´s from belem to recife

Patrick sent a message today, I almost wish I were with him it all sounds so adventurous and as he himself says awesome to see animals like Jaguars in their natural environment.

Living with native Indians in the jungle..what an experience.I cant wait to hear all about it when he comes home, and Im praying he got a shot of that Jaguar swimming across the river.

However will he remember his momas request..

I collect stones...its true..over the years. My neighbour brought me back some black Italian marble when he was working on the site of the new Scottish Parliment building, my children buy me semi precious stones and crystals for gifts, Im often drawn to particular stones in those new age shops and love the quartz and jasper thats so prevelant on the beach at Stonehaven. Patrick is under instruction to bring me back a beautiful stone from his travels...but WILL HE REMEMBER????

Back to basics

I spent the best part of the day in the garden today. The grass had grown past the stage where I could in all honesty hold my head up high and look the neighbours in the eye and smile and say hello. Honey the dog would go for a riddle me ree and get lost for hours trying to find her way out.

However with 3 days annual leave and more importantly no rain, today was challenge the lawn mower and strimmer day. The strimmer gave up the ghost after five minutes, the grass was so wet it burnt the engine out and given that this particular strimmer belongs to my partner I thought it wise not to attempt using his mower.

Faced with the fact I have never fully replaced all my gardening tools since I left my marraige, I scoured the shed for something that would cut the grass down a little before mowing......no luck.........however in the kitchen I found my red kitchen scissors and for the next few hours proceeded to give the grass what felt like a haircut with these.....Dedication and commitment against the odds...I now have a lawn to die for, and looking at the neighbours with one eyebrow raised and head in the air.....But tommorrow I buy a new strimmer...definitely

On the travelling son front my boy tells me he has moved on to Jakera lodges at Playa Colorado, his days are spent canoing round the islands,one of the islanders very kindly lets him have use of his boat. He gets up in the mornings, takes off to swim with the dolpins, gets a skin slough from some fish that apparently feed on the dead skin cells of humans, knocks down a few coconuts for lunch and generally just enjoying the relaxation...I spoke with him online the other night when he had travelled an hour by bus to get to a computer to say he was fine.

He actually got a call on his mobile from work connected with the terrorist activities of late, so part of me is glad he decided to travel and get away for a well earned break, Im sure he needs it

Later in the day I got a call from my daughter in London to say there had been a bomb alert in her place of work and they all had to be evacuated, scary stuff, but she ended the conversation by saying she had been to a party at Kensington Palace, something associated with film and had been served free scallops and champangne, in her own words she got rather drunk and behaved as any commoner would on such occassions..its good to know she still has her sense of humour in tact despite the atmosphere of fear thats around at the moment

Tommorrow Im going to visit my Grandson who I believe has now found his feet and taken his first steps to independence and exploration. He has big fat turkey thighs, I cant wait to see those in action and of course get a big cuddle and kiss

In the meantime if anyone wants to hire a gardener, my scissors are still sharp and at £20 an hour its a snip

Angel Falls Venezuela

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