The picture of me in the foreground is real (taken 05.08.2026)
The background is Narnia…. which obviously isn’t real, but look how beautiful it is.

Regular readers of this blog will know I don’t mess around when it comes to fortune cookies.

Here is the latest in all of its glory:

And if you think I’m making this up, I got it from here last night with free spring rolls:

One day I went to visit Tolkien land. This was that day.

This wall is crumbling and there’s a 100 ft drop on the other side, but other than that it’s very relaxing.

So long, farewell,
Auf Wiedersehen, good night.

Marta:
I hate to go and leave this pretty sight.

Children:
So long, farewell,
Auf Wiedersehen, adieu.

Kurt:
Adieu, adieu
To yieu and yieu and yieu.

Children:
So long, farewell,
Au’voir, auf Wiedersehen.

Liesl:
I’d like to stay and taste my first Champagne.
No?

Captain:
No!

Children:
So long, farewell,
Auf Wiedersehen, goodbye.

Friedrich:
I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye!
Goodbye!

Brigitta:
I’m glad to go, I cannot tell a lie.

Louisa:
I flit, I float, I fleetly flee, I fly.

Gretl:
The sun has gone to bed and so must I.

Children:
So long, farewell,
Auf Wiedersehen, goodbye.
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.

Guests:
Goodbye.

This bird is really fit, but my gosh, don’t she know it.

At my old gym there was a guy called Bob, who was a member.

He was an older guy, but he had a good sense of humour and I always enjoyed chatting to him.

One day, he told me he was leaving the gym because they wouldn’t let his wife come back to try out the gym after she’d had an operation.

He was a man of principle, if nothing else.

Just before he left, he came up to me and said:

“I don’t believe in a final goodbye, so I am going to shake your hand and say so long for now, Dean.”

You see, with places like the gym and work these people are like your friends but it usually only works while you’re there.

It’s more of a brotherhood, which is hard to explain, but anyone who has experienced that will know what I mean.

It’s no different from people that are great mates in the pub as long as the barman keeps pulling the pints.

I did see Bob one more time, by chance about 6 months later. He was sitting in his car on that occasion and he saw me walking past.

His eyes lit up and he jumped out of his car to say hello.  It was good to see him again.

I think that was probably the last time I will ever see Bob.

In life, whether we realise it or not, there are usually only so many opportunities.

Doors slide open and shut. You always think there will be another opportunity until one day there isn’t.

This is how life works.

The saying that it (it being life) is what happens when you’re busy making plans, is unnervingly accurate.

I will leave you with a true story.

The t-shirt in this photo was one I designed for someone else. That size didn’t fit them, so I ended up with it.

Blue is my colour and I’ve had rabbits in the past, so it was somehow meant to be… as most things usually are.

“Everyone we love builds a home in our heart. And when they are gone we spend eternity staring at their empty seat.”

Looking over this bridge is always terrifying yet life affirming.

(It’s even more terrifying taking a picture whilst standing on it).

Tres quiet for a Friday. Nice though.

Happy Hump Day.

I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.

Pretty in the City.