Walled garden, Hampstead Heath

Detail of the walled garden, Hampstead Heath

Walled garden 1, Hampstead Heath

Part of the walled garden, Hampstead Heath

sculpture in the walled garden pond

Close-up of the sculpture in the walled garden pond, Hampstead Heath

sculpture in the pond, Hampstead Heath

Sculpture in the walled garden, Hampstead Heath

Rotunda

The rotunda at Hampstead Heath where brass bands used to play on languid warm summer days and we ran around on the luxuriant emerald green grass

Hampstead Heath Lake

Another view of the lake

Hampstead Heath Lake 1

The lake on Hampstead Heath where I used to sit for hours and watch the swans

Hampstead Heath

The path leading into the Heath

Hampstead Heath 1

Yet another view of the entrance to Hampstead Heath that I used as an 8 year old kid.

Hampstead Heath 2

Another view of the entrance to Hampstead Heath, London. Magical

Hampstead Heath 3

The entrance to Hamsptead Heath in London, taken in August 2004. Most days after school we would come and play here. It was magic. Some of my very best childhood memories are from here. Revisiting 36 years later, little had changed. It was like the Heath had been in a time warp, the only difference was that it appeared much smaller than what I remembered. But all the familiar sights, smells and landmarks weere still there, just as I remembered and enkoyed them.

My house in Hampstead, 1967

This was the house we lived in in 1967, 45 Hermitage Lane, Hampstead near the heath. A very grand house, on 3 levels with a ballroom and a crystal chandelier. The house has been extensively updated since I lived there in 1967, with the rooms in the roof being all new. Photo taken in August 2004

Lyndale Ave home

A side view of the house!

Lyndale Ave House

52 Lyndale Avenue, Hampstead, London. This is where I lived in 1968 as a 9 year old child. A wonderful time was had and I have many fond memories. A beautiful big garden at the back. My room was upstairs at the back of the house. This photo was taken in August 2004, my first visit back in 36 years! The house has not changed at all yet looks much smaller than I remembered it, and not nearly as "grand." Such is life.

London architectural detail

Close up of the previous photo in London 2004

London architectural detail 1

Architectural detail in London, August 2004. Very impressive

Eros, Picadilly

Statue in London, August 2004. What a beautiful city

London Boulevard

London city street scene, August 2004. Beautiful

Chained to the mill

19 April already. I finish up in my current job on Friday and start in another section of the department on Tuesday. Can't wait. I am bored, bored, bored. Hard to get motivated by work anymore. All my hobbies and interests lie outside of work and I just don't share my colleagues' passion for bureaucratic minutiae. But is does pay the bills!

Why I live where I live!

This has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. The light is so fresh, the air so clear, and the colours are magnificent. I never tire of them. To see this view is a five minute walk from my house. Climbing the hill, which is called Mount Aarawang in Canberra (765 metres above sea level) is not too strenous either.

A Canberra eucalypt

This Eucalypt tree is around the corner from my house. Beautiful. The road going past it is actually a cycling path

Cairns house

This was my house when I lived in Cairns, with my car which my daughter now drives. If it looks like paradise, that is because it is. The palm in the centre is a foxtail palm and the hill at the back is called Earl Hill. I have a tropical garden out the back as well and a stunning swimming pool. I still own the place and rent it out. And I miss it. Canberra is stunningly beautiful as well in its own way but it is not tropical like this.

Bali Spirit Hotel, Ubud

This was our breakfast table, Bali Spirit Hotel, Ubud. Stunning flora, stunning views over a sacred river below, and the food was pretty good too. You can almost drink and eat the serenity and tranquility as well!

Breakfast in Ubud.

This was our breakfast nook in Ubud. The gardens were magnificent

Tropical garden, Ubud

How is this for a tropical wonderland? It too can be yours by staying at the Bali Spirit Hotel outside Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Bali Spirit Hotel, Ubud

A view of the surrounds at Bali Spirit Hotel, Ubud

Bali Spirit Hotel scene, Ubud

One of the rooms at the Bali Spirit Hotel, Ubud

Tropical delight

Another beautiful tropical flower, Ubud

Nature's beauty

This beautiful tropical flower just called out to be photographed.

Carved door, Ubud

A pretty impressive carved wooden door at the Bali Spirit Hotel in Ubud.

Carved door closeup, Ubud

A close-up of a pretty impressive carved wooden door at the Bali Spirit Hotel in Ubud.

Sheraton Hotel pool, Lombok

Part of the Sheraton Senggigi Hotel pool, Lombok. A picture is worth a thousand words. The mouth conceals a waterslide. Very relaxing spending a couple of languid hours lazing around doing nothing much.

Kuta street scene

Kuta early morning street scene. Narrow roads and lots of motorbikes and people movers

Bali spirit, Kuta

This was huge and very colourful. Seen in Kuta, Bali

Mataram airport, Lombok

On the tarmac at Mataram airport, Lombok ready to fly back to Bali. The mountain in the background is about 3,500 metres.

Lombok market

Roadside stalls on the hill overlooking the Sheraton hotel at Senggigi, Lombok

Feast on this

Isn't she beautiful, enjoying the warm sea off Senggigi in Lombok. Unfortunately I have no idea who she is!!

Scavanger

Fossicking in garbage bins in Kuta, Bali. Life is tough for those at the bottom of the heap. Makes me realise how fortunate I am

Tropical flowers

Yet more tropical flowers in the Sheraton Senggigi gardens, Lombok

More Lombok flowers

Yet more tropical flowers in the Sheraton Senggigi gardens, Lombok

Lombok bush

Yet more tropical flowers in the Sheraton Senggigi gardens, Lombok

Lombok tropical flowers

Tropical flowers in the Sheraton Senggigi gardens, Lombok

Good man doing it tough, Lombok

This man is the father of the girls carrying the bananas. He is sitting outside his shack. They had a small cow covered in flies and 2 young children. He and his wife were very hospitable and welcolming even though they didn't have much. They live about 100 metres above the road, right next to a huge telecommunications tower. We only stumbled across them because we climbed the very steep path to the tower to get a better view of the coastline. Sengiggi, Lombok

Poverty

Another view of his shack

Carrying bananas

Carrying bananas, Lombok. We climbed up the path and met the rest of the family, living in dire poverty, but you would never notice it, looking at the children

Senggigi, Lombok

A nice view of Senggigi, Lombok. The volcanos in the distance were very impressive

Street scene, Lombok

This is the road directly outside the Sheraton Senggigi hotel on Lombok

Sheraton Gardens

Part of the gardens at the Sheraton Senggigi, Lombok

Sheraton gardens 2

Part of the gardens at the Sheraton Senggigi, Lombok

Another street scene, Lombok

Going for a walk in Senggigi, Lombok, I came across this scene

Beach scene, Senggigi, Lombok

A view of the beach at Senggigi, Lombok