Despite the many times I’ve said, I do mean to continue with this journal, I’ve decided the opposite. It’s time to put it to bed. In fact, I now see that saying, I do mean to continue with this journal, was actually a clue that the time had come to stop. I haven’t been travelling in the way that I was travelling for some time now and so no longer feel the need I once felt to tell my stories. Report home. And I know I’ve said this before too, but as much as I was writing for you, I was writing for me. But times have changed, and now that I’ve found a place to stop a while (and have Greek to learn, olives to pick, and even kiln-building to research), keeping up with this feels clunky. There used to be things I was desperate to get written down and I had really enjoyed this space as a place to off-load my chitter-chatter. But it’s not that anymore. And I expect you feel it too.
I won’t completely shut this thing down though. It will still be here and open, in case this is just a nap. If I’ve learnt anything during times of Covid, it’s that I have no clue what’s around the corner. And should I ever feel the need, sometime in the future, to off-load some chitter-chatter again, add a Post Script, I might well do it. And do it here. So if you’re interested in reading that possibility, then subscribe to the site and you’ll get an email notification. If you wanted one.
I’m really happy here in Crete. Of course I miss my nearest and dearest like crazy, but Covid rules and regulations would probably have me feeling that way wherever I was. So feeling that way in this beautiful landscape with these beautiful people, and really very manageable lock-down restrictions, seems to me the preferable option. I’m not sure how long I’ll stay and when people ask me what my plan is, I say I have no plan. Since March I’ve worked out that although it’s harder than I thought it would be, it’s easier not to make plans. And I’m lucky enough to be able to give myself over to that. Although it did take some doing.
As far as Instagram is concerned, I’m contemplating a change in the way I approach that too. I had imagined a daily reflection would be a nice way to look back on the past year. But that’s also feeling a little clunky. Especially since I’ve realised that on lots of days I didn’t take any photos or, even worse, took a load of really crappy ones. And moreover, it’s sometimes the case that what’s happening today is far more important than what happened #thistimelastyear. So I’m about to break my silly, self-imposed rule and stir it up a bit. I do have a phone full of travelling photos, so I will upload my favourites as time goes by. But you also really need to see this olive thing that’s going on. It’s quite spectacular. So do follow me there, if you haven’t already, @takingleave101.
Thank you for reading. And thank you for the messages I’ve received in response to my ramblings. Those welcome nudges that have made me feel that it’s always been just you and me having a chat. It’s been so good, so important for me, to have you along. ’Til soon.
When people change direction it is a rare one who does not spend the first half of his journey looking back over his shoulder. -John Steinbeck, Sweet Thursday