Jo Herrings Adventures

Today’s post is not so much about travel as it is about the adventure of life. I’m gushing because I have become an Aunty (or as my brood call me ‘Tia Jo’) for the fourth time. I would like to celebrate instead through my medium of blogging – for lack of a better option (Pity the poor person I sit next to on this flight!)  the birthday of Miss Isla Byrne (middle name to be confirmed). Isla safely arrived at 2.21pm at 8 pound 11ounces of joy at Kew Hospital, Invercargill, New Zealand. She will start her life surrounded by love and happiness and god honest relief. Relief that as a Byrne she was not born on the morning of April 1 st when she was due. Forever to be the joker.  Honestly as a Byrne it is inevitable, but the added annual celebration clash would just be problematic for birthday cakes, gifts and cards. What I love the most about Isla is that despite the fact I have never set eyes on her, heard her cries or touched her soft baby skin, I love her. Completely unconditional

ok so being a millionare in Laos is not really difficult at 12,000 to the Pound I was off to a flying start to my anniversary week. Bamboo jetties on the Mekong I took a room along the Mekong River in the cultural city of Luang Prabang in Laos. I had been recommended to come here by travelling friends in Myanmar and I couldn't agree more this is the place in Asia you can come to chill out. Essentially I have eaten and drunk my way around the town. I have used the internet (although still using Gmail in html) and enjoyed using my tube of vegemite on my morning baguettes. My stomoch has expanded with all the foreign wheat I am now enjoying and all the lovely banana cakes I have been enthralled by. I went to a waterfall to see some blue water and stumbled on some bears - seriously stumbled. It was rather a delightful find. I couldn't take a picture to do it justice but It was delightful. I also went to some caves which were terribly dull after the cave experiences in Myan

I have thought a lot about what I would do today over the past year as I planned my unplanned Big Adventure and many options have come my way. But today I am in Luang Prabang in northern Laos on the banks of the Mekong River. It is very relaxed here and I am delighted to have made the effort – taking two flights to escape Bangkok and paying more for them than I do for a week travel –not to mention going old school and buying them at the counter of the airline two hours before flying. Because today I will be remembering my Dad’s passing. 10 years ago today I was with my sister buying magazines at Paper Plus. That’s when her phone rang. And we drove home so fast, so we could get home in time to hold Dad’s hand.  I lost my pal, my mentor, my joker, the “old fart”, my old man, all wrapped into my dearest darling Dad. I shared a wonderful bond with my Dad and I miss him every day. Recently when I showed a family portrait to my niece she asked how old I was when Granddad Jim d