Jo Herrings Adventures

There is something magical about the way music can transport you back in time, make you feel like your 10,20 (or more if applicable) years younger, how it reminds you of a smell, a taste, a love, a place and oh, the people. The warmth of that feeling can hold you longer than the last note. And then of course the bitter reality that  music can conjure also. That stomach wrenching reminder of a lost one, a moment in time when life was not so colourful and the dark cloud of sadness that the words, tune or tone harks from. And on the opening chords you want to pull the plug, run out of the room for fear that the memory will take you back to a time of endurance. Mine vary from songs that they played at a mid-year Christmas breakfast  where our entire school listened to the radio in a church hall one cold winter school day(....why this memory sticks I'm not sure!), to the jubilant music at the Rugby World Cup Final in Auckland, the Meatloaf album that was stuck in our car tape pl...

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 unco...

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 J...

I had the great pleasure of attending Chris and Jodie Schriek's wedding at Trents Vineyard in Christchurch on Friday. It was a wonderful day of celebration. Chris greeted us at the cars along with his posy of pals in fine Black dinner suits. Chris's Mum fussed with roses for the boys as we took glasses of sparkling wine to the gardens of the vineyard. The ceremony was heartfelt and simple. Chris's tears on Jodie's arrival to the aisle was worthy of man size tissues and summoned smiles of joy from us all. The Bride and Groom had met at an All Black game in Cardiff when their tour company had not purchased enough tickets for the sold out game. I had the pleasure of being there that day to see their blossoming sparks of love and on Friday seeing this sealed with a kiss and a pinch of the brides bum 5 years on I couldn't be more happy! You can't see Chris's hand! We enjoyed canapés and more sparkles before being seated for a delicious buffet meal. Spe...

Today I went down to East Croydon to the Home Office. I have been before but its always an "experience". I was surprised last week after sitting my Life in the UK test that I could take my pick of appointments from 9-4pm. I chose to have a 10am appointment to miss the rush hour traffic. I was attempting to gain the Indefinite Leave to Remain status after living in the UK for over 5 years on my Ancestry Visa. This application enables me to come and go with little issue for - well - EVER. Although I still will be guzumped at the airport in the Foreigners queue. If I could prove my Britishness more I asked someone to please get in the queue behind me when I went to pay the crippling £1350! 42 pages later - of which Section 9 was not relevant and made up 30 pages - detailing all my personal details and an accurate view on my comings and goings from the Great British Isles for these 5 years and 9 months. This last exercise should have been an enjoyable one filled with ha...