Funny how when you know you are leaving a place that what was 'background' acquires greater import without conscious effort. I have just returned to Bristol from a mad dash to Fort William in Scotland, via Blackpool to collect Uncle Johnny as my personal coach and motivator - necessary as the purpose was to climb Ben Nevis - 4000ft or so of hard, Scottish stone, with it's head in the clouds. Anyway, i find myself noticing the greens of the landscape, the dampness underfoot, the whiteness of the sheep - all things I know not to be features in Aus. Even the very habit of climbing these mountains for fun is alien to all the aussies I know - and yesterday on Nevis there were dozens, of all ages, nationalities and attitudes doingit for fun. On
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