Author Archives: John Humphreys

No sooner was I back in the UK, reunited with Becky in London, but I was on the receiving end of services good, bad and ugly. The Dublin-London flight went smoothly aside from a ’Last and Final Call for Mr Humphreys’ announcement. Last on, almost first off the plane, and set for a relaxing fewContinue reading “Travels with(out) Jackson – 9.4, Failing with Eagles, Feeling Distance. September 2026”

Back in Perth on September 6th, I was set to arrive relaxed some time a day or two later, then get some well-earned rest, albeit in a hotel bed, and meet the new arrivals on the 9th. Clearly neither brain nor watch had recovered from three time differences as I travelled about the US andContinue reading “Travels with(out) Jackson – 9.3, Cliff Hanging, September 2026”

In the end, we made it to our meal, reuniting with Jason and fiancee, Salina, at a great seafood restaurant in Scottsdale.  The experience was memorable not just for the food and the friendship, but the service at Ocean 44, which was outstanding. It got me reflecting on service and what it means, how it’sContinue reading “Travels with(out) Jackson – 9.2, Changing Address, September 2026”

August became September, or at least started to identify as September, as the Pennsylvania leaves started to turn and my gardening forays eased off. In the last few weeks of August, knowing I’d soon be returning to the land of Celsius (and less of it), I dug in to my work outside.  Bare beds wereContinue reading “Travels with Jackson – 9.1, Chasing Hummingbirds and Hospitality, September 2026”

To a deafening cicada chorus in the back yard our Lyft pulled in to the house in Philipsburg, PA.  Now, cicadas are nothing new to me, something even expected on my many visits to Spain, but these guys were deafening.  The conversation (definitely felt like a two-way street, this chorus) lasted well into the night.Continue reading “Travels with Jackson – 8. Transitions and Travel Plans, August 2026”

Homeward bound, at least to my Perth home, where Becky had already arrived to join me for a while before we both flew stateside for the month of August. Mum was still hanging in there at her nursing home, and I was keen to drop in to check on her as I’d be back forContinue reading “Travels with(out) Jackson – 7.3, An English Roadtrip – Vines and Fine Friends, July 2026”

From Edinburgh to Glasgow and then on to the Republic of Ireland. So many shades of green beyond the latest Celtic football strip, looking on from above as we approached Dublin airport. Always a joy flying out of Glasgow, this time enhanced by a passenger not appearing on the list thanks to a recent changeContinue reading “Travels with(out) Jackson – 7.2, Celtic Straits, July 2026”

My little stateside break had straddled June and July, what I like to think of as an old month and a ‘new’ one. As an aside, in case you hadn’t wondered why September, October and November are the ninth, tenth and eleventh (not seventh, eighth and ninth) months, well, haven’t you ever seen an octopusContinue reading “Travels with(out) Jackson – 7.1, Fortnight of Fortitude, July 2026”

Flying across the Atlantic straight after the tour I was in Pennsylvania once more.  Eight hours to Washington’s Dulles bus station – airport seems too grand a title. It feels so much like an urban transport hub I could imagine a Greyhound bus rather than an Airbus pulling up to the departure gate. Then aContinue reading “Travels with(out) Jackson – 6.4, Connecting Flights, June 2026”

The road to London may not have been paved with gold, but Sol did its best to make us think so. Rather than a direct attack the tour had opted for a pantheon as our strategy.  After duly venerating Sulis Minerva our next port of call was Stonehenge, some 48 hours before the summer solstice,Continue reading “Travels with(out) Jackson – 6.3, The Capital, June 2026”