Damian Robb

It’s been over a month since I wrote a blog post and that’s because I’ve been out in the world rather than on my computer. In other words, I’ve been travelling. I, with The Lady Holly, Brother Jon, Cousin Dominic, and Friend Nikki, visited Iceland, Norway, and England. It was stupendous. Beyond stupendous however I don’t know the word for that. Scandinavia has been on top of my ‘to-visit’ list for a while thanks to it hosting the Northern Lights (yes, saw them!) and the beautiful landscapes shown in the film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Admittedly, I didn’t think I’d be seeing them anytime soon, it seemed more something to do when you’re older and have money, but with Jon, Dom, and Nikki currently living in London it was as good an excuse as any to make the journey over there, and had the addition of good company. To be honest it still feels kind of surreal; that it happened, that it was actually easy (pay your money, get on a plane, wait a bunch of hours, and then you’re there!), and that it exceeded my already high expectations. I don’t say that last part lightly. My expectations for impressive landscapes and contrasting beauty was already skyscraper high and yet Scandinavia delivered and then some (photos below, but as always they still don’t manage to capture what you can see by being there). In addition to seeing great things we also got to do great things some of which include: walking on a glacier, bathing in thermally heated lagoons (i.e. volcano baths), walking behind a waterfall, meeting the offspring of vikings in the form of a comically disgruntled bus driver, taking a boat ride through gorgeous fjords, eating roasted marshmallows under the northern lights, driving a dog sled, and sharing an isolated and stunning mountain top in northern Norway with four of my favourite people. I know it sounds like I’m bragging, that’s because I am. If however you’re ever thinking of visiting Iceland or Norway then let me offer this advice: do it! Stop thinking and do it now!

And that’s not even including all the fun I had in England!

Seriously guys, it was a mind-blowingly good trip.

However this is meant to primarily be a blog about writing, one where I hone my thoughts and practice my ability to write, so enough bragging about my amazing holiday and more writing about writing.

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I made the decision that I would get a lot of writing done while travelling (I know I said I was done talking about the holiday but just stay with me) as I was away from the usual distractions and would be seeing plenty that should inspire me. It was a good plan.

I didn’t write a word.

The usual distractions were indeed gone and with them my normal frame of mind. I was inspired, and thoughtful, and ideas came at me frequently; and while I did write those down I didn’t get any writing of real substance done. Somehow it just didn’t seem appropriate. We were doing so much and experiencing all these different, wild, things, that it seemed like that that’s exactly what I should be doing, experiencing them. So I did. And much like once you get home and need to go through my all your photos, culling and tinkering with them when needed, so to will I go through all my thoughts and ideas. Hopefully they’ll provide the same quality of content my camera did.

With that I’ll leave you. Holiday snaps are below.

Talk soon.

Damian