Hi Mike — I’m home now (Perth, Western Australia) and the last week has been like my time in Nepal never even happened. Straight back into hubby/drinking issues, kids being kids, work etc.

I am sitting at a ferry terminal about to go to our annual 1 week beach holiday at an island just off the coast here(perpetual holidays, right?). and I will have a few days to myself after the majority of the family leave after the weekend. I am really looking forward to it but after only a week at homei can’t keep running away all the time to have some solitude. It’s getting a bit ridiculous!!! This is where we are going, it is affectionately known as “Rotto”: https://www.rottnestisland.com

I have been to the US and drove around Massachusetts. Boston is actually my favourite city in the US. It was autumn and i loved how on the news at night they had a “foliage” report as to the colours of the leaves.I think from your State we went to Newport Rhode island as well. I really liked t there too.

I’m 53 and glad i didnt leave the trekking til i was any older! There werelots of people 70+ trekking (and finding it tough) but there are lodges quite close together so you could stop whenever you wanted — eg just do a half day at a time.

Got to go — boat to catch — yay. Enjoy your weekend