Colombo: A sprawling shuffling bustling sweating honking hulk of a city situated on the south western coast of the tropical teardrop island of Sri Lanka, and home for 15 months.
Not to be mistaken with...
Colombia: A country in the north west of South America. Capital city; Bogotá.
Neither of which should be mistaken with...
Columbo: The politely pestering, crumpled raincoat wearing American TV detective who inspired the title of my blog. If you've never seen the show, his bumbling demeanour hides a quick-witted shrewdness which only becomes apparent to those around him when he eventually utters the words "just one more thing..." before pointing the finger at the unsuspecting guilty party.
It's true. However tenuous the link, this was the reason for the title of the blog. Over 18 months ago now, as I grappled with the technicalities of my new google blogger account, just ahead of my departure on my big adventure, a friend suggested it. And so it stuck, never to be mentioned, even in passing, in any of the 15 months or 48 (yes, 48!) published blog posts during my time away. And this just doesn't seem right does it?
Hence, just recently, when I mentioned that I was struggling to find the time or inspiration for my final blog post, I couldn't help but agree when another friend noted that, surely, the final post should be called just that; just one more thing....
So, what is the "one more thing" that just has to be said? I'm really not sure. What I do know is that, despite concerns to the contrary, none of my visitors from home inadvertently booked themselves a flight to the wrong continent, arriving confused and alone in Bogotá (I wonder, has anyone ever really done that?).
And whilst I often felt I was caught up in a mysterious and strangely compelling mini-drama, I was certainly no clever Columbo. Not always, but certainly for the most part, my crumpled sweaty exterior hid little more than an acute inner confusion about the events taking place around me, a feeling I came to both love and loathe in equal measure (depending on my mood and the moon's crazy influence). It may have been frustrating at times, but it was also incredibly liberating; to be able to step outside of all things familiar and realise that, in some circumstances, however hard I tried (and oh I did try), I just couldn't get it. In actual fact, I didn't have to get it....and that was ohhhh-kay.
So, it is on this note that I have decided to end my blog. As the reality of being home begins to set in, like a profound and irrepressible joy, or a relentless damp drizzle, or a mild case of flu (yes Gabrielley, reverse culture shock has indeed struck), I am missing something. But I have officially run out of words, and so am choosing instead to steal someone else's who can say it much better.
"...this is the best world we have - because it's the only world we have. It's the simplest maths ever. However many terrible, rankling, peeve-inducing things may occur, there are always libraries. And rain falling on sea. And the Moon. And love. There is always something to look back on, with satisfaction, or forward to, with joy. There is always a moment where you boggle at the world - at yourself - at the whole, unlikely, precarious business of being alive - and then start laughing" Caitlin Moran, Moranthology
And this is it. This is what I miss. Sri Lanka did that to me. Or, rather, being somewhere "other" did it. It led me to boggle more often. And when boggling, even if you swear for a bit first, it will always end in laughter. And there's plenty to boggle at back home too, I do know that. It's just that it's so easy to forget when surrounded by the familiar. And perhaps I just need to do some more moaning and swearing first.
So that's it. That's your lot. Bye bye blog friends, I'll not darken your inbox again. So stand down, rest easy and boggle on. I will certainly endeavour to do the same.
Oh, but first, just one more thing...
Bye bye blog.
Not to be mistaken with...
Colombia: A country in the north west of South America. Capital city; Bogotá.
Neither of which should be mistaken with...
It's true. However tenuous the link, this was the reason for the title of the blog. Over 18 months ago now, as I grappled with the technicalities of my new google blogger account, just ahead of my departure on my big adventure, a friend suggested it. And so it stuck, never to be mentioned, even in passing, in any of the 15 months or 48 (yes, 48!) published blog posts during my time away. And this just doesn't seem right does it?
Hence, just recently, when I mentioned that I was struggling to find the time or inspiration for my final blog post, I couldn't help but agree when another friend noted that, surely, the final post should be called just that; just one more thing....
So, what is the "one more thing" that just has to be said? I'm really not sure. What I do know is that, despite concerns to the contrary, none of my visitors from home inadvertently booked themselves a flight to the wrong continent, arriving confused and alone in Bogotá (I wonder, has anyone ever really done that?).
And whilst I often felt I was caught up in a mysterious and strangely compelling mini-drama, I was certainly no clever Columbo. Not always, but certainly for the most part, my crumpled sweaty exterior hid little more than an acute inner confusion about the events taking place around me, a feeling I came to both love and loathe in equal measure (depending on my mood and the moon's crazy influence). It may have been frustrating at times, but it was also incredibly liberating; to be able to step outside of all things familiar and realise that, in some circumstances, however hard I tried (and oh I did try), I just couldn't get it. In actual fact, I didn't have to get it....and that was ohhhh-kay.
So, it is on this note that I have decided to end my blog. As the reality of being home begins to set in, like a profound and irrepressible joy, or a relentless damp drizzle, or a mild case of flu (yes Gabrielley, reverse culture shock has indeed struck), I am missing something. But I have officially run out of words, and so am choosing instead to steal someone else's who can say it much better.
"...this is the best world we have - because it's the only world we have. It's the simplest maths ever. However many terrible, rankling, peeve-inducing things may occur, there are always libraries. And rain falling on sea. And the Moon. And love. There is always something to look back on, with satisfaction, or forward to, with joy. There is always a moment where you boggle at the world - at yourself - at the whole, unlikely, precarious business of being alive - and then start laughing" Caitlin Moran, Moranthology
And this is it. This is what I miss. Sri Lanka did that to me. Or, rather, being somewhere "other" did it. It led me to boggle more often. And when boggling, even if you swear for a bit first, it will always end in laughter. And there's plenty to boggle at back home too, I do know that. It's just that it's so easy to forget when surrounded by the familiar. And perhaps I just need to do some more moaning and swearing first.
So that's it. That's your lot. Bye bye blog friends, I'll not darken your inbox again. So stand down, rest easy and boggle on. I will certainly endeavour to do the same.
Oh, but first, just one more thing...
Bye bye blog.
Beautifully wrapped up Beth. Welcome home.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bethie.
ReplyDeleteHave loved reading every one of them. I have laughed sometimes til I cried and once or twice even boggled along with you.
Having got to the end I have the feeling I will have to go back and read them all again...like a well loved book.
Love you lots
Marmee x x x x