Mother Bali

It’s been five years. In 2019 I said my permanent goodbyes to the island:

Bye bye, Bali, for the last time, in a long time… I return to you for the last time, restored. And ready. Ready for the next season. But healing work is never done. So who knows!.. But for now I think I’m graduating.

On hindsight, it’s almost hilarious. Darkly comical. Never did I realise what was to come after that ‘graduation’ – COVID, a global crisis, lockdowns, economic recessions, loss of main income, survival survival survival, chronic ailments, the challenge of fatherhood and being a protector and provider in a time when everything is going to shit…

New season, pffft.

Now, in what felt like a whole lifetime later, I’m heading back. This time, deeply humbled. Massively weary. And stripped bare to the bone. Nothing left to give.

But with only my firstborn child to show you. With pride.

This time, no grand declarations, no lame insights, no expectations of restoration.

Just contented, to be back for a bit.