I was talking to my neighbour Harold this morning. He is 96. On his 18th birthday he was conscripted into the RAF and shipped off to India to take part in the war against Japan. All throughout the lockdown I have berated him for going out. He's gone out in the morning for a paper, he's driven to the shops and everyday he's driven to a local park to sit and chat with other people. I've offered to get his shopping even though I've been self isolating, I could have arranged something. I arranged a delivery of food for him through a social charity. This morning he told me he had lost a brother at the bloody battle of Casino in Italy. Regardless of what any history books say, Harold told me that Casino was attacked three times and that it was the Poles that finally took it. He also told me that the New Zealanders lost 25,000 men in ONE day. He then said "and we've lost 43,000 in three months and most of them would have died anyway". Well, he's not wrong is he ? P.S. Harold has been hit hard by this lockdown. He usually goes crown green bowling four or five times a week with his mates and he also goes dancing and enjoys chatting up the women. Being stuck in has hit him hard and a couple of months ago he had a severe panic attack and thought he was dying. He told me he didn't think he would survive this pandemic. I think he's going to be fine.
I was blessed with the opportunity to dive at Los Islotes near La Paz MX some years ago not too long after I first started diving. It is a spectacular place and diving with sea lions, especially the babies, is an experience I shall never forget. Magical!! I included a link to the article that contains these photos if you'd like to read more about this special place. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/29/travel/sea-lions-los-islotes.html
DD, those two photos remind me of when you're having your eyes examined for a prescription and the optometrist shows you two images and asks if #1 or #2 is better. In this case, I'll take #1!
Thanks for looking into it, Vulpes! Although it would be a mighty long ride, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for Mr. Sandi and me to ride to this spectacular place.
