You know you’re in good company when there can be a period of comfortable silence. That said, it’s been more than a year and a half since I’ve written anything here and I think perhaps that’s amounts to a little more than a comfortable silence.
The last post I made here was from Vietnam after a period of riding a motorbike around the country and ruining my clothes in sketchy Vietnamese laundries. Since then readers of my blog could be forgiven for thinking I had fallen, or at least rode, off the edge of the world, and I suppose in some respects I did!
So where the hell have I been in the last eighteen months? That’s a good question, but a list of countries seems boastful and wouldn’t really answer the question, would it?
I twice swapped an Australian winter for a summer in the sun of the northern hemisphere. I spent time with friends and, of course, made a few new ones along the way. I got thrown out of China, travelled across the United States by train, had my laptop stolen in Paris and my wallet stolen in Venice, collected (and left) parking fines in the UK, pretended to be famous in Singapore (even signed autographs!), drove a race car down under, rode motorbikes in dusty far away places, and still didn’t get around to joining facebook!
A few of my friends have taken to calling me a vagabond, which is a title I embrace. I might put in on a business card so I can give it to the next person who asks me that awful, but somehow obligatory question “What do you do?”
In fact, I already have a ‘business’ card. I printed them to give me something to exchange with people who hand me their card. It’s not so much a business card but more of a somewhat cheeky response to that mechanical exchange. They thank me, we shake hands, then they glance at it, pause, then usually say out loud, “Rule bending consultant?”
That card has actually been a lot of fun to give out. I considered re-designing my simonjones.co.uk website into some very business looking site that touts the services of me, a ‘rule-bending consultant.’
Of course, as a ‘serious business’ website it would have to include some of those terrible stock photographs of people smiling while gathered around a computer, and men wearing hard hats and holding clipboards while one points up at something out of shot.
“Simon Jones has been at the leading edge of rule bending for over 30 years, developing strategies and programs to flex even the most rigid of rules. A founding member of the F.U.N. (Federation of Unwavering Nonconformity) Simon helped thousands find their inner rule bender and move toward a more flexalogical life.” Oh how the marketing BS would flow.
The thing is, I’ve been out in the world, bending rules and vagabonding my way from one story to the next, taking pictures along the way, but not writing. I simply got out of the routine, not that there was much of a routine here before then.
So as 2015 approaches I’m going to make a deal, though I suspect that my readers have long since moved on, so this is probably a deal with myself; I’m going to try and write a regular weekly blog post. This should give me the opportunity to share more photographs and maybe even help me find the inspiration to write more.
Also, I think this blog is long overdue a make-over. It’s looked pretty much the same since 2006 when my friend Joelle and I first hacked around with WordPress and this design.
I’m having a lot of fun being a rule-bending vagabondsman out in the world finding stories to be told, so it’s about time I got back into the habit of telling them, before I forget!
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If you’re still out there and you’ve read this far, please say “Hi!” I’ll be back in Melbourne soon, so if you’re a Melbourne local lets get together and have coffee!
Wrote the following comment on Nov 26, 2014 at 9:13 am
Simon,
good to hear from you again. yes, it has been a while, but us deskbound types are very happy to hear of your travels and experiences. inspires us to take a few chances, enjoy life.
keep up the good work, but please post a few entries a month, eh?
best regards
Bob Davies
Wrote the following comment on Nov 26, 2014 at 9:51 am
Hi Simon, welcome back. Strange looking at last photos you posted today and wondered what had become of you. Regards, Jon Penn (model rly layout Wirral).
Wrote the following comment on Nov 26, 2014 at 10:36 am
Yes, Simon, yes! Definitely write a weekly blog post. DO IT.
(I’m holding you to it.)
Wrote the following comment on Nov 26, 2014 at 11:28 am
Hey Simon! Great to see you pop up on my phone this morning! I like that montage of vintage postcards too. I did wonder where you had disappeared too so its good to hear that you’re still out there discovering stories and no doubt having adventures. Great to hear you’re returning to Melbs, hopefully we can catch up soon!
Wrote the following comment on Nov 26, 2014 at 12:30 pm
Hey dude nice to see you update the blog! I just beaten cancer
for the 2nd time around, and done 3 months everyday chemotherapy, I
wish they gave you a badge for beating it! Hit me back up anyways dude!
Wrote the following comment on Nov 26, 2014 at 1:49 pm
He is risen! ;)
Wrote the following comment on Nov 26, 2014 at 2:33 pm
Welcome back Simon. I look forward to weekly blog posts!
Wrote the following comment on Nov 26, 2014 at 3:38 pm
I say hello.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 26, 2014 at 4:46 pm
Excited to see you return Simon, but I’ve been enjoying your posts on Instagram too. Beautiful photography as ever.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 26, 2014 at 9:11 pm
Hey Simon
Good to have you back here on the page, where you write and share amazing stories and photos.
I’m going to start writing a weekly blog on MY website: http://www.bigpictureliving.co.uk …so we’ll have a little competition between the two of us – who can keep it up for the longest!!! ;-)
Wrote the following comment on Nov 26, 2014 at 9:51 pm
“Gordon’s alive!!!” :oP
Thrown out of China?!?
Wrote the following comment on Nov 26, 2014 at 11:12 pm
It’s nice to know you’re still out there roving around the world. You must have been around the world so many times now! Are you a spy and this is an elaborate cover?
Wrote the following comment on Nov 27, 2014 at 12:51 am
Simon you ol’ bugger you! How magical is it that somehow your blog still remembers me? Clever stuff after all these years!
I hate you now ya hear. It’s fking cold here in Ireland so don’t be pissing me off with pictures of sunny beaches, beautiful scantily clad women, fine foods, and tales of the life as a vagabond! Come on now man, hasn’t your Mammy told you its time to settle down and make her some grandchildren!
Good to see you’re still out there squeezing the good stuff out of life. I don’t comment na much as ya know, but its good to get this blog post in my email today. Nice to hear from you. Have a good Christmas down under. Don’t get eat by any sharks now ya hear!
Wrote the following comment on Nov 27, 2014 at 1:32 am
In my imagination you had settled down with a Vietnamese lady and made a legion of little Simons who you were working hard at training to be global adventurers like their Dad. :-)
Wrote the following comment on Nov 27, 2014 at 3:27 am
Good to see you’re alive and well and still living the dream Simon. I loved 366 so I look forward to more pictures. Safe travels. -Ulrich
Wrote the following comment on Nov 27, 2014 at 4:12 am
So pleased to see a new post here Simon. I miss your writing. The pictures and the inspiration your blog gives me has been gone too long! I will be holding you to that promise of weekly posts.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 27, 2014 at 5:40 am
HOLY SHIT! SIMON!!! YOURE BACK!!! GET ON FACEBOOK!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Wrote the following comment on Nov 27, 2014 at 5:40 am
Hat tip to your reappearance Simon
Wrote the following comment on Nov 27, 2014 at 6:06 am
Welcome back Simon.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 27, 2014 at 7:08 am
How lovely to see an email of your blog today. I actually was showing a friend your lovely pictures from Vietnam the other day. I think she left a comment on that post too. I’m happy to see you back Simon.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 27, 2014 at 8:23 am
I forgot about beforeiforget! Now I remember!
Wrote the following comment on Nov 27, 2014 at 9:00 am
Awesome to see you pop-up in my rss news feed today Simon. I’m excited to see new posts. It’s cold here so I welcome whatever pictures you will be posting from warm and sunny places. Your life is amazing!
Wrote the following comment on Nov 27, 2014 at 10:31 am
Yes more please!
Wrote the following comment on Nov 27, 2014 at 12:04 pm
Dude.
Wrote the following comment on Nov 28, 2014 at 7:15 pm
Thanks for the welcome back everyone. :-)
Yes Tim, I got thrown out of China. I went there to watch the F1 race and they didn’t much like the fact that I was entering without a Visa, though the rules clearly stated I didn’t need one for less than 72 hours. In fact, I even checked with the embassy in Singapore who gave me the all clear, AND the airline checked before I boarded the plane! I guess the border bot had a bad day.
Joey, glad you’ve beaten cancer again mate! I’ll send you a private email.
Sharon, weekly blog post battle – you’re on! :)
BellaGeek, , Nope, no little Simon’s as yet!
And no Kimba, I’m not a spy. (Or am I?)