⚽ My grandson’s weekly football (soccer) game this morning. Though I am on dog walking duty. I’m appreciating the cloud cover and breeze right now. Keeping things cooler than they might otherwise be. ⚘
☕ Because of my lifestyle and work I can go for days only seeing my immediate family. I am fine with that, comfortable with that, and occaisionally it feels good to shake that up a bit. So I’m looking forward today to catching up with an old friend. ⚘
With autumn now officially here, I asked @andycarolan@social.lol to create another seasonal owl for me. This will be the fourth version of the owl that Andy has created. Thank you to Andy for your work. As ever it has been a pleasure working with you.
Here are the four owls that Andy has created for me, with the most recent in the top left. I’ve now placed this new avatar across my online presence.
If you are curious as to ”why the owls”, I have explained that here.
🌄 Stepping outside this morning the air was fresh and invigorating. Hardly a cloud in the sky and beautifully clear. The coolest that I have felt the air since we have moved towards autumn. I opened the doors to let the outside in and freshen up the house. ⚘
The Bunker: Wednesday 24th September, 2025
All credit to the artist(s) 🎨
Heading into town this afternoon I passed the cliffs where The Bunker sits. I noticed a change to its face and so pulled over to take a photo.
🔥 Following my post yesterday concerning the bush fire on Maui’s North Shore, I am writing with an update that as of this morning the fire is 50% contained, no forward progress overnight, 380 acres burned. No buildings damaged, and the evacuation order was lifted last night, though one school remains closed today. ⚘
This morning’s double rainbow 🌈
Maui North Shore Bush Fire
I know that it is easy to exaggerate the severity of events, but a bush fire here on north shore of Maui this afternoon has set phones buzzing with alerts, road closures and stores closing in the town of Paia. I have been nowhere near that area today, so cannot speak to what is exactly happening on the ground (though friends live and work nearby). However, I can see smoke rising over the hills to the west. The town of Paia, which is just north of the fire, is only twenty minutes drive away.
🌅 This morning it is just so still and quiet. The Trade Winds, which keep the temperatures down in Hawaii, have been blowing very hard the last few days. That’s welcome, and I have wished that they could dial it down a bit. This morning they have. Just stillness now, which rests my heart. ⚘
Talking to Myself
Reading this recent story by Robert Birming reminded me of a story from when I was in my teens and going to school in England. I use to cycle to school, enjoying the freedom it gave me, being able to dodge in and out of the traffic as the cars sat waiting at junctions and roundabouts during the early morning rush hour. I remember one day passing one of the school’s physical education teachers who was walking to work.
Yesterday evening we had a rain shower. The skies darkened quickly, the rain fell and with that, as the sun set on the other side of the island, a rainbow formed. 🌈
The rainbow started off as just a part rainbow sitting in a cloud,
and then it formed a complete ark across the sky.
☁️ Can anyone recommend a small book or simple website that explains what causes different cloud types? I’m not looking for a meteorological tome, just something simple and brief that explains what the presence of a given cloud formation is saying about the weather. Thank you. ⚘
Looking in Silence, or Exclaiming Out Loud
If I am walking around a museum, you will probably find me quietly taking in what I am looking at. If I am walking through or looking out on a landscape or wilderness, I will no doubt be doing that in silence. Just taking in what that scene is saying to me, how I am seeing it, how it is moving me. I don’t need in that moment to create an external commentary on what I am looking at.
With the return of the rains, it looks as though the rainbows are returning. I saw a couple of partial rainbows nestled in clouds while out driving yesterday. Then this rainbow greeted me this morning. 🌈
📖 I love picking up old books, ie previously read but long since put away, off the bookshelf. Opening the chosen book and reading through the pages feels like revisiting with an old friend. Such was my experience yesterday when wanting to look something up and I reached for Laurie Helgoe’s Introvert Power. It is now sitting by my bed. ⚘
☔ I’ve been mentioning rain a lot here recently on my blog, and with conversations with friends online. The reason? It has been so dry here on Maui. The west part of the island has a stage 2 drought and a PGA tournament was canceled due to the poor conditions of the course. Now I feel as though things are beginning to change, at least here on the north east shore. We drive home from my birthday dinner last night to pouring rain. It rained through the night. There are threatening clouds in the sky this morning and rain is forecast over the next few days. Fingers crossed. ⚘
Another jigsaw puzzle completed. This one was 500 pieces and made by the French company, Maison Joliette. They use minimal packaging, with the pieces sitting in a bag instead of a cardboard box. I enjoyed this puzzle and would do another of theirs. 🧩
🎂 Happy Birthday to me - 62 today. Another year older. Much to be grateful for. I have spent early morning catching up with family and friends from afar. I feel full. ⚘
I returned home from our day in Honolulu with some thoughts that I wanted to write about. For me writing is a way that I can explore what is coursing through my head. I wanted to explore some observations from being in the city for a day.
But I’m just too tired.
For now this is all that I can write. I need to put my head down and get some sleep. Maybe tomorrow?
🏙️ I’m heading to the big city, Honolulu, today with my wife. She has an appointment and I’m going over to support her. Getting to the island of Oahu, even for a few hours, entails going through all the rigmarole of airports - security, etc. - though having no luggage makes it a little easier. ⚘