This is not an important post. It doesn’t speak to the the great things swirling in the world, the clashes and concerns that buffet us all. I keep trying to write about those, but I find I have so much to say that the fear of saying it poorly gets in the way of saying anything at all. So this is just an effort to write something, ad hoc. Nothing more.

I’m in Denmark at the moment. It’s a country I like, with people who are as welcoming as any I’ve met. Like most of the countries I’ve been to, I haven’t seen enough of it, but on this trip and my last, I’ve been driving across its islands and bridges, and sometimes walking under them too. So maybe I’m getting to see a little more of Denmark than I would otherwise.

It’s a work trip, which is unusual. Writers don’t generally get sent on work travel, but for this job it turns out that the things they want me to write about are in Denmark. So I go, I get a car, and hotel rooms of varying sizes. The last one was big enough to have a bath, which I was happy to make use of. For all the slow pace of my life, soaking in the heat isn’t something I’ve enjoyed since maybe Andorra?

No travels this year yet. Other than work trips. But having missed out on a big trip when I turned 50 (instead of travelling, I foolishly had a party, where my friends were nice to me and gave me wonderful, thoughtful presents), I think I’ll make up for it this year. Even avoiding those parts of the world being ruined by belligerent idiocy (can’t ignore those events entirely) there are still plenty of places to see and share.

For the moment though, travel means work and family. Last weekend, I did something that I haven’t done in a few years and travelled to Belfast to watch the Ulster rugby team play a European game. Met up with my brothers and braved the pouring rain, getting finely soaked, as they tussled their way past ROG’s La Rochelle. A certain poignancy to the occasion: the last time I was there was with my dad. It’s good to be with family, especially when the rain is pouring.

So that’s the writing effort revealed: a few thoughts and a few recent memories shared. The ingredients of much of human interaction. Something that I’m doing my best to get more of. Might be easier as the hours of daylight grow longer, but we’ll see.