I'm so glad Chloe Hope shared this, it's beautiful reading.
It sounds like you fly how I fly. I have to have diazepam, red wine, and cookies, and then keep the plane in the air by doing crosswords.
I spent a month in Sarajevo in 2018, and I don't think I've ever been to a more hospitable city in my life. I was traveling alone, and every restaurant or coffee shop I went into I was welcomed like an old friend (or sometimes grandchild). When you go back you must go to Franz and Sophie tea-shop. It's run by a man called Adnan, he worked as a doctor during the war and then retrained as a tea sommelier and opened up his tea shop after. The teas are amazing, the place is perfect to sit and write in, and Adnan emanates kindeness.
Keeping the plane in the air by doing crosswords ✔️✔️✔️ I'll add it to my Sarajevo long list, there are quite a few good reasons to go back.... maybe overland this time though. 😐
Very moving. I believe the power of being positive. It can be infectious. And truly does make a difference in people’s lives, whether it’s family, friends and strangers we encounter.
Yes, I do the reading for all my pieces. People who prefer to listen can subscribe to it like a podcast through normal podcast places (not sure if reading out loud counts as a “podcast” but hey ho 🤷🏻♀️🙋🏻♀️)
Well this Sarajevo piece was the first I’ve read of yours and then I just tapped on the vocal part afterwards out of curiosity and was pleasantly surprised to find that you have a lovely reading voice. Not many can say that so congatulations, I suppose.
Long time reader, first time listener. Oh my - your narration of this is just… perfect. At first I thought, “oh hell no do NOT talk to your airplane seat mates!” But then, of course, they were lovely. As most people tend to be… when an actual connection is made. I’ll be thinking of the people of Bosnia today. 🥹
Another good short story. I few too many photos but the thousand words were better than the pictures. To me, the best description was the bit about everyone being extra friendly to foreigners as compensation of their hatred for others they live with.
You hint about personal experience of the Burma border. I hope you write a story about that due to my time spent in SE Asia.
As to flying, well I flew on business more than a million miles. I was always convinced the plane would crash and always sat in the rear for additional safety until after about 500,000 miles flown.
I did have a few close calls, however and even went through an emergency sequence once on a DC 3 during a typhoon but landed safely.
Until touch down, the plane got VERY silent as each dove into their personal life thoughts. As the wheels hit the tarmac, a woman's voice broke the silence with, "I love you too, honey." Then there was a good round of applause for the pilot and stewardess. As an emergency landing at an alternate airport we got a free nights stay at a nice hotel and freem eals, back in the good ole days when airlines actually cared for their passengers.
Ha, yeah all those photos tipped me right out of the “read in email only” bucket. I just liked the graffiti too much to cut any of it, they were all so beautiful. I’ll get to Burma… I have two red notebooks that really need transcribing… there’s a good story in them, I think, but I need to be in the right mood to tell it and right now all my expendable energy is going on research for my book, which has nothing to do with Burma 😅 As for airplane fear, I have got worse (not better) with age and mile(age)…. Never used to care. Now, I’ve got a son and too much to lose ❤️
Yes, mood, mood to write, it’s got to bubble up for me. I’m doing a life sequence now but am stuck at last employment and switching to terror of starting my own business out of necessity.
An idea percolates up for the first page but soon becomes the second page as a new thought flips into mind but then it becomes the third page as another thought budges in and before long the original first page is deleted.
This: "I felt sad because I imagined he tells this story to reassure strangers he isn’t a strict Muslim; that he assumes they would treat him differently if he was named after a prophet, instead of a boxer."
Sublime.
Thank you Mr Troy 🙏🙏
Thank you for this beautiful piece of writing. Thank you.
Thank you for reading it.
I'm so glad Chloe Hope shared this, it's beautiful reading.
It sounds like you fly how I fly. I have to have diazepam, red wine, and cookies, and then keep the plane in the air by doing crosswords.
I spent a month in Sarajevo in 2018, and I don't think I've ever been to a more hospitable city in my life. I was traveling alone, and every restaurant or coffee shop I went into I was welcomed like an old friend (or sometimes grandchild). When you go back you must go to Franz and Sophie tea-shop. It's run by a man called Adnan, he worked as a doctor during the war and then retrained as a tea sommelier and opened up his tea shop after. The teas are amazing, the place is perfect to sit and write in, and Adnan emanates kindeness.
Keeping the plane in the air by doing crosswords ✔️✔️✔️ I'll add it to my Sarajevo long list, there are quite a few good reasons to go back.... maybe overland this time though. 😐
Very moving. I believe the power of being positive. It can be infectious. And truly does make a difference in people’s lives, whether it’s family, friends and strangers we encounter.
Loved this, thanks!
That’s very kind of you to say! Thank you 🙏
I read it first, then listened to the reading of it and was curious, is that you doing the reading?
Yes, I do the reading for all my pieces. People who prefer to listen can subscribe to it like a podcast through normal podcast places (not sure if reading out loud counts as a “podcast” but hey ho 🤷🏻♀️🙋🏻♀️)
Well this Sarajevo piece was the first I’ve read of yours and then I just tapped on the vocal part afterwards out of curiosity and was pleasantly surprised to find that you have a lovely reading voice. Not many can say that so congatulations, I suppose.
Well then, thank you, I suppose... ☺️😅
Long time reader, first time listener. Oh my - your narration of this is just… perfect. At first I thought, “oh hell no do NOT talk to your airplane seat mates!” But then, of course, they were lovely. As most people tend to be… when an actual connection is made. I’ll be thinking of the people of Bosnia today. 🥹
You, my darlin, are too kind. Sarajevo was a complicated but unexpectedly wonderful place. 10/10 will go again. ❤️
Very good one again, thank you. That bobsled graffiti art gallery is wild.
It was wild, especially to think it could all be gone/completely different next time.
I loved this, Jill. Thanks for the pictures of the bobsled run. A friend of ours was in those Winter Olympics 30 years ago. I'll forward this to her.
That quote about those who do not learn history is echoing in my mind.
Oh I’d love to hear her thoughts and memories, how fascinating!! Thanks John ❤️
My goodness Jill, this was beautiful.
Thank you for writing this.
Thank you for reading it. 🙏
Another good short story. I few too many photos but the thousand words were better than the pictures. To me, the best description was the bit about everyone being extra friendly to foreigners as compensation of their hatred for others they live with.
You hint about personal experience of the Burma border. I hope you write a story about that due to my time spent in SE Asia.
As to flying, well I flew on business more than a million miles. I was always convinced the plane would crash and always sat in the rear for additional safety until after about 500,000 miles flown.
I did have a few close calls, however and even went through an emergency sequence once on a DC 3 during a typhoon but landed safely.
Until touch down, the plane got VERY silent as each dove into their personal life thoughts. As the wheels hit the tarmac, a woman's voice broke the silence with, "I love you too, honey." Then there was a good round of applause for the pilot and stewardess. As an emergency landing at an alternate airport we got a free nights stay at a nice hotel and freem eals, back in the good ole days when airlines actually cared for their passengers.
Ha, yeah all those photos tipped me right out of the “read in email only” bucket. I just liked the graffiti too much to cut any of it, they were all so beautiful. I’ll get to Burma… I have two red notebooks that really need transcribing… there’s a good story in them, I think, but I need to be in the right mood to tell it and right now all my expendable energy is going on research for my book, which has nothing to do with Burma 😅 As for airplane fear, I have got worse (not better) with age and mile(age)…. Never used to care. Now, I’ve got a son and too much to lose ❤️
Yes, mood, mood to write, it’s got to bubble up for me. I’m doing a life sequence now but am stuck at last employment and switching to terror of starting my own business out of necessity.
An idea percolates up for the first page but soon becomes the second page as a new thought flips into mind but then it becomes the third page as another thought budges in and before long the original first page is deleted.
This: "I felt sad because I imagined he tells this story to reassure strangers he isn’t a strict Muslim; that he assumes they would treat him differently if he was named after a prophet, instead of a boxer."
Thought provoking words. Thank you.
Thank you for reading 🙏