Balinese Fisherman

Our home is full of treasures we have brought back from our travels and today’s Balinese fisherman is one of the first. 

Back in 1980 we embarked on our first long haul adventure with a trip to the Far East. Bali was our second stop - the first being Sri Lanka, and I fell under the spell of this magical place immediately. I think I would be reluctant to return today as I suspect so much has changed, but back then it was full of spirituality, beautiful gentle people and colourful rituals. We have a traditional painting on our walls and this carved figure of a fisherman stands close by on a side table. He’s very different from the darker wood of our African carvings, and I love the detail of the net thrown over his shoulder and the rocks and swirling sea at his feet. 

Today, it’s G’s turn for a hospital appointment. He’s had a BCC (Basal Cell Carcinoma) removed from his forehead plus two biopsies. I pick him up from outpatients having been warned that I’ll probably laugh when I see him. Bless him, he has a bandage wrapped around his head with his hair sticking out ‘like a pineapple’ in his own words. 

Back home, he takes himself off to bed for a few hours, but with regular doses of paracetamol, he’s feeling OK. We’ve decided when we go out tomorrow he’s going to wear his beanie hat to avoid frightening small children!