Hedging My Bets

What if I get back on my bike and fall off again? Or what if I don't?

Photo by Peter Aschoff on Unsplash

The first (and only) time I rode a bicycle was in rush hour - in Amsterdam.

Of course, it was always going to end badly. I had no idea what I was doing, I didn’t know how to use the brakes, and little kids were whizzing past me at a zillion miles an hour as I wobbled along, whimpering and shaking, before ploughing into a hedge and bursting into tears.

They say if you fall off, you should get back on and try again. Well, I didn’t. I wheeled the bike back to my hotel, picked the leaves out of my hair, abandoned my plan to join some friends for a tour of the Van Gogh Museum, and ordered a gin and tonic at the bar instead.

And now here I am again, back on the metaphorical bike. Only this time my ‘bicycle’ is a Substack page (is it even called a page?), I still have no idea what I’m doing, and I’ve bypassed the faceplant-into-a-hedge and gone straight to pouring myself a big drink. Another gin and tonic, if you want to know.

So why am I here? Because I want to share my adventures, mutterings and jottings with you, and hope that you will do me the honour of sharing some of your thoughts and experiences in return. I’m interested in people, places, food and fiction (not too long, and not too short).

From where I sit right now (on the bike, pointing in what I hope is the right direction, but with only a vague idea of where we’ll end up), Honey Road will explore these four main topics.

My goal is one or two posts a week until I get warmed up, covering everything from my favourite destinations, fascinating people and interesting food through to what I’m currently working on (a novel, making botanical gin) and thinking about (Thailand, a new garden, the island I’ve recently left behind).

So yes, I’m hedging my bets and hoping that what interests me will also interest you. One thing I can promise: you’ll never see me on another bike! In the meantime, I hope you’ll join me on life’s sweet journey. See you again soon.