September 2022 – Notes from a Big Island

The Changing of the Guard

September 23, 2022 Neil Life

The one in which Neil returns to the UK and finds he has a lot on his plate; and then even more on his mind… Distance versus Closeness. This visit back to the UK always was going to be an emotional journey; how for instance would my elderly parents be after me being away for…

Hi, I’m Neil Hillman and welcome to this digital potpourri of travel writing, starting with the move of my wife Heather and I from our home city of Birmingham, UK to our new home in Brisbane, Australia. With no fixed agenda or range of topics to cover, this is a journal whose intention is to free-flow words over the screen in a hopefully entertaining, possibly informative and at times, maybe, even an educational manner. Two out of three would not be bad, but I make no promises… This is basically our story as it unfolds, it’s shared with you first-hand and it starts with some of the history leading up to us leaving the UK.

To tell you a bit about us, Heather is a haute couture trained seamstress, who truth be told, can actually turn her hand to almost anything. She does however seem to specialise in emigrating, having done so four times between the UK, New Zealand and Australia. She promises this time will be her last.

Conversely, I am an emigration virgin, a writer for hire and the author of two books and several academic papers on sound for film and television. I have also spent a working lifetime as a film sound professional, recording on location and travelling the world extensively at other people’s expense… Having to now do so at my own expense has come as a huge shock.

Month: September 2022