What’s on the horizon… the dawning of a New Year

DAWN_KALAJI leaving
Dawn over Khalaji, The Gambia, West Africa – with Jason Florio. Taken whilst on ‘A Short Walk in the Gambian Bush-930km African odyssey’ © Helen Jones-Florio

 

Here we are again, on the cusp of yet another New Year which, personally speaking, is often taken for granted… saying goodbye to the year pas(t)sed, making plans, looking forward, resolutions (if that’s your bag), and the mundane stuff; like doing our taxes (urghhh!). However, there are some who don’t have this luxury, those whose lives have been suddenly, and irrevocably, turned up-side-down by life events totally beyond their control and comprehension, and when even the mundane seems like an insurmountable hurdle.

It’s these people who will be on my mind as we ring in 2016, those who face one of the longest, most uncertain journies of their lives.

Wishing everyone a peaceful New Year.

HJF

For Jacqui and Bella Boo, and Kourtney, with all love and strength xxx

 

Rest in Peace Stanley – 19th October 1953 – 19th December 2015

Screen Shot 2015-12-20 at 12.47.37 PM
Helen, Ralph Stanley Kimberlin, Jacqui & Isabella Kimberlin (guest photo bomber: Colm), London Olympics, 2012

 

A Stone I died

A stone I died and rose again a plant;
A plant I died and rose an animal;
I died an animal and was born a man.
Why should I fear? What have I lost by death?

– J.Rumi

 

Festive Malta – view across Sliema Creek from Tigne Point, overlooking Valletta

FESTIVE SLIEMA2 & VALLETTA copy
Festive Malta – lights of Sliema and Valletta © Helen Jones-Florio

Press: ‘River Gambia’ & ‘The Quad Squad’ – Arik Air ‘Wings’ Magazine 25th Issue

ARIK AIR_WINGS2_25TH ISSUE
Helen is on a mission! Quad-biking in The Gambia, West Africa, for Wings Magazine (Arik Air). Check the original story out here. Image © Jason Florio

 

 

‘On day five of paddling, on the River Gambia, in Senegal, a bull hippo sprung from beneath the surface, about 6 metres in front of our canoes. As we careened towards him, he submerged again. Once we calmed down (after scrambling to the safety of nearby rocks) and grew quiet, our Gambian expedition teammates, Abdou and Ebou, almost in tandem, said, “Wow, that was amazing, it’s the first hippo we have ever seen!” (this is after, whilst on pre- expedition planning skype calls, they had convinced us that “‘Hippos? No problem’)!’ River Gambia Expedition – 1044km source-sea African odyssey

 

ARIK AIR_WINGS_25TH ISSUE
The village chief (‘Alkalo’) of Karantaba, Gambia, fishing in the River Gambia, West Africa. Image ©Jason Florio, River Gambia Expedition with Helen Jones-Florio

 

Thanks to Wings Magazine /Arik Air – for re-featuring two of Florio’s images (pages: 50 & 78), from our West Africa adventures, in their celebratory 25th Issue.

Screen Shot 2015-12-10 at 8.15.29 AM
Visit Wings Magazine site here.