Ian: In the Campo and Googling Osbaldwick

Two questions: When were you last on a bus? What is your favourite transport app?

The conversation always takes many directions. 

Ian's a confident traveller. A retired teacher who has lived and worked in Colchester and Manchester and Madrid, and is now retired in rural Andalusia. A couple of times a year he drives with his dogs (Arty and Bailee) from southern Spain to York (Osbaldwick to be precise -what a cool name!) to care for his Mum.  He also often flies back for short trips for his Mum’s health appointments.  

“I get fed up of downloading apps on my phone and having all these bloody apps on my phone that I use once a year.  So I don’t download many apps – I just google it!” 

How many times have I heard this – even within this podcast series.  And again, I have heard that the apps that are used a lot are the ones that are needed as the interface to your life: the solar, the heating, CCTV, health booking.  Proprietary system interfaces that MUST be used.  Or those that are really valuable: Ian’s wildfire watch or Waylet to get nearly double the discounts. 

I loved my chat with Ian.  He’s been a fantastic mate since I clocked him as he sat behind me, as a new boy in class 1RG in 1976.  We have talked about so much over the years.  But I never knew about his happy warm transport memory. I’d never asked him.  Fundamental to his memory is the train, the compartment (as in other podcasts!) and looking out of the window.

Train therapy.  A Happy place.  Made real in research to support people living with dementia.  There’s a few nice examples – an evaluation of the Grand-Via Project simulator is here.

It’s all emotion.

Picture Credit: Ian (and his lovely Mum).

Music Credit: Life of a Wandering Wizard by Serge Quadrado