Omnibus

From oft-pissed to off-piste

Omnibus is an engrossing ride through Jo’s wacky world. There are articles and stories on ski jumps, drumming, music and dogs; even Mary Poppins gets a mention. There’s a friend lost, then found, then slowly lost again as his mind begins to crumble – thank goodness we shared some laughs in days gone by. There’s even a set of Antlers and my favourite aeroplane, the S71 Blackbird at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, England. And then there’s the odd ride on a bus!

No ordinary journey this. Many years ago, following some dire health issues, Jo and wife Jan discarded their long-term plans. Instead, they hoisted a sail and went where the breeze blew them. From desperate lows to the sweetest highs, they rode buses, bikes and boats and latterly a ‘plumbers van with a privy.’ All underpinned by humour, courage and a slice of luck.

They weren’t guaranteed to reach their goals so they learned to enjoy the journey instead. Life became a series of staccato minuets rather than a classic symphony. As Jo says, “Had our present situation been a dream when things were going wrong, reaching it would have been too much to hope for.”