Put naprijed - The Way Forward
Regardless of what's happening, we are starting to plan a few trips "in country" in the coming weeks. Of course we will travel safely and document the trips through video posts. We will bring you alon
David writes,
Welcome to this, our latest edition from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Firstly, thanks to everyone who has "liked" the newsletter or commented. We have a readership!
This past week has seen me searching out and subscribing to, newsletters from writers not only from around the world, but also who introduce me to different ways of seeing life.
I am learning so much. It's inspirational.
As I browse through my past few newsletters, I seem to be a bit of a "scatter gun" when it comes to finding my voice and newsletter style. I hope this edition might be a step in the right direction.
Just after the last newsletter dropped into your inbox, we were throwing ourselves into Serbian Orthodox Easter Sunday. The weather was kind to us and we managed to eat "al fresco". I really like it that I get to experience different customs and traditions, I really do think it makes me a better person.
If you would like to know more about my "Easters" then check out this blog post.
Here’s another Newsletter by an American living in Serbia. Find out the impact of Orthodox Easter has had on her.
I got my first Astrazenica vaccination a few weeks ago now, and I think I'll have the second dose administered in early June. That vaccination alone has relieved tons of stress for me. I always thought I was able to handle any and everything, but since COVID arrived, I have been hiding my anxieties. I still have them, but significantly less than before.
Tamara hasn't a clue when the local authorities will call her forward to be vaccinated.
Regardless of what's happening, we are starting to plan a few trips "in country" in the coming weeks. Of course we will travel safely and document the trips through video posts. We will bring you along with us. By the way, is there anywhere special in Bosnia and Herzegovina you would like to see?
Tamara and I are also looking at going to Montenegro in late August.
It seems that Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania have formed a "mini schengen" region, which will allow us to travel easily to those member countries.
1. FINALLY getting my productivity act together. Since retiring I have been hopeless with organisation of almost anything. Tamara suggested using a desktop/app called Notion. It’s been quite fun to get to know the specifics and I now have it set up, so I shouldn’t be mired in confusion in future. If you need an organisational tool, why not try it out.
2. Getting a Fitness Tracker.
Since I broke my ankle last year, my already limited fitness levels and general health has taken something of a nose dive. Never bought into the concept of Fitness accessories but Tamara offered her watch for me to try.
The first few days have been getting used to wearing it and in reality navigating my way around the screen. I think its going to be good for:
Tracking heartbeat, warning me of sitting down for too long, prompting me to drink water (something I am notoriously bad at), and monitoring my sleep pattern.
3. The Anniversary of “Tito’s” Death.
Josep Broz “Tito” died on 4 May 1980. It never ceases to amaze me to see how the region reacts to this day. I have to admit I have an interest in the life of the man that defeated Fascism in the Western Balkans and built a modern Jugoslavija after the Second World War.
Knowing what I know now about this region, how he used the motto of “Brotherhood and Unity” to keep different ethnic groups with their diverse histories together, was quite a feat. Not everyone loved him that’s for sure, but I don’t love Boris Johnson.
So there!
4. We had another earth tremor.
Not big at 2.3, but located right where we live!
We Made Homemade Elderflower Juice.
A riveting series from Sweden. We love it. Then again we are hardcore World Cinema Fans
Load this track onto your Spotify playlist (or however you listen to music on your device) and turn it up as loud as you can tolerate (watch for your heath?) and walk around the city to this soundtrack.
The great Quincy Jones came to Banja Luka in 1955 and wrote a track which he named “Banja Luka”. There is an annual Jazz Festival named after him.
In 2019 Quincy sent this message for the supporters of the festival and also the people of Banja Luka.
FUN FACT EH?
That's our update from our village here in the north of Bosnia and Herzegovina for this week.
We hope you like our new way of creating our weekly newsletter.
We hope you'll continue to follow our adventures, and to engage with questions and comments.
We are always so excited when we receive them, AND, we reply to every single one.
PLEASE, do stay safe wherever you are.
Thanks great update. I started working as a holiday rep in October 1980 in Porec for Saga and can still remember a nervousness of where Yugoslavia was going and what the future would be without Tito