Having no sense of direction, I have been lost many times. The most memorable and distressing experience was in the 1960s when I was in my early 20s.
Umberto and I had moved to Basel, Switzerland, after a brief sojourn in Hobart, Tasmania where Umberto worked for a term to give his notice, after a year in Italy. I arrived back in Switzerland a few weeks later than U. He had found us a wonderful floor of a quite eccentric looking old house in an outer suburb.
Umberto met me at the airport and took me to the university, where he’d begun another course. He decided to ride his bike and I was to follow him driving our NSU, two cylinder, Prinz car to our new home. Stupidly I didn’t ask for the address…
Following a bicycle isn’t the easiest thing in a large city. At one point, with the bike out of sight, I made a left turn. I’d been madly looking about not realizing I was turning into a road facing five lanes of traffic coming my way. As I turned I saw Bert cycling calmly over the bridge in the opposite direction. The policeman in the box was more amazed at my foolishness and did nothing, as I did a U-turn in front of the oncoming traffic. Unharmed, what a miracle!
When I finally drove over the bridge there was no bicycle to be seen. I drove on and eventually stopped in a street and let out those tears of humiliation and frustration. I just sat there and cried.
In those days there were no mobile phones, not even a telephone at the flat we were renting. There was no way of contacting him. Umberto suffered from bi-polar and we had very different logic.
Eventually he turned up on the bike. How he found me I have no idea, but it ended as happily as that episode could be expected to end.

Umberto taken in the 1960s
Post Script: I am taking some time off from blogging. I have the grand children to stay and then I hope to follow through with yesterday’s post and attempt to do some illustration. I will be back one day to let you know how that goes.
I appreciate all of you and thank you to those who have wished me well. I will be back… I hope.
Wrong Turns: When was the last time you got lost? Was it an enjoyable, or a stressful one? Tell us about it. Ben Huberman
What a nightmare that wrong turn must have been! How scary and frustrating for you! On another note. . . I hope you are having a wonderful time with your family, especially your grandchildren!!
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Thanks Dixie, yes the grandchildren are wonderful, thank you!
It’s always a delight to see them progressing. ❤
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This is a wonderful portrait. Did you take it, Barbara? Hope you’ll have some relaxing time too.
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Yes, Paula, it was taken at Port Arthur, Tasmania, from when I was an art student.
Thanks for your good wishes! ❤
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Thanks MTM for letting me know, I hope you have a good break too! Till later! 🙂
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Enjoy your holiday. I may be doing the same when you come back. So if I’m not here, that’s why.
Cheers
MTM
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Best wishes Barbara on your time away to enjoy your grandchildren and work on your art skills. Sounds to me like time well spent!!
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Interesting, if nothing else!! Thanks Joanne.
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Hey Barbara, losing your bearings, especially in a strange place can be distressing. Enjoy the time with the grandchildren and I look forward to your return to the blogsphere in the near future.
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Thank you Glen, I shall miss you all, but shall be back… Happy blogging!
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Ooooooh, my face goes bright red when I do stupid things in traffic! I often get lost. I can see why you fell for Umberto, what an engaging smile. Catch you when you come back Barbara. Have fun with the grandies, and I like the idea of the fake fur for the bunny illustrations. Kids love the tactile stuff. Take care. ❤
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Umberto was one of my teachers in first year art school, when we became attached.
Hope you’re enjoying your studies, shall be in touch before too long!
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I am enjoying the online learning experience, but not much studying is getting done! Take care.
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I’m sure it is, and the fact that you’re enjoying it, makes it all worthwhile. Have fun! 🙂
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Enjoy your grandchildren and we look forward to your return – your posts are always so good to read
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Thanks Deb, am pleased you enjoy reading my posts, as I do yours!
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This is some good reading. I love the photo though with the old camera. Very nice! can’t wait to read more.
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Thank you for your comment, I’m sorry I shall be away for a bit, but please feel free to have a look at any old blogs in the meantime! ❤
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Will do!
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😀 😀
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Maggie, so pleased you saw the photo, since you plodded through the whole saga!! Thanks for your comment. I thought he was handsome too. Becky looks just like him too. 🙂
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I can imagine the terror of five lanes of oncoming traffic!! And I can also imagine the need to cry it out once you reached safety.
Your Umberto is/was a very handsome man. Wonderful photo.
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Wishing you Happy days ahead with the family!
But come back real soon okay… 😉
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Good luck Barbara, you’ll be missed xx
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Thanks Elaine, that’s nice to know! I shall miss you all too! ❤
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Enjoy the break and your grandchildren.
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Thanks Simon!
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Have a great time with the family Barbara! Take your time and enjoy them. Nice story. 🙂
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Thanks HJ, look forward to seeing more of your beautiful birds!
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Oh man you were a daredevil lol! 😉
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Naive, yes, and blessed!
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I’ll be around and look forward to your reappearances. I, too, have been lost in the labyrinth of a Swiss city. I was terrified.
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Yes, terrifying is the right word for it!!
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It was my first trip to Europe, in Zürich. Scary.
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Martha, I had nearly four years in Zurich, and really loved the city. We lived in the outer suburbs. (Witikon, Effretikon, and Scheuren) ❤
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I shall look forward to reading more of your work Martha, so thanks for being there!
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