Of Friends Gone Overseas

In April, I visited the Adelaide area and met up with ex-Hailstone, Valerie Matsumoto and her musician husband, Montz. While they were still living in Kyoto, some of you will remember that we once held a rengakai in their house near Ryoanji. Here is a photo of the two of them on a walk in the local woods. The kangaroos are wild, of course! Valerie told me she wasn't writing much these days. When or if she does so, though, perhaps we'll see something of it here?

Then, in July, while visiting the London area, I saw ex-Hailstone and 'Hotspot' contributor, Jonathan Gott in his hometown of St. Albans. A brief account of our ginko has already been posted and Jon has recently shared with us several of his new haiku. The photo above was taken in the Cathedral. Quiet, please ... Sssshh!