The Sunday Sip
A Weekly Brew from Coffee and Rakija
I’m David. The Sunday Sip, is a weekly newsletter about my life and experiences in a rural village in North-West Bosnia and Herzegovina. I’ll be giving you a unique look, through the eyes of an immigrant (me), of this much misunderstood country. My goal is to replace the many negative perceptions of both the country and its people, that you’ll be served by international media outlets. Thank you so much for dropping by.
The Update.
Wandering Thoughts by the River
I’m writing this on a Saturday afternoon, where the weather has now turned into sunshine and a welcome warmth breeze. Almost 20 degrees!
Inspired by this change in weather, I’ve grabbed my trusty backpack, and my field recorder, and set off to walk along the local stretch of the Vrbas river.
I must say that there’s something meditative about these solo strolls. Nature is slowly waking up, birds are singing again, and the breeze carries with it the fresh promise of the season. It’s become a bit of a ritual for me. Walking, thinking, and occasionally recording my thoughts as they come.
Discovering a New Passion
Lately, I’ve been diving into a hobby I never thought I’d enjoy quite so much.
Field Recording. As someone in his seventies, I find it a perfect fit i HAVE TO SAY.
No pressure, just curiosity and appreciation for sound. I invested in a Zoom H6 recorder a while back, and it’s opened up a whole new world. From birdsong in the morning to the buzz of a local market, every moment holds a little audio magic waiting to be captured.
Today, I recorded the river’s gentle flow and the rustling of reeds, I noticed something that snapped me out of this idyllic mood. The riverbank, though beautiful, is scattered with rubbish. It reminded me that sometimes, we only hear the pleasant parts of a story.
My goal is to record the real sounds of my surroundings, warts and all, without video. Just pure, authentic audio that tells the truth.
A Memory from Far Away
Recently, my mind has been drifting back to the past, especially during the night.
Last night, I was thinking about my time in Afghanistan (2010-11). I recalled spotting a red van with Bosnian plates parked near my workplace in Kabul. At the time, it felt strange. Bosnia and Afghanistan? And yet, here I am all these years later, living in Bosnia. How did that vehicle get there?
I also remembered working alongside the local Bosnian firefighting team in the base in Banja Luka, who found themselves doing contract work as The resident firefighting team at the NATO HQ in Kabul.
Life takes us to the most unexpected places, doesn’t it?
Do You Reflect Too?
I often wonder, “do others over sixty find themselves drifting into memory like this?”
Do you? If so, I’d love to hear from you.
Drop me a note at questions@anenglishmaninthebalkans.com.
The Latest “Personal Anecdotal” Baby Boomer in Bosnia Podcasts.
Welcome to my personal storytelling podcast, A Baby Boomer in Bosnia. This isn’t your typical heavily produced show with polished editing and soundscapes. Instead, it’s just me, sometimes with my wife, Tamara, talking into a microphone, sharing my experiences of living in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Whether you’re in the kitchen, driving your kids to school, working out at the gym, or simply looking for something informative yet entertaining, I hope this podcast becomes part of your routine.
If You Like Narrative Podcasts
Navigating Life Abroad
Welcome to An Englishman in the Balkans, the podcast where I,share my experiences of life in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a British expat.
In this episode share a topic that I’ve been asked about time and time again. How I ended up living abroad, and more specifically, how I made Bosnia and Herzegovina my home. Yes, the easy answer is that I married a local. But anyone who’s taken the leap of moving to another country knows it’s rarely that simple. There’s paperwork. There are cultural hiccups. And there are more than a few unexpected adventures along the way.
This theme got a fresh jolt of inspiration recently when I connected with Kimberly Anne, the brilliant mind behind Expat on a Budget. Through her Substack and Podcast, Kimberly offers a refreshingly honest take on what it really means to relocate.
Her move from the U.S. to Portugal is packed with insight, and I couldn’t think of a better person to help unpack the realities of starting over in a new land ……..
Thank You for Being Here
If you’ve read this far, thank you. Your support means the world to me, whether it’s a comment, a subscription, or just taking the time to read what I share.
If you’re interested in supporting me but not through a paid Substack Subscription, Check out Buy Me a Coffee.
And, I’d be thrilled if you’d check out my recently launched YouTube channel. It’s not about chasing numbers anymore; it’s about connecting with people who get it, who understand the joys and challenges of this phase of life, that I find myself in (over 70).
Until next week.
Videmo se opet (I’ll see you again soon).
David.
Life does take us to the most unexpected places David. Thanks for sharing your sounds and the walks in nature. The sounds of nature pull me back to a sense that I'm on the planet, maybe not where I grew up, but on this planet, and still a part of the natural world (even when there is trash to pick up too). I'm looking forward to getting to know your work better. Thanks for writing and podcasting.
Life is one big puzzle and as we go we find and place the pieces to start creating the full picture. However, we never truly see the finished product, because of the many changes and experiences that alter the puzzle. We are told that time is an illusion, that events are all occurring simultaneously. This is quite difficult to wrap our heads around. However, the experience in Afghanistan is an example of this. You were viewing another piece of the puzzle in "advance", a connection that was being created in that moment. As we grow in years we start to see such things and begin connecting the dots.
I remember as a six year old riding the school bus in a rural farming community, I sat at the window and envisioned many places around the globe and knew that I would explore way beyond the confines of the farming community that I was a part of at that time. Fast forward years later and I see how it all fit together and at the age of six I was viewing the "future" in the present. I can think of a number of examples and when we are quiet and present these things come to the forefront of our consciousness.
Enjoy the beautiful transformation of Spring. Our senses are a gift to experience the magic of physicality.