... and there's that rum!

martiniquaise bat

Pips snout-deep in a classic Martiniquaise ti-punch as served at the justly popular local diner Yva Chez Vava in the tiny, beautiful fishing village of Grand-Rivière.

Quarters of lime squished down onto rough brown lumps of local sucre de canne, and stirred up with as much of the excellent rhum agricole—the golden rhum vieux in this case— as a tipsy bat could wish. A particularly happy small bat as the kind ladies of Yva Chez Vava simply plonk the entire bottle down on the table and bid you to pour away!

Batlet of the Islands

pips de la caraibe

Pips living a travel ad cliché... jewel-hued water, a palm-fringed sandy beach surmounted by verdant hills... and where is that bottle of rum anyway?

memories of travel: a tribute to the Foodycat and her adventures in Florence

please see the foodycat on divina cucina for a treat!


a bat's-eye view of beautiful Firenze


an aperitivo of Montepulciano white, while anticipating truffled pecorino


inspecting the Arno for Guelfs and Ghibellines

memories of travel: the sacred and the profane in london

a good beefy stout at a London pub (hic!)


sacrosanct St Pauls invaded by bats!

paddling down Middle Harbour

we are rather fond of messing about in boats...


that's a paddle, thanks... please get your mind out of the gutter!

open-air opera? tutto bene, ragazzi!

pips dreams of stardom onstage

pips, scourge of the sea and feared by clowns!

the bat rules the clown


this octopus looks frankly terrified


face to face with a diver

pips as art critic

the beginnings of a city skyline sketch... a batlet can but ponder...

pips breaks a sweat: Bridge Run 2006

pips looking faintly nervous at the 2km mark


stopping for a photo op


bravely soldiering on

Sailing to Port Stephens!

On the 38' yacht, enjoying the breeze—just before exiting the Sydney heads.


We had a good stiff sou'easterly behind us, to hurry us up the coast.


Stepping down into the cabin, after docking safely at D'albora Marina, Nelson Bay.


Snoozing on beautiful Fingal Spit.

Splendid trip with the best of the weather. Billowing green seas in the daytime, a skyful of stars and dolphins larking on the bow-wave at night, and two days' worth of well-deserved beach-lounging. What more could a small bat wish?