About Me

Hi, I’m stekmer, a name based on the first 3 letters of my first and last names with my middle initial thrown in. This is a flattering photo and a couple of years old now.

I’ve been a keen traveller for over 35 years …. always researching & planning the next trip and trying to refine my understanding of what helps make a ‘good trip’.

To me, travel offers the opportunity to experience another culture and way of life, an important part of which is trying local foods.

In general terms, I prefer going to places that do not need tourism to survive. Places that need tourism for their survival have already lost what people came to visit in the first place.

My current challenge is to work out the relative pros and cons of taking a bicycle with me on holiday vs buying a second hand one when I get to a favourite spot and then just leaving it behind. Rental bicycles – almost without exception are a disappointment 😦

In my other life, I’ve been a Registered Nurse with qualifications in mental health, aged care and dementia. I’ve been involved in providing direct clinical services to Clients with mental health and/or dementia for over 25 years, across aged care, hospitals and community settings.

At 68 years of age I’ve played with retirement over a number of years albeit in a somewhat haphazard way that has seen me withdrawing from providing direct clinical assessment services, changing roles to that of Website and eLearning Administrator for Alzheimer’s Assoc SA (DTSC), reducing my working hours, ceasing work in mid July 2017 to finally focus more on my quality of life only to start part time work again with Mindset for Life.

After becoming semi-retired my interest and enthusiasm for cooking has returned with some of my recipes here.

COVID-19 has meant that for over 3 years, there were no overseas trips. Two trips cancelled in 2020 and finally, in September 2022, a chance to re-visit Bali,  once predeparture PCR Tests were removed and the entry requirements relaxed enough for me to feel that planning a trip was again possible without a strong likelihood of it being cancelled.

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