How Portland, Oregon Can Help You Appreciate Life More by Doing Less

A while ago, I spent a few months travelling across the USA and one of my favourite places was the rather laidback city of Portland, Oregon. There is a thriving food, art, music and craft beer scene and it’s also renowned for its slight hippyness. What’s not to like? Maybe I could sense something in the air, but it was while wandering around this wonderful … Continue reading How Portland, Oregon Can Help You Appreciate Life More by Doing Less

Nothing Like A Coffee And Some Time

I’m sitting on a lovely, ever-so-slightly battered brown sofa in my favourite bar (Cafe Cyrano) in Almería, my recently adopted ‘big city’, listening to my new favourite album (‘Hey Mr Ferryman’ by Mark Eitzel) with a cortado coffee and an orange juice. I’ve just put my car in for a service. Not a big deal for most people, but not having owned a car until recently, … Continue reading Nothing Like A Coffee And Some Time

Art Deco, Aluminium And A Bar In Madrid

Walking to the lovely Cafe San Gines in Madrid last week for their famous chocolate con churros, I was listening to one of my favourite bands The Aluminum Group. One of their songs is called ‘Without Erté’ and to be honest, I’ve never known what the title meant but always liked the mystery of the song.  Wherever I am, I often like taking different routes … Continue reading Art Deco, Aluminium And A Bar In Madrid

The Serenity Of The Long Distance Bus Traveller

Am travelling on a bus on a gorgeous, sunny day from Granada to Madrid.   There’s nothing much going on. I’m staring out of the window and this is what I can see and feel:   – The sun is shining – The colours are soothing – The gentle contours of the hills are beautiful – The music in my headphones is calming – The … Continue reading The Serenity Of The Long Distance Bus Traveller

What Are You Looking Forward To?

Given the combination of the gorgeous sunshine today in Granada mixed with a lovely mojito, I was reminded of a fantastic holiday I had with Mrs Away From The Noise a few years ago in the Seychelles. It was absolutely beautiful and my first holiday on a tropical island and we even went to the beach where they filmed the famous Bounty advert. Two weeks … Continue reading What Are You Looking Forward To?

Away From The Noise

The November Manifesto

Hi There are many different reasons why we may want to get away from the noise of our daily lives and there are countless ways to help you do so. This blog is my way of doing that. I live in Granada in the south of Spain, write songs, teach English and now write this blog. My name is Jason and although I only started … Continue reading The November Manifesto