The word conjures up the courageous seafarers and fearless expeditioners of the past. Provisioned well, they set off for the unknown, uncertain of their return. In the 20th century, their equally intrepid descendants set off for the moon and triumphed. Last year, the unmanned Perseverance rover landed on Mars. Where will be next?

In the end it does not matter which planet or galaxy will be explored. The point is that some of us are are conditioned to explore, in many different ways. Apart from physically going on an expedition, exploring means wondering, imagining, examining. It is the sincere wish to know and understand, to push beyond what we already know or think we know.

We explore places and cultures, but even more so we explore ideas and creative possibilities. Exploring means being fascinated by what we learn.

Perhaps exploring is also the wisdom to know that there is always more to discover. Within us and around us, in ourselves and others. Exploring is accepting how finite understanding is and persevering nonetheless. Exploring means we are safe from ever assuming that we have sussed it all out, from becoming jaded or bored. Exploring means noticing the small things, the detail, it means looking at familiar things with fresh eyes.

When Amerigo Vespucci or Vasco da Gama set sail, they looked for shipping routes and continents, when Odysseus set off, he looked to find himself. I am reminded of Constantine P. Cavafy’s marvellous poem Ithaka. I urge everyone to read it.

As long as we have curiosity and the courage to follow it, we will be fine. Here at Falstaff, we cater to the curious. All you intrepid explorers, we salute you! Here’s to epic journeys!