Hellos and Good-byes

Last week I was a bag of nerves! I caught the train to London on Friday evening, slept at the airport then SURPRISEd my parents when they flew in on Saturday. They thought my aunt and uncle were meeting them. My dad walked out the Arrivals door first and it took a moment for him to spot me ... I'm surprised after not seeing him for nearly 3 years his first comment was not 'my, haven't you grown!', but instead with a smirk on his face he muttered 'Conspiracy!'

Funnily enough on Friday whilst texting my mom she wrote "leaving Africa hasn't sunk in yet" so I replied "from my experience these types of changes never do, they just happen." So, no. There were no fireworks at the moment of surprise, no marching band started playing, the crowds didn't quieten down or look on, there weren't even any tears. There were smiles and hand squeezes, the moment just happened.



We spent a lovely day drinking cafe lattes, eating pub lunches and then were joined by my aunt and uncle for the afternoon. I feel lighter, happier, free and even though I've had maybe 10hours of sleep over 3 days, I want to skip everywhere I go. My father shared his pearls of wisdom with me ... when we yearn for something we have lost it is our selfish streak showing. During the course of the day my mother smiled at me and said that it's the small things that really count.



After leaving them in my relatives wonderful company for a few days, I treated myself to a double dose of sushi, yum! Then I got lost in Hammersmirth but after asking 5 locals for directions - 4 of them sending me in the wrong direction, I made it to Trent's farewell party for a quick dose of London Australianism. Good-bye for a while Champion, see you in Canada one day!