I'm back!!!

Hello Dear Readers! I come to you from Heathrow Airport when Im having a very nice fried egg sarnie and mug of tea! Well Im here and I can only hope that poor Leo is too… I cant collect him for another 2.5 hours.

Flight was pretty excruciating as ever, I was in Premium economy which was good, but no business class. Probably the best thing about it is that the cabin is small only 32 seats so no queuing for the loo etc and its quieter, but to be honest I think standard economy if you’re on the A380 is not that much worse, for quite a bit less cash.

Part of the problem though, is that a few factors impacted on my ability to enjoy the flight, firstly the regular realisation, during the trip,  that poor Leo was in  the hold and wondering how he is… couldn’t help it, it’s such a long flight. Secondly the general exhaustion! the last two weeks in particular, and not sleeping well. I was up at 7 on the day I flew out and literally spent 5 solid hours packing,  still had two extra bags which I had to sent separately, I should have organised the shipping better…doh! Anyway, all done now and couldn’t have done it without my flatmate Jane, she’s been great and took me to the airport and helped me so much.

Well, it is chilly for March! But what a feeling to open the airport doors and get that blast of proper cold, it almost felt festive!  And everyone at Heathrow has been very friendly and helpful! Must stop asking girls in shops how they are going though…. Hehe!

Well here I am and initial, very initial impression is it feels good! Even though  left perfect weather in Sydney I must say 27 sunny cooler evening now… and I flew into grey clouds and rain, it still feels good, I did call my mum though and remind her to whack the heating up! 

This is an amazing experience, I feel like I’ve been to outer space or lost in time! I’m liking it! It was weird saying goodbye to good mates in Australia, but at the end of the day we’re all in pretty much constant contact aren’t we? And one of my good Aussie mates will be over this July to do some walking in The Lakes, so we’ll meet up then, its just such a long way, I cant emphasise enough how big the world is when your strapped in a seat, at least Leo could lie down!

Its 8:15am and two blokes are having a beer, don’t you just love airports? 

So what’s the plan? Well I think  a few days kicking back and getting over it all, and then I need a new plan of action, looking for a job, working on my website for my private practice, and of course catching up with friends and family. I hope Leo settles in ok after his ordeal, poor thing and the difference in temperature for an Aussie cat! I think Leo might have to start his own blog!

I do feel a little bit foreign, even though everything is quite familiar, and isn’t it funny hearing really posh people? You never do in Aus, barristers sound the same as plumbers, which is quite nice in a way. Not that there isn’t snobbishness in Australia, its just different.

Just getting another cuppa, I hope Leo is getting fed and watered too! 

It also feels different this time to the other times when I’ve been visiting. Well the best thing is that I don’t have to do that flight again in three weeks…. But it just has a different feel, its good it feels fresh, I feel relaxed, I’m sure I’ve a few bumps to come though, we will see. No more long haul for me for a while, might pop over to NYC at some point though, my last journey from Aus was so horrific I thought that Id probably never return! 22 hours to LAX….   But now I’m back in the world!  I can go on European city breaks! Hurray!! 

POMPEYBLONDE HAS RETURNED!!!

The last few yards.....

I come to you from Camperdown cemetery, one of my favourite places in Newtown.... Maybe a bit odd... But it's a wonderful place. The cemetery has been full for many years so all the graves are old, it is in fact the second oldest in Australia. Well as we all know that's not that old, but still.


What's fascinating is the stories, you can do a cemetery tour and hear about the convicts, the aboriginal people the immigrants and colonialists who really did it tough. The shipThe Dunbar sank in Sydney Harbour in 1857 all but one passengers drowned. Almost there and a storm sunk the ship, the memorial is here and is testament to the perilous nature if travel at that time, thousands drowned in the harbour, apparently not many people could swim at the time.

Why were they coming? Mostly to fulfill their jobs building the colony, some had just been on leave back to dear old Blighty and were returning.

And so here am I suffering sleepless nights and minor delirium at the prospect of flying premium economy this time next week! Certainly puts things in perspective for me! Those people were tough and steadfast, they had to be, and people think I'm brave for making the moves I make, very lucky that's for sure.

lucky to have the chance too to return, one many immigrants didn't get, don't get for various reasons. Lucky to have had the opportunity to live overseas, to meet new people and to test myself, well in the 21st century way! Nothing like the original settlers, even the settlers 30-40 years ago, with no Skype, phone calls every few months etc etc

Most of these people were born 12,000 miles away and are buried here,a lovely spot, a world away from where they started. I wonder how they felt about that?

I wonder also, what it was like for those people who returned? I've been back several times in the last 7 years, but what's it like to go back after 10/20 30 years? I'm grateful for the chance to see the place I was born in with fresh eyes, to see myself through fresh eyes!

Watch this space! :)