Greetings from Kuala Lumpur airport. I find myself here trying to kill 5 hours while I wait for my connecting flight to London.
When I sat down here at Starbucks at 5:50am local time i was just about the only one here. Now 90min later all 20 tables are full.. Lucky me.
I have just had the BEST two weeks back home in Australia. Wall to wall family engagements and socialising – it was simply a delightful time for me.. I had been missing everyone alot in the past few months, but it was only when I actually saw people that I realised just how much I missed them. So needless to say I had a great time catching up with all and sundry… Well almost all and sundry – as always I missed out on seeing a few people – too many people too little time.
As was the case last year I seem to have brought the hot weather to Melbourne with me. I had more than my fair share of really hot and/or humid days. I decided early on that I’d just deal with it and enjoy – which I managed to do most of the time. No, I’m not going back to London with a tan, far from it in fact – however I have certainly picked up a little color.
A BBQ here, a yum cha there and one lovely trip out to Healesville Sanctuary went hand in hand with the various lunches and dinners in between. I got to meet my niece Ella for the first time (Olivia’s sister Emma brought Ella into the world in October), and I also got to see Nick & Kathi’s son (Nicholas) on a couple of occasions – gee babies are adorable… I got to demonstrate to not one but two sets of parents that I have absolutely no idea how to hold a baby properly. I looked as co-ordinated holding these little-uns as I would if I were to attempt salsa dancing – now THERE’S a mental image for you.
I had the joy of indulging in a few culinary bits and pieces that I’ve been missing in the UK: flake, potato cakes, Greek @ Piraeus Blues, Brunswick St Souvlaki, chicken parmigiana, yum cha- and of course my parents cooking. mmmm lasagna… Am going home with an interesting collection of goodies for us and for my work colleagues – cherry ripe, caramello koala, weet bix (the ones in the UK disintegrate upon being placed in the bowl), BBQ Shapes, chicken salt and gravox.. Funny the things you miss.
In case you can’t tell, it was a very happy two weeks for me in Melbourne. Love the people, love the city. Blanket statement: people are generally a lot nicer in Oz than in the UK.
On Tuesday it’s our second wedding anniversary (already) and we’re going to Jamie Oliver’s restaurant for lunch – can’t wait to see what that’s all about…
Yay Australia..
