Paved Paradise.

Blimey. It's already been a month since I left NZ. A month! Two days in Melbourne (current city of Rachel, Nick and JJ - goodbye!), two days in Dubai (city of paradoxes, a prime example of what happens when you have too much money) and then a lot more in London town (greatest city on Earth).

I won't lie. I have had such a great time being back - none of this 'reverse culture shock' malarky I was warned of so many times. I've had a blast catching up with family and friends from all areas of my past, from school to gap year to uni and even NZ; drinking at places old (G-A-Y) and new (most other places), and all the while being a tourist in my own town, as it were. Love London. It really is such a beautiful and vibrant place.

However, I am now off to Edinburgh. Strange, in some ways. Sad, in others. But exciting too of course! There are still so many London folk I haven't seen; tho I know I will be back, I am sorry I haven't had more time to catch up with everyone, and more time still with those I have seen.

I also have this funny sense that I expect to go back to Auckland when term starts again, which is of course nonsense (phew). But when I Facebook stalk friends still in NZ I feel a little jealous - I want to be going out to K Road for drinks too! And I also feel a little pang when I look at my own NZ photos (love how memory erases the nasty bits).

And then, as always, when looking at other people's photos of their years abroad, or fun times at home, I wish I was there too and say to myself that I bet they had a better time than me. Nonsense! These things are relative. And although NZ had its tricky moments, undoubtedly, I did in the end have a good time overall.

I cannot be everywhere. Luckily, however, I know wherever I go I have wonderful people to spend time with. Hurrah. So, if I haven't seen you since I got back, let's make a date.

A x