except, today I was greeted by sunshine and somewhat blue, some what grey skies. So spring/summer may be on its way!
I've been back in the UK for 2 weeks now, after having been home for a sunshine refuel...and honeys - I am brown! For the first time in months :p (not sure how long it will last though).
There really is nothing like the African Sun. And African skies and thunderstorms.
You never truly realise you've missed something until you come across it for the first time in, well in my case, about a year!
Landing at jozi, relatively painless through customs - short wait for my mom - and then seeing her - it's amazing how much one can say with just one simple hug.
A simple one, but a long one. Spoke volumes, much more than I could ever put in words. And the thing is - it's not like a missed my family excessively. I guess, as spoken by the hug - I definitely did miss them.
Then, waking up on my first morning back home to the sounds of doves cooing... I was slightly in awe that I'd actually missed something so simple. It's so common back home that it's one of those things that just wash over you - but not hearing the sounds of doves for a year...
I didn't get to do all I wanted to whilst home (things like no longer having a car severely restricts you!) but the time I spent there was great. A recharge for the last few months ahead.
I've absolutely loved travelling, and of course I will continue to do so - but having the familiar around you is just fantastic.
I FINALLY got to meet up with friends I'd been chatting to online for ages and ages and it was really great. Getting to put people behind the chats and the insightful opinions shared online - it completes the partial picture I had. And I wasn't disappointed.
Great people online, great people in real life :)
(fully aware you all will be reading this - and no, i'm not arse kissing :p)
There's a downside to having gone home though - because in the first week back I was missing it acutely.
I've been travelling by myself - I would do it again in a heart beat (I'm still doing it), but sometimes you do wish you had someone, friends, around.
The next few months is going to be interesting - I've made the decision that I'm going home (what with Home Office being a pain and all about visas, I'm glad I made the decision before the rule changes).
I will have to do more planning in the next bit than I have in the past year! Eek. And no more pretending to be an adult - to the real world and proper responsibilities! One major decision is actually deciding where I want to work - depending of course on the availability of work!
But - there's no real point in worrying about it all now. You all know how the best laid plans tend to unravel when you least want them to, or least expect them to.
I've mentioned all this to friends - one said that I have actually been an adult. Foreign country alone and all.
Uh, yeah.
That's debatable.
I'm aware this is not something for everyone. But doing things alone certainly is not easy a lot of the time. What being alone has done is made me selfish - very. Because I've only had myself to look out for the last year and a bit.
Another friend said that I don't really have to join the 'real world' - which is, I guess, is also true.
Just because I will have to take on responsibilities - like getting a car (number 1 on the list for when I get home!) it doesn't mean that I have to let go of the way I've been. Sure, a few changes about how I approach things...but it ain't all that bad.
Supposedly.
Future me's worries!
For now, I need to start my list of must see places before I leave here - and making sure I have the finances to allow for it all!
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