So, I've been back in the UK for a few days (well 6 now). It has been cold and wet with a few glimpses of sunshine, which are lovely and it's really obvious how green everything is!!! Anyway, after a pretty dodgy flight - one large man on my left and a young drinker with active elbows, on my right, I finally got to Margaret's in the late morning. Promptly had a shower and a sleep.

I haven't really done much exciting stuff over the last days but have enjoyed the occasional walk, visit into Watford Town, relaxing movie, and many hours on the internet (applying for jobs in Queensland!). However, I have felt uplifted by seeing squirrels again and I absolutely adore the robins in this part of the world, they are gorgeous and I wish we had them in Australia.
There's one of those cute little critters, singing his heart out!

I met Leilani in London the other day, for lunch in China Town. It was great to see her again. She told me all about her job-searching and we have come to the realisation that it's not very easy to get well-paid work in London. And the bus, then train, then tube from Watford cost me 12 pound-ish (~$30 AUD) so the pay really needs to be good to survive. Yes, I know, same old story of expensive UK... Sorry, you've heard it all before.

But the latest turmoil: After my email update to you all the other day, following my plans to head home soon, I have suffered a massive shock. With my class of ticket, I cannot get a flight via Thailand until mid-March!! Even if I go via Singapore or Hong Kong, I can't get back to Brisbane until the end of February. A major upset really, as I was keen to get to Thailand to visit family and travel with Anna, before getting back to enjoy a bit of the end of Brissy Summer. So, my only options really are to buy a new ticket (for about $1000AUD) or wait... Hopefully it will all work out but I was really hoping to see you Brissy people again soon. Now's the time where I'm going to say: If any of you know someone who owns a plane or even a helicopter who could get me home, please let me know. Or someone who's won the lottery recently...

Anyway, despite all this, I've hired a car for 10 days and I'm off tomorrow (after some shopping with Margaret) to Northern England - specifically Yorkshire - to visit my Dad's cousins (and their children). I've met some of these people before, but when I was very young, so it will be great to see them again and get all the family history and updates. Looking forward to seeing some of the beautiful Pennine country too. (Maybe next trip, Dad, we'll do the Pennine Way? a 270-mile walk from a National Park, along the Pennine ridge, through the Yorkshire Dales and over to the Scottish Borders??).

Until I see you, take care and think of me over the other side of the world, longing to see the Southern Cross again and enjoy a cheap meal/bus ticket/night out!