And so the world turns...
Somewhat amazingly, it's the one year anniversary of us arriving back in the UK today after the almost-year in NZ.
This is so hard to comprehend on so many levels.
It really doesn't feel like a year since we left - and nor does it feel like two years since we went out there... we were gone for just under 12 months, which in themselves went very quickly.
I guess the secret to not having time dragging may well be moving hemispheres once a year.
There's been a lot to happen since we left the UK in 2007 - some bad, but a lot very, very good.
Despite the expense and break in my service terms at work, going back to NZ was, in hindsight, totally worthwhile. I learnt a lot about myself by going back and what I learnt, I like.
If I hadn't I know I'd still be itching to know what it was like to live there again - but now that itch is gone. I love the UK and my life here. I like the culture and the history and the closeness to Germany.
People always ask why I choose to live here when everyone here seems to want to go to NZ, but it still comes down to NZ being too small and insular for me. I need a bigger playground, and that's just what I've got.
New Zealand - and my family - will always be there for holidays and that's what NZ does best: short breaks in gorgeous surrounds with really down-to-earth people.
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And talking of getting older: I was asked for ID at Tesco on Sunday morning while buying a little wine.
I had to blink at the checkout woman a couple of times before saying "er, sure - thanks, that's really flattering"
She looked at my driver's licence and replied "oh, yes, that was flattering - I'm sorry"...
I may have had my hair scraped back into a ponytail and been wearing a purple hoodie, but I'm certain I look every one of my 34 years, and then some.
I was grinning all day over that one!
This is so hard to comprehend on so many levels.
It really doesn't feel like a year since we left - and nor does it feel like two years since we went out there... we were gone for just under 12 months, which in themselves went very quickly.
I guess the secret to not having time dragging may well be moving hemispheres once a year.
There's been a lot to happen since we left the UK in 2007 - some bad, but a lot very, very good.
Despite the expense and break in my service terms at work, going back to NZ was, in hindsight, totally worthwhile. I learnt a lot about myself by going back and what I learnt, I like.
If I hadn't I know I'd still be itching to know what it was like to live there again - but now that itch is gone. I love the UK and my life here. I like the culture and the history and the closeness to Germany.
People always ask why I choose to live here when everyone here seems to want to go to NZ, but it still comes down to NZ being too small and insular for me. I need a bigger playground, and that's just what I've got.
New Zealand - and my family - will always be there for holidays and that's what NZ does best: short breaks in gorgeous surrounds with really down-to-earth people.
********************************
And talking of getting older: I was asked for ID at Tesco on Sunday morning while buying a little wine.
I had to blink at the checkout woman a couple of times before saying "er, sure - thanks, that's really flattering"
She looked at my driver's licence and replied "oh, yes, that was flattering - I'm sorry"...
I may have had my hair scraped back into a ponytail and been wearing a purple hoodie, but I'm certain I look every one of my 34 years, and then some.
I was grinning all day over that one!