the beginning

i'm back home. and it's great, actually. strange and familiar, all at once. survived the 24 hours of nonstop travelling, the sleeplessness, to be welcomed back into britain by a raging storm and 'stephney' at manchester 'urport' who could be of any assistance. it was a great moment, hearing all the familiar accents. felt like i was home.

i'd had two hours dozing throughout so felt a bit wobbly waiting for my backpack. i'd dumped most of my knackered old stuff to make way for my shopping and i was actually a few kilos below my luggage limit. balls. should have bought more. was looking forward to the emotional reunion with me mum and dad aswell, complete with tears and slow motion running. so was highly amused when i emerged from the arrivals gate and there was no sign of the parents sowden. god, i thought, you give them one simple task... but they turned up eventually and i didn't think my mum was ever going to let me out of her hug.

after the epic two hour stormy traffic jam-filled journey home, wearing a coat for the first time in a year, we had cups of tea on tap and i could inspect fully the new wing of the house. very nice. and we chatted and drank tea and watched inspector morse all afternoon. and i got my christmas present - a richard hammond book. yay. it was the simple things i enjoyed most - wearing my slippers, slouching on the settee, eating with a fork, being able to put the toilet paper actually down the toilet. amazing. and i was remembering all the things that were familiar a year ago - the sound of the fire going, stretching round the big cushions to get to my cup of tea, my mum and dad arguing...

it was strange finding all my clothes aswell. i'd forgotten most of the stuff i have. it's weird having all this stuff. it seems a ridiculous amount of stuff for one person to have. it's weird not living out of a bag anymore aswell. last night i cleared my bed of stuff and put it all back in my backpack cos that felt the easiest and most comfortable thing. shall have to rehabilitate myself back into using wardrobes and things. it sounds stupid but true.

so today i've gone through my year's worth of post and found out i do actually have some money left, which is nice. had a right good natter with my sister before she went to work. brilliant. i'm in the process of emptying my backpack and throwing out some of the stuff in my wardrobe and cupboards i know i don't need. so much stuff. also listening to some cds i bought in nz so i can be half back there. no sign of post holiday blues at all. hope it stays that way.

and then, maybe, possibly, in a few days i shall start looking for employment. but wouldn't want to rush these things. not when there's inspector morse on telly at 3pm every day.