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I'm lying awake in the middle of the night desperately homesick for London! I never lie awake at night. It just doesn't happen. I sleep! Very easily. Anywhere, anytime I get the chance. But right now, I'm lying awake aching to be back in London. Reminiscing all the wonderful things that made up my life in London. I miss it! So much at times that it hurts.
It's a strange thing though, as it's not like I'm unhappy with my life here. In fact, quite the opposite. I love my life. Even more so now as the pressure of assessment is currently non-existent given that I'm on uni holidays. Simply put, life is good. I survived a rather stressful and difficult semester, and I begin the final semester of my degree next week. All things going well, I'll be finished inside four months ... and then I can celebrate the culmination of four years of hard work. Then I can call myself a teacher!
And life isn't just about studying. I enjoy so many wonderful experiences along the way. As crazy as it sounds, I love my job! Or rather, my jobs ... as I'm now working on three very different research projects and I'm thoroughly enjoying the challenges involved in all three. I practically live at uni (even on the holidays!), but I love being there ... I love the atmosphere and social side of being at uni. I love sitting at the cafe and catching up with friends. I love knowing so many people that there's always someone to talk to. I love that there are opportunities for me to return to uni at some point in the future, if and when the desire leads me back.
Away from uni, I love that I can still keep active. I treasure the experiences I've had with CanTeen this year, and all the young people I've met along the way - I'm so excited about doing more now that my time is a little more flexible. I love that I've managed to step back enough at Guides that I'm enjoying it again! It was such a valuable step to take. I appreciate the opportunities I have in SES to do something real for the community, and all the training and knowledge I'm picking up along the way. I love that I still find myself wanting to do more ... there are so many other organisations and activities I could be involved with ... but even more so, that I know now when to say no and when to save things for another time.
Above everything else, I love my family and friends. I love being at home. I love being so close to my family. Having family nearby, with their unfailing love and support, makes everything in life so much easier. I love that I'm only a relatively short flight from my sister and my new (as of last weekend) brother-in-law ... and even more so, that I'll be close enough to visit when their baby arrives! I can't wait to be an Auntie!
I treasure my friends far more than they'll ever know. They add so much to my life, and make it so much more special than it would ever be without them. My friends nearby add the fun and constant friendship ... a reason to go out regularly, to relax, to unwind, to catch up and forget about or at times pull to pieces all the stresses of life. Without my friends at uni, I would never have made it this far ... we really are all in it together, and I can't imagine trying to make it through without them. Work has provided me with an unexpected supply of new friends and support as well ... one in particular who I'm so thankful to have met.
And on top of all that, the internet conveniently keeps me in touch with friends far away. I love that I can chat to a friend in Melbourne as though we practically live together ... the constancy of that availability is priceless. I love that the only barrier in catching up with friends overseas is juggling the time differences ... I can email, chat, talk or video call as often as suits. Keeping in touch is so simple! Although as always, I do wish there was more time for it ... I wish I could keep in touch with all friends as well as I do with some.
Overall though, I'm enjoying life. I'm doing exactly what I want. I'm achieving everything I set out to achieve. I'm heading in the direction I chose to travel. I'm enjoying myself along the way. I'm building a rich, colourful, adventure-filled life full of wonderful memories. I have enough struggles to appreciate the high points. I have enough thrills to make up for the struggles. I really have nothing to complain about!
And all the same, I'm lying awake in the middle of the night desperately homesick for London.
I guess life would be terribly ordinary if there were no wonderful memories to reminisce over.
My original Wagamama restaurant is having a birthday! The Camden restaurant in London is turning 8 years old this month - I just got an email informing me of the exciting event, with a lovely little two for one voucher to go with it. Oh, how I'd love to make use of the voucher! Anyone up for noodling at Camden?
The very first time I went to Wagamama, it was with my beloved St John friends in Camden. I have some wonderful memories from that restaurant. I have been back many times since, always with St John friends and always good fun.
Camden Wagamama was also the start of a rather silly obsession - I have now been to Wagamamas elsewhere in London and the world more times than I could count. I've covered about five different countries and seven or eight different cities. I have introduced so many friends to the Wagamama fun they should be paying me a commission.
But it all started in Camden! So to Wagamama Camden ... Happy Birthday! Thanks for the good times and the fabulous memories.
I can't believe how cold it's been in Brisbane! It's so un-Brisbane-like. It's never cold here ... not really. It gets windy at times, sometimes you need to pull out a jacket of some description ... but I've never felt any real need to complain about the cold before. But it's been dropping below zero. Seriously ... it's cold!
I feel like I'm dressing for London again. Literally ... I'm pulling out clothes that I haven't worn since London. Quite nice actually ... I much prefer London clothes than semi-warm Brisbane clothes. It's such a bizarre feeling though. At least it's still sunny I guess ... the sky's still lovely and blue. Even if it is deceptively cold.
Meanwhile, I got an email from Caroline - my boss in London. Little Sean who I used to look after - now 5 years old - is getting into cricket in rather a big way by the sounds of it. So cute! And in Caroline's words ... "He supports England, Ireland (yes they do have a cricket team made up of Australians) and Australia (I think you must have indoctrinated him in his early years)." Tehe! I'm so impressed. ;)
Must run ... coffee plans. This week has been one big social event. I've eaten out more often that at home I think! Such fun.