Back to reality

After a month spent back in England with my feet firmly on the ground, my recent adventures seem more like a long, unbelievable dream than a real life adventure.

In fact, on the flight home from Hong Kong, I fell asleep only to start dreaming with great clarity and realism that I was slowly waking up from a long slumber and that I hadn't been away at all. It was more like a nightmare than anything else and I remember vividly waking up in terrifying cold sweat!

I had to reassure myself for several minutes that I had indeed done all these things! It was at this point that I began to slowly weave and connect all the places that I had been to, as one whole entity rather than a series of separate trips. I realised that I had done so much, travelled so far and so some stability in my life was now welcome! I was also glad that I was going home in one piece!

A few days after returning, I went to my long awaited graduation in Bristol, hooking up with my course mates as well as my friends from the epic Park Street halls. I began to also put together photo albums of my trip, a long process as you can imagine!! It was great to look back at some of the photos, some which I hadn't seen for a few months since I sent them back to the UK by post.

Believe it or not I saw a careers advisor at Nottingham University to point me in the right direction and to check my updated CV. I also found a good part time job a couple of days a week beginning in early 2006 to keep me going in the meantime while I apply for full time marketing jobs.

I visited my brother Charlie in London for a long weekend meeting some of his work mates which was really good fun, and even went to a few art galleries. The week after, I paid a visit back to the so-called 'shire', my old childhood home hidden somewhere in the rolling hills of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. It was here that I sampled a few of the country ales that I had missed dearly, next to the lovely log fire catching up with my old school mates in my old pub. Great stuff.

Then Christmas creeped up all of a sudden and it was great to catch up with all the family properly and have a gorgeous roast with all the delicious trimmings, got some great presents too. And everyone seemed happy with my presents, I think, though I haven't checked e-bay yet!

In the New Year I hope to keep updating the website as much as I can, keeping it much the same, trying to put an exotic slant on what is now a relatively normal life! I'll just have to make my life a little more interesting!

You make your own fun and luck methinks.

Graduation Ceremony

Only a few days after my return I was already back in the swing of things, going to my Graduation down in Bristol. It was great to celebrate my First Class honours at long last with my family and friends. I actually nearly missed my graduation, passing it up for a deserted beach in Australia, but I couldn't miss it for the world... literally!!

The intrepid explorer returns

After 5 and a half months travelling around the world I returned back to England at the mighty hour of 5am after a long flight from Hong Kong. It was truly amazing to be back, even if it was cold and indeed dark!! As you can see, I soon put some warmer clothes on, even the intrepid explorer gets cold!!

As I peered round the arrivals gate I could see my Dad and my brother Charlie waiting for me and after a few moments, it was like I had never been away!!

We exchanged many stories all the way home to Nottingham to a long awaited hearty English breakfast lovingly cooked up by my Mum. It was great to see Edwin too as well as a relief after he had had his appendix removed only a few days before.

The novice explorer leaving Heathrow airport

This was probably the strangest point in my whole life, because as soon as I walked through the departure gate at Heathrow, I knew that this was the beginning of a long journey. I really had no idea how things would work out, but at the same time I felt excited, the trip that I had planned for so long was now underway...

In some ways, it was probably more difficult for my family than me as I always knew where I was, whereas the majority of the time they had little idea of exactly where I was, whether it be in a hammock or jumping out of a plane!! I tried to keep in touch a lot by email and in the end my mobile started to work in New Zealand which helped communications somewhat!!