And we're back....

And playing catch up. While dealing with an avalanche of work. And a horrid cold (thanks long haul flights). War, homelessness, poverty and stupidity aside, is there anything worse than having a cold in the middle of summer? Arghhhh....

But Laos was fabulous and pics will be forthcoming. In the meantime, for your reading pleasure, here's one of two stories I have in the latest Renovate Magazine (click here to read).

 

  

Home

After a tangle of superb Emirates flights (oh that I could travel business class every time) and six hours in a Dubai airport hotel, I am finally home.

It is soooo good to see my two boys, especially this furry chap. I am fading fast - and am fully prepared for jet-lag to come knocking about 3.00am.

Sadly, there is no time for a sleep-in tomorrow as I need to be at the part-time contract at 8.00am. Yeah, I know....

Home

This is the adorable face that greeted me when I got home today, after the schlep from LAX.

I now know how sardines feel, having been squashed into economy for the long haul flight (oh for those airlines who give media business class seats!) but I met a fabulous Kiwi who lives in the South of France who is going to make a great story for one of the magazines I scribble for. I'm all about making lemonade, etc.

During the two weeks I was away, someone switched on the sunshine. So after unpacking and chucking on a load of washing, there was a glorious walk in the Town Belt with this furry bundle of goodness. We ran into several dog walking mates who said they'd missed me and asked about my travels, etc. It is sooooo good to be home and to be a part of such a nice community. I know it sounds like a big, fat cliche - and this could be the jet-lag talking - but I sure lucked out with the life I have and the place I live and the people who share  my world. It's great to wander but it's much, much nicer to come home.

Speaking of wandering, had a fabulous weekend in LA and will sort those pics out later this week. For now there is work to be done and sleep to be had and furry ears to rub.  

Tomorrow it is back to a 6.45am alarm and the 20-hour-a-week speech-writing gig....sigh.

Home

Oh I had such grand plans for today - a public holiday in NZ (thanks, Queenie!) I would rise early, finish unpacking, put on another load of washing and then lash myself to my desk to sort out overdue invoicing, send emails and finish a couple of stories. Oh and of course take the Baby Doggy for a walk or two.

Instead, squeezed by the vicious fist of jet-lag, we awoke at 3.00am, ready to go. And then subsequently slept in until 1.00pm! But it is good to be home and to see the furry one who was ably looked after by his grandparents. Now I just have to sort out the millions of stories from the trip and we should be fine....

Back to work tomorrow, oy vey...

Today's visual is, what else, but this wee cutie.

   

Home

In the last day or so, I crossed eight time zones, ate six meals, chatted to a famous chef and a member of the Paris Orchestra, broke my rule about not drinking in the air with several glasses of bubbly and flirted with insomnia and its first cousins, madness and irritability.

But I am home, and it was unbelievably good to be greeted by a lovely clean house, fresh flowers (the Animator did well) and this adorable face. I have been fortunate enough to travel to lots and lots of places, and even live in some, but none are as good as this joint.

Also, don't let anyone tell you that travelling in the pointy end of the plane makes you immune from jetlag. I am shattered and tempted to curl up in the patch of sunshine coming through the French windows and go to sleep. But there are two loads of washing to be done, a mountain of ironing, invoices and emails to be sent and big-ass lists to be complied detailing which stories from this trip need to be written and by when. A few other commissions have come in whilst I've been away so they also need to find a home in the work schedule.

Tomorrow it is back to the part-time contract and a few big projects there. Sometimes it's easier to keep going rather than thinking about what's ahead....

Home

Three days ago I was contemplating marrying the air conditioner.

Today I had about my person copious amounts of merino, including a cardigan, coat, tights and gloves. We have plunged back into the depths of winter and I am about to set myself on fire just to keep warm.

By the time we got home from the airport it was 1.00am and I managed to make it into work by 11. Sadly by 4.30pm I had lost the power of coherent thought so called it a day. I am now about to crawl into bed. No time/energy for pictures today so instead you shall have these delightful images of the house sitters and dog walkers who cared for His Highness so well in our absence. He, and we, thank you.