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so I guess we are home as our cats are finally with us.  Actually, they've been here about a month but I've just been so lax in writing anything - not just this, can't seem to get out of my own way (again).  I guess I need to look at the idea of 'little and often' rather than having long posts (not that I think this one will be short by any means), then maybe I'll be able to sustain it... maybe.

The cats, having moved from a small room, with a bit of outside space albeit still caged, to a large(ish) house with a big garden and fields to explore, are loving it.  I've not taken any pictures of them as yet but you can check the webshots link in my profile and find pictures of them (in the family album) if you are wondering what they look like.  Of course, now we have to deal with the hunter instincts as it looks like Kanga is single-handedly decimating the local shrew population.  Can't really blame her for doing what comes naturally I guess.  It is lovely to have them around and they have settled in well but have taken to calling for us whenever they come in as they probably want to check that we are still around.

First winter back in the UK was the worst there had been for 18 years - we remember that one well - but hoping that the bad January means we will have a good summer, which would be nice.  I don't seem to have acclimatised as yet so I hope that changes for the summer! 

Getting back into some sort of routine is what is needed - outside work rather than within work as that got back to normal with me working silly hours leading up/around/during/after the festive season, but having been somewhere for three years with not enough to do (by my standards), that was quite a welcome feeling and the fact that my boss appreciated it with words and actions has been good.  There are things that I miss of my old life, and by that, I mean the previous one in the UK because we were pretty happy really and then we decided to move half way around the world... seemed like a good idea at the time.  Hopefully, as things come together here more and more, that feeling will change and I may even start to feel less annoyed/frustrated/disappointed or whatever about the three years spent in South Africa... we'll see.

Other major change since the last entry is that we have moved house again - just five minutes away but somewhere bigger that will accommodate our boxes and allow us to unpack as many of the as we feel comfortable.  Hoping this will be a long term thing as I really don't fancy moving again - especially not with all the unpacking we've done.

Quick round up...
Books - just not read much apart from online stuff, some magazines and the like though I did re-read Watchmen in time for the movie as I wanted to see how much was missing and how much changed. 

Film: various bits and pieces, classic and otherwise but most recently been to the cinema to see Watchmen.  Had to be done as I'd been waiting several years for that movie to be made.  Really enjoyed it, R really enjoyed it too which was great.  Of course, there was stuff changed and left out (so the extended DVD beckons) but overall, thought it was great.

TV: ok, not put this in before but I do watch a lot I guess (years ago I was on the viewers panel for the Independent Television Commission and I don't seem to have lost the habit) and two of my favourite programmes have been on lately: Dexter and Pushing Daisies - couldn't choose more opposite things if I tried probably!  Very sad that Pushing Daisies has been cancelled in the US but heard rumours that there may be a movie to tie up the loose ends which would be great.  Also been using my LoveFilm account to catch up with some series of things that I missed in the transition between South Africa and the UK plus the fact that you can't get Channel 5 in my area of Kent so that means I miss out on some programmes I like.

Stitching: nothing, lost my stitching bug so if anyone sees it off enjoying itself, send it back home as I have stuff to do - mostly birth samplers as I have two friends and two family expecting this year (actually, one little chap has already arrived).  Once those are done then perhaps I can attempt something for myself.

Music: not really bought anything new for a while, downloaded various things on iTunes and been getting reacquainted with things on my iPod since R had a stereo fitted for my birthday that runs my iPod.  Keep meaning to put most of my vinyl onto CD and the iPod, especially now that it's all unpacked but there's rather a lot there...

Well, this is longer than I wanted it to be, so going to stop now but first I have to apologise (yet again) for not having posted stuff about the US trip last year.  It's coming up to a year ago that we went and when life changed immensely and sometimes, we find it hard to believe we were really there.  Maybe posting the journal and getting the pictures sorted will make it all a bit more real... and encourage us to go again sometime.