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Well, I've not been around for a while and to say that life has got in the way of living is an understatement!  So much has happened since the last entry back in March that it's been quite a rollercoaster.

We did the holiday, it was great in some places, good in others and amazing in a few others.  Some things will definitely need to be done again.  I will get around to posting the journal on here at some point and I'll use the 'date out of order' option to put things in the right places.  So, anyone who wants to read it can go back to April/May and find things in the right order.

So, what has stopped me from being on here and keeping this writing promise?  Good question.  We got back from the holiday around 7 May and things were hectic with post-holiday things.  Sometimes it seems unbelievable that we've actually done the trip as it's been overshadowed somewhat since then - I don't mean to sound so mysterious!  We've been trying to work out what to do about life, the universe and everything and that was discussed on and off, a lot, on holiday - quite often at meals when we were waiting for food to arrive or when driving from place to place.  It's just something that's been hanging over us and although we weren't going to make any decisions until we came back, it kept coming up for discussion.  Then when we got back to South Africa, a few things happened to make us feel that maybe it's time to move on from here and the major of these was me securing a job in the UK, back in the same environment I left but in a different part of the country, though not far from where we used to be so friends and family are pleased at that.

So, it's all change and if you've ever moved house, let alone country/continent, you'll understand how stressful and hassled things must be right now.  Having to sort shippers, source accommodation, finishing bits and pieces on our house here and finding someone to rent it, set things up to leave here and arrive there, put things together for a new job, finish the ones here... all taking a heck of a lot of time, effort and organisation which help to put the stress level through the roof at times.  It's not been an easy decision, telling people here has been hard but they do understand - especially if you believe that everything's for a reason and can see the signs - but it's still upsetting for them and us.  Telling people we're coming back has been easier of course, they are pleased about it and having that 'network' will be nice and probably very necessary!  At least we are going somewhere where we understand how everything works as things haven't changed that much since we've been gone!

I start work on 14 July, R will be over in the UK with me for a while to help sort accommodation, transport etc, before heading back here to finalise things, supervise the shipping, sort out his parents and bits and pieces.  Hopefully he'll be back with me in the UK by the end of August.  So, I'm going to have a lonely six weeks or so without him and with no access to all our stuff until, probably, the middle of September!  I hope to sort out a laptop and get internet access while I'm there or I'll go bonkers!  If I do, then maybe I'll sort out the travel journal as I'll probably have time on my hands (for once).

Just a quick round-up of recent things in other departments:

Film:  Been to see the latest blockbuster things: Iron Man - really enjoyed it though a bit of the storyline reminded me of Batman Begins.  Thought Robert Downey Jr was excellent in the part, believable as Tony Stark (been there, done that with all the privileges) and funny as well; Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls - was ok as an Indiana Jones romp, liked the references to the previous films but the whole thing really spoke of resolution and closure.  Liked Shia LaBeouf, he seems to be quite the sought after actor of his generation for things like this but I felt Cate Blanchet was wasted.  The storyline though reminded me a lot of the first one (mysterious artefact wanted by evil people who do not understand its power) and the ending/destruction reminded me of The Mummy Returns when something similar happens to the temple...; Prince Caspian - second of the Narnia chronicles to be filmed, even though it's the fourth book.  It was a good adaptation and really, what's not to like in the gentle classic stories that are still so popular today fifty years after they were published.  I did see some films while travelling but I'll put those into the travel journal (eventually).

Books: Still The Time Traveller's Wife - I just don't seem to have a lot of time for reading at the moment, always feel that there's something else to do.  So, I end up thinking I'm bored of the book but then I pick it up, read a bit and I'm hooked again which I take to be a good sign.

Stitching: Finished the birth sampler for my friend in the UK, gave it to her when I was there and it was well received, which is great.  He's a lovely little boy and took quite a shine to R, who always seems to be popular with children!  So, now working on the sampler for my cousin, which won't be finished before I leave but it gives me something to do when I'm in the UK alone!  I'm sorting out something to take with me in case I finish it before my stuff arrives.

Music: Been putting additional discs on my iTunes to upload onto the iPod which will come with me of course.  So been listening to a few things that I'd not quite forgotten about, but haven't been on my 'a-list' so to speak.  Current favourites at the moment, for some reason, are The Waterboys and The Eurythmics - you can see which one is winning today at the top of the page.  One day, when I really have time, I must get around to putting our vinyl on CD and uploading that... one day... when I have time...

Ok, long entry again.  Apologies for not doing what I'd promised, I will get around to it...