It has been one month since I arrived back home to Melbourne. It has been a crazy month.
Am I happy to be home? Yes and No.
Its great to be back with loved ones, I've sort of settled back in comfortably now. Oooh to be able to sleep on my Sealy Posturepedic is an added bonus.
But I must admit, I do miss Dublin a lot - it was a different lifestyle over there. Europe is amazing, and I can only hope that I will have the opportunity to return there some day.
When I left Dublin, it was minus 2. At Dublin airport, the plane couldn't take off on time because there were frost on the windows, we had to wait for the ground staff to de-ice it.
After that was completed, we were ready to take off, a passenger in economy found a guy unconscious. So we went back to the parking bays and waited for the paramedics.
I told myself, maybe this is a sign that I wasn't meant to leave?
With only a 3 hour transit in Abu Dhabi this time round, and due to the fact we were delayed in Dublin, I pretty much had only an hour there. Wasted no time to book in for a neck and shoulder massage at the Etihad lounge.
Then as we prepared to depart Abu Dhabi to Sydney, a little boy in Business refused to put on his seat belt. I tell myself, I'm 26 years old, and I work soooo hard... to earn a Business Class flight paid by my company, why is this two year old here with me in Business, screaming at the top of his lungs? Finally after the kid calmed down, we were okay to take off. But it wasn't any more pleasant during my 13 hour flight as my sleep was occasionally interrupted by crying intervals every now and then. Arab kids should really have their own childrens business class section.
Arrived Sydney and it was like 31 degrees. Minus two, then 31. Fabulous.
One of my luggages did not arrive with me to Australia. Why does this always happen? Everytime someone does an Aus - Europe, Europe - Aus trip, you are bound to lose one (or all) of your suitcases. Happened to Grumpy when he arrived Dublin, and many other of my colleagues. I got my bag about 2 weeks later, and until today, I haven't unpacked the suitcase. I'm terrible. Maybe I'm secretly wishing that my company sends me back to Dublin soon, and I can just take the bag with me without much hassle? *wishful thinking*
What was the first thing I did when I returned? Got my nails done. Bliss! Then a haircut for Aud50. Cheap as chips. My haircuts in Dublin would set me back at least 60 euros each time.
Then the weekend came, and Grumpy organised a short getaway to Apollo bay. It was great. I caught up on my sleeping. It was so peaceful over there.
But.. after that trip, I started work again. I was given a new account. A brand new client, big portfolio, and boy, it came with a lot of madness. I do love it though, I love a challenge, and so far, things are going well. Client is happy, my bosses are happy..I'm exhausted, but happy I guess. I am hopeful that things can continue this way at work. Still a circus, but I've sort of accepted it now.
Attended a disastrous beach wedding, but it turned out well at the end. Just because of the weather (it was pouring all day), everyone was so emotional.
Then there were Christmas parties.
This is me and Little Miss-whats-for-lunch at our company party at Taxi in Federation Square. It was such a good night. Its nice to have a buddy again.. every morning, we literally go for coffee (+toast) runs together, lunches, then in the afternoon, smoothie breaks.. hahaha sounds like we don't do any work.
This is me and Grumpy at his company's party. Jells park, with lots of food and people yelling 'Sixer!!!' at cricket. Good fun. I didn't know my chinese boyfriend could play cricket.
As Christmas approached, we had our annual Christmas party which Grumpy plans about six months prior. We were pleased to have his sister spend Christmas with us. She's so lovely...
And at our Christmas party, like everyone else, we played guitar heroes - complete with guitars, microphone for vocals, and the drum set. I refuse to post this picture up on Facebook as I don't want to conform! Everyone is playing this too! bugger, not special anymore :p It is a lot of fun though.
We were fortunate that our neighbours lent us one of their Christmas trees. Yes, credit crunch time. We couldn't afford to buy one, so what the hell, we borrowed one. It looks nice. Our first 'borrowed' tree in our new home.
I don't know, it doesn't stand straight, so Grumpy did something to it, which makes it tilt to the left even more. The leaning christmas tree of Melbourne.
Grumpy spent a lot of time on the turkey and leg of pork.
Overall, the christmas party turned out really well. Everyone enjoyed the food, and I tell myself, this is why its good to be home!
And of course I have my dog back now.
