Things I’m going to revel in on return to England:
Baths – when you just feel awful/stressed and in need of some comfort
Deserts – apple crumble, scones, clotted cream, cherry pie, mince-pies
Snuggling up indoors on blustery, rainy, grey days with a great book
Wearing woolly scarves and hats
Luxuriating in long fluffy pyjamas and thick socks
Full English breakfasts – mmm bacon ‘n eggs (and, wow – sausages!)
Kicking up autumn leaves
Cherries, Granny Smith apples, peaches and plums
Unbelievably speedy internet access
Washing machines
Easy girl chats with mum and friends
Opportunities for learning
Hills, mountains & forests that are mine free and safe for walking through/on
Things I hate to leave behind:
Fresh mangoes from my garden
Doglet and Stink
Hot weather, days filled with sunshine
Overall friendliness; being called hello to wherever I go – usually by people I don’t know
Friendly breakfast shop in the market
Noodles, sumi, ban somn, ban chou, noom-pow and bai-such chhrook (not all at once!)
2-3 hour lunch breaks
Relaxed way of life
Friends here… close-knit team of volunteers – easy socialising
Inexpensive way of life (£5 per room, 50p breakfast, £1 pair of flop-flips…)
28 days public holiday per year (+another 20 from VSO)
Paddy fields, palm trees and awe-inspiring sunsets over the Mekong
BeerLao
2nd October 2008
Oh dear, no running for 2 weeks now…. Am turning into fat bloater once more! Next week I will start again.
Definitely.
For sure.
If there’s no rain.
Maybe…
