christmas greetings and strawberries

Merry Christmas everyone! Here's a wee video I made of Christmas this side of world - packed full of strawberries, raspberries, cherries and apricots in the sunshine! Strange to have Christmas time is the summer, full of different joys - no fires and roasting chestnuts but barbeque's, beaches and beers. Sure is turned upsidedown. Anyhow, I'm really happy just to have some time off work, bit of rest and lots of eating to see me into the new year me thinks. Dad - thanks for your lovely card that I was trying to acknowledge in the video there, but the sneaky wind took it to the nearby tree (found it after I stopped recording!). I hope you all have a great merry old time back there, I'll be thinking of you xxxx

Such Great Heights

2008. Almost over?! Where did all the time go? Sometimes it seems only yesterday that i got that bus to Heathrow Airport and landed, alone among millions of teeming, bustling Hong Kong masses. And yet that was a year, over a year ago. And now is the time of another new year, another Christmas, another year gone by, and what of it?

Well, so much has happened. I have travelled far in many ways and the physical journey of home to here is only geography, a physical location. Being so far away from home simply ensures that I only rely on myself. The common cliche of people heading off on Oversees Experiences to 'find themselves' is really hard not to laugh at, cheesy as it is, but I think there's something about travelling alone that lets that happen whether you like it or not. Don't get me wrong, I've never lost myself, not even in stinky London!, but when you free yourself from the routine of established life stuff just happens to make you even freer. Freer to be on the right path, freer to meet the right people and to face the challenges you need to overcome in order for the next chapter of life to begin. And so 2009 will see a new chapter opening for me, and I'm excited about that, ready for that. I have no idea whatsoever what will happen, what i will do with the year or anything, and I love that feeling. That is freedom for me right now, on December 18th 2008. (Disclaimer. H Jones will not be held responsible for making any of you readers feel slightly nauseous right now. Get a bucket. Read on)
I've climbed a few mountains, I made a few journeys, covered a few miles and I'm proud that I've done it all alone, just me. Its been amazing. I think that we always know that we can do anything we set our minds to but sometimes you have to go thousands of miles to work that out. Well that was 2008 for me, and its been a great year. I'm really really looking forward to 2009. Especially as I get to come home and see you all again. Do miss everyone horribly.

So, I'm on to a new improved Christmas Bloggy greeting for you this year, look out for it! And I'll be doing the phone rounds. Have phone card. Not afraid to use it.

travel thoughts.....

So I'm on a trip!! It occurred to my flatmate and I that we only worked, and on our days off, well we stay in the area, near work. So today and tomorrow we are road-tripping. We are currently at the bottom of Mount Cook, the highest peak in NZ. Its been a great day, great to remind ourselves of the fabulous country that we are in and that life is not solely about work. No matter how good your job is its still important to work to live not live to work. We'll have a lovely easy day tomorrow, cruising back past some lakes and towns, eating, drinking and being merry.

Christmas is coming too, but its not in the least bit Christmasy here, so I don't think I'll 'do' Christmas this year at all. Its not the same without you guys anyway! I've been putting quite a bit of thought and planning into coming home too. The overland trip is still on the cards but trickier than I thought it would be to arrange - dates, visas, mucho planning..... will be worth it though. I'm starting working it out backwards from Belaruse late May, Russia May, etc....see how I go.

xx