Home for a visit!
There's no place like home, oh how true that is!
The visa I went to the UK on was due to run out at the end of May 07 and I had been lucky enough for my work to sponsor me with a work permit. Now to get this work permit it meant I had to go back to NZ to get this from Wellington, what a shame!
So after arriving back from a week in Turkey at 10pm the Sunday nite, I flew home at midday on the Monday to arrive home at 10pm on Tuesday. I had tried to surprise my parents but asking my sister Kathryn to pick me up from the airport and I'd surprise them when I got home. But they were asking Kathryn all weekend when I'd be home so she gave in and they were at the airport as well. The surprise was on me!
I spent most of my time catching up with friends as well as doing a bit of shopping. I had been lucky enough to lease out my bedroom in London so had a bit of extra cash which was nice.
Two of my friends, Catherine and Amanda, were going away not long after I arrive to Europe but I managed to have a dinner with my school friends at Catherine's place before they left. Most of the girls didn't know I was home yet so the look on their faces was priceless when I opened the door to greet them!
I also surprised my friend Hannah at work, she came leaping out of the office when she saw me. I turned up on the doorsteps of Jorrizze and Lance's place, as well as Jerrold's. And I opened the door of Jerrold's place when Kim arrived. All their looks of surprise were priceless, definately glad I had decided not to tell them I was coming home!
May the 13th was also Mother's Day so it was lovely to be with Mum for the day. We had a family picnic in Cascade Park in the Waitakere Ranges, it had been a long time since the 5 of us had been on a picnic together! Went for a lovely bush walk as well, was great to see NZ forests again after so long, definately something I miss.
I also managed a few nits out in town, Danny Doulans one nite and Boogie Wonderland another nite. Great times!
I saw my boss from the National Bank and a few work colleagues, as well as my old workmates from Tech Pacific. Great to see so many familiar faces!
I had sent my passport to Wellington for the new visa and was awaiting its return. As soon as I got it, I flew to Sydney that afternoon to see my grandparents who were in Sydney the whole time I was in Auckland. It was a very quick trip but great to see them, as well as my aunts, uncles and cousins. It had been just over a year since I was last there when I visited them all on my way to London.
After arriving back in Auckland at midday on Thursday, I went home to pack for my flight back to London at 11.55pm. A few friends came over that evening for a little bit of a farewell which was lovely. And after about 26 hours of travelling, I was back in London!
It's been a bonus to go home when I did as I have no idea when I'll be going back again. There's still a lot of travelling I want to do before I eventually leave the UK for good, which could be in any number of years.
So here's to London and the summer ahead, as well as many more countries to visit!
The visa I went to the UK on was due to run out at the end of May 07 and I had been lucky enough for my work to sponsor me with a work permit. Now to get this work permit it meant I had to go back to NZ to get this from Wellington, what a shame!
So after arriving back from a week in Turkey at 10pm the Sunday nite, I flew home at midday on the Monday to arrive home at 10pm on Tuesday. I had tried to surprise my parents but asking my sister Kathryn to pick me up from the airport and I'd surprise them when I got home. But they were asking Kathryn all weekend when I'd be home so she gave in and they were at the airport as well. The surprise was on me!
I spent most of my time catching up with friends as well as doing a bit of shopping. I had been lucky enough to lease out my bedroom in London so had a bit of extra cash which was nice.
Two of my friends, Catherine and Amanda, were going away not long after I arrive to Europe but I managed to have a dinner with my school friends at Catherine's place before they left. Most of the girls didn't know I was home yet so the look on their faces was priceless when I opened the door to greet them!
I also surprised my friend Hannah at work, she came leaping out of the office when she saw me. I turned up on the doorsteps of Jorrizze and Lance's place, as well as Jerrold's. And I opened the door of Jerrold's place when Kim arrived. All their looks of surprise were priceless, definately glad I had decided not to tell them I was coming home!
May the 13th was also Mother's Day so it was lovely to be with Mum for the day. We had a family picnic in Cascade Park in the Waitakere Ranges, it had been a long time since the 5 of us had been on a picnic together! Went for a lovely bush walk as well, was great to see NZ forests again after so long, definately something I miss.
I also managed a few nits out in town, Danny Doulans one nite and Boogie Wonderland another nite. Great times!
I saw my boss from the National Bank and a few work colleagues, as well as my old workmates from Tech Pacific. Great to see so many familiar faces!
I had sent my passport to Wellington for the new visa and was awaiting its return. As soon as I got it, I flew to Sydney that afternoon to see my grandparents who were in Sydney the whole time I was in Auckland. It was a very quick trip but great to see them, as well as my aunts, uncles and cousins. It had been just over a year since I was last there when I visited them all on my way to London.
After arriving back in Auckland at midday on Thursday, I went home to pack for my flight back to London at 11.55pm. A few friends came over that evening for a little bit of a farewell which was lovely. And after about 26 hours of travelling, I was back in London!
It's been a bonus to go home when I did as I have no idea when I'll be going back again. There's still a lot of travelling I want to do before I eventually leave the UK for good, which could be in any number of years.
So here's to London and the summer ahead, as well as many more countries to visit!