Life back in the UK

Double rainbow over Rochford

We had returned from Spain somewhat earlier than we might have thought.  So, what to do now?

We made the most of the fact that we were there for important occasions, like Si’s Dad’s 70^th birthday when the whole family got together for a meal.  It was also time to finish planning and prep for the next big trip.  We both got stabbed by the doctor…. In a good way, of course, protecting ourselves against typhoid and Hep A.  We booked trips to the dentist and the opticians - time for an MOT and full body service!

I was tempted to buy this card for Simon, even though it's not his Birthday for months... it's so apt!  This is what he looked like on the camper without WiFi (but with a full-sized guitar!)

It gave us an opportunity to see more of our friends, whilst also trying to keep it cheap with quiz nights, games nights and such. Simon had been plotting behind my back.  My fortieth Birthday was on the horizon and the initial plan had been to still be in Spain to enjoy it in the sunshine.  I’m not very good with Birthdays.  My own, that is.  I’m happy enough to celebrate anybody elses, I just don’t like much fuss when it comes to my day, I’d rather it passed just like any other really (Baa humbug!).  But Si had been in cahoots with my brother and his wife to try and rent her family’s villa near Gibraltar for the weekend after my Birthday.  All we now had to do was persuade some others as to how cheap it would be to fly there and spend a weekend with us:

The Rock of Gibraltar... doesn't look too shabby does it?

Trying to persuade people to join us by sending images of CHEAP flights!

I also had an opportunity to return to my office to stick my head in and see what had changed.  There were plenty of new faces there but still many familiar ones.  One thing that doesn’t seem to have changed is the workload.  The jobs are still coming in thick and fast.  Do I miss work at all after a year off?  Not really.  I miss some of the people and to an extent the routine.  I am quite happy going for long daily dog walks and visiting the gym as regularly as possible but this seems to give me too much time for thinking.  Will the next trip away go okay?  Will we run out of money early?  How will it feel to go back to the old jobs? Should I try to do something else with my life? Have I got time to do some voluntary work and actually contribute to something while I’m here?  Do I still need to be learning Spanish?  Could I go back to study for a complete career change or am I too old?!  You get the picture.  Maybe the fact that we get into such a busy routine in our work and home lives is in a way a distraction from mulling over the ‘what-ifs?’ and thinking about life too much.  Maybe structure in our lives is good for a person’s mental health?  I feel somewhat disappointed in myself.  I would love to be laid-back enough to not worry for the future and just take it as it comes, but it turns out that maybe I’m not the chilled out person that I hoped to be.

It was good to see some of the old work chums and to hear that there was a photo opportunity not to be missed coming up.  A large number of them were taking part in the Nuclear Blast at Kelvedon Secret Nuclear Bunker (not so secret anymore, eh?!).  I was delighted to get a lift with Wendy and her dog Shirley to the event and went armed with my new camera to get some suitable shots of their enjoyment/misery:

Wendy and Shirley offer moral support while Shaun helps Rachel with some emergency nicotine near the finish!

Apparently this was relaxing ....

They made it!  The Brentwood gang (above) and the Harlow gang (below)

The Brentwood lot are the ones in Hawaiian grass skirts and flower garlands. They all made it to the end which is a credit to a great team effort.  Despite being drenched and cold to the bone they started talking about next year’s event before their hair was even dry!

Simon and I did have some serious work to be doing though.  Finishing the mammoth painting job completing the hallways and stairs at his parents’ house.  It was no easy task. 
I managed to slope away for the odd day or two to see other friends, like getting to Birmingham to visit Becky and her cats.  Ahhh, my happy place.....

This is what my scratch-off World map currently looks like - still a lot of World out there that needs visiting!