I didn't update the Monday I was back because, aside from wanting to spend time with my family rather than on the computer, I am sure you have no interest in how I spent the three days between the last blog update and actually leaving for home. Trust me, it was rather stressful as I didn't have much hold luggage weight and I wanted to bring quite a bit back including my new ukulele!
The flights home were rather nice. I had not flown with Aeroflot before and after wasting a lot of time at Hong Kong airport, I found myself in a comfortable aisle seat (which I always prefer) and on my way home. We had a wonderful stop off in Moscow which was rather exciting as I have never been to Russia before and while it wa -14 degrees Celsius outside and the snow was thick on the ground, it was toasty inside the terminals and I found myself spending the small amount of Russian roubles I had been able to change from GBP, on an ice cream which was both rather weird and rather nice. The flight from Moscow to London was much shorter (3hr 15 in comparison to 10 hours) and I have to admit it was a perhaps rather hyper from being so tired me that found herself on the London Underground, on my way home!
I did feel slightly bad for turning up at 11.30pm when Al had school the next day but after the initial shock had worn off, it was wonderful just to collapse into bed and sleep! Having rung Mum, who was away at the time, to let her know I was here, I then rung two of my closest friends, the gorgeous Tiff and Shancy, who proceeded to attempt to burst my ear drum with the level of noise they emitted when they found out I was here! We met up and after discovering it was going to be a fruitless attempt trying to get tickets for Corialanus, we went for Italian food and then back to Tiff's for a sleepover. It was wonderful to see these two again and it was the start of a wonderful week, seeing friends and family who I hadn't seen for nearly five months!
Sunday was spent at church, both at St Peter's with the monthly family lunch followed by watching the start of the 6 Nations (and continuing to despair over England, the match having been watched yesterday) and at HTB Onslow Square where it was a great surprise to my friends and wonderful to see so many of the people that I had grown up with and had grown to know and love over the last few years. The week completely felt as if I hadn't left.
After a couple of days of relaxing, walking the dog and making choclate brownies at my brother's request, I found myself at HTB Students on Tuesday night. I hadn't actually been to one of the term time meetings but I was overjoyed to feel so welcome by both new and old friends, feeling warmly greeted and then accepted into the 'Connect Group' who adopted me. With delicious food, great company and a challenging talk from Pete Greig, it was an awesome evening very well spent.
On Wednesday, I got the pleasure of seeing another of my friends, Naomi, after she had finished work. She treated me to a cupcake from the Hummingbird Bakery (for those of you who aren't aware, these are the most delicious things in the entire world!) and we spent a lovely hour together before I headed off to the theatre. Having failed to secure tickets for Corialanus (again), Mum and I popped down the road and managed to get rather good dress circle tickets to see Matilda the Musical, something that while it wasn't Mum's cup of tea, it was something I had wanted to see for ages. The young cast were stunning and a very much enjoyable night out at the theatre, something I haven't been able to do since I left London. A review of it should be coming to the 'Practise for University' blog post in the next week.
On Thursday, I was treated, despite the awful weather, to see my dear from Jemima who is also travelling, I look forward to her hopefully coming to Hong Kong in the near future. We haven't seen each other for nearly 7 months so it was fantastic to be able to catch up and just relax in Caffe Nero with warm drinks and excellent food. Afterwards I travelled back to GCH, my alma mater if you wish, to go back and visit. It was very strange coming back as an 'Old Grey' but it was lovely to see many of my old teachers again and to see a few of my friends in the younger years who are still there! After that, Shantelle and I travelled back to Tiff's where I finally managed to get her Christmas present to her (oh well, I think July is when it gets a little ridiculous but two months late is fairly acceptable) and we spent a couple of hours getting to have a last chat and much laughter before I flew on Friday morning.
It has been very strange coming back to Hong Kong. It now feels like a second home so it felt no different to going back to England and although I made the mistake of falling asleep for nearly 5 hours during the day, resulting in not getting to sleep until 6am the next morning, I was ready to go back to school this morning.
I look forward to seeing what this half of the year brings. It was 5 months exactly on Friday since I had been in Hong Kong and I can't believe that I am now half way through. Ruth is leaving us on Sunday to go back to England (a very long and complicated reason would have to be issued which even I am not sure of the whole story) so it will be very strange. However I have a fellow Old Grey, Lucy, coming to stay with me in her travels across the world so I am looking forward to catching up with another wonderful friend from home.
Until next week,
Batkinson xx
Cantonese word of the week: pronunciation: mo fan; translation: absent/not here (used to indicate a child is not in class)
Quote of the week: "No story lives unless someone is willing to listen." - JK Rowling
Prayer points:
- that the kids come back refreshed and ready to learn
- that I don't suffer from jetlag as I did when I first arrived - it hasn't been too bad so far but who knows
- for healing for my cough. I have had it for over a month now and it doesn't show many signs of getting any better...
Chinese New Year decorations outside school!
When up in the air, expect it to be -40 degrees Centigrade outside...that's too cold for words!
Looking out over Russia, it looks incredible! Maybe one day I will be able to go further than the airport!
Sunset as we touch down in Russia...is that en route to Cambodia?
Sign for an Irish Bar, the translation in Russian...in Russia...right...
Well you learn something new every day, here's Burger King in Russian!
My first sight of snow for a while! -14 degrees outside in Moscow and I'm inside, toasty hot and licking an ice cream!
Looks a lot more like England than Cambodia...
Making these again, haven't done them in a while and it was SO good to get back to baking!
Such a treat getting to see the awesomeness that is Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge Theatre on Wednesday with Mum!! Not something I've got to do very often while in Hong Kong!
Sad goodbyes to these two, again...gonna miss these two crazy cats so much! Again!
Brunch snack of Hoisin Duck wrap (getting in the mood a little...) before heading back to Hong Kong!
Taking the cold weather back to Hong Kong with me via -4 degrees in Russia!
Why do I get the feeling that Aeroflot are proud to have the Winter Olympics in their country? The covers on the seats certainly say something...
She must have really missed me if I come home and find her curled up on my bed, in the coldest room in the house, rather than on Ellie's bed!
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