Saturday 16th June 10.21pm
After leaving London yesterday evening it seems I got to appreciate today what I love most about this country. I have, rather happily, been spending my last 24 hours listening to the giggles of my family members. There’s something so beautiful about just being in a homey place. Today I sat around the dining table with my grandma, my dad, my cousin … the four of us, just picking at grapes and admiring the birds on the table outside. It’s those simple things I will most miss. Sitting and discussing nothing in particular. Laughing but not really knowing what about. I love travelling and I love the family you create when you are away but I don’t think it’s a bad thing to admit knowing you will miss these home comforts. I’m glad I spent the day here, flicking through useless channels on the tv, attempting to make a cake because using the oven seemed like the perfect warming thing to do when in this rather windy weather about which seemed keen on pelting down rain all day, or even just snoozing on the sofa whilst dozing in and out of the surrounding conversations about family members so distant you know who they are but can’t quite decide if you care enough about to listen to the latest gossip on them or not. Yes, of course I will miss all of this.
After leaving London yesterday evening it seems I got to appreciate today what I love most about this country. I have, rather happily, been spending my last 24 hours listening to the giggles of my family members. There’s something so beautiful about just being in a homey place. Today I sat around the dining table with my grandma, my dad, my cousin … the four of us, just picking at grapes and admiring the birds on the table outside. It’s those simple things I will most miss. Sitting and discussing nothing in particular. Laughing but not really knowing what about. I love travelling and I love the family you create when you are away but I don’t think it’s a bad thing to admit knowing you will miss these home comforts. I’m glad I spent the day here, flicking through useless channels on the tv, attempting to make a cake because using the oven seemed like the perfect warming thing to do when in this rather windy weather about which seemed keen on pelting down rain all day, or even just snoozing on the sofa whilst dozing in and out of the surrounding conversations about family members so distant you know who they are but can’t quite decide if you care enough about to listen to the latest gossip on them or not. Yes, of course I will miss all of this.
My cousin, on one of those wonderfully intelligent but
highly baffling smart phones, today pulled up a description of my name. I knew
in Polish it signified “a little boat” but until today I was unaware that it
also had Indian connections. She told me I was meant to be ‘full of life but
easily distracted’. I usually wouldn’t listen to “what your name means”
articles but it seemed so apt in the moment. I have loved today, I have loved
this year, but I know my mind is so eager to keep moving, as it will be by the
end of next year I am sure…
It’s feels somewhat strange that I’m starting to think about
China and leaving the United Kingdom yet tomorrow evening I will be back in ‘my
bedroom’. I will be surrounded by the
cats I grew up with, the air I learnt to dance in, the water I like to swim in.
I will be catching-up with my mum over mojitos and during walks along the
beach. The sky will stay light throughout most the evening and the sun won’t
have even set before its rising again. The heat will be intense and the breeze
will be refreshing. Until now I think I seemed to forget that I am returning to
Spain. Even typing this, thinking ahead to twenty-four hours in the future
seems so surreal…Tapas, chilled drinks, anklets and flipflops … it seems so
surreal to think that will be tomorrow.
I think tonight I’m just left in a peculiar middle-man mood
– I’m saying goodbye and saying hello. I am slightly tearful and reminiscent of
all that this year has allowed me yet filled with warmth in knowing that soon
I’ll be in and amongst that Spanish feeling of life I have often dreamed of this year. I
can’t quite believe how lucky I am to get to experience the best of both of
these worlds.
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| Vegan of course :-) |
Sunday 17th June 16:34
I didn’t update my blog with the above post yesterday mainly
due to my attention span of a goldfish. One minute I was typing and before I
knew it I seemed to be away with the fairies. I don’t even remember falling
asleep. I’m now sat on the plane to Spain! Though delayed by a couple of hours
everyone around seems in such happy spirits. As much as I love the dramatic
shivering-ly cold often described as miserable but more usually in my opinion
romantic weather of Great Britain, I must admit the prospect of sun, sea and
sand seems to be keeping everyone in a good mood!
I have decided to go on a diet when in Spain. It’s more of a
ruthless regime of eating only melons and broccoli. I thought I would start as
soon as I reached home as this is the one place I can have full control of what
I eat but as the crew just passed by with cup-a-soups, pot noodles, hula hoops
and crackers, I realised there is no better time to start than now! I don’t yet
know what target I’m reaching but I’m hoping to make the most of having this
free time. I’m determined to go to China with a smile on my face :-)
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