Saturday, September 28, 2013

The List...

It was 2006, I had been out of Uni for a couple of years, in a job I enjoyed, surrounded by great friends and family... why wouldn't you get up and move to the other side of the planet!?

And so thats what I did, I chucked in my nice secure job with the local council, packed (and repacked) my belongings into a single bag, and got on a plane. Alone.

I was lucky, my brother lived in London, so I had a base for the first few days - this was lucky as the only thing that was going through my head, with tube delays, bus diversions, flat/dive hunting and dealing with the bureaucracy of utility companies was - 'what the hell have I done?!'

Now after more than 5 years abroad, things have settled down, I have a decent job (although working at about 60%, means you're destined for greatness in this country), okay money (its London - its expensive) great friends (those that are still here...) and a life in one of the largest cities in the world - a far cry from wee Christchurch...

All of this, in aid of the list. The list is a never ending, bucket list type, collaboration of all the places I want to visit in the world. Yes I did the contiki touring, but thats just the start, it has only whet my appetite to experience more places and cultures, to speak to the locals, to drink the local brew, to taste the regions food, to get those photos of holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa, or under the Eiffel Tower or with a beer wench at Oktoberfest. I have never written this list down, although in the last 5 years I have had good intentions to do so. But by writing it down seems quite final, it means this is what I have left to do... then I'm coming home.

This May I have been lucky enough to receive my Indefinite Leave to Remain visa... this means I get to stay, I have more time to add to and complete my list. At the very bottom - New Zealand