A month later.........

Well it is over a month since I last updated my blog!!!! My last few weeks in the US were so busy and then of course I arrived home to all my loved ones and there was no time to sit and write.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in California but the highlight of my trip was seeing Becca, Ian, Katelyn, Annabelle and Elizabeth Toal! And of course meeting Brielle and getting so many cuddles was just amazing!!! I felt so priviledged. I fell in love with those girls all over again and I really felt that I connected with Katie. She is a beautiful girl and she is getting so big and grown up!! As I have known her since seeing her as a foetus in the scan pictures I feel a strong emotional bond with her and can't believe how the years go in so fast!!!. Although she cant wait to be a  BIG girl so that she can do things with me and Becca, and as much as Becca and I will enjoy her company, I just want her to stay that little girl!!!! We had so much fun dancing, playing, tickling and climbing and most importantly sitting at the piano singing our hearts out to God.

Thanks to Becca, I was treated to a lovely weekend break in Vancouver. This was just beautiful. I stayed with my good friend Naomi as she celebrated Faith's 2nd Birthday! On the Saturday I got to meet the beautiful Jerod and Davis for the first time ever and it was just as I imagined it would be. We had so much fun playing together and cuddling on the sofa. We had a wonderful meal with Marianne and were entertained by the boys. More playing and then some storytelling before the boys went off to bed.Feona and Greg were as hospitable as always and it was just lovely to catch up with how life has been for them since the arrival of the boys!!!

Another highlight and she deserves a paragraph all to herself was meeting up with my God given friend Lauren Watkins. We first met in Cape Town and then had an awesome night together with her lovely husband, parousing 2nd hand book shops, eating wonderful Ethiopian food, and playing the funniest game over a beer and cider!!!! We laughed so much that night and this is the beginning of a beautiful thing. I love you Lauren and I am so thankful for the time we had together in Seattle. Thank you!

It was back to San Francisco on an overnight train before flying home to Belfast. I never felt so tired as when I reached London!!!! It was so good to get home to Belfast eventually and honestly the weirdest feeling ever!!! It didnt take me long to feel 'at home'. I got spoiled rotten and was well looked after!!! It was lovely to feel loved and missed by my closest and dearest friends! A very significant event in my calendar on return was the Baptism of my God-son Steven. It was a really good day!!!


It was an extremely busy week, trying to catch up with those who I love and I felt slightly frustrated that I didn't get quality time with everybody! But I did my best before setting off to London to start my course in Tropical diseases. I have been extremely blessed in finding somewhere suitable to live. It has been a real answer to prayer! My course is wonderful!!!! I believe it is very instense and I will be kept busy but it is exactly what I want to be doing right now! On our first day in class I was so inspired by my classmates. Each one of them had a very unique story and reason for wanting to be there!!!! Some have travelled, some have worked abroad and some have never been anywhere but we all share one thing in common- WE ARE GLAD TO BE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is the only Nursing course that we have even been excited about. One particular lady stood up and I think it is safe to say that she challeneged everyone in the room and inspired us to strive for change and for a better life.

So that is it, I am currently living in London and loving the excitement!!! But that is not the end......I may change my blog address to a new one but I will keep blogging.

To sum up my 5 months of travel would be impossible in just a few lines. One thing I can say is that my life is forever changed. Unfortunately there are some people who don't understand that change that has taken place and have to be left behind...but I thank God for my friends who were part of my journey and who without me having to say anything, knew just what to say- Heather Walker-a truly great friend and fantastic mother to the beautiful little Meighan.

I have made so many friends in London already!! Everything is fitting into place. All I need now is to be able to work in London as the commute to Belfast in order to work is a bit of a killer!!!!!! Having said that I am thankful for work when it is available and it is great to get home!!

Jx

What happened in Vegas???

A week ago today I arrived in San Diego. Claire, Bella and Ciara picked me up from the train station. I had flown into LA and then took the Amtrak down the Coast of California. It was a beautiful journey with lots of lovely scenery! San Diego is a really lovely city and I enjoyed it but I can't help but notice there is a huge number of homeless people. The Gaslamp quarter is really beautiful and balboa Park was spectacular.

I enjoyed spending a few days there before we headed off on our road trip to Vegas.....where the fun begins....

The drive was done at our leisure, stopping in at a vineyard for a wine tasting!!! Then we drove through hundreds of miles of desert!!!!!! As we were entering Vegas the sun was going down and the lights shining brightly!!

Arriving in Las Vegas was a bit of a shell shock!!!! It is quite an amazing place but yet so void of any sense of purpose. 24/7 365 days a year the casinos are open. There are hundreds of them!!!!! You can't help but feel sorry for people who just spend all their time in the casinos throwing good money away!!! It is obvious the hotels are reaping the profit!!!

Our hotel was nice and very close to Paris and Planet Hollywood. We had a really great weekend perusing the strip and taking it all in. Claire and I were in disbelief at the sheer size of the place.....everything is so grand, bright, fake but made to look so real. Shopping centres are designed to make it look like you are walking outside. Miles of exclusive shops, chandeliers etc...

I did the day trip to the Grand Canyon which was really beautiful. It was a long bus journey but again a beautiful drive through Arizona desert

Next stop San Francisco!!!!!

North Island

Just spent the last week catching up!!!!!!  Old friends of mine Gary, Alma, Daniel and Rachel looked after me and showed me a good time. It was a wonderful time in Wellington.....The kids are great and we had a good laugh together. I miss those guys!!! What a shame NZ is so far away....


The next stop was Hastings in Hawke's Bay. I was going to meet family that I didn't know existed until a few months ago. I was rather hoping they wouldn't be weirdos like some family!!!!! They took me back to their beautiful home and I had the most comfortable nights sleep I have had in a long time!!!!! They are just wonderful and we had a really good time together. I signed my name on their wall although it was difficult to find space on it!!! Thanks Ken and Annetta for being so hospitable. I am so glad that I have met you and look forward to another visit, only for a bit longer the next time!!!!


Then to Auckland!!! Kevin, their son, picked me up and took me to a dinner party at a friend's house where we enjoyed Mexican food and sangria!!!!! A good time was had by all and the hosts were lovely...A Capetonian and an American/Korean....very good company. Inagh was an absolute doll and I wish I had had more time to spend with her but hopefully next time!!!!! As she says, never worry what type of cousin you are, YOU ARE FAMILY!!!!!
John picked me up at their house and took me for brunch! I had never met him before but it was as if we had known each other for years. John spent some time in Ireland a few years back and knew friends of mine Dave and Lynda. It was them that put me in touch with John here in Auckland. They did not tell me how good a cook John is. Had I known that I would have changed my flight....lol. Thanks John for all you have done!!! 

This is my last day in New Zealand before I head to California!!! I am very excited....this is the last leg of my journey. The next flight I get on is bound for home!!!!!

Pictures.......and some more........