If you read my recent post you’ll know this blog has been super quiet over Christmas as I was whisked over to Ireland to spend the holidays with my family and friends. I say whisked, but it was actually 26 hours on a plane!
The last time I had been home to Ireland was April 2014 so it was only a couple of months in comparison with our previous trip home which was a whole year and a half after leaving Ireland.
There’s nothing like spending Christmas and New Year celebrations at home after spending them abroad. I can honestly say that after spending Christmas here in Australia last year, I was so happy to spend Christmas as it should be – in the cold.
For me, Christmas is super cold weather, all wrapped up in a million different layers, shopping on Grafton St., calling into pubs with friends ‘for just a quick one’ and ending up spending all night there, visiting relatives on the annual endurance test, ice skating, snuggling up under the duvet with the doggies watching the Grinch/Elf/Miracle on 34th St. So you can imagine the difference last year when myself and Colm decided to spend Christmas in Australia. It just didn’t feel like Christmas with the sun beaming down and 35 degree weather. There was obviously no ice skating, snuggling under the duvet or visiting with relatives.
I imagined myself laying on the beach come Christmas Day but alas it actually rained. So you can imagine how excited I was to get home this year!
I had a great trip home and managed to see almost all my family and most of my friends. Living so far away from home, I’ve come to appreciate my family a lot more and cherish the time I now get to spend with my friends. It’s amazing how despite being so far apart absolutely nothing changes when you see your friends. I did a lot of soul searching and wondered if maybe I should move back to Ireland. Living in Australia becomes the hardest when people announce engagements, wedding invitations arrive or when family or friends pass away because you’re not there to celebrate with them or mourn their passing.
As I said I did a lot of soul searching but I’m where I am meant to be.
2014 was very good to me.
I visited Ireland twice.
I flew across Sydney in a helicopter.
I got a new job.
This blog has grown a huge amount since I left Ireland.
I spent a lot of time cuddling Teddy, Buster and Roxy.
I got a new car.
And yes, there were negatives, namely a family member passing and my car accident – http://loveniamh.com/life-2/car-accidents/, but on the whole 2014 was a great year and I’m looking forward to a better 2015!
What were the highlights of your year?
