To be or not to be...

It did not take me a great amount of time to come up with the word for the second letter in my alphabet. However, the explanation for it is taking a little longer.

When life seems like it has turned upside down, when everything has changed, for good or for bad, we seek things in life to bring us back to reality, all to often caught up in the whirlwind of situations that pass us by. Often we forget about the necessities in life, and I don’t mean food and water, which satisfies only our stomachs. I believe these necessities at the time cannot seem so apparent, yet things begin to ignite, like a sailboat catching the wind, keeping the same direction, yet with more energy and enthusiasm with the help from the natural elements.

The natural elements in my life are my friends. However near or far, every single one of you, play a part in my life. Whether it is a shoulder to cry on, gossip to share, nights out to remember or even the odd coffee in a city café, each one of these experiences warms my heart with the feeling of friendship.



(My best friend and I on New Years Eve 2010)

I have to admit that it is hard to start a new life in another country and keep friends so close to my heart. Those that have made an impact on my life will never leave my heart. Yet sometimes it is easy to get frustrated over time zones or trying to arrange days to meet up or call, I have to remember it is far to easy to let life take over and for the whirlwind to pick me up and shuffle my thoughts around. Which leads me to my next word for my alphabet, Balance. An ideal life for me is one of daily hassles balanced out by special friends and fantastic experiences.

The beginning...

Influenced by my co-teacher Tez and her inspiring writing, I find myself writing a blog. I have also pinched her idea of using the letters of the alphabet to guide my writing.

I will start at the very beginning, because it is a very good place to start. While sitting down and relaxing this evening I chose to watch a film which is very close to my heart, the main quote, though it seems cliché, is ‘love is actually all around’. Most of the ladies out there would have already guessed that it is the adored film ‘Love Actually’. There are many reasons why this film has a special place in my heart, probably most significantly is that love is such a difficult topic and I believe that this film with all its giggles and tears, really does pin point the positive and negatives of a feeling that we all have experience with.

However, I am going slightly off topic, this film also makes me utterly homesick, of England, of family, of close friends. I tend to watch this film on days of reflection. Having moved half way around the world and visited a fair few airports, I have a fair idea the rituals and routines when arriving in a country. When the plane lands, often you’re sat at the back waiting for the doors to be opened and the impatient travellers are already standing and queuing with their oversized hand luggage and their passports at the ready. Obviously then you go through the process of passport control and luggage reclaim. But I think what touches me the most is walking out through the doors of the arrival lounge. Like walking through the smoke on Stars in their Eyes, spending 24 hours on a plane to prepare for it, yet exiting the gate looking more like the grim reaper! It is the feeling of relief and excitement that the never-ending plane journey did end and the long awaited hugs and smiles from family and friends are only minutes away.

I think back to the last time my sister and her family came to New Zealand. To see them walking through the gates, was just overwhelming and slightly surreal. And so, I start my blog with the word Arrivals. Whether being the arrived or the awaiting loved ones, the arrivals lounge is full of smiles, laughter, tears and most of all, love. I look forward to many more visits to arrival lounges, to be or to greet the arrived...