back from home

I'm home! or rather, I'm back! When you live far from home it's hard to know what to call each place. My recent emails to family must surely be confusing as I use the word to describe the place I've just come from and the place I've just arrived. The very nature of the word seems to imply that home can only be one place, and that does resonate with me.

So what's what? Can home actually be just the place where you pay rent and store your things and have the contents of the pantry memorized, or is it always going to be the place where you became you alongside the people who helped make you that way, regardless of whether or not you still have a bedroom there? Dean likes to remind me that home is where your heart is, so I guess my home covers a thin line connecting Oxford to Vancouver/Island via Swift Current.

My heart must be pretty stretchy.

Since I returned to the UK, I've been submerged in a cloud of jet lag, but have also managed to get out and about to welcome my friend Jeremy to his new life in Oxford and to chat Orwell with my fantastic bookclub girls. I also started a new gig at St Aldates where I'll be offering up my communication skills once a week from here on out! And what did I get up to in Vancouver? Well, plenty. Here are some photos from the few times I actually remembered to pull out the camera!

Nathan's world-class Asian-fusion in Victoria

Three-year-old Rowyn's Tai Kwon Do bow in Parksville

Two of my favourite city girls braving the Van Island outback for a day

Kelly, myself and Nina celebrating Julie's 29th birthday!

A couple of Scots in Vancouver after a record-breaking downpour

Me and cutie Josh in Coquitlam

A HUGE thank-you to the many people who hosted me, treated me to coffees, lunches, dinners and belly laughs. I love you kids.