look east

I've been back in Lowestoft with my family for a week now, and I've had a very relaxing time.

I haven't made any blog entries since being home, because I've had no access to a computer, and I've also been fairly busy. I'm writing this message from my sister's house.

The journey back from London last Saturday was simple enough, and it was no bother shifting my stuff out of the flat and into my Dad's car. As suspected, my worldly possessions did fit in the back with space to spare, and only took about ten minutes to load. Minimalism one, hoarding nil.

Since being back I've slowly but surely been putting the finishing touches to my now imminent jaunt abroad. I've phoned my bank, and got some spare passport photos taken. I've bought some suntan lotion, and caught up with my family. And I've even compiled a list of emergency numbers, and given my old mosquito net an airing.

On Monday and Wednesday, I went up to Norwich to buy a few extra clothes. It's so nice to have some clothes which actually fit me again. Since last August I've lost 3 and 1/4 stone through exercise and dieting. This has been good, but with the consequence that all my clothes have ended up hanging off me. I haven't bought any new gear because I've been saving hard to go away, but this week the time finally came for new shirts that fit and waistbands that grip. What a luxury it is not being genuinely concerned that my trousers might fall down at any moment.

The only thing left to sort out is a camera which remains a dilemma. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do but I do know I can't be bothered to sort it out today.

Preparations aside, I've spent most of the rest of my time with Victoria (my niece) and my Mum. We've been playing on bikes, playing tennis (in a very loose sense of the word), drawing, crying, laughing, and running round the house. Sometimes all of these things within the space of five minutes. It's been great fun, if exhausting at times. On Sunday, we're all going to Sheringham in Norfolk to ride the old steam railway.

This will be the last blog entry from the UK. The next time you hear from me I should have landed in Thailand. Alternatively, you'll get a message from whichever country I got on the wrong plane to. Will be in touch soon.

my last day at work

I'm sat behind my desk in room G29 and it's finally arrived - my last day at work. All that remains is to re-direct my telephone, and give my work colleagues my new email address and a link to this blog.

As ever on defining 'turning point' days, I don't know quite what to make of it, or quite how I feel about things, but it's a lovely sunny day outside, and that's a good way to finish.

I've said goodbye to most people I've worked with, and went out with everyone in my team on Wednesday night to The Mother Black Cap, a local pub in Ladbroke Grove, for a few drinks. I had a good time, and quaffed a more than reasonable quantity of Guinness (doubt the black stuff will be readily available in rural Laos). I wanted to go to the pub because it was used as a location in the cult film 'Withnail and I,' and I also used to walk past it every morning on my way in to work back when I lived in Maida Vale.

So, never again will I sit behind my desk over in the corner of the office, nor will I have the pleasure of being shouted at down the telephone by an angry parent. Nor will a meeting sometimes go well. No more ringing doorbells and getting no answer. No more solution focused therapy scales. No more pigeon hole checking, or obsessive hole punch emptying (I've got a problem). And no more saying: 'don't worry I'm sure we can sort this out' whilst thinking 'Jesus Christ I've got no idea what to do about this.'

I will miss it all but my out of office assistant is now on and will be for sometime.

Right, I've got some possessions to pack (I leave London tomorrow morning), and then 11 days on the East Anglian Riviera (Lowestoft) to enjoy before my trip begins.

saturday night

I spent Friday night at The Edinboro Castle, on the Camden/Primrose Hill borders, where I met up with my friends to say farewell prior to my leaving the UK. I had a lovely time, and it was really great to see everyone.

Before the beers began, I went with Raj to a vegetarian Thai restaurant opposite Camden Town tube. The Thai Buffet is an old favourite of ours and never disappoints. Aside from the wonderful food, the atmosphere is unpretentious, and the staff are always very friendly and welcoming. We both made pigs of ourselves, but if you can't go wild once in a while you live in a sad old world.

I had been slightly worried beforehand that the aftermath of the England v Paraguay match might mean the pub would be rammed with rowdy shaven-headed football fans wearing England flags as capes. However, this was not the case. It was just comfortably busy when we arrived, and there was plenty of space, and it was easy to get to the bar. We even managed to bag a decent sized table in the beer garden. It was the perfect evening for a few lagers in the sun.

I ate an obligatory chicken kebab on the way home. By 'ate' I mean I spilt the majority of it down my best shirt.

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who came along (especially those who were travelling long distances) for such a lovely evening. I really appreciated you being there, and we'll all meet again sometime soon. I'll remember the beers, the company, and the sunshine during all my lonely nights in the desert.

vaccinations

Last night I had my final set of pre-trip vaccinations at 1st Contact on Oxford Street. It was my third visit to them. Once again I didn't cry, and the whole thing was over in five minutes flat.

They've immunised me against: Diptheria, Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Polio, Japanese Encephalitis B, and Rabies. Pretty much the works. I've also been given enough anti-Malaria tablets to require an additional backpack/small hire van.

So why 1st Contact? Basically, because my NHS doctor charges exhorbitant prices for holiday vaccinations, and it turns out cheaper to go to a private clinic. I discovered this last year just prior to a previous holiday, when I found myself in a consulting room with the practice nurse whispering to me: 'don't get them done here it's a rip off, I don't agree with it, and know somewhere much cheaper, I'll give you the address.'

Enter 1st Contact, who have turned out to be competitively priced, very friendly and professional, and invariably Australian or Kiwi. They also - here's the clincher - give you a lollypop after your injections (flavour your choice - I go for cherry).

So that completes my health check (I also went to the dentists a week or two ago and got the all clear on that front). Hopefully I will remain in good working order over the next year, the chances of toothache or illness at Halong Bay reduced and managed. Well, here's hoping.

london eye

On Sunday I finally went on the London Eye after almost four years living in London. Not having been has always felt like a bit of unfinished business. You always get the impression everyone else has been except you.

I went with my Mum and Dad, and it turned out to be the perfect day for it, with the sun shining and no hint of rain in sight. I think they enjoyed themselves (we spent the morning at Camden Market).

The 'flight' was about 20 minutes and I didn't get bored as we went round. There was no one annoying in our capsule (bonus), and we got a good photograph of ourselves at the end, which will no doubt adorn the parental mantelpiece before long.

Afterwards, we were surveyed by a BAA employee on whether we had enjoyed ourselves. Completing the survey took roughly as long as the ride itself, and I was waiting for the guy to ask: on a scale of 1 to 10 how likely we thought it that we'd die of old age before he stopped asking us customer satisfaction questions? (The answer would have been 9). As they always do, he meant well, and so he was forgiven.

damascean delights

Last night, after work, I went to a Syrian restaurant with my friend Lloyd, not far from where I work in Ladbroke Grove. I wasn't sure what to expect considering I was entering part of the 'axis of evil' George Bush talks about, but thankfully my apprehensions turned out to be based on misguided intelligence.

The restaurant was a hospitable place, and the chicken dish I ordered was very, very tasty. I also tried some baklava for dessert (on Lloyd's recommendation) and was again impressed. True, our waiter was rather slow preparing the bill, but I'd be hard pressed to qualify this as evil, and I'd certainly be reluctant to commit troops over it. Instead, I just tipped slightly more conservatively, which I thought a reasonable compromise.

When I got home I did a bit more flat emptying (that porridge I'm never going to eat bit the dust) in preparation for my moving out on 17 June, and hoovered under my bed. Finished just in time to watch some of Big Brother 7 (Sezer is toast on Friday), and a slightly disappointing documentary about Cynthia Payne and her escapades in 1980s Streatham. Cynthia Payne is clearly incredibly interesting, but alas the same could not be said for the lazy profile Channel 4 turned in on her.