Halfway Around the World and Back Again

Hi all! Well, it's been a month since I last blogged and admittedly, I have missed it! I write this blog to capture the memories I am making while living overseas, but have found that I end up writing just about my life (thanks again to those who pretend to be interested and entertained!). So, if this about my life and any & all memories, I'll start writing again by telling you about my glorious trip home!


I was fortunate enough to travel home to the East Coast of the grand US of A on 9 July. After over 24 hours of travel, I landed at Dulles airport in Washington and was picked up by Patrick. After grabbing takeout from my fave spot and a bottle of wine, we headed to my condo and I was finally AT HOME. Tammy popped by and then I hit the hay, for I was really exhausted. The next day, after a brief but awesome catch up with Eileen, Patrick and I drove to Corolla in the Outer Banks of North Carolina for 10 days at the beach with my family. AND WITH FLETCHER!!


Needless to say, I was delighted to see my family and my booboo Fletcher, who has NOT forgotten me. After an emotional reunion, he didn't leave my side for 10 days and I loved every second.  Highlights of my 10 days at the beach include but are not limited to:


~ SO much time with my adorable nephews, amazing parents, beautiful sisters and handsome brothers-in-law
~ quality time with Patrick, and a 5 am wakeup for a great sunrise walk on the beach while I was still jetlagged
~ wine and Watch What Happens (clue word was "Joe" and it was all NJ Housewives...ahem) with Tammy and Courtney
~ daily walks to Outer Banks Coffee and Lighthouse bagels
~ American bacon, Wolfe bloody mary's, baby back ribs a la Debbie, bbq Lays chips, Big Bucks peanut butter & chocolate ice cream and 4 bushels of NC jimmies courtesy of Patrick
~ watching Fletcher chase birds and roll in the sand


Here are a few of my favorite pictures:

Patrick and a fresh catch!

Kevin (my bro-in-law) and Courtney (my sis) 

My dog, me and an empty beach at sunrise

Fresh Jimmies, caught same day!

Perfect beach scene 

BooBoo Fletcher, the most awesomest dog ever in the world

My MOM!! 

My DAD, Fletcher and Sam

Dougie O (my bro-in-law) and Hilary (my sis)

A gorgeous Corolla sunset

Seriously? He is so cute! 

My 3 nephews - Jack, Sam & Thomas 

I then spent 2.5 days in Washington, DC. I enjoyed my condo (though it was weird to be living out of a suitcase in my own home), had a wonderful Lauriol Plaza dinner with close friends (thank you Tammy, Mary, Cat, Ginger and even you Christian) and spent time in our HQ office. 

Lauriol dinner with my homies

Let's just say my trip back home to Sydney was less than smooth -- 4-hour delay in Washington --> missed flight to Sydney and no baggage --> 2 hours spent finding a hotel in San Fran, at midnight, and finally found one 45 minutes our of town --> diversion through New Zealand --> delay in New Zealand --> arrival in Sydney 1.5 days later than planned. In the midst of all of this, Tammy had a birthday and Kelly & Juice blessed us with another baby (Nicholas Matthew) in our family of friends. And Jessica Kirkby - whose mom babysat me and then I babysat Jess she was a baby - had a healthy baby girl yesterday! Wow!


It's nice to be back, and I missed everyone in the office. I am not back in the swing of things, until my next trip.....Singapore next week, and THAILAND!! A dream come true! Then back to DC on 2 September for a week-long visit!


Until next time...xoxo