Lasts

There are always firsts, and now I guess it's time for lasts - at least for the next little while. I'm leaving for the airport in 40 minutes after a mad day. Now that I'm just about all packed and set, I'm feeling a bit wistful and pensive - probably pretty much par for the course, I guess.

I spent my last night in town with an old friend - dinner and wine at a lovely restaurant, followed by Mahler. It doesn't get much better than that. I got home last night, and I felt lucky.

The phone has been ringing hot all day - excited friends wishing me well, promising to visit, telling me this will be amazing. Text messages from my new fellow volunteer friends, emails from others. I'm terrible at goodbyes. MQ came home this morning for a fly by visit before heading back for the debating grand final. He's crap at goodbyes too so we were crap together, laughed a bit, and waved to each other as he left in Mum's car. That was about it.

There have been so many huge changes in the last few months, it is hard to fathom how I ever got here. At the moment I kind of feel like I don't even really know where "here" is! But a new beginning can't be all bad - actually, it's exactly what I need.

So - a deep breath, and here I go.

I'll see you in Chiang Mai.