Never in my wildest dreams would I have been able to imagine how hard being out of South America would be for me. It was great to see family and friends, but it was totally overwhelming. All of a sudden I had to slow my ever social and active programme down considerably in an instant. It was reality check too; I was not going somewhere exotic (not unless you view England as exotic) after South Africa. Also the "next- step" thoughts were shouting pretty loud in my head.

Having gone from a year's worth of carefree living and in-the-moment existence relatively speaking to full-on future thinking and the question still echoing in my mind, should I have left South America at the time I had?!

Besides all of this it was great catching up with family and friends. My birthday even though I had dreaded getting another year wiser, was quite enjoyable. My family joined me for bum-boarding, which is going down a fake ski slope (it's South Africa after all) in a rubber tube. We had dinner at a lovely restaurant. I got a red velvet cupcake with a lit sparkle and had the entire staff sing "Shoshaloza" (traditional Zulu song) to me, was just awesome!

I have kind of embraced just slowing down and resting a bit. It is really cold here, so maybe that's got something to do with it.

Been in a gym building for the first time in many months then skyped with Lisa who was still at the Dreamer in Santa Marta, oh how I miss that place and our times there!

So finally felt up to seeing people and booked myself out for the day. Started with late breaky with Minette, which was lovely to see her and realise we are in the same boat and she will be back in the UK just 2 weeks before I arrive. It was great afternoon tea with Leonie, always lovely to see her. The time just flew by as before I knew it I was running late for my dinner date with Bea and Liz. Was so good to see my besties, it's crazy to think they are so far away from my UK home, but always so uplifting to see them!

So all in all, time does seem to create different perspective and I am starting to adjust to "non travelling" life (just starting though).

My ticket to Cape town was finally booked and had a quick skype with Leanne to make the last arrangements...but first my family holiday awaits.