Its been an absolute blast to have been back home and the last couple of months have just flown past! If it wasn't for our return flights and pre-purchased ski season passes, we might have been tempted to forgo our Canadian winter!

It has been amazing returning home to our families and friends and we feel very loved and lucky to be connected to such inspirational and heart-warming people. The flight was worth it just to be able to give our parents a huge hug!

After an emotional rendezvous at the Sydney airport we went out for breakfast at Coogee beach. We'd missed the sound and smell of the ocean and couldn't wait to dive into that shimmering silky blue water. Although we were keen, it only took one foot in the water to remind us that October isn't the best weather for early morning beach swims in Sydney... Instead we contented ourselves with some great Aussie coffee, fresh banana bread and best of all, enjoying the physical precense of some of the people that mean the most to us - a welcome break from the virtual catch-ups over Skype.

For the first time in 21 months, we both had to say goodbye to each other. Aidan's sister was driving him back to his eager family in Oak Flats and Jess was bracing herself for the 5½ hour drive back to Parkes. The annual grain harvest was about to kick off though, and we were signed up for the season, so it wasn't long until we were back together, wearing the distinct orange vest, white safety hat and red raw barley skin irritations that is 'Graincorp'.

Although it wasn't the most productive harvest, global shortages meant that the grain prices were high so at least this time the farmers were relatively happy, and we earned enough money to financially justify the trip home. It beats $9.25 an hour back in Canada that's for sure, eh!

The work was constantly interrupted with rain, giving us ample time to hang out at home with Jess's family. We visited a few sights around the place, including the Orange cinema, the Abbey's extensive board game collection and Condobolins' 'Utes in the Paddock', were we got some spectacular photos of some truly unique and original bush artwork.

A surprisingly early finish to the harvest meant that we were able to spend an equally lengthy time with Aidan's family down the coast. We got to join in with some much missed Capoeira classes in Wollongong and even made it to a performance at Viva la Gong! We caught up with most of our old uni and school friends and finally got our swim in the ocean - Aidan even got a few rusty surfs in! Just before Chrissy, Jess's brothers Michael and Liam came down to visit. Both eager to take up surfing, we went on a camping trip down to Pebbly Beach where Aidan was able to give them some impromptu lessons. The swell wasn't in our favour but the trip was incredible. There were kangaroos all around us, as well as a rainbow of uniquely Australian birds and some fantastically lush green coast lines.

We split up again to celebrate Christmas with our respective families and before we knew it, it was time to pack our bags again. We spent our last couple of days trying to absorb as much Vitamin D as possible before hitting the freezing Canadian winter, and of course, spending as much time with our families as possible. We had a low key but fun New Years Eve playing lawn bowls by the beach and trying our luck with some home-made pyrotechnics!

We decided to leave the same way we left back in January 2011 - with a BBQ around the pool at Aidan's parents house. Aidan's mum, Rosie, made her faultless mexican cheese dip and Pavlova and Aidan's dad, Andy, helped cook up some good ol' fashioned Aussie snags (which we can honestly say are some of the best snags in the world!). It was a great way to say 'hi' and 'bye' to everyone again, making it more and more difficult to board the plane the following morning. Thanks everyone for such encouraging words, support, memories and true friendship. Although we are looking forward to Round 2 of our world travels, we are also looking forward to being welcomed back into your warm arms again in another year or two.