I really enjoyed my time in Texas. It was great to see Dad, Pru and the family and hard to say goodbye. The highlights for me were:

- Spending quality time with Dad after way too long. I really enjoyed getting to hang out with him when he finished work and we'd go and get food. I forgot how much I love talking to my Dad.

- Visiting the Cosmic Cafe (www.cosmiccafedallas.com). This used to be my favourite place to eat whenever I came out to see Dad and Pru in Texas, so I was over the moon to be visiting again. Definitely head there for food if you get the chance. The quirky atmosphere is well work it and the food is delicious (as long as you don't mind eating veggie!)

- Kalachandjis (www.kalachandjis.com). Another vegetarian restaurant with great food. The best part though is that the centre of the restaurant is a courtyard with a large tree in it. The upper branches spread out so much that you feel like you are sitting inside until you look up and see the stars.

- Swimming with Ollie dog. He gave me a proper work out because I had to make it from one end of the pool to the other before Ollie dropped his frisbee in the pool and jumped in after it. If Ollie gets in the pool he steamrollers you out of the way to get out, so it's best to avoid it!

- Cooking with Sandy and Jenai. One Saturday we worked together to make Aubergine Parmigiana. I think the team work made the meal taste that little bit better.

- Morning coffee with the ladies. Who would have thought that 5 women under the same roof could be harmonious but we managed it. Pretty much every morning we'd grab coffee and put the world to rights in Sandy's office. I loved hearing everyone's point of view on things and learning about their experiences. I'm going to miss that.

- Making Texas Sheet Cake, a moist chocolatey cake with a chocolate fudge and pecan topping. The cake and topping have some ceyenne pepper and cinnamon in them to give the cake and extra wow factor.

- My day out in Richland College and Thunderduck Hall where Pru works. I got to wander around the grounds, which are beautiful and have a turtle filled river running by the side of them. I got to see loads of turtles because there was a little boy and his mum feeding them.

- The dogs! All such little characters! I still wish I'd put Weebits (my Dad and Pru's tiny shih tzu cross) in my suitcase. She was hilarious. One morning she woke me up by crawling into my pyjama bottoms! Loved the other dogs too. Nelson (Sandy's mini poodle) made me laugh because he kept pushing his frisbee in the pool then was too scared to get it. Ollie usually had to fetch it for him. Toffee (Dad and Pru's spaniel) was just gorgeous. She takes a while to warm up to people but we were buddies when I left :)

Texas was the emotional part of my trip. I had so much fun reconnecting with my loved ones and making new connections with my extended family. Sandy and Jenai were wonderful, letting me stay in their home and use it as though it was my own. Special thank you shout out to Pru for driving my ass all over the place and telling me all about Dallas and Austin. It really helped make the trip.