Well, I am writing this on the plane heading back to Aus from Hawaii – got to pass the 9 hour flight somehow!  The weather has been beautiful. 85 – 89 degrees in the day,  75 degrees at night. The weather is similar all year round, maybe a few degrees colder in winter – sounds perfect to me! We stayed on Maui for the first 8 days, it was lovely and peaceful, quite laid back with dramatic volcanic landscapes and the Pacific Ocean was turquoise blue. It was a little worrying to see the evacuation sirens every two miles or so, and evacuation routes clearly signed on the roads, but they did sound in May after the Japanese earthquake as it triggered a tsunami warning!  We visited a few sites, did some snorkelling and boogie boarding and chilled by the pool and beach. The beaches were a little disappointing, not the vast sandy beaches I expected, just small coves or narrow strips, some with very big waves. We decided to venture into the sea on one beach as we had reached boiling point, just to bob around leisurely to cool down when we got hit by the wave from hell! It came out of nowhere, was about 6 foot high and there was no escaping it, it hit us hard on the back dragged us around and deposited us on the shore where the rip started to drag us back in again for another battering, we finally managed to escape, totally dishevelled with sand everywhere – so much for not getting my hair wet!!  On talking to a local afterwards she laughed and said ‘oh yes, that beach is known locally as paraplegic beach’, so many people get neck injuries as the waves break on shore and deposit you head first in the sand!  Thanks for the warning eh? We also spent a day driving the road to Hana, a sleepy village with nothing much to do there, but the landscape driving to this place is the most amazing we have ever seen. The road has 52 hairpin bends, 15 single lane bridges and is very windy, so hence the need for travel sickness tablets! We bought a guide CD which gave a history and advised of hidden waterfalls which we swam in and secluded walks with amazing fruit trees and flowers. Jurassic park, Lost and the movie Papillon were all filmed here, will put some photos on Flickr.

Waikiki is a different story, could have been Benidorm or any other tourist hotspot. Hi- rise hotels all round, overpriced bars and restaurants and lots of designer shops, about 70% of the people there are Japanese, we were definitely in the minority. The hotel was lovely and we went to Pearl harbour for a day which was good, Waikiki beach was overrated, quite small but good surf and very crowded, all in all, wouldn’t recommend it! At least we have a nice tan to head home with, even though it will be winter and won’t be able to show it off, its been about 15 – 17 degrees in Melbourne, should start warming up again in august.  We met some Aussies at the hotel who lived 3 miles away from us, small world.

I now have to compose my letter decling the job offer from the private  hospice, which I feel guilty about as she phoned me as we were  on our way  to the airport, to check my references. I couldn’t tell her as she sounded so happy, so I will take the cowards way out and email her! I have handed my notice in at the practice also, gave it in just before I left for my hols, she was so gutted, especially as the nurse that came to cover for 12 month maternity leave position only lasted 7 weeks before she landed her dream job! I guess everyone will know by the time I get into work on Fri, not sure how they will respond but I cant stay in the job out of guilt can I? I start my new job Mon 25^th July, just hope it’s Ok and I can finally settle in and feel like I belong.

Now back in Melbourne – completing the blog!  Washing done, shopping done, dog collected, heating on high! God it’s cold- did I say how much I hate winter? It was all of 6 degrees when we landed, you could see your breath, bit different from 28 degrees. Don’t you hate that feeling of putting your jeans on when you have worn only shorts for 2 weeks? Apparently the weather has been lousy while we have been away – the coldest winter so far for over 10 years! We also missed an earthquake, 4.4 originated 50 miles away but was felt here, no damage done though.

I went into work on Friday, everyone now knows I have resigned, last day next Friday. Many efforts made to try and get me to stay, they had hoped I would think again whilst I was away and decide to stay apparently. Everyone was nice though and supportive, I did wonder how it would be as I have only been there 6 months! I have never left a job after such a short time before.

I hear some disastrous news from the UK – TJ Hughes has gone into administration and Thornton’s are closing stores. I was gutted when Sam told me, but as long as TK Max keeps going I’m happy, if that or John Lewis goes, I’m applying for residency here!

Sam has moved into his new flat with Amelia which looks really nice as they have furnished it themselves, and Tom is living with them now whilst doing his summer job in Reading.