So, it's back to HK with a bit of a bump really. I return with a cold, on top of the jet lag but I had a wonderful time, so it's a small price to pay. Our "summer" holiday was a mixture of experiences. Of course there was Austria, a country I've longed to visit for as long as I can remember, mainly because of my addiction to snowy mountains and I have to say, it was worth the wait. It is also worthy of a return visit but I might wait until we are living a bit closer next time, after all, it was a long flight in economy.
The second part of our holiday was very much a family thing. A family wedding to be precise. I got to see my immediate family - my parents and my brothers and a few family members I hadn't seen in years. It was a beautiful and very happy occasion. The bride was positively glowing and I've never seen the groom look happier. So why then do I feel a little bit sad now rather than being able to revel in the joy of seeing loved ones?
Because it can be challenging being away from family, friends, loved ones. Separated by oceans. I'm not regretting any of the moves we've made but it's at times like these when you get a little taster of that closeness again, the familiarity that is family, that you realise that you miss it more than you thought you did. The coping mechanisms put in place are temporarily disabled and have to be re-built again. Not knowing when or where you may see them again conjures up a host of emotions...sensations perhaps...another unknown quantity in the life of a travelling spouse! Like all things, the feelings will pass, as will the runny nose and the coughing.
It was brought to my attention during this family gathering that I'm on Facebook a lot. That I am always updating my status...and does everyone really need to know whether or not I'm enjoying my afternoon cup of tea? (for example). Now, I can be a rather sensitive soul and I found myself searching for the answer to this question and many others. Do they? Does anyone care? Should I stop what I do? Why do I even do it? Fortunately, I didn't have to search long for my answers. I'm sure there are many people who do not care in the slightest and they certainly don't need to know any of the stuff I tell them but I do it for one simple reason; to keep in touch. When you're so far away it's hard to maintain a normal friendship in the ways you have in the past and Facebook and Blogging are both ways in which I can keep in touch, at least from my side, and lets face it, Blogging is very one sided. I've been amazed by how many of my friends over the course of the last 8 months have casually mention that they always read my blog, when in fact I had no idea that they were even aware of it. It's a means of communication and if I'm lucky, it sparks conversation, trivial though it may be, but necessary and oh-so-welcome to me, over here, on the other side of the world.
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