Back home (yeah Australia really does feel like home now)

Well that 3 weeks flew by, which is more than can be said for the flight back.  Unfortunately, this time I didn't really manage to sleep during the flight (apart from the odd hour here and there) so it felt like it dragged on, and on, and on...

One up side to the flight, however, was that I happened to be sitting in the same row as a world renowned violinist, and had a pretty good chat with her and another guy on our row.  I only realised that she was a violinist after the first leg of the flight from Dubai to Sydney, where we had to get off and re-board.  It was when we were boarding again that we spotted the violin, and then got chatting.  She is only in her early twenties, but from the sound of it, has been touring for a good few years, leading with some of the biggest orchestras around the world.  She was on a personal trip to see some friends, so unfortunately I won't be able to catch her playing whilst she's here, and she wouldn't give in to the persuasive calls from all the people in our row asking for a mid-flight concert!!  Turns out she's played some of the best violins around, including being the first person to play on a violin that came up for auction last year and sold for 11 million pounds.  She'd currently fund-raising for a late 16th century violin which is going to cost her 1.2 million!  Oh to live in a world like that :-)  I've since listened to some of her stuff online and I love the emotion she puts into all the bits I've heard.  Definitely think I'm going to be a fan from now on, and will have to see if I can catch a concert  one day.  If you like your classical, then check her out.

Positive note about the flight was the lack of jetlag:-)  And I'm also glad of the time back as it has put me back in my early rising mode, and have been up with Em and Iz since I returned.  Had been getting lazy and not rising till around 8-8.30, which for me is like midday!!!

Since I got back, I've not yet begun the job hunt.  Will look into that next week.  But I have picked up a paintbrush for the first time in about 5 years, and I have to say it has taken me an hour or two to get back into it.  The old technique is coming back though, so I'll post a photo of it when it is finished - hoping that it is of a decent standard.  Hopefully there will be a fair few pics in the coming weeks as I really want to get back into my painting, whilst trying to learn to airbrush (a forthcoming present from the parents) which has been an ambition of mine for about 11 years.

Tootle pip,

Rich