It's only just July and, already, it's been quite an unusual year ... full of exotic destinations, quiet happiness and quite some joy, disappointments, delightful people, family, and misunderstandings too.

It's Life, isn't it.

Today I finally stopped, just for a couple of weeks.

I have sorted, lifted, and shifted everything I own, getting rid of as much as I could, keeping in mind that I will have a place to 'furnish' in September.

I have lost, at least, 4kgs. This is not a bad thing. I am stronger, fitter, and browner than I've been in a while. On the other hand, I'm exhausted. The ankle I sprained a few weeks ago reminds me that I have been quite unfair with my demands on it, and it continues to puff up in protest. But I can walk on it and I'm grateful for that.

I said goodbye to my little sister, and her husband, yesterday morning. They're still flying today. The first leg of the journey was about 8 hours. The second is 17 hours. I was left wiping away a few sneaky tears as I strode off to finish emptying my room in the palazzo. I went via Douce, for a restorative espresso and a moment of calm before the lifting and shifting.

I had the loveliest time with them. Altogether, we got to spend 17 days catching up, talking, telling stories, eating and drinking when we could.

I saw the web in the photo above, when it was caught in the evening light. I found it beautiful.

I woke 36 hours ago, apparently, and went out with my camera exploring that misty Coromandel morning. Then there was the big boat adventure out in Mercury Bay. A short crash-into-bed afternoon nap, then 'assisting' the Belgian bloke in packing the big suitcases.

Later ...fish and chips some place fabulous where a Blues performance could be heard down at the seashore.

We continued on to Auckland city, the airport, and a 1am eleven-hour flight to Singapore.

I didn't get an aisle seat. Last night I learned that I need one. My old motorbike accident body needs to walk every hour or so and my lovely seat companions slept. I had a wee sleep but watched enough movies to know that it wasn't longer than 2 hours.

We arrived in Singapore 6.30am local time and hunted for something to settle us down enough for me to write my blog post for Fans of Flanders. Nothing worked so we found ourselves an airport hotel room for 6 hours. But! there was too much in my mind and I never slept and voila, here we are some 14 hours later ... still awake and waiting for our flight back to Europe.

I do believe there might be a Russian parked directly in front of the big sports tv, making a Skype call that we're all getting to share... or perhaps I've become delusional. The Aussie couple nearby seem irritated enough to suggest that it's really happening here in Singapore Airport.

Anyway, another photograph from my early misty morning walk on the day I was leaving ...

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