After a quick visit to beautiful Cornwall and First Class train back to London-(special treat from self to self!) I have arrived home in Australia. Sadly what seemed to start as a minor virus morphed into a significant UK bug which I have brought back to Aus with me (thanks for this must go to the sniffing and sneezing fellow bed and breakfaster who refused conventional medicine and tissues and with whom I shared breakfast for the week I spent at my Nottinghill B&B). The worst of it thankfully waited until my last day on holidays so could have been worse I guess.

I spent my last night in London with my nephew in Bermondsey which was fitting since I know the area well having worked there for 18 months about 35 years ago. He was a wonderful host while I was in the UK-especially while I was on my own and put me up for two nights l. A great cook as well!

I had a fitting farewell to the downside of life in London-went to get some money out of the machine in Jamaica Road near my nephew's place and while about to put my card in was shoved out of the way by a middle aged fellow who said-'Let me go first because I'm disabled!' Others waiting at the machine looked a bit surprised and exchanged glances with me. As he left he bent down with some awkwardness to pick up his receipt from the ground and looked at me and said 'THANKS very much for picking it up for me'. I think it was definitely time for me to go home!!!

After that little episode I taxied to the airport at great expense due to my heavy bags and poor health and went straight through to duty free shopping. If only I'd known about this!!!! I could have done all my shopping there-even a mini Harrods. So I soothed my flu ridden and slightly damaged ego from my earlier encounter by exploring the wonders of the World Duty Free shop. What a delight-you pick up a basket and wander through this place of luxury deciding on what perfume, make up, alcohol, bag, shoes, jewellery you want and then-PAY for it. I somehow feel that the duty free price isnt as dramatically reduced as it used to be though.... dont know. I did spend some time texting the girls trying to get an idea of their favorite perfume eventaully deciding that they could share one!!

The plane trip from London to Hong Kong and then on to Perth was uneventful if long. Not much sleep was had, many movies watched and lots of plane food consumed, but I survived- not sure if I am jetlagged or sick-both I think a this stage!!

Lovely to see my husband and my dog-I havent caught up with the girls yet. A walk along South City dog beach this evening was a timely reminder of how lucky we are to live here despite the lure and beauty of the rest of the world .