Quality Time!

A big thank you to everyone for asking how Darrell is getting on in Australia, since he left the UK two months ago. He has settled in as well as can be expected under the circumstances, staying with his Mother in Perth, Western Australia. Like me in the UK, he has reconnected with friends and family, people he hasn't seen for many years and is enjoying being around those close.

We have spoken to each other often over the last nine weeks and it is clear that although he is happy to be with his Mother, he isn't particularly euphoric about being back in Australia itself. It isn't the Country he left behind in 1995, there has been dramatic changes to his homeland and he is finding it difficult to adjust to life down under, as he did when he returned for seven months in 2016. We have both discussed the path we need to follow, when this testing time comes to an end and both feel Australia is probably not an option. The hurdles we would have to cross and the nature of Australian society is not what we want at our time of life. We haven't made any firm decisions about where to live long term and are content to go with the flow for now!

Darrell has adopted a feral cat called Nakita who is helping him during his stay. At the moment, the summer has just kicked in in Australia and the temperature is rising, unlike back here in Britain. Darrell hasn't experienced an English winter in many years and consequently his body clock is finding it problematic. Australia is indeed a wonderful country but it isn't necessarily the long term future we both desire.

Darrell had a very quiet Christmas and New Year like me, spending time with his kinfolk and close friends. Unlike the UK, Australians don't tend to celebrate the festive season in the same way, understandable, when one considers the raging hot temperatures across the region. Family is important for both of us right now, so that is our priority. During this period, Darrell has stayed close to his Mum and enjoyed all the benefits that brings. Living in Britain for over twenty years has taught him the value of relationships, especially with his Mother; one never truly realises the significance of our parents, until they are gone. None of us can be sure how long we have left with them, so we should all do what we can to cement our family bonds, creating enduring and everlasting memories that will stay with us for a life time; both Darrell and I are doing just that!

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