China!

It looks like my Aunt and I are off to China in May. With Darrell currently living in Australia, we have had to find a place where we can both meet, without either of us having to travel to opposite sides of the World. I have work commitments and Darrell's primary role, caring for his Mother, has to take priority, so we just don't have the time to be travelling for long periods. China seems to be the logical meeting place for both of us and I am delighted my Aunt is coming too.

After trying to live in Australia twice, I can safely say am not particularly in love with the place. I left on both occasions, returning to the UK, where Darrell and I remained settled for twenty years, I do however love the Far East, having visited Kuala Lumpur twice, falling in love with the orient. China has always been on my bucket list, along with Japan, so I am extremely happy to be going there.

Darrell and I have travelled all over the World during our time together, there are only a few countries left, where both of us would like to go. China holds a very special place in both of our hearts; it history, culture, food and geology are a particular draw and it just happens to be an ideal half way point for both of us to get to, allowing us to spend a few weeks together, before flying our separate ways again, until we are reunited on a permanent basis.

My Aunt is also a seasoned traveller, having been to some spectacular locations. She normally arranges her own holidays, avoiding the standard tours offered by operators, allowing her to wonder off the beaten track, experiencing a more native view of each country she has seen. Both of us want to follow my Aunts tradition and visit the more unusual sites in China, maybe living as the Chinese do or at least seeing things the normal everyday tourist doesn't.

So for the next few months we will be spending time arranging this trip and working towards Darrell and I seeing each other once again. I am philosophical about our current situation and although not ideal, I am determined to make the best of this period in our life. Living separately was never on the cards, we didn't see it coming, but as long as we move forwards positively, this shouldn't be the difficult time we both expected!