Blue

THE past three weeks have been a little odd for me. Now 18 months in, and at the height of winter, I've been feeling a tad under the weather.

I suppose the combination of missing out on 'bezzie's' birthdays and lack of thermometer-busting weather, I've had time to take stock of what cards have been dealt for me. I can usually shake off any home-sickness with wall to wall episodes of Corrie, the Royle Family and 15 to 1 but not even the cringetastic comments from Ann Robinson are cutting the mustard these days.

These feelings, I'm constantly being told, are totally natural and I'd say 98 per cent of the time, I'm happy. But that piffling two per cent of unsurity kicks in now and then. And I don't like it when it does. I get unsettled and emotional and no amount of winery tours or jetski rides or beachside barbecues can shake off my grey cloud.

The last few times I've called 'home', I've been passed around like a hot potato. Having a bit of chit chat with dad, then mum, then bro and over to whoever else is around at the time. But I miss calling round there and watching a bit of TV with them and filling in the advert break with conversational bits and bobs that depicted our day.

The more time I spend here though, the more I know how much I belong here. I was born to live in Australia - with its casual way of life and laid back approach. I love the atmosphere and the people and my new friends, But there's no replacing the loved ones I left behind when we boarded that winged Boeing for 21 hours back in February 2009.

It won't be long before winter is behind us and I can get outside and stuck into the jobs that husband has put on my 'To Do' list. The daffs have sprung up alongside the snowdrops so it's a sure sign that spring is on its way.

Yesterday, we tackled tidying up the back garden, which, after last time, I refused to do with a Flymo that simply isn't upto the job. Husband acquired a petrol mower and tamed the back yard beast in just under three hours. Not a huge fan of horticulture, I want to be sitting in the garden, not working on it.

When phase 3 of conversion work here is up though, in about two years, I'm hoping most of the green stuff will be replaced with the pool that the boys long for. Yes. I think I'll much prefer looking out to blue hues from the comfort of my hammock but there's a whole heap of work that needs to be done first.

Good things come to she who waits...