Once more it’s time to leave my home and head off. I’m not sure when I’ll return. I got here two months ago and it’s gone really quick but I’ve managed to catch up with friends and family. I’ve seen extremes in the weather and I’ve loved it although almost every one else seems to have hated it. 

I got drunk and had a hangover.

 I’ve eaten way too much and feel like a beached whale, but as I head back to China I look forward to getting away from this western diet which I think is a bit unhealthy although delicious.

For the passed hour I’ve sat in Glasgow Central waiting for my train to Euston. As I sit and watch the endless stream of people coming and going and wondering where they are headed and also thinking why are we such a gloomy lot. Our clothes are so dark,  but I think that’s because it makes us look slimmer. 

My Chinese visa is for two years and so I’ll have to come back here in 2020 so that I can renew it, but maybe by then I’ll have other ideas. I’ve no plans at this stage to return to Australia, but that might change. I guess it all depends on which way the wind is blowing. 

I enjoy coming home but I don’t think I can live here for the rest of my life. Coming home makes me realise how lucky I have been in life and also how diverse my life has been. I’m at that age when many others have retired or are about to and they are preparing for this new journey. 

Some friends are still very young and others are becoming old before their time. They’ve lost their sense of humour a little and sound more like they have one foot in the grave. Routine seems to be more comfortable than spontaneity. Others surprise me and one of them is my Aunty Audrey who is 90 and she has all her marbles and acts a lot younger than others. 

As you get older your health is a big issue and a few friends have had to suffer for many years which again makes me realise just how fortunate I am, never take your health for granted. I saw one old friend yesterday that I haven’t seen in over 20 years, he had abused his body with more drink and other things for as long as I remember. All those Bacardi & Cokes over the years mixed with anything else he could get his hands on has left his body battered and bruised both inside and out. When I saw him yesterday I felt so sorry for him and he looked so so sad. In fact if Christine hadn’t pointed him out I would never have known him. 

It’s been great to come home and to be honest if I had the money I would buy a house here and live for a few months of the year and explore my home in more detail.  I can’t afford to come back without a source of income but I have no idea what I would do if I came back and I don’t know where I would live either. The future is a blank book still to be written and this is just the end of another chapter.