Thea, where are you now?....

....This was the most common question addressed to me yesterday by friends I haven't seen in exactly one year - and some even more...... one of the coolest thing about all the travelling is that you get to go home and tell your friends and family all about it!!!

The best thing about going home for Xmas, apart from the big Xmas lunch (my father's lasagne and stuffed turkey) and entertaining my grandparents with a glimpse of the world through my photos of Egypt, Ethiopia and Libya, is that rather than meeting my friends one by one, I get to meet them all at once at these Xmas gatherings....

My Grandma and Grandpa enjoying the stuffed turkey..

So yesterday was Steve's surprise birthday party, which Maria, Nadine and I headed off to - we were quite a sight... the 3 of us are out of Malta and the 3 of us were a bit nervous to turn up alone and see everyone again.....

However the evening turned out great..... I met up with old university friends, reminisced old days and laughed at all the stupid things we used to do in Uni......

Everyone is now leading his/her own separate lives.... some getting married, some just came back from voluntary work trips in India, others studying abroad, others about to embark on an international adventure that their company is sending them on... and others just enjoying life in Malta.

I spent the night catching up, answering the question 'Where are you now?' and the question 'What next?'..... it was actually a nice feeling speaking about adventures in Ethiopia and what Africa is like...... as most have never even dreamt of going anywhere there!!!!! I also enjoyed speaking to people, seeing what they are up to and seeing that they are also having a good time, such as Simon's MBA in sports in Milan, and Heidi's PHD in brain imaging Edinburgh, Kevin's first adventure with PWC in Luxemburg, Barbara's adventures around India, Tania's new job with Vodafone, Karen and Bernie's adventures in Libya when they went down for work and many many more!!!

After a nice lunch of my mother's ricotta Ravioli... and a big out on parma ham, brie cheese, gbejniet (maltese goat cheese) and salami (I'm making the most of parma ham, pork sausages, brie cheese and wine, once I still can.... I attempted brie cheese in Ethiopia which was packaged in a can.... never again will I eat cheese in a can!!!!), I'm off to watch the Xmas Pantomime with my parents.... I only missed one Pantomime in all the Xmases I've been in Malta..... can't wait to have a good laugh with my mummy and daddy.....

Tomorrow is a day full of more pampering at the beautician and hairdresser.... and more catching up with other long lost friends.....

Whiskey my doggy.... although it didn't recognise me at first (it growled at me!!!) I still love running around the house with it!!!