Haste ye back

I know I have neglected this blog over the last few months - life in London has been a whirlwind of crazy, fun, hectic, frustrating, amazing moments and time has just flown. London sucks you in and before you know it you’re living the ‘London life’ - a life where you have plans almost every night, encounter people from every country and culture in the world on a daily basis, fall in love with some of the best markets I’ve ever come across and suddenly enjoy being amongst a crowd because, more often than not, the atmosphere is something else. It’s a life where you know that the citymapper app is the secret to finding your way around, where you give up on the hope of finding good coffee, get your news from the free daily newspapers on the tube, can survive on 5-6 hours of sleep a night, learn to carry an umbrella everywhere and are constantly planning weekends away. You have to remind yourself to breathe now and then because it’s so easy to get caught up in the rat race; a rat race that can be overwhelming and exhausting if you let it. While sometimes I feel like this city is way too big for me, I think I’m slowly getting used to it - the buzz that comes with living here is addictive. I’ve been lucky to have had the most amazing housemates over the last couple of months who made me feel welcome from day 1. I’ve also met some truly awesome people since arriving here who I can’t wait to spend more time with. I love the diversity here, I love that nobody cares what you wear, I love that there are no expectations and I love that everyone talks to everyone no matter who you are or where you’re from. Londoners (new and veteran) love their city and it’s infectious. As I said before this place grabs you and it doesn’t let go - I hope I get to stick around a bit longer (so long as I can find a new flat, pretty please spareroom) to explore even more.

Agency work has been interesting. Public healthcare (the NHS) is no where near as good as it is at home largely because the sector is dangerously understaffed. We are so lucky to have the high quality of healthcare that we do in Australia. So lucky. I won’t ever complain about the little things that used to annoy me about it ever again. In the end of the day it's work and working here is giving me the opportunity to travel which is and always was the main purpose of this year for me. The best thing about agency work is the flexibility - the ability to take short posts and travel between them, change posts should your situation change or should you cheekily decide to jet off and chase the sun a little longer. While I wasn’t really chasing the sun this time, although it didn’t rain at all the whole week (unheard of in Scotland), I got to spent the past week in the Scottish highlands with my amazing parents.

We stayed in a small town called Drumnadrochit. It was the perfect base for visiting our family and friends around Inverness and the valley that the town sits in is absolutely beautiful. I don’t think I could get sick of living in those surroundings - the fields, the highland cows, the forrest, and the really fresh air. The small town charm doesn’t suck either. Highlanders have big hearts, even if I am a little biased. Although I’ve heard that small towns can be a bit claustrophobic long term, the week we spent in Drum was a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of London.

Our week started with a hike up Fyrish Hill with our good friends the Munros. Armed with chocolate buttons we made it up the hill, greeted by a stunning view of the Black Isle and the Cromarty Firth. It was windy up there but the sun was shining and you can’t ask for much more than that!

Fyrish hill and monument

View up on Fyrish hill

A tad windy!

The next day we took to the water - we made the most of the fine weather and cruised on Loch Ness. Drum sits in a valley right next to the Loch. Loch Ness is the largest body of freshwater in the UK, extending 37 kilometres. As for it’s resident monster, well our skipper said he’s never seen anything out there himself but he did say he has witnessed unexplainable patterns on the sonar, patterns that other boats have also picked up. Maybe something is out there after all! After our boat trip, we got back on the road and drove to Ullapool, a town well known for it’s seafood. The town of Ullapool itself was a little sleepy but the countryside we went through getting there was unreal. Photos don’t do it justice - there is a point where you have to stop yourself from taking photos and just enjoy and absorb what you’re seeing. There is something about the Scottish landscape - the vast, untouched terrain is breathtaking. In the rocky, mountainous areas, the ever-changing Scottish weather and shadows from the light create a real moodiness about it - sounds crazy but it’s true. Even though I’ve been to Scotland a couple of times before I saw so much more this time, by driving, than I’ve ever seen. Most of you know how much I love New Zealand, well I’d go as far as saying that Scotland is more beautiful, but only just. Maybe I should go back to NZ though, just to be sure :P

On a boat!

Happy days!

Ullapool

Throughout the rest of the week we were fed cake and tea and more cake by our rellies, some of whom we hadn’t seen for 14 years. It was so great to see everyone, we loved every second of it. Our 5 nights in Drum sped by so fast and before we knew it we were on our way back down to England. We drove through the Nevis range and past Loch Lomond (while listening to Loch Lomond, best song ever! Reminds me of NYE growing up. What dorks, I know!). The drive was even more remarkable than the one to Ullapool. Honestly, if you haven’t been to Scotland yet, go or at least put it on your bucket list - it really is one of a kind.

The nevis range from afar

Loch Lomond