Weeks Twenty-two and Twenty-three: Too many Goodbyes.

Aloha, oh blog readers of the world. It's another fortnightly blog entry this time, as I have spent so many days at work that I have very little of note to report...

In between long days on Greenpeace Patrol, I've spent several days chilling on the beach, on the odd day that the weather has been nice - Sort it out, Australia! There have been far too many cold and cloudy days for my liking, it's like an English summer!

Several Churchies have departed Newy for distant shores, in Australia and elsewhere. We've had to say goodbye to Steph, Dom, Toni, Lars and several others, which has been incredibly sad. I cannot believe how fast the time has passed - a whole semester gone! A whole group of friends departing for home, already.

Last weekend, we threw a fake 'Aussie Christmas' for Anna, as she'll be home for the real thing. We made a full Christmas roast dinner, with apple-berry crumble for pudding. There were decorations and Santa hats aplenty, and $40-worth of confectionery stuffed into a stocking for the inevitable post-food baby sugar binge. It was SO fun and yummy! Afterwards we went around Newcastle on a 'zitch-tour'...

This week has been back to the Greenpeace-y grind, with a few breaks for Pedi-Cab tours of the harbour courtesy of Tai and his remarkable calf muscles; trips to a deserted Francis Beach in Swansea (complete with a very Blue Crush-esque sign stating 'Locals Only'... Sorry bogans of Swansea); and BBQs in King Edwards Park.

Work has been fairly full-on, but it has otherwise been a pretty chilled couple of weeks here in Newy. I am currently contemplating the large pile of clothes on my bed, which require sorting and packing before I leave tonight for Sydney, where I will finally meet up with Hugo for our East Coast backpacking adventure :) I'm so excited!

I am now officially half way through my year abroad, as I have just now changed my flight home to the 19th June 2012 - six months from tomorrow. This actually scares me a little.. I have had the most incredible, exhilarating six months of my life down under. I have met so, so many amazing people, from all corners of the globe. Moving to the opposite side of the world and jumping head first into this, together, has forged some amazing friendships. I have spent six wonderful months laughing, lying on the sand, sleeping under the stars and making incredible memories with incredible people. Seeing so many close friends leave is heartbreaking, and the idea that I myself will be doing the same in just six months is equally so. I miss home and my friends and family... but I have never had as much fun as I have these past six months here in Newcastle.

'We will never again be together so young'

And I am forced to say goodbye to some amazing people... This has been an amazing six months with you all, and there is no chance I'm letting you all escape me that easily. Goodbye, not farewell. You get a six-month head start to find a good hiding place: I'M COMING TO GET YOU!