In only a matter of days I’m going to have to be a grown up again.  Earn money, pay council tax, wear tights and heels!

I’ve loved my year here and I can’t wait to come back to continue the adventure – some people think I’m crazy for leaving at all, but I know it is the right decision as it means I can throw myself into banking for the here and now, whilst sensibly planning for the longer term.  Oh, investment banking, I hate you for giving my life plans geeky terminology, but yes, this is a strategic solution.

So, we are headed back to the City.  I will miss living by the sea, I am not too happy about litter trays or work clothes, but I am excited about sushi Tuesdays with my girlfriends.  And I plan a lot of return visits to Tenerife – with five weeks annual leave, I can pretty much come out to the Canaries every other month for a long weekend of margaritas and sunshine – yippee!  I may even manage to fit in a boat or two…..

I’m all packed, almost; amazingly, I don’t appear to have increased my volume of stuff too greatly.  The same suitcases are being re-used, I’ve been brutal about the China Town purchases – all off to the charity shop, along with a big stack of books.  Furniture wise I’ve acquired a coffee table, a hall table, and a second cat crate to go with my large wild cat!  I’ve also grown quite attached to a certain frying pan, which I’m torn about taking or leaving; if I pack it I won’t be able to use it over my last few days, if I try to take it with me handluggage I have a feeling Ryanair will accuse me of harbouring a weapon….

The lady cats leave on Friday evening and I’m a bit scared for them.  Five days in a van doesn’t sound like much fun, (of which 2.5 days are on a ferry; do cats get sea sick?) and I am more than a little worried about them drinking enough water en route, because the water bottle training currently feels more like water torture….  But I will be waiting for them on the other side, I sign the apartment paperwork 12hrs before they arrive, and then it’s an indoor prosecco picnic for my first evening back – this isn’t the first time I’ve moved into a property before any furniture – we know the drill!

This is an exciting new phase for me, even if it now feels like it is coming round far too soon.  Am I going to have to table the blog once I’m back in the office?!