Reconnecting - Darwin

Rain

Not long before I left Australia, in 2006, I met a taxi driver in Sydney who had a ponytail down to his arse. Although not really into the look myself, I did comment on his impressive 'do', and he said justified the long-haired look, saying he wouldn't cut his hair until John Howard was no longer Prime Minister. I wonder if he's chopped the lot now, or just a couple of inches off the bottom?

This was a good time for me to return to Australia, a new government, the year of the rat (my sign), a decent monsoon in Darwin (without a mass of cane toads yet, which I had expected), the national apology, two birthdays, two new babies, a growing godson, two friends who overcame serious very illnesses and winter in Ireland. It felt like I had been gone only 6 months, but it had been almost eighteen.

James, 3 now!

James talking to Sean in Ireland on Skype

I drove everyone in wintery Ireland mad at Christmas, with my vow to be drinking champagne in the spa in tropics within the month, but that's exactly where I was one hour after landing at Darwin Airport.

I had a few favourite spots I'd really missed in Ireland, the Nightcliff markets (still love the tofu roti), Cornucopia restaurant (twice) and Stokes HIll Wharf, hmmm, all about food... And there were pleasures I''d forgotten, like Nightcliff jetty in a swelling storm, the Dinah Beach Club for grotty yachties, and dodging Maningrida Mob at Nightcliff Woolies.

But mostly I missed just hanging out with friends, by the spa, talking, so that's what I did the most.