It's never easy saying goodbye, but the undefined duration of this trip made things more complicated than usual.
So it goes without saying that last weekend has been a sturdy cocktail of ethanol and emotions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCEi80l8Wdk
(Haven't had time to edit a proper video so it looks a bit like a chili rice cake)
The world has gotten a lot smaller since I first started travelling, and combined with today's technology, most goodbyes seem a lot less absolute.
However, not every valediction felt this insincere. Especially when saying goodbye to my grandparents and family pets. Neither travel nor use social media to keep in touch, and, being pragmatic at the expense of sounding insensitive, neither are long for this world.
That being said, even though my grandfather always enjoyed our occasional garden chats, he wasn’t much fazed by the news of my imminent departure. Instead, he seemed more troubled by the increasing popularity of his regular fishing spot.
Meanwhile my grandmother, having recently upgraded her dementia, is living in a nursing home. According to her, together with our long lost relative Elvis Presley, who lives on the 2nd floor of the one storey building.
Don’t feel too bad for her though, some people pay good money for the kind of hallucinations she enjoys on a daily basis.
But all in all it's been a great weekend. Special thanks to everybody who came to show their support. I feel privileged to be able to call you all my friends and family.