Saying goodbye

It's that time of year again when everyone seems to be leaving. Last week saw the departure of Dr Joe, Martin and Helen - three people I spend quite a bit of time with. Just to add to the feeling of a mass exodus, Nicola headed back to the UK for a well deserved holiday. She hasn't been back since last December, and I know she will have a good time enjoying everything that she has missed (especially wine!). She has gone for nearly a month, so things have become very quiet for me! 

Last Saturday Martin and Joe arranged a leaving dinner at Mama's, treating a large group of about 18 or so to dinner. We had spaghetti carbonara and creme caramel... heaven. Helen, who was unsure if she was extending or leaving right up until the last week when the decision was taken out of her hands by a lack of budget to keep her, had a fairly impromptu leaving party on Shrove Tuesday. 8 of us piled round to Helen's to eat pancakes and have a couple of gin and tonics, and in true VSO style, those who were staying raided through her stuff setting aside washing tubs and spare bottles of DEET to take home! 

On Helen's final day (Friday) we went for a walk to the beach and then along the beach up to Soloman's for a final fish in foil in the sunshine. On the way home we called in to Aso Rock, but at a freeeeezing 23 degrees we were forced home by blue finger nails and goosebump legs! Needless to say, Helen was pretty concerned about how she would acclimatise back into English weather, but thankfully I have seen plenty of pictures of beautiful Spring days over the weekend. 

Once I got home I realised there was no light and nothing to do... so I took my book, and a card from Helen, and went to my local for a drink. Helen, Joe and Martin will all be missed.