Melb ventures part1

Joy of nostalgia on a whirlwind trip down memory lane. Landed back in sunny Singapore this morning after a terribly turbulent flight and 5 days of reliving my melbourne days. A trip which began with the aim of surprising a gorgeous girlfriend transformed itself into the most hectic, energy sucking, fruitful and fufilling trip I've ever taken.

4 Aug
Arrived at Melbourne airport and felt a wave of familiar joy wash over me, a sense of relaxation that had been lost to me since work began. Enveloped in a huge bear hug by G, my darling girlfriend who lugged herself out to the airport at 7am in the cold melbourne morning to greet me at the airport, I felt melbourne love once again. Felt good to be back in a place I'd called my second home for the last two years. Headed to the Pattons, dropped off my suitcase and greeted H then headed to Tintern to meet Mr Connor. As the familiar greenery came into view, I was filled with a sense of longing to be once more a part of it all. To breathe the refreshing chilly air, to feel the winter wind whipping around my bare legs and shivering in my winter skirt. Caught up with Ms Ratcliffe while waiting for Mr C, then dropped by to see Biv and bumped into Mrs Groner on the way. Saw Mr James and Ms Waud at Senior College and chatted for a bit before I felt a pair of arms reach around my waist to embrace me. Turned and came face to face with Noella jie, who couldn't keep her excitement and dragged me to the Hawthorne to show me to the rest as though I were a prized possession. As I saw the endearingly familiar faces of Tina, Carol, Bess, I felt such happiness to see that my little sisters were all growing up spectacularly. As Tina embraced me, she burst into tears and I was almost taken aback at her sudden outburst of emotion. Stood there stunned for a moment before I heard someone shout "mummy!" and my baby Carmen flung herself at me. By this time, I felt like the happiest person on earth. Brimming with nostalgic joy, I turned around and headed for Vicks, watching the surprise register on her face. G kept time check and she reminded me that we had to leave but not before I heard On scream "Rachel!" and greeted me with a warm hug. I think my hug-o-meter definitely hit a 100% that day. What would I have done without these lovely little sisters, my other family away from home..

Then the highlight of my trip came. Bec's birthday surprise. G had texted Bec to arrange to meet with her in advance to deliver her birthday gift. Little did Becs know that she was in for a huge surprise. At 1pm, Becs appeared outside the lecture hall to meet G and I popped out from my hiding place just as G led Bec in. The look on Bec's face was a timeless classic, a mixture of shock, joy, surprise and disbelief as she registered my presence. I found it particularly comical how she could not stop exclaiming OMG, up until we were standing in line for a hot choc. We enjoyed a great catch up over yummy hot choc, remniscising the good old days and I was missing everyone terribly. Then G ended class and we headed back. The day ended with dinner at the BH where I was warmly received by my dear juniors and I dashed off to Hugh's afterward to catch up with him and the family. It was good seeing him and his parents again, and of course little Jesse who isn't quite so little anymore. Then David came to get me and I knocked out once I got back, in an oh so familar room and oh so familiar bed, the room jokingly called "rachel's room".

5 Aug
Started the day with a bit of a lie in before heading into the city by train. Me being jetlagged, completely forgot the time difference and was late to meet the girls. Joined Vivi, Wizz and Bee for lunch at a quaint little Thai restaurant which served rather good food I must say. Headed to JB for a bit before Wiz and Viv had to head back to Uni. reluctantly hugged the two goodbye before hitting DFO with Bee for a while more. Had a good chat, really miss that girl so much! Didn't have much time to actually shop so quickly found a warm jacket for London and along the way, a funky cap. She stayed with me till Sony came. Really glad to have caught Sony in such an unplanned manner since she's always such a busy person. Definitely grateful I got her timetable to I could spring a surprise on her. Then met w e boys for dinner and had Koko Black afterwards.