It's been a fantastic year really, starting off in the Indian himalaya (which I recently found out that 'hima' means snow and 'laya' means abode or home) then travels took me to Goa and Mumbai with Paddy. This holiday was fantastic and allowed me to experience more of India - namely travel on long distance trains, beaches, cities, crowds and quieter communities.
Upon returning from the trip more experience of Delhi and rishikesh was to be had where I entered my first white water kayaking competition. Although the female category was under represented it did allow me to place second and win some prizes. I also met a lot of people and a lot of good kayakers over the two days who I may or may not encounter again.
Although, I was having a great time experiencing new programs and treks in various locations. frustrations where starting to develop with the work and peoples views on my relationship with Paddy. Instead of getting frustrated it was time to do something about it - namely leave the company and India. This decision was particularly hard as I don't like quitting and I was uncertain where this would take me although with the summer season in the uk approaching and a secured job offer oh made sense to earn some money again.
So it was back to the uk I went, not without a little stress and drama. I nearly missed my flight for apparently overstaying my visa as I hadn't registered my stay at the registry office - a little stress and a small fine later I was on the. Plane. I remember sitting on the plane for the whole journey wanting it to be turned around and wanting to stay - that didn't happen though and I was soon back in the cold!
It was good to see the parents and Bedfordshire for a little while before I commenced the long drive up to Scotland - well it wasn't just Scotland it was Inverness right up in the highlands. It would turn out to be an interesting summer - I rented a room in a house with a lovely gay couple living in it in a small village with no shop. Both of the his were great and I enjoyed living there the house was always clean and the occasional cooked meal was always apprieciated.
It was the start of my time up in Scotland where I undertook my raft guide training course. This course was great with a bunch of lads and all with different motivations. This course would hopefully make it a little easier for me and Paddy to be together. It was enjoyable despite to cold weather and water which I was not used to at all!
Working was just as interesting, a small team of staff and I was the only female instructor - again. It didn't matter though and many adventures were to be had from canoeing down the Spey, gorge walking, to driving to some amazing remote locations within the highlands to pick up or drop off kit for the hire people. Getting lost up in the highlands was something that happened fairly frequently - although the use of sat nav helped me greatly to avoid this most of the time.
Leaving Scotland would be hard as good friendships had been made and it's beautiful up there - however plans had been made to return home for just over a month. This month at home would see we spend most of my days either with my parents or flat water kayaking. My evenings were mostly spent delivering pizza's. My career as a delivery driver was fairly fun for the most part although late nights and hard to find addresses where the annoyances in my fairly Unstressful life.
My life was getting a little more stressful trying to pack paddling gear and a boat so that I could fly with it. Eventually it got sorted alright and no extra charges made it a bonus and I was back to the himalaya this time though it would be nepal.
What an introduction I had to nepal, one night in kathmandu, then travel to the Trishuli for a bit of kayaking and then off to the tamur, which included a trek and some rafting with some great people. Then back to kathmandu and the Trishuli for the white water competition. Other travels took us to pokhara, chitwan and to visit his family in a small village.
Now it's Christmas in pokhara and after a short Skype with my parents, Aunty and uncle and George and will for the first time since I had been out here we had fun with the kayak crew. Although it didn't feel very Christmassy it was nice to enjoy some time off the river with friends which had been made during my time here so far.
I realise that I've been very fortunant this year and the oppourtunities that have got me back with my little man in this strange yet amazing country have been apprieciated. I am thankful to those who I have met along the way that have helped me, put up with my banter and moaning at times.
Looking to the new year I am hoping that it too will bring some great oppourtunities for me to grow and develop. I am also looking forward to more adventures along the way whatever they may bring, along with being reunited with friends who have been missed. There is also the marriage of my brother to his fiancé to look forward to - the union of these two will reunite and bring together our family from the country to spend some time together. Hopefully this year although may be a struggle a times for certain members of the family hopefully good health and happiness will push through.
Although It again was a dry new year due to splitting my head open but that's another post it was still a great end to an amazing year here's to another great year to come.
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