Counting sleeps

As of today I'm 36 sleeps away from my visit to England for Christmas. I'm so excited, but I have to confess that it also feels a little bit peculiar to be so excited about leaving my life here for a couple of months especially to head back to England. I tell myself that it's normal to get excited about going on holiday, but I always get a little nervous about stepping out of the wardrobe and leaving Narnia for a while; it's also weird that England has become the holiday destination.

Still, I've been out here for nearly 10 months and I'm desperate to see my family and friends and to have time in my own culture for a while.

There are so many things to look forward to about the trip:

My dear friend Andy waiting for me at the airport - he's going to get verbal diarrhoea all the way from Heathrow to Horsley.

KFC with Andy at the motorway services - it will stem the flow of the verbal diarrhoea for a while. Poor Andy.

Arriving at Mum & Dad's and giving them a huge hug.

Seeing Sally & Chris, Martin, Vik and Maddy and Roger again. Lots and lots of hugs

Seeing all my lovely friends - more hugs.

Spending Christmas day surrounded by my family.

(I think I'm going to need lots of tissues too)

Sleeping under a duvet.

Eating cheese - Extra mature English Cheddar

Drinking fresh milk.

Lamb chops.

Dad's salad for lunch.

Snoozing in front of the TV in the afternoon after Dad's salad.

Shopping - can't wait to see the Westfield Centre all decked out for Christmas. Am I too old to visit Santa?

Finding clothes that fit; I'm the equivalent of Gulliver in Sri Lanka.

Drinking beer in a pub.

Drinking red wine.

Lots of chocolate.

Starbucks latte.

Birds cream cakes (oh god I'm going to put weight on)

Going for walks in frosty maybe snowy countryside.

Sunday mornings at the layby.

Fish and chips in Matlock Bath even though the biking season is over.

Real sausages with baked beans and baked potatoes. Oh I'm so hungry now. (Baked beans are a luxury item here, can you believe they are nearly £1.50 for a tin of normal Heinz beans!!)

Fish finger sandwiches.

And here's a weird one - being surrounded by tall, white, English speaking people.

Supermarkets - last time I was there I could wander round Tescos and Sainsburys in a dreamlike state of wonder. You have to experience shopping in Sri Lanka to understand that fascination.

The list is possibly endless and it takes being away from all of those things to appreciate them so much more. The long absence makes me appreciate how much I love and miss my family too. Can't wait to see them.