Dasha and I headed back to NZ, via a weekend in London, on December 21st. This was my first trip home since arriving in Kiev - and it was great. It was also Dasha’s longest flight ever, and that was only to London - she now has a record that can’t be beaten unless she heads to the moon.

Instead of trying to recap the whole trip, I’ll exec summary it as follows:

1. -lost 6 kgs between Kiev and Waipukurau after catching something nasty - again - summed up my year!
   

2. -saw Arsenal vs. Liverpool again with Mike - another 1-1
   

3. -flew business class to NZ and never ate a thing - see above
   

4. -enjoyed xmas with whole family and dasha survived the uncles
   

5. -took off to rotorua for some hot mud bathes, trout, geothermal steam, the smell and a studnut stilton on the lake - awesome - and hutch and ali joined us for champagne in the spa. my clothes still stink
   

6. -back to waipuk and checked out kairakau beach - the first ocean dasha has seen and she jumped in!
   

7. -back home for a tasty brunch at the mission for new years eve, two bottles of rum with dad that night, counted shooting stars and played croquet
   

8. -dasha flew home to spend orthodox xmas with her family - sad day
   

9. -spent two days with hutch and caught up with karen - met the little one
   

10. -off to sydney, a latte with dazza on bronte, a few beers with clarkie, alex, ed, dazza again
    

11. -popped into work - surreal - but great to see everyone - and nice new office!
    

12. -back to london, and off to the embassy to get a new visa - let this be the last!
    

Thats about it - a top trip, some awkward moments but dasha had a great time and so did i - can’t wait for the next one!

p.s check out the photo’s - they say it all

p.s.s the family farm is for sale - next year may not be the same location - :-(

p.s.s.s photo above - dasha on a boulder at kairakau