Saying Goodbye to Brunei

Only one month left in this slice of paradise! So it is time to share all the little aspects of life that have made this posting a good one, and some of the things we are looking forward to back in Blighty.

Things I will really miss

Sunny blue skies over terracotta roofs and palm trees

Swimming and dining al fresco

Being able to hop on a plane for a couple of hours and reaching an exotic destination in South East Asia

Tropical fruit and vegetables at very reasonable prices

Food with lots of flavour; Thai curry, satay, mango chicken, spring rolls.

Infinite variety of juices, smoothies and frappes.

Tropical rainstorms (though the overhead lightning that zaps the router you can keep, ta very much)

Safe open spaces for children playing out, sitting in the trees with my lovely neighbours, feeling the breeze

The monkeys, hornbills, dragonflies and monitor lizards. Truly exotic.

Regular bursts of UV on my skin eradicating all but the most stubborn patches of psoriasis

Being able to wear flip flops 365 days a year. No coat required!

Things I will NOT miss

Mosquitoes and sand flies*, sometimes these specks of horror even dare to come into my house! [*Sand flies for those who have not had the pleasure are found at the beach and are extremely heinous little insects, inflicting bites on any bare flesh which not only do not stop itching within a day or two, they actually get worse, causing untold misery, intolerable itching and ugly scabs].

Public toilets. Enough said.

Feeling like an outsider for being Western

Absence of key food items in the shops. Carrots for example.

The lack of urgency found in government buildings, in fact many places. And I speak with a`modicum of understatement when I say it took 4 months and more than a couple of visits to secure Fly South Jr's duplicate birth certificates. Well we can't just pop back can we? And nothing is possible online of course.

The searing heat and humidity of scorching days. Utterly strength-sapping. Phew.

The thought of a cobra getting in the car or pram. Makes one super vigilant.

Having to wait until 4pm to contact family, friends and businesses in the UK, when there are tired children and we want to eat dinner.

Storm drains. Stinky. Hazardous. A real downer for ball games.

Things I can't wait to experience again in the UK

Online grocery shopping. I had an email from Ocado cunningly entitled 'We have a you-shaped hole in our life..'. Actually I think it might have been the other way round.

Food glorious food. Number one craving is smooth brussels pate. Also organic fruit and dairy products, gluten-free products, things with no added sugar. Fresh salad that doesn't rot or go mouldy on the second day in your house. Endless choice.

Good British TV drama and comedy

Proper seasons; autumn leaves, cold crisp days, spring flowers

Family gatherings, get-togethers with friends, holidays in the UK, walks in the fresh air

Traditional country pubs, especially those with open fires. Dinner with a tasty glass of wine

Pavements that accommodate prams. Public footpaths and open access land

Things that might take some getting used to again

Going out for food or entertainment to find the place is heaving - crowds of people who all had the same thought

Paying top whack for petrol and parking

Traffic queues and being beeped at, I may have lost the knack of urban driving.

The hustle and bustle of modern life, no more lazy weekends with nothing to do til lunchtime!

Having to take all holidays in term time, I gather it is so expensive we will only be able to afford camping in Wales in January.

~ That's it til next time. So what else has changed? Answers on a postcard.