I am missing people. I miss my friends and I miss my family. I even miss the ladies who worked at the local shops that I frequented when I lived in Mitchell Park. Actually, I have been feeling sad since Easter because I miss my family. And I started to look at tickets to come back home and they are either sold out or too expensive. So I am here.

Fortunately my dear friend Amanda is visiting us next week, with her daughter, who is Georgia’s best friend (one of them!). That will give me a special break. I am excited.

I haven’t spoken to my siblings since I left. I am partly annoyed that they haven’t contacted me, and partly embarrassed that I haven’t contacted them.

I am making lists in my head, of things that I miss from Adelaide and things that I love about here. I do not want to live in Adelaide, and I am partly dreading my return, but the people that I love dearly are in Adelaide so I am drawn to Adelaide and therefore I love Adelaide. I love it here: the freedom, the peace and quiet, the greenery and the rain. I love the people I have met. But I still feel lonely, even though I am with people every day. There is so much I have left behind and so much I need to do. I want to hug my parents, and tell them that I love them and hear that they love me too. I want to talk with my in-laws, who have so much to say. I want to be with my friends, and see their children grow up. I want to go to my mothers’ group again, and see the kiddies play whilst the mothers have coffees and chat. How I miss the reading group dinners, and the nights Amanda and I would stay up till the early hours of the morning watching Greys. I miss my church, even though I hardly went. I went there for nearly 20 years. I miss my nanna a lot. I really want to see her again.

Hmph. I think the rain and the clouds and being in this small house has got to me. The fire has been on for three days now. Perhaps there isn’t enough oxygen going into my brain. Maybe I will find cheap tickets and ‘go home’ – or maybe I will tough it out and be strong.

To my Adelaide people, I miss you. I want to see you and talk with you. I miss you. A lot.