Letter 1 – The First of Many

Dearest Mom;
We haven't spoken in about 2.5 years. I'm sorry I've neglected you. I have so much to tell you. Things have changed and developed so much you have so much. Well you have missed out on so much! Dam you! J I finished my degree. It was hard not having someone to quiz me at 3am and then make me coffee at 4am then snore through my final hour of cramming. I really miss that milky coffee….I don't know what you put in there?! Drugs? Rescue Remedy? Because whatever it was always made me ready for my exams.
I got my first job. It was awesome! I loved it! You would have loved the people…and they probably would have not loved you coming around during lunch every day….but it would have been a nice gesture anyway! I also got my own place with Anthony. Things ended up not working out with him but I know you liked him and like me; would only wish the best for him in the future.
I also got that "Graduation" car I was promised! Thanks! It rocked. You would have been SOOOO jealous! SUV completely Welgevonden ready! Big tyres and what not. Perfect for lion fodder…!!! Alessandro and Noemi broke up too. And as sad as you would have been trust me when I say you would have loved loved Alice! She is gorgeous and smart and they are just the CUTEST couple! I went to visit them for your 60^th. You were supposed to go. You would have LOVED it! We did Rome and Ligguria and Alex's home (which is gorgeous) and visited with Ania and Riccky. Mom, they getting married! May. Your birthday. Awesome. I'm so excited and happy for them. Again what a great couple. I'm going to try and save so I can get to the wedding in May! It's going to be tricky but I'll get to that now.
I kinda ran away from home. I was getting trapped in over thinking my own mind. I think it didn't only drive me nuts, but everyone around me. So I went to Thailand. Probably not the best idea at the time. But its turned out for the best. It's been a hard year. A lot of time to reflect and a lot of time to grow up. I probably still have a lot of growing up to do but you would be proud anyway. What you will be most proud about is that….I was accepted into Uni in Australia. I'm doing my masters this year. So I am officially a student….again…and officially a temporary resident of Australia. I am really excited to start getting to know dad a better. And Heath has just been wonderful from day dot. Well now that you missing out on future weddings and babies….I have to have SOME family involvement J Mom you have NO idea how great they have been. Really supportive and loving and superb.
On the topic of futures. I have met this great guy, I introduced you to him in a dream the other night, you seemed to like him. You would just adore him. He's smart and sexy as…loves motorbikes (see…for you…) and loves me. He's fantastic and I am so lucky to have met him! (Well Heather actually gets the credit for hooking us up.) And what's more is he lives down the road from my house in Australia. Can't beat that. (I can't believe I'm going to live in Australia! YAY!)
I spent my year travelling and doing all the things you probably wouldn't have expected me to do, like stay at home…sleep…I was so lucky to make some really specials friends while staying here. Especially Sadet and Steph. What great girls. They are both smart and balanced and so lovely. I have been staying with an awesome lady named Gill and her husband the last couple days, the nicest people ever with the CUTEST little dogs! They made my stay here so much more bearable. I have had a year of taking pictures of Perverts and doing fun girly things in Pattaya, like facials and mani's and pedi's. Wow, seriously, you would have loved what these Thai woman could have done to your feet. My god. You would have been in 7^th heaven.
Talking about heaven. Something you may to be too pleased with. I hopped off the religion boat. It just wasn't for me. I'm sorry. I know we would have argued for about 4 days about this but I now strongly believe in the Buddhist philosophy. It's great. It's all compassion based and thought based and….i'd go as far to say…science based? Rudimentary science but science none the less. Its all been a learning curve. Along with learning to use networking devices like twitter and live and and and….oh and BTW MOM, FACEBOOK IS NOT THE HILTLER OF THE FUTURE! Jackie and Karen are both on it. And Bev and Con and most family members. Which is great because I think it helps you keep up to speed with family! And Uncle and Lolly are on there and Kirst and Adrian and Candy and Rademayers and some Knobels and and and….Mom seriously, time for a mind shift….facebook is cool. None of this "Hitler" rubbish….
Facebook is actually the only way I haven't become a completely useless friend to people. Mom, you'd be disappointed in me. I was awful to Kerri. She only had my best interests at heart and I pushed her away, fearing she would leave me too. She was my closest and I've lost that with her now. Her and Geoff are still together and I hope they happy because she really only deserves the best. It pains me to say that there are so many other friends I have neglected to. It's something I won't take for granted again.
Sonjee and Darren are also still together. They got themselves a little place and I miss them so much. When I get home sick for people they are usually the first ones that come to mind. We have stayed in such good contact this year. And of Sonjee is not Skype then I panic.
Since leaving I haven't spoken much to Chessy and Boetie. They miss you so much. And when I got everything sorted for Aus; they were the second people I told (after Dad and Heath) They doing fine. Jerrard and Liz had a baby! Chessy says he is toooo too cute….Squashy Joshy she calls him! She sounds besotted! And so does uncle Boetie! I'm sad I haven't got to meet him but Chessy and I have promised to write each other rather than digital stuff. Thought it may be fun and she promised to send some pictures. We have both finished scrapbooking you. Which is nice, gives us something to look at that's a nice reminder of what a wing-bat you are. (Scrapbooking is cool……Dorie made you a shrine….)
Christmas was quiet. Remember that year we had fondue? I considered that for this last christmas but ended up at a lovely hotel with DEVINE food and awesome ouot of this world cocktails! YES PLEASE!
Today I resigned from my position here in Thailand. I'm sad to go; I'm going to miss the really good friends I made here. Like Art the petroleum engineer, Jamrat the crazy driver and Lee Jr, my crazy Starbucks drinking office buddy. (Star bucks was the closest I came to your crazy milky microwave coffee, I also hear Australia doesn't have a Starbucks….this concerns me…..) I'm also excited about what this year holds for me. It started off with a bit of a bump…on the head….as in concussion! HAHA….I'm so an accident waiting to happen. It's been a good experience. I started a new year's resolution where I promised to take a picture a day. I've kept it up so far…and it's been fun! Like another 355 days left to go! (That's a lot of pictures!)
I love you and I miss you terribly but instead of missing you more I miss you less everyday and that's a good start. I know you would have been proud of me and some of the bad choices and decisions I have made, but proud none the less.
Till next time!
Love you.
Niki