Last Days!

Well, this has been a really great year, and not just because I've been traveling all over the place. I think (hope!) I have 'recovered' from my pre-tenure life and will find a way to be balanced back in California. A few people (Peter, Ryan) have said things this month that really made sink in what I know is most important for me to do in my life now.

The problem with this whole thing is now there is another place in the world where I have people I want to see more than just once in a while! Those people farewelled me in style over the past week. Besides the BBQ in the second-to-last weekend (which was fun - it was rainy, but Karen and I had plenty of soup on hand...actually we didn't even cook on the barbie) there was a series of goodbyes with different sets of people:

Michael arranged a lovely lunch for the research group at a restaurant on campus with a great view.
Karen organised a Friday happy hour cocktails event in Newtown, which led to some Thai food and then, for the enthusiastic few, drinks and drag queen stage shows (at the place where the beginning of the movie Priscilla Queen of the Desert is set) until the wee hours.
And the finale was Saturday drinks at the bar at the top of the Shangri-La hotel.

To top it all off, the weather finally 'fined up' and the water in Gordon's Bay got super clear and Karen, Oliver and I got in a couple more snorkels on the weekend. (Ryan was diving there at the same time - pic is his).
A lot to miss...