This Friday I am missing home..

My Friends know..

..i sometimes feel a bit nostalgic about home. Every now and then, while changing tube lines, when walking in the street, when sitting at my desk and most importantly when big things happen which concern my family or friends..i just terribly want to be at home.

Home

..is a wonderful place. Its green and you can hear birds singing and you can go to the sea whenever you feel like it and everybody makes time for you..I admit that I might have slightly idealised home during the last eight years. After all, I have never lived in Cyprus as an adult and whenever I go back I feel ten years younger which in itself makes me happier. But also, it is honestly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to :).

Today..

Dad retired from a job in which he has been since the 1980s..that is almost 30 years ago. That is a long time people. Since I remember, Dad has worked in the same airlines. And therefore today is a big day for my family. It is a celebratory / end of an era kind of day. And I desperately want to be there. I want to make sure they are all fine but also I want to sit with them and enjoy the first days of Cypriot winter. When it is a bit cold but still very sunny. When Dad makes soup and we sit by the fireplace. When the leaves start to fall and my neighbourhood smells of smoke because every family on the street is doing the exact same thing. And therefore I have decided to make a list of the ten things I love most about home!

TOP 10 THINGS I MISS

• Gardens, sitting outside for Sunday lunch and sneaky cigarettes in peoples back yards.
• My sister and her "just got out of bed" goofy look.
• My Dad making breakfast and chatting all along the process about philosophical and yet funny subjects.
• Loukoumades, crunchy and syrupy!
• Going for coffee with friends I have not seen in a while, laughing out loud and smoking and smoking.
• The Sea. Looking it at it, swimming in it or even just listening to it.
• Sitting down for lunch or dinner with all the family!
• Driving with Greek music playing on the radio. Dancing along and singing lyrics I make up.
• Talks with my Grandma about everything (from how much she still loves my Grandpa (who has been dead since 1973) to recipes to gossiping to new songs to old books).
• Going out for drinks with people you know since always and finding other people you have known for ever and dancing and dancing.

I miss a million other things too about home..but these are my favourite ones..in the mean time I have forgotten that the purpose of this blog was to remind me of all the lovely things I enjoy in London. But every now and then we are all allowed a trip down memory lane...and my memory lane always leads home...