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Thursday 21st October 2004

and Tanya has been on her working holiday for

Here she is as she was heading to the Cairns Airport back in October 2003

and click on the photo to see a couple of larger shots

LOOK AT ALL THE PLACES SHE HAS BEEN!!!

A note from Tanya on Monday 11th October 2004
My Anniversary!!! - 1 year, 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days etc etc etc
Did you think I would make it or did you think I would come crawling home?
Anway, I haven't made it yet - still 10 days to go!

SHE MADE IT!!! - another note from Tanya
Can you believe it?
1 year
12 months
52 weeks
365 days
8,760 hours......

It has gone so fast - did you think I would still be here after a year? - be honest now!

Half of my Visa has been used up and now I am counting down
the year, months, weeks, days and hours until I have to leave and go back to Oz!

I remember landing at Heathrow Airport all by myself and wondering where to start
I needed to find a place to live, a job and some friends

I reckon I have done pretty well starting from scratch in such a big city!

I can't believe it has been so long since I have seen Mum and Dad
but while I am sitting here typing I am looking at my mini souvenirs that I keep on my desk

Coaster from Wales
Eiffel Tower from France
Clogs from Holland
Manneken Pis from Belgium
Leprechaun from Ireland
Rosary beads from Italy
Evil eye good luck charm and my rock from the beach at Anzac Cove from Turkey
Viking ship from Norway
Mermaid from Denmark

and I remember why I moved to the other side of the world
and how lucky I am to have such a supportive family (eventually hey Dad?)
who helped me get here

I never in a million years would ever have thought that I would have visited ten countries
(including the one I currently live in) in just one year

Paris was a dream that I never thought would happen but I have been there twice this year
A weekend cruising between Norway and Denmark was never contemplated
(or even thought possible) but I have done that too
I have kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland
had waffles in Belgium
and seen windmills in Holland
Christmas in Hyde Park
and New Years Eve in Trafalgar Square
Rome and Paris with my little brother was just amazing
I have been in the Colosseum
and admired the work of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City
ANZAC Day at Gallipoli is still something I can't quite believe I have done
but will definitely never forget how emotional it was

And my birthday in Egypt is still to come
as is Christmas in Scotland!

The fact that a year is over also reminds me that I haven't got a whole lot of time left
and so much more to see and so much more planned and still to plan
I have a basic idea of what I want to see but the list just keeps getting longer!

Love you three very much and miss you terribly
but not enough to make me want to come home just yet - give it a year!

Tanya

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