🔞5EX🔞

Hi sweets!

My flight takes off at 03:00 Canberra time, but confusingly for me arrives in London at midday the day before I had even left, even though I'd been on a plane for over 23 hours.
Twenty three hours during which I had eaten half a stale cheese sandwich and one small packet of salted peanuts, slept for a grand total of 3 hours, drunk 8 whiskies, pee'd 9 times and watched 12 episodes of Family Guy. Once I turned my phone on I found that I had received a total of 37 text messages and 43 missed calls.

Oh dear!

I immediately turned it off again, not quite brave enough to read the messages or listen to the numerous voicemails yet.
Thankfully I haven't got to wait for the carousel to spit out a suitcase for me as my hold-all was carry on luggage, so I clear customs in minutes and head outside to hail a cab to take me home, preferring not to call my dad for a lift. I'd like to get some sleep before being force-fed tea and sandwiches, told I've lost weight and need to look after myself better...... the same drill as every other time I've returned home from assignment!
After settling into the back of a cab and giving the driver my address I take out my phone and turn it back on, ping after ping sound in quick succession, the cabbie making comment that someone has obviously missed me. If only it was a loved one excited to see me!
Ive only been on 'Terra Firma' for 20 minutes and already the text tally has risen by 14, the missed calls now at a total of 64!
I am definitely in trouble!

45 minutes later I awake to the sound of a Cockney voice booming "Oi Darlin' we're 'ere!"
Wiping the drool from the corner of my mouth and apologising for falling asleep I pay the driver and stand on the road outside my home, feeling quite emotional to be back.
I key in the code to open the security box and remove my doorkey, stepping over the threshold which is littered with takeaway menus and local newspapers, my parents obviously haven't visited for a few days.
After collecting up the junk mail and placing it straight into the recycling bin I head upstairs and jump in the shower, I need to wash over 25 hours worth of sweat from my aching body.

My stomach gurgles loudly, shouting for sustenance, so after wrapping myself in leggings, a vest top with a grey fleecy hoodie over and pink slipper socks on my feet I head down and retrieve one of the pizza menus from the recycling and place a delivery order. My local pizza restaurant delivers alcohol too, so I add 2 bottles of Prosecco to my order.
I've really noticed the cold since landing, December in the UK is around 20 degrees cooler than Australia! I curl up on the sofa and pull a blanket over my legs, the heating not on as I've been away. I'm too cold to get up and do it now so decide I'll turn it on after I collect my dinner at the door.

I message Laura and tell her I'm back in London and want to see her ASAP. I've really missed seeing her face in person, FaceTiming just isn't the same, you can't hug a video or photo and I'd love a hug right now. I've so much I want to tell her, and even more to ask her. Almost instantly I receive a reply, 3 rows of screaming faces!! I think that means she's happy. A few moments later she texts back to say that she is free tonight so I should make sure I'm home around 9pm. Where else would I be?

I'm aimlessly flicking through the TV channels finding it filled with the same old tripe as ever, re-runs of films I've seen numerous times, game shows, wall to wall 'reality' programmes that are infact anything but reality, and depressing, sad news. I turn it off and ask Alexa to play my favourites playlist. Taking a deep breath I open the message app on my phone and click on the first.

"Where are you?" Sender: Yanni

The second......

"Sydney, please tell me you're safe. We are targeted for threat often. We need to know you are safe. Call me!" Sender: Yanni

"Babe, I hope you're ok. Please come back, we can sort out whatever it is that's caused you to run. Is it Yanni? Is it because of him you've left? Sydney, he's so worried about you, we all are. Please call me, please babe....... please" Sender: Jimmi